noon
* * * * * Melroy straightened out the papers and put them away , then sat down at his desk , filling and lighting his pipe . He was still working at 1215 when Ben Puryear called him . `` They walked out on us , '' he reported . `` Harry Crandall was out here talking to them , and at noon the whole gang handed in their wrist-Geigers and dosimeters and cleared out their lockers . They say they are n't coming back till Burris and Koffler come back to work with them . '' `` Then they are n't coming back , period , '' Melroy replied . `` Crandall was to see me , a couple of hours ago .