noon
What would Smith probably have done with it ? For it seemed unlikely he would have taken it away with him . Might he not , after removing the money , have hidden it in the cellar ? Jack determined to search there ; and accordingly , at noon , hastening through his lunch , he descended and began a systematic hunt amid the odds and ends filling the basement . The first noon-hour 's search brought no result . The second day , returning to the task somewhat dispiritedly , Jack began overhauling a pile of old cross-pieces . There was a squeak , and a rat shot out .