noon
He was startled to hear a quiet laugh at his elbow . `` Do n't you ever eat anything , kid ? '' Mr. Wharton was standing beside him , a flicker of amusement in his gray eyes . `` I did n't know it was noon , '' gasped Ted . `` We 'll have to tie an alarm clock on you , '' chuckled the manager . `` The gang stopped work a quarter of an hour ago . '' `` I did n't notice they had . ''