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soil。 Annie…Many…Ponies lurched； came hard against a boulder and somehow flung
herself into place again on the horse。 She lifted his head and called to him
in short； harsh； Indian words。 The pinto scrambled to his knees； got to his
feet and felt again the sting of the rein…end in his flanks。 Like a rabbit he
came bounding down； down where the way was steepest and most treacherous。 And
at every jump the rein…end fell； first on one side and then along the other；
as a skilled canoeman shifts the paddle to force his slight craft forward in a
treacherous current。
Down the last slope he came thundering。 On his back Annie…Many…Ponies lashed
him steadily； straining her eyes in the direction which Jean had taken past
the camera。 She knew that they were watching hershe knew also that the
camera crank in Pete Lowry's hands was turning； turning； recording every move
of hers； every little changing expression。 She swept down upon them so close
that Pete grabbed the tripod with one hand； ready to lift it and dodge away
from the coming collision。 Still leaning； still lashing and straining every
nerve in pursuit； she dashed past； pivoted the pinto upon his hind feet；
darted back toward the staring group and jumped off while he was yet running。
Now that she had done it； now that she had proven that she also had nerve and
much skill in riding； black loneliness settled upon her again。 She came slowly
back； and as she came she heard them praise the ride she had made。 She heard
them saying how frightened they had been when the pinto fell； and she heard
Wagalexa Conka call to her that she had made a strong scene for him。 She did
not answer。 She sat down upon a rock； a little apart from them； and looking as
remote as the Sandias Mountains； miles away to the north； folded her blanket
around her and spoke no word to anyone。
Soon Ramon mounted his horse to return to his camp。 He came riding down to her
for his trail lay that wayand as he rode he called to the others a good
natured 〃Hasta luego！〃 which is the Mexican equivalent of 〃See you later。〃 He
did not seem to notice Annie…Many…Ponies at all as he rode past her。 He was
gazing off down the arroyo and riding with all his weight on one stirrup and
the other foot swinging free； as is the nonchalant way of accustomed riders
who would ease their muscles now and then。 But as he passed the rock where she
was sitting he murmured； 〃Tonight by the rock I wait for you； querida mia。〃
Though she gave no sign that she had heard； the heart of Annie…Many…Ponies
gave a throb of gladness that was almost pain。
CHAPTER VII。 ADVENTURE COMES SMILING
Luck； in the course of his enthusiastic picture making； reached the point
where he must find a bank that was willing to be robbedin broad daylight and
for screen purposes only。 If you know anything at all about our financial
storehouses； you know that they are sensitive about being robbed； or even
having it appear that they are being subjected to so humiliating a procedure。
What Luck needed was a bank that was not only willing； but one that faced the
sun as well。 He was lucky； as usual。 The Bernalillo County Bank stands on a
corner facing east and south。 It is an unpretentious little bank of the older
style of architecture； and might well be located in the centre of any small
range town and hold the shipping receipts of a cattleman who was growing rich
as he grew old。
Luck stopped across the street and looked the bank over； and saw how the sun
would shine in at the door and through the wide windows during the greater
part of the afternoon； and hoped that the cashier was a human being and would
not object to a fake robbery。 Not liking suspense； he stepped off the pavement
and dodged a jitney； and hurried over to interview the cashier。
You never know what secret ambitions hide behind the impassive courtesy of the
average business man。 This cashier； for instance； wore a green eyeshade
whenever his hat was not on his； head。 His hair was thin and his complexion
pasty and his shoulders were too stooped for a man of his age。 You never would
have suspected； just to look at him through the fancy grating of his window；
how he thirsted for that kind of adventure which fiction writers call
red…blooded。 He had never had an adventure in his life； but at night； after he
had gone to bed and adjusted the electric light at his head； and his green
eyeshade； and had put two pillows under the back of his neck； he readyou
will scarcely believe it； but it is truehe read about the James boys and
Kit。 Carson and Pawnee Bill； and he could tell youonly he wouldn't mention
it； of coursejust how many Texans were killed in the Alamo。 He loved gun
catalogues； and he frequently went out of his way to pass a store that
displayed real； business… looking stock…saddles and quirts and spurs and
things。 He longed to be down in Mexico in the thick of the scrap there； and he
knew every prominent Federal leader and every revolutionist that got into the
papers； knew them by spelling at least； even if he couldn't pronounce the
names correctly。
He had come to Albuquerque for his lungs' sake a few years ago； and he still
thrilled at the sight of bright…shawled Pueblo Indians padding along the
pavements in their moccasins and queer leggings that looked like joints of
whitewashed stove…pipe； while to ride in an automobile out to Isleta； which is
a terribly realistic Indian village of adobe huts； made the blood beat in his
temples and his fingers tremble upon his knees。 Even Martinez Town with its
squatty houses and narrow streets held for him a peculiar fascination。
You can imagine； maybe； how his weak eyes snapped with excitement under that
misleading green shade when Luck Lindsay walked in and smiled at him through
the wicket； and explained who he was and what was the favor he had come to ask
of the bank。 You can； perhaps； imagine how he stood and made little marks on a
blotter with his pencil while Luck explained just what he would want； and how
he clung to the noncommittal manner which is a cashier's professional shield；
while Luck smiled his smile to cover his own feeling of doubt and stated that
he merely wanted two Mexicans to enter； presumably overpower the cashier； and
depart with a bag or two of gold。
The cashier made a few more pencil marks and said that it might be arranged；
if Luck could find it convenient to make the picture just after the bank's
closing time。 Obviously the cashier could not permit the bank's patrons to be
disturbed in any waybut what he really wanted was to have the thrill of the
adventure all to himself。
With the two of them anxious to have the pictured robbery take place； of
course they arranged it after a polite sparring on the part of the cashier；
whose craving for adventure was carefully guarded as a guilty secret。
At three o'clock the next day； thenalthough Luck would have greatly
preferred an earlier hourthe cashier had the bank cleared of patro