noon
Very slowly did Giraffe approach , his eyes turned beseechingly on Thad . `` Say , that 's the way it always goes , '' he declared . `` I was just getting on to it the best ever , and if I only had half an hour more , I 'd made my fire as sure as I 'm Conrad Stedman . I 've got her all figgered out ; and by noon I 'll be twisted in my mind again , and the whole combination lost . '' But Thad only shook his head . `` Could n't think of it , Number Six , '' he declared . `` It was one part of the agreement made with you that on no occasion were you to delay the balance of the party .