noon
`` Dan will obey the voice of authority , even in his delirium , '' The Laird whispered to his son , when they found themselves alone with the patient once more . `` I 'll stay here until he wakes up rational , and silence him if , in the mean time , he babbles . Run along home , lad . '' At noon , Dirty Dan awoke with the light of reason and belligerency in his eyes , whereupon The Laird questioned him , and developed a stubborn reticence which comforted the former to such a degree that he decided to follow his son home to The Dreamerie . A week elapsed before Hector McKaye would permit his son to return to his duties . By that time , the slight wound in the latter 's arm where the vein had been opened had practically healed . Dirty Dan continued to improve , passed the danger-mark , and began the upward climb to his old vigor and pugnacity .