noon
WARREN REYBURN laid down his pen and shoved back his office chair impatiently , stretching out his long muscular limbs nervously and rubbing his hands over his eyes as if to clear them from annoying visions . James Ryan , his office boy and stenographer , watched him furtively from one corner of his eye , while his fingers whirled the typewriter on through the letter he was typing . James wanted to take his girl to the movies that evening and he had n't had a chance to see her the day before . He was wondering if Mr. Reyburn would go out in time for him to call her up at her noon hour . He was a very temperamental stenographer and understood the moods and tenses of his most temperamental employer fully . It was all in knowing how to manage him . James was most deferential , and knew when to keep still and not ask questions .