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In spite of Andy Green's plea for delay until they knew what Luck meant to do；
Applehead went on with his energetic preparations for a spring roundup of his
own。 Some perverse spirit seemed to possess him and drive him out of his
easy…going shiftlessness。 He offered to hire the Happy Family by the day；
since none of them would promise any permanent service until they heard from
Luck。 He put them to work gathering up the saddle…horses that had been turned
loose when Luck's picture was finished； and repairing harness and attending to
the numberless details of reorganizing a ranch long left to slipshod
make…shifts。
The boys of the Flying U argued while they worked； but in spite of themselves
the lure of the mesa quickened their movements。 They were supposed to wait for
Luck before they did anything； an they all knew that。 But； on the other hand；
Luck was supposed to keep them informed as to his movements； which he had not
done。 They did not voice one single doubt of Lucks loyalty to them； but human
nature is more prone to suspicion than to faith； as every one knows。 And Luck
had the power and the incentive to 〃double…cross〃 them if he was the kind to
do such a thing。 He was manager for their little free…lance picture company
which did not even have a name to call itself by。 They had produced one big
feature film； and it was supposed to be a cooperative affair from start to
finish。 If Luck failed to make good； they would all be broke together。 If Luck
cleared up the few thousands that had been their hope； whythey would all
profit by the success； if Luck
I maintain that they showed themselves of pretty good metal； in that not even
Happy Tack； confirmed pessimist that he was； ever put the least suspicion of
Luck's honesty into words。 They were not the kind to decry a comrade when his
back was turned。 And they had worked with Luck Lindsay and had worked for him。
They had slept under the same roof with him； had shared his worries；his hopes；
and his fears。 They did not believe that Luck had appropriated the proceeds of
The Phantom Herd and had deliberately left them there to cool their heels and
feel the emptiness of their pockets in New Mexico； while he disported himself
in Los Angeles； they didnot believe thatthey would have resented the
implication that they harbored any doubt of him。 But for all that； as the days
passed and he neither came nor sent them any word； they yielded more and more
to the determination of Applehead to start out upon his own business； and they
said less and less about Luck's probable plans for the future。
And then； just when they were making ready for an early start the next
morning； just when Applehead had the corral full of horses and his chuckwagon
of grub； just when the Happy Family had packed their war…bags with absolute
necessities and were justifying themselves in final arguments with Andy Green；
who refused point…blank to leave the； ranchthen； at the time a dramatist
would have chosen for his entrance for an effective 〃curtain；〃 here came Luck；
smiling and driving a huge seven…passenger machine crowded to the last folding
seat and with the chauffeur riding on the running board where Luck had calmly
banished him when he skidded on a sharp turn and came near upsetting them。
Applehead； stowing a coil of new rope in the chuck…wagon； took off his hat and
rubbed his shiny； pink pate in dismay。 He was； for the moment； a culprit
caught in the act of committing a grave misdemeanor if not an actual felony。
He dropped the rope and went forward with dragging feetashamed； for the
first time in his life； to face a friend。
Luck gave the wheel a twist； cut a fine curve around the windmill and stopped
before the house with as near a flourish as a seven…passenger automobile
loaded from tail…lamp to windshield can possibly approach。
〃There。 That's the way I've been used to seeing cars behave；〃 Luck observed
pointedly to the deposed chauffeur as he slammed the door open and climbed
out。 〃You don't have to act like you're a catepillar on a rail fence； to play
safe。 I believe in keeping all four wheels on the groundbut I like to see
'em turn once in awhile。 You get me？〃 He peeled a five…dollar banknote off a
roll the size of his wrist； handed it to the impressed chauffeur and dismissed
the transaction with a wave of his gloved hand。 〃You're all right； brother；〃
he tempered his criticism； 〃but I'm some nervous about automobiles。〃
〃I noticed that myself；〃 drawled a soft； humorous voice from the rear。 〃This
is the nearest I ever came to traveling by telegraph。〃
Luck grinned； waved his hand in friendly greeting to the Happy Family who were
taking long steps up from the corral； and turned his attention to the
unloading of the machine。 〃Howdy； folks！guess yuh thought I'd plumb lost the
trail back；〃 he called to them over his shoulder while he dove after
suitcases； packages of various sizes and shapes； a box or two which the Happy
Family recognized as containing 〃raw stock；〃 and a camera tripod that looked
perfectly new。
From the congested tonneau a tall； slim young woman managed to descend without
stepping on anything that could not bear being stepped upon。 She gave her
skirts a little shake； pushed back a flying strand of hair and turned her back
to the machine that she might the better inspect her immediate surroundings。
Old Dave Wiswell； the dried little man who never had much to say； peered at
her sharply； hesitated and then came forward with his bony hand outstretched
and trembling with eagerness。 〃Why； my gorry！ If it ain't Jean Douglas； my
eyes are lyin' to me；〃 he cried。
〃It isn't Jean Douglasbut don't blame your eyes for that；〃 said the girl；
taking his hand and shaking it frankly。 〃Jean Douglas Avery； thanks to the law
that makes a girl trade her name for a husband。 You know Lite； of course
dad； too。〃
〃Well； wellmy gorry I I should say I do！ Howdy； Aleck？〃 He shook the hand of
the old man Jean called dad； and his lips trembled uncertainly； seeking speech
that would not hurt a very； very sore spot in the heart of big Aleck Douglas。
〃I'm shore glad to meet yuh again；〃 he stuttered finally； and let it go at
that 〃And how are yuh； Lite？ Just as long and lanky as evermarriage shore
ain't fattened you up none。 My gorry！ I shore never expected to see you folks
away down here！〃
〃Thought you heard me say when I left that the Great Western had offered to
get me Jean Douglas for leading lady；〃 Luck put in； looking around
distractedly for a place to deposit his armload of packages。 〃That's one thing
that kept mewaiting for her to show up。 Of course a man naturally expects a
woman to take her own time about starting〃
〃I like that！〃 Jean drawled。 〃We broke up housekeeping and wound up a ranch
and traveled a couple of thousand miles in just a week's time。 Wewe ALMOST
hit the same gait you did from town out here today！〃
Rosemary Green came out then； and Luck turned to greet her and to pres