noon before
Even so , he was hired . By whom ? By ranchers covetous of the range ; that was absolutely certain . '' It was long after noon before he came to the end of the telephone-line in a little store and post-office at the upper falls of Deer Creek . The telephone had a booth fortunately , and he soon had Redfield 's ear , but his voice was so strained and unnatural that his chief did not recognize it . `` Is that you , Ross ? What 's the matter ?