noon
And apparently there was not much satisfaction in the brief interview which the cashier had with Mr. Gibbs , for when he came back presently he hastened into his little den , nor did he have a word to say to anyone . Only Dick feared that he would find Mr. Goodwyn a hard taskmaster , on account of this incident ; and he regretted it very much , believing it would handicap him more or less in his work . But the others soon came to like the new messenger exceedingly , he was so clever , so obliging , and withal so bright ; both tellers declared at the close of the day 's business that they had never known so little trouble in getting their errands executed in a lucid manner . At noon Dick bought himself a little luncheon , for he was too far away from home to spend half an hour walking to and fro each day ; after this he meant to bring something with him ; no matter if it were only bread and butter , it would be much better than this `` sawdust , '' as he contemptuously called the cake he had purchased at the town bakery . It was just at two o'clock that a most peculiar incident occurred , and one that gave Dick considerable amusement . He was waiting in the outer room for a paper which the president intended sending to the post office to go by registered mail , when who should come in but Ferd Graylock , accompanied by his father ; who , as one of the officers of the bank , went straight back to the room of the president without ceremony , leaving his son in the public waiting-room . Of course Ferd immediately spied Dick there and sauntered over , with his customary air of importance .