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was asleep。 He would think that as bad as meeting Bill Holmes。 She knew that
he did not like Ramon； but merely used him and his men and horses and cattle
for a price； to better his pictures。 Save in a purely business way she had
never seen him talking with Ramon。 Never as he talked with the boys of the
Flying Uhis Happy Family； he called them。
She said nothing。 She dressed for the part she was to play。 She twined flowers
in her hair and smoothed out the red bows and laid them carefully awaysince
Wagalexa Conka did not wish her to wear ribbon bows in this picture。 She
murmured caresses to Shunka Chistala； the little black dog that was always at
her heels。 She rode with the company to the rocky gorge which was 〃location〃
for today。 When Wagalexa Conka called to her she went and climbed upon a high
rock and stood just where he told her to stand； and looked just as he told her
to look； and stole away through the rocks and out of the scene exactly as he
wished her to do。
But when Wagalexa Conkasorry for the； harshness he had felt it his duty to
show that morningsmiled and told her she had done fine； and that he was
pleased with her； Annie…Many…Ponies did not smile back with that slow； sweet；
heart…twisting smile which was at once her sharpest weapon and her most
endearing trait。
Bill Holmes who had also had his sharp word of warning； and had been told very
plainly to cut out this flirting with Annie if he wanted to remain on Luck's
payroll； eyed her strangely。 Once he tried to have a secret word with her； but
she moved away and would not look at him。 For Annie…Many…Ponies； hurt and
bitter as she felt toward her beloved Wagalexa Conka； hated Bill Holmes
fourfold for being the cause of her humiliation。 That she did not also hate
Ramon Chavez as being equally guilty with Bill Holmes； went far toward proving
how strong a hold he had gained upon her heart。
CHAPTER VI。 〃I GO WHERE WAGALEXA CONKA SAY〃
That afternoon Ramon joined them； suave as ever and seeming very much at peace
with the world and his fellow…beings。 He watched the new leading woman make a
perilous ride down a steep； rocky point and dash up to camera and on past it
where she set her horse back upon； its haunches with a fine disregard for her
bones and a still finer instinct for putting just the right dash of the
spectacular into her work without overdoing it。
〃That senora； she's all right； you bet！〃 he praised the feat to those who
stood near him； 〃me； I not be stuck on ron my caballo down that place。 You bet
she's fine rider。 My sombrero； he's come off to that lady！〃
Jean； hearing； glanced at him with that little quirk of the lips which was the
beginning of a smile； and rode off to join her father and Lite Avery。 〃He made
that sound terribly sincere； didn't he？〃 she commented。 〃It takes a Mexican to
lift flattery up among the fine arts。〃 Then she thought no more about it。
Annie…Many…Ponies was sitting apart； on a rock where her gay blanket made a
picturesque splotch of color against the gray barrenness of the hill behind
her。 She； too； heard what Ramon said； and she； too； thought that he had made
the praise sound terribly sincere。 He had not spoken to her at all after the
first careless nod of recognition when he rode up。 And although her reason had
approved of his caution； her sore heart ached for a little kindness from him。
She turned her eyes toward him now with a certain wistfulness； but though
Ramon chanced to be looking toward her she got no answering light in his eyes；
no careful little signal that his heart was yearning for her。 He seemed
remote； as indifferent to her as were any of the others dulled by
accustomedness to her constant presence among them。 A premonitory chill； as
from some great sorrow yet before her in the future； shook the heart of Annie…
Many…Ponies。
〃Me； I fine out how moch more yoh want me campa here for pictures；〃 Ramon was
saying now to Luck who was standing by Pete Lowry； scribbling something on his
script。 〃My brother Tomas； he liking for us at ranch now； s'pose yoh finish
poco tiempo。〃
Luck wrote another line before he gave any sign that he heard。
Annie…Many…Ponies； watching from under her drooping lids； saw that Bill Holmes
had edged closer to Ramon； while he made pretense of being much occupied with
his own affairs。
〃I don't need your camp at all after today。〃 Luck shoved the script into his
coat pocket and looked at his watch。
〃This afternoon when the sun is just right I want to get one or two cut…back
scenes and a dissolve out。 After that you can break camp any time。 But I want
you； Ramon… …you and Estancio Lopez and Luis Rojas。 I'll need you for two or
three days in townwant you to play the heavy in a bank…robbery and street
fight。 The makeup is the same as when you worked up there in the rocks the
other day。 You three fellows come over and go in to the ranch tomorrow if you
like。 Then I'll have you when I want you。 You'll get five dollars a day while
you work。〃 Having made himself sufficiently clear； he turned away to set and
rehearse the next scene； and did not see the careful glance which passed
between Ramon and Bill Holmes。
〃Annie；〃 Luck said abruptly； swinging toward her； 〃can you come down off that
point where Jean Douglas came？ You'll have to ride horseback； remember； and I
don't want you to do it unless you're sure of yourself。 How about it？〃
For the first time since breakfast her somber eyes lightened with a gleam of
interest。 She did not look at RamonRamon who had told her many times how
much he loved her； and yet could praise Jean Douglas for her riding。 Ramon had
declared that he would not care to come riding down that point as Jean had
come； very well； then she would show Ramon something。
〃It isn't necessary； exactly；〃 Luck explained further。 〃I can show you at the
top； looking down at the way Jean came； and then I can pick you up on an
easier trail。 But if you want to do it； it will save some cut…backs and put
another little punch in here。 Either way it's up to you。〃
The voice of Annie…Many…Ponies did not rise to a higher key when she spoke；
but it had in it a clear incisiveness that carried her answer to Ramon and
made him understand that she was speaking for his ears。
〃I come down with big punch；〃 she said。
〃Where Jean came？ You're riding bareback； remember。〃
〃No matter。 I come down jus' same。〃 And she added with a haughty tilt of her
chin； 〃That's easy place for me。〃
Luck eyed her steadfastly； a smile of approval on his face。 〃All right。 I know
you've got plenty of nerve； Annie。 You mount and ride up that draw till you
get to the ridge。 Come up to where you can see camp over the brow of the
hillsabe？and then wait till I whistle。 One whistle； get ready to come
down。 Two whistles； you； come。 Ride past camera； just the way Jean did。 You
know you're following the white girl and trying to catch up with her。 You're a
friend and you have a mess