noon before
`` How could you be here as an Italian flower girl when you telephoned me from a place more than fifty miles away ? '' `` Money will do a great deal , '' replied Miss Dana , `` but you must tell your subordinates what to do for the money . I induced the operator in that little country town to give you to understand that I was still there . The fact was , I left the noon before , located young Tarleton , turned him over to the police , and was in the city by 8 o'clock . I told the operator to keep on ringing until you came for you were very deaf . Pardon me for that , but I was afraid you would hear the bell when the bookcase doors opened . Now , you know all , and I await my discharge . ''