noon
Last time he was in he got away with three or four pounds of prunes . '' `` I took three of the old th-th-th-things , '' said Fudge bitterly , `` and they n-n-nearly killed me ! '' They left Harry surrounded by baskets , frowning over the order slips in his hand , and made their way back to the sidewalk and their wheels . As it was almost noon , Gordon decided not to risk his father 's displeasure by seeing any more of the fellows before dinner , and he and Fudge pedaled home , Fudge still sputtering about those prunes . At a little after four that afternoon Gordon was back at Dick 's to report success . All the members of the Clearfield Ball Club had agreed to play and to attend the organization meeting the next evening -- all , that is , save Harry Bryan , who was to telephone later . `` Now , Dickums , if you 'll write to Billings and tell him -- -- '' `` If _ I 'll _ write ! ''