noon
During the forenoon he decided to return without further delay to New York . Having settled on this , he sent a message to Saranac Lake , stating his charges against Porfias del Norte 's band of desperadoes , and asking that the warrant be drawn up and brought to him at the station as he was passing through . He also gave instructions that officers should be on hand to immediately take up the work of running the gang down . Before noon Belmont Bland , Old Gripper 's private secretary , was apparently taken ill , and when the time came for Scott to depart Bland seemed unable to travel . He asserted that it was one of his usual nervous attacks , and declared he would be all right by the next day . Therefore it was arranged that he should remain at Lake Placid . Frank Merriwell had given in to the urging of Warren Hatch , who almost begged him to stay over another day and fish again in the morning .