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one of the numberless small ridges which； blended together in the disance；
give that deceptive look of flatness to the mesa。 Even two miles away； in that
clear air that dwarfs distance so amazingly； Wagalexa Conka might recognize
her if he looked at her with sufficient attention。 But Wagalexa Conka； she
told herself with a flash of her black eyes； would not look。 Wagalexa Conka
was too busy looking at that slim woman he had brought with him。
That ridge she crossed； and two others。 On the last one she stopped and stood；
straight and still； and stared away towards the mountains； shading her eyes
with one spread palm。 On a distant slope a small herd of cattle fed； scattered
and at peace。 Nearer； a great hawk circled slowly on widespread wings； his
neck craned downward as if he were watching his own shadow move ghostlike over
the grass。 Annie…Many…Ponies； turning her eyes disappointedly from the empty
mesa； envied the hawk his swift…winged freedom。
When she looked again toward the far slopes next the mountains； a black speck
rolled into view； the nucleus of a little dust cloud。 Her face brightened a
little； she turned abruptly and sought easy footing down that ridge； and
climbed hurriedly the longer rise beyond。 Once or twice； when she was on high
ground； she glanced behind her uneasily； as does one whose mind holds a
certain consciousness of wrongdoing。 She did not pause； even then； but hurried
on toward the dust cloud。
On the rim of a shallow； saucer…like basin that lay cunningly concealed until
one stood upon the very edge of it； Annie…Many…Ponies stopped again and stood
looking out from under her spread palm。 Presently the dust cloud moved over
the crest of a ridge； and now that it was so much closer she saw clearly the
horseman loping abreast of the dust。 Annie…Many…Ponies stood for another
moment watching； with that inscrutable half smile on her lips。 She untied the
cerise silk kerchief which she wore knotted loosely around her slim neck；
waited until the horseman showed plainly in the distance and then； raising her
right hand high above her head； waved the scarf three times in slow； sweeping
half circles from right to left。 She waited； her eyes fixed expectantly upon
the horseman。 Like a startled rabbit he darted to the left； pulled in his
horse； turned and rode for three or four jumps sharply to the right； stopped
short for ten seconds and then came straight on； spurring his horse to a
swifter pace。
Annie…Many…Ponies smiled and went down into the shallow basin and seated
herself upon the wide； adobe curbing of an old well that marked； with the
nearby ruins of an adobe house； the site； of an old habitation of tragic
history。 She waited with the absolute patience of her race for the horseman
had yet a good two miles to cover。 While she waited she smiled dreamily to
herself and with dainty little pats and pulls she widened the flaring red bows
on her hair and retied the cerise scarf in its picturesque； loose knot about
her throat。 As a final tribute to that feminine instinct which knows no race
she drew from some cunningly devised hiding place a small； cheap 〃vanity box；〃
and proceeded very gravely to powder her nose。
CHAPTER III。 TO THE VICTORS THE SPOILS
〃Hey； boys！〃 Luck Lindsay shouted to Applehead and one or two of the Happy
Family who were down at the chuckwagon engaged in uneasy discussion as to
what Luck would say when he found out about their intention to leave。 〃Come on
up herethis is going to be a wiping out of old scores and I want to get it
over with！〃
〃Well； now； I calc'late the fur's about to fly；〃 Applehead made dismal
prophecy； as they started to obey the summons。 〃All 't su'prises me is 't he's
held off this long。 Two hours is a dang long time fer Luck to git in action；
now I'm tellin' yuh！〃 He took off his hat and polished his shiny pate； as was
his habit when perturbed。 〃I'm shore glad we had t' wait and set them wagon…
tires；〃 he added。 〃We'd bin started this mornin' only fer that。〃
〃Aw； we ain't done nothing；〃 Happy Jack protested in premature self defense。
〃We ain't left the ranch yet。 I guess a feller's got a right to THINK！〃
〃He has； if he's got anything to do it with；〃 Pink could not forbear to remark
pointedly。
〃Well； if a feller didn't have； he'd have a fat chance borrying from YOU；〃
Happy Jack retorted。
〃Well； by cripes； I ain't perpared to bet very high that there's a teacupful
uh brains in this hull outfit；〃 Big Medicine asserted。 〃We might a knowed
Luck'd come back loaded fer bear； we WOULD a knowed it if we had any brains in
our heads。 I'm plumb sore at myself。 By cripes； I need kickin'！〃
〃You'll get it； chances are；〃 Pink assured him grimly。
Luck was in the living room； sitting at a table on which were scattered many
papers Scribbled with figures。 He had a cigarette in his lips； his hat on the
back of his head and a twinkle in his eyes。 He looked up and grinned as they
came reluctantly into the room。
〃Time's money from now on； so this is going to be cut short as possible；〃 he
began with his usual dynamic energy showing in his tone and in the movements
of his hands as he gathered up the papers and evened their edges on the table
top。 〃You fellows know how much you put into the game when we started out to
come here and produce The Phantom Herd； don't you？ If you don't； I've got the
figures here。 I guess the returns are all in on that pictureand so far She's
brought us twenty…three thousand and four hundred dollars。 She went big；
believe me！ I sold thirty states。 Well； cost of production is…what we put in
the pool； plus the cost of making the prints I got in Los。 We pull out the
profits according to what we put insabe？ I guess that suits everybody；
doesn't it？〃
〃Sure；〃 one astonished voice gulped faintly。 The others were dumb。
〃Well； I've figured it out that wayand to make sure I had it right I got
Billy Wilders； a pal of mine that works in a bank there； to figure it himself
and check up after me。 We all put in our servicesone man's work against
every other man's work； mine same as any of you。 Bill Holmes； here； didn't
have any money up； and he was an apprenticebut I'm giving him twenty a week
besides his board。 That suit you； Bill？〃
〃I guess it's all right；〃 Bill answered in his colorless tone。
Luck； being extremely sensitive to tones； cocked an eye up at Bill before he
deliberately peeled； from the roll he drew from his pocket； enough twenty
dollar notes to equal the number of weeks Bill had worked for him。 〃And that's
paying you darned good money for apprentice work；〃 he informed him drily； a
little hurt by Bill's lack of appreciation。 For when you take a man from the
streets because he is broke and hungry and homeless； and feed him and give him
work and clothes and three meals a day and a warm bed to sleep in； if yon are
a normal human being you are going to expect a little gratitude from that man；
Luck had a flash of dis