noon
Frank Pembroke sat behind the desk of his shabby little office over Lemark 's Liquors in downtown Los Angeles and waited for his first customer . He had been in business for a week and as yet had had no callers . Therefore , it was with a mingled sense of excitement and satisfaction that he greeted the tall , dark , smooth-faced figure that came up the stairs and into the office shortly before noon . `` Good day , sir , '' said Pembroke with an amiable smile . `` I see my advertisement has interested you . Please stand in that corner for just a moment . ''