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middle distance。 They'll register in the scene； if you can't turn 'em。〃
〃Applehead！〃 Luck called through the megaphone to his irritated prospector。
〃Get those riders outa the canonthey're in the scene！〃
Applehead promptly appeared； glaring up at luck。 〃Well； now； if I've got to
haul this here dang jackass up this dang gulch； I cal'clate that'll be about
job enough for one man；〃 he yelled。 〃How yuh expect me t' go two ways 't once？
Hey？ Yuh figured that out yit？〃 He turned then for a look at the interrupting
strangers； and immediately they saw his manner change。 He straightened up； and
his right hand crept back significantly toward his hip。 Applehead； I may here
explain； was an ex…sheriff； and what range men call a 〃go…getter。〃 He had
notches on the ivory handle of his gunthree of them。 In fair fights and in
upholding the law he had killed； and he would kill again if the need ever
arose； as those who knew him never doubted。
Luck； seeing that backward movement of the hand； unconsciously hitched his own
gun into position on his hip and came down off his rock ledge with one leap。
Just as instinctively the Happy Family scrambled out of the shade and followed
luck down the gulch to where Applehead stood facing down the canon；
watchfulness in every tense line of his lank figure。 Tommy Johnson； who never
seemed to be greatly interested in anything save his work； got up from where
he lay close beside the camera tripod and went over to the other side of the
gulch where he could see plainer。
Like a hunter poising his shotgun and making ready when his trained bird…dog
points； Luck walked guardedly down the gulch to where Applehead stood watching
the horsemen who had for the moment passed out of sight of those above。
〃Now； what's that danged shurf want； prowlin' up HERE with a couple uh
depittys？〃 Applehead grumbled when he heard Luck's footsteps crunching behind
him。 〃Uh course；〃 he added grimly； 〃he MIGHT be viewin' the scenerybut it's
dang pore weather fur pleasure…ridin'； now I'm tellin' ye！ Them a comin' up
here don't look good to ME； Luck'n' if they ain't〃
〃How do you know it's the sheriff？〃 Luck for no reason whatever felt a sudden
heaviness of spirit。
〃Hey？ Think my eyes is failin' me？〃 Applehead gave him a sidelong glance of
hasty indignation。 〃I'd know ole Hank Miller a mile off with m' eyes shet。〃
By then the three riders rode out into plain view。 Perhaps the sight of Luck
and Applehead standing there awaiting their arrival； with the whole Happy
Family and Big Aleck Douglas and Lite Avery moving down in a close…bunched；
expectant group behind the two； was construed as hostility rather than
curiosity。 At any rate the sheriff and his deputies shifted meaningly in their
saddles and came up sour…faced and grim； and with their guns out and pointing
at the group。
〃Don't go making any foolish play； boys；〃 the sheriff warned。 〃We don't want
troublewe aren't looking for any。 But we ain't taking any chances。〃
〃Well now； you're takin' a dang long chance； Hank Miller； when yuh come ridin'
up on us fellers like yuh was cornerin' a bunch uh outlaws；〃 Applehead
exploded。 But Luck pushed him aside and stepped to the front。
〃Nobody's making any foolish play but you；〃 he answered the sheriff calmly。
〃You may not know it； but you're blocking my scene and the light's going。 If
you've got any business with me or my company； get it over and then get out so
we aim make this scene。 What d'yuh want？〃
〃You；〃 snapped the sheriff。 〃You and your bunch。〃
〃Me？〃 Luck took a step forward。 〃What for？〃
〃For pulling off that robbery at the bank today。〃 The sheriff could be pretty
blunt； and he shot the charge straight； without any quibbling。
Luck looked a little blank； and old Applehead； shaking with a very real anger
now； shoved Luck away and stepped up where he could shake his fist under the
sheriff's nose。
〃We don't know； and we don't give a cuss； what you're aimin' at；〃 he
thundered。 〃We been out here workin' in this brilin' sun sense nine o'clock
this mornin'。 Luck ain't robbed no bank； ner he ain't the kind that DOES rob
banks； and I'm here to see you swaller them words 'fore I haul ye off'n that
horse and plumb wear ye out！ Yuh wanta think twicet 'fore ye come ridin' up
where I kin hear yuh call Luck Lindsay a thief； now I'm tellin' ye！ If a bank
was robbed； ye better be gittin' out after them that done it； and git outa the
way uh that camery sos't we can git t' work！ Git！〃
The sheriff did not 〃git〃 exactly； but he did look considerably embarrassed。
His eyes went to Luck apologetically。
〃Cashier come to and said you'd called him up on the phone about eleven；
claimin' you wanted to make a movin' pitcher of the bank being robbed；〃 he
explainedthough he was careful not to lower his gun。 〃He swore it was your
men that done the work and took the gold you told him to pile out on the〃
〃_I_ told him？〃 Luck's voice had the sharpened quality that caused laggard
actors to jump。 〃Be a little more exact in the words you use。〃
〃Well…lsomebody on the phone 't he THOUGHT was you；〃 the sheriff amended
obediently。 〃Your menand they sure WAS your men； because three or four
fellers besides the cashier seen 'em goin' in and comin' outthey gagged the
cashier and took his keys away from him and cleaned the safe； besides taking
what gold he'd piled on the counter for yfor 'em。
〃So；〃 he finished vigorously； 〃I an' my men hit the trail fer the ranch and
was told by the women that you was out here。 And here we are； and you might
just as well come along peaceable as to make a fuss〃
〃That thar is shore enough outa YOU； Hank Miller！〃 Applehead exploded again。
〃I calc'late you kin count ME in； when you go mixin' up with Luck； here。 I'm
one of his menand if he was to pull off a bank robbery I calc'late I'd be in
on that there performance too； I'm tellin' you！ Luck don't go no whars ner do
nothin' that I AIN'T in on。
〃I've had some considerable experience as shurf myself； if you'll take the
trouble to recolleck； and I calc'late my word'Il go about as fur as the next。
When I tell ye thar ain't goin' to be no arrest made in Bear Canon； and that
you ain't goin' to take luck in fer no bank robbery； you kin be dang shore I
mean every word uh that thar！〃 He moved a step or two nearer the sheriff； and
the sheriff backed his horse away from him。
〃Ef you kin cut out this here accusin' Luck； and talk like a white man；〃
Applehead continued heatedly； 〃we'd like to hear the straight uh this here
robbery。 I would； 'n' I know Luck would； seein' they've gone t' work and mixed
him into it。 His bunch is all here； as you kin see fer yourself。 Now we're
listenin' 's long's you talk polite'n' you kin tell us what men them was
that was seen goin' in and comin' outand all about the hul＇ dang business。〃
The sheriff had not ridden to Bear Canon expecting to be bullied into civil
speech and lengthy explanations； but he knew Appleh