Johnny whirled suddenly and retreated to the telephone booth, shutting the door tightly behind him.

It was the first time in his life that he had run from any one.
To gain time, he called up the Rolling R Ranch again and managed to get Bedelia, the cook, on the 'phone.

Bedelia was perfectly willing to tell all she knew, and she appeared to know a great deal.

Johnny held the receiver to his ear until his elbow cramped, and said "uh-huh" once in a while, and wondered how much Bedelia was exaggerating the truth.
As a matter of fact Bedelia was giving him a conservative history of the past three days and, indirectly, she was explaining the crowd in the lobby behind him.
Telephone booths are not any too comfortable on a hot day, and Johnny emerged rather limp and sober.
He edged in to where Bland was gesticulating in the center of a group that seemed to be drinking in his words eagerly.
"I'm going on to the ranch, Bland," he said shortly.

"Jar loose here and come help get the machine ready." "In a minute, bo.