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a normal human being you are going to expect a little gratitude from that man；
Luck had a flash of disappointment when he saw how indifferently Bill Holmes
took those twenties and counted them before shoving them into his pocket。 His
own voice was more crisply businesslike when he spoke again。
〃Annie…Many…Ponies back yet？ She's not in on the split either。 I'm paying her
ten a week besides her board。 That's good money for a squaw。〃 He counted out
the amount in ten dollar bills and snapped a rubber band around them。
〃Now here is the profit； boys； on your winter's work。 Applehead comes in with
the use of his ranch and stock and wagons and so on。 Here； pardhow does this
look to you？〃 His own pleasure in what he was doing warmed from Luck's voice
all the chill that Bill Holmes had sent into it。 He smiled his contagious
smile and peeled off fifty dollar banknotes until Applehead's eyes popped。
〃Oh； don't give me so dang much！〃 he gulped nervously when Luck had counted
out for him the amount he had jotted down opposite his name。 〃That there's
moren the hul dang ranch is worth if I was t' deed it over to yuh； Luck！ I
ain't goin' to take〃
〃You shut up；〃 Luck commanded him affectionately。 〃That's yoursnow； close
your face and let me get this thing wound up。 NowWILL you quit your arguing；
or shall I throw you out the window？〃
〃Well； now； I calc'late you'd have a right busy time throwin' ME out the
window；〃 Applehead boasted； and backed into a corner to digest this
astonishing turn of events。
One by one； as their names stood upon his list； Luck called the boys forward
and with exaggerated deliberation peeled off fifty…dollar notes and
one…hundred…dollar notes to take their breath and speech from them。
With Billy Wilders； his friend in the bank； to help him； he had boyishly built
that roll for just this heart…warming little ceremony。 He might have written
checks to square the account of each； but he wanted to make their eyes stand
out； just as he was doing。 He had looked forward to this half hour more
eagerly than any of them guessed； he had； with his eyes closed； visualized
this scene over more than one cigarette； his memory picturing vividly another
scene wherein these same young men had cheerfully emptied their pockets and
planned many small personal sacrifices that he； Luck Lindsay； might have money
enough to come here to New Mexico and make his one Big Picture。 Luck felt that
nothing less than a display of the profits in real money could ever quite
balance that other scene when all the Happy Familyhad in the world went in the
pot and they mourned because it was so little。
〃Aw； I betche Luck robbed a bank er something！〃 Happy Jack stuttered with an
awkward attempt to conceal his delight when his name was called； his
investment was read and the little sheaf of currency that represented his
profit was laid in his outstretched palm。
〃It's me for the movies if this is the way they pan out；〃 Weary declared
gleefully。 〃Mamma！ I didn't know there was so much money in the world！〃
〃I'll bet he milked Los Angeles dry of paper money；〃 Andy Green asserted
facetiously； thumbing his small fortune gloatingly。 〃Holding out anything for
yourself； Luck？ We don't want to be hogs。〃
〃I'm taking care of my interestsdon't you worry about that a minute；〃 Luck
stated complacently。 〃I held mine out first。 That wipes the slateand cleans
up the bank…roll。 I maintain The Phantom Herd was so…o…ome picture； boys。
They'll be getting it here in 'Querque soonwe'll all go in and see it。〃
〃Now we're all set for a fresh start。 And while you're all here I'll just put
you up to date。 on what kind of a deal I made with Dewitt。 We come in under
the wing of Excelsior； and our brand name will be Flying U Feature Filmhow
does that hit you？ You boys are all on a straight board…and…salary
basisthirty dollars a week； and it's up to me to make you earn it！〃 He
grinned and beckoned to Jean Douglas Avery and her companions in the next
room。
〃Mrs。 Avery； here； is our leading womankeeping the name of Jean Douglas；
since she made it valuable in that Lazy A serial she did a year or so ago。
Lite is on the same footing as the rest of you boys。 Her father will be my
assistant in choosing locations and so on。 Tommy Johnson； as I said； is
another assistant in another capacity； that of scenic artist and stage
carpenter。 Pete Lowry； here； is camera man and Bill Holmes will be his
assistant。 The rest of you work wherever I need youa good deal the way we
did last winter。 Annie…Many…Ponies stays with us as character lead and is in
general stock。 Rosemary〃 he stopped and smiled at her understandingly
〃Rosemary draws fifteen a weekoh； don't get scared！ I won't give you any
foreground stuff！ just atmosphere when I need it； and general comforter and
mascot of the company！〃
Luck may have stretched a point there； but if he did it was merely a technical
one。 Rosemary Green was hopelessly camera…shy； but he could use her in
background atmosphere； and when it came to looking after the physical and
mental welfare of the bunch she was worth her weight in any precious metal you
may choose to name。
〃You better put me down as camp cook and dishwasher； Luck Lindsay；〃 Rosemary
protested； blushing。
〃Nothank the Lord you won't have to cook for this hungry bunch any longer。
I've got a Mexican hired and headed this way。 There'll be no more of that kind
of thing for you； ladynot while you're with us。
〃Now； boys； let's get organized for action。 Weather's perfectLowry's been
raving over the light； all the way out from town。 I've got a range picture
all blocked outdid it while I was waiting in Los for Jean to show up。 Done
anything about roundup yet； Applehead？〃
Poor old Applehead； with his guilty conscience and his soft…hearted affection
for Luck so deeply stirred by the money laid in his big…knuckled hand；
shuffled his feet and cleared his throat and did not get one intelligible word
past his dry tongue。
〃If you haven't；〃 Luck hurried on； spurred by his inpatient energy； 〃I want to
organize and get out right away with a regular roundup outfitchuck…wagon；
remuda and allsee what I mean I While I'm getting the picture of the stuff I
want； we can gather and brand your calves。 That way； all my range scenes will
be of the real thing。 I may want to throw the Chavez outfit in with ours； too；
so as to get bigger stuff。 I'll try and locate Ramon Chavez and see what I can
do。 But anyway； I want the roundup outfit ready to start just as soon as
possibletomorrow； if we could get it together in time。 How about that
cracked tongue on the chuck…wagon？ Anybody fixed that？〃
〃We…ell； I wired it up so'st it's as solid as the rest uh the runnin' gear；〃
Applehead confessed shamefacedly； rolling his eyes apprehensively at the
flushed faces of his fellow traitors。
〃Yuh did？ Good！ Tires need setting； if I recollect〃
〃ErI had the boys set the tires； 'n'〃
〃