about noon
`` Many were getting ready for the ball , but this lady was the only one I knew of who had spent a hundred dollars for facial improvement . Harry , however , was about to spend a thousand dollars for the improvement of his conscience . It was one of the necessary expenses and it came about in this way : `` The day of the ball had arrived . Harry came to see me about noon . He said that he had been busy all the morning with preparations for the ball , but -- `` He showed me a telegram . It was from Roger Daniels , and it said : '' ` The recent slump in the market has put me in hell 's hole . Please wire one thousand dollars to Bridgeport , where I am hung up .