noon
Those days followed one another with ever-deepening gloom , in which the trembling printery and all the human beings that were part of it seemed steeped in a growing twilight . Do what Joe would and could in the matter of good-fellowship , loud laughter , and high jocularity , the darkness thickened staggeringly . Hardly had Joe settled the transfer of the printery to Marty , when the rumor of the transaction swept the business . At noon men gathered in groups and whispered together as if some one had died , and one after another approached Joe with a : `` Mr. Joe , is it true what the fellows say ? '' `` Yes , Tom . '' `` Going to leave us , Mr. Joe ? '' `` Going , Tom . '' ''