twelve o'clock
I ca n't come now . I have to fix up this electrical register first . '' And so it would go . Eradicate and Boomerang , his mule , were the only ones who ate regularly , and they always insisted on stopping at exactly twelve o'clock to partake of the noonday meal . '' 'Cause ef I did n't , '' explained the colored man , `` dat contrary mule ob mine would lay down in de dust ob de road an ' not move a step , lessen ' he got his oats . So dat 's why we has t ' eat , him an ' me . '' `` Well , I 'm glad there 's some one who 's got sense , '' murmured Mrs. Baggert .