noon
in March
He did not know that the Golden Belt Wheat Company had sapped the money of the bank and had left it a husk , which at any time might crumble . The father knew this , and after the first of the year every morning when he opened the bank he feared that day would be the last day of its career . And so it fell out that `` those that look out of the windows '' were darkened , and General Hendricks rose up with the voice of the bird and was `` afraid of that which was high '' and terrors were in the way . So on his head , the white blossom of the almond tree trembled ; and one noon in March the stage bore to this broken , shaking old man a letter from Kansas City that ran the sword of fear into his heart and almost stopped it forever . It ran : -- `` Dear General : I have just learned from talking with a banker here that an inspector is headed our way . He probably will arrive the day after this reaches you . Something must be done about that tax check of yours .