noon
He would resume his seat without a word to his fellows , each of whom looked up with stark , questioning eyes . Then they would fall to staring at the walls again , or at the floor , their chins in their hands . At their feet lay the newspapers , eagerly read and discarded by each and every member of this little group . There was a `` noon extra , '' fresh from a ten o'clock press . It had been the last to fall into their hands . They tried to smoke , but the water of mortal terror filled their mouths . The smell of dead , dank tobacco pervaded the room .