noon
The two had moved skilfully on , the trail of the culprit and had watched him at work ; once he was busy ruining a costly system of water-filters . They had let him pass -- he having stepped within a rod of them unconscious of their presence . * * * * * With these facts before him Thayor came to an instant conclusion . The result was that a little before noon on this same day -- the day of Sperry 's departure -- the owner of Big Shanty sent for Bergstein . Both the trapper and Holcomb were present . Thayor stood beside the broad writing table of his den as Bergstein entered ; his manner was again that of the polite , punctilious man of affairs ; he was exceedingly calm and exasperatingly pleasant . To all outward appearances the black-bearded man , grasping his dusty derby in his hand , might have been a paying teller summoned to the president 's office for an increase of salary .