noon
`` Then at least take this change , and look the town over . Buy some ice cream and -- a brick bat or two to have ready when -- '' `` There 's a fellow I know , '' interrupted Andy , and taking the proffered coin , he was soon lost to Jack , and to the business of detecting the detectives . The weather was uncertain -- it might rain , but there were cobwebs on the grass , which meant `` clear . '' But the sun did not come out , and it was past noon . These unfavorable conditions were unusual on a day when the motor girls were to make a run , but Bess , Belle and Cora were almost too busy with their preparations to pay much heed to the possibility of rain while en route . The start was to be made at two o'clock , and the chimes on the dining room mantel of the Kimball home had just warned Cora that half the hour between one and two had gone by . `` We take no note of time but from its flight , '' quoted Cora to herself , hurrying through the room to crowd a last few things into her motor trunk .