noon
`` Go ahead . I 'll be here until noon . '' Unconsciously squaring his shoulders as he went , Conniston strode away toward the ditch . At noon Mr. Crawford told the men gathered at the long tables that in the future they were to look to Conniston for all orders , that he was empowered to act as he saw fit in any crisis , that he would have absolute command over every part of the reclamation work , here or elsewhere . And then he gripped Conniston 's hand warmly , gave him an address in Denver where a telegram would find him , and drove away toward Crawfordsville , promising to telephone to Brayley to report to the Valley immediately . Before he was out of sight the new superintendent called his four overseers aside . `` What wages are you fellows drawing down ? ''