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to come。 Ramon had known many girls who were given to sulking over what he
considered their imaginary wrongs； and he was very sure that he knew women
better than they knew themselves。 She would come； give her time enough； and
she could not fling at him then any taunt that he had been over…eager。
Certainly she would comeshe was a woman！
But the shadow of the pines lengthened until they lay like long fingers across
the earth； and still she did not come。 Bill Holmes and Luis； secure in the
knowledge that Ramon was on guard against any unlooked…for visitors； slept
heavily on the crude bunks in the cabin。 Birds began twittering animatedly as
the beat of the day cooled and they came forth from their shady retreatsand
still Annie…Many…Ponies sat on the little billtop； within easy calling
distance of the cabin； and never once looked down that way。 Still the little
black dog curled at her feet and slept。 For all the movement these two made；
they might have been of stone； the pine above was more unquiet than they。
Ramon； watching her while he smoked many cigarettes； became filled with a
vague uneasiness What was she thinking？ What did she mean to do？ He began to
have faint doubts of her coming down to him。 He began to be aware of something
in her nature that was unlike those other women； something more inflexible；
more silent； something that troubled him even while he told himself that she
was like all the rest and he would be her master。
〃Bah！ She thinks to play with me； Ramon！ Then I will go up and I will show
hershe will follow weeping at my heelslike that dog of hers that some day
I shall kill！〃
He got up and threw away his cigarette； glanced within and saw that Bill and
Luis still slept； and started up the hill to where that motionless figure sat
beneath the pine and kept her face turned from him。 It would be better；
thought Ramon； to come upon her unawares； and so he went softly and very
slowly； placing each foot as carefully as though he were stalking a wild thing
of the woods。
Annie…Many…Ponies did not hear him coming。 All her heart was yearning toward
that far away mesa。 〃Wagalexa Conkacola！〃 she whispered； for 〃cola〃 is the
Sioux word for friend。 Aloud she dared not speak the word； lest some tricksy
breeze carry it to him and fill him with； anger because she had betrayed his
friendship。 〃Wagalexa Conkacola！ cola！〃
Friendship that was deadbut she yearned for it the more。 And it seemed to
her as she whispered； that Wagalexa Conka was very； very near。 Her heart felt
his nearness； and her eyes softened。 The Indian lookthe look of her fighting
forefathersdrifted slowly from her face as fog； drifts away before the sun。
He was nearperhaps he was dead and his spirit had come to take her spirit by
the hand and call her colafriend。 If that were so； then she wished that her
spirit might go with his spirit； up through all that limitless blue； away and
away and away； and never stop； and never tire and never feel anything but
friendship like warm； bright sunshine！
Down at the cabin a sounda cry； a shoutstartled her。 She brushed her hand
across her eyes and looked down。 There； surrounding the cabin； were the Happy
Family； and old Applehead whom she hated because he hated her。 And in their
midst stood Bill Holmes and Luis； and the setting sun shone on something
brightlike great silver ringsthat clasped their wrists。
Coming up the hill toward her was Wagalexa Conka； climbing swiftly； looking up
as he came。 Annie…Many…Ponies sprang to her feet； startling the little black
dog that gave a yelp of astonishment。 Came he in peace？ She hesitated；
watching him unwinkingly。 Something swelled in her chest until she could
hardly breathe； and then fluttered there like a prisoned bird。 〃COLA！〃 she
gasped； just under her breath； and raised her hand in the outward； sweeping
gesture that spoke peace。
〃You theenk to fix trap； you！〃
She whirled and faced Ramon； whose eyes blazed bate and murder and whose
tongue spoke the foulness of his soul。 He flung out his arm fiercely and
thrust her aside。 〃Me； I kill that dam〃
He did not say any more； and the six…shooter he had levelled at Luck dropped
from his nerveless hand like a coiled adder； Annie…Many…Ponies had struck。
Like an avenging spirit she pulled the knife free and held it high over her
head； facing Luck who stared up at her from below。 He thought the look in her
eyes was fear of him and of the law； and he lifted his hand and gave back the
peace…sign。 It was for him she had killed and she should not be punished if he
could save her。 But Luck failed to read her look aright； it was not fear he
saw； but farewell。
For with her free hand she made the sign of peace and farewelland then the
knife descended straight as a plummet to her heart。 But even as she fell she
spurned the dead Ramon with her feet； so that he rolled a little way while the
black dog growled at him with bared teeth； even in death she would not touch
him who had been so foul。
Luck ran the last few； steep steps； and took her in his arms。 His eyes were
blurred so that he could not see her face； and his voice shook so that he
could scarcely form the words that brushed back death from her soul and
brought a smile to her eyes。
〃Annielittle sister！〃
Annie…Many…Ponies raised one creeping hand； groping until her fingers touched
his face。
〃Wagalexa Conkacola！〃
He took her fingers and for an instant； while she yet could feel； he laid them
against his lips。
End