noon
Now he turned , but turned most casually , to follow with his own , their glances at Joe Lorey . Then he sauntered off , and , as he passed Holton , seemed to exchange meaning glances with him . Soon afterward Lorey turned away . The day was getting on toward noon . The long tramp back to his lonely cabin in the mountains would consume some hours . The sight of all these strangers , all this work on the new railroad worried him , made him unhappy , added to and multiplied the apprehension which for weeks had filled his heart about Madge Brierly and young Layson . He battled with a mixture of emotions .