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〃Yuh did？ Good！ Tires need setting； if I recollect〃
〃ErI had the boys set the tires； 'n'〃
〃Fine！ I might have known you fellows would put things in shape while I was
gone！ How about the horses？ I thought I saw a bunch in the big corral〃
〃I rustled enough saddle horses to give us all two apiece；〃 Applehead
admitted； perspiring coldly。 〃'Tain't much of a string； but〃
〃You did？ Sounds like you've been reading my mind； Applehead。 Now we'll
grubstake the outfit〃
〃Erwell； I took the chuck…wagon in yest'day and loaded 'er up with grub fer
two weeks；〃 blurted Applehead heroically。 〃I was figurin'〃
〃Good！ Couldn't ask better。 Applehead； you sure are there when it comes to
backing a man's play。 If I haven't said much about how I stand toward you
fellows it isn't because I don't appreciate every durned one of you。〃
The Happy Family squirmed guiltily and made way for Applehead； who was sidling
toward the open door； his face showing alarming symptoms of apoplexy。 Their
confusion Luck set down to a becoming modesty。 He went on planning and
perfecting details。 Standing as he did on the threshold of a career to which
his one big success had opened the door； he was wholly absorbed in making
good。
There was nothing now to balk his progress； he told himself。 He had his
company； he had the location for his big range stuff； he bad all the financial
backing any reasonable man could want。 He had a salary that in itself gauged
the prestige he had gained among producers； and as an added incentive to do
the biggest work of his life he had a contract giving him a royalty on all
prints of his pictures in excess of a fixed number。 Better than all this； he
had big ideals and an enthusiasm for the work that knew no limitations。
Perhaps he was inclined to dream too big； per…haps he assumed too great an
enthusiasm on the part of those who worked with himI don't know just where
he did place the boundary line。 I do know that he never once suspected the
Happy Family of any meditated truancy from the ranch and his parting
instructions to 〃sit tight。〃 I also know that the Happy Family was not at all
likely to volunteer information of their lapse。 And as for Applehead； the
money burned his soul deep with remorse； so deep that he went around with an
abject eagerness to serve Luck that touched that young man as a rare example
of a bone…deep loyalty that knows no deceit。 Which proves once more how
fortunate it is that we cannot always see too deeply into the thoughts and
motives of our friends。
CHAPTER IV。 LOVE WORDS FOR ANNIE
In Tijeras Arroyo the moon made black shadows where stood the tiny knolls here
and there； marking frequently the windings of dry washes where bushes grew in
ragged patches and where tall weeds of mid…May tangled in the wind。 The
roundup tents of the Flying U Feature Film Company stood white as new snow in
the moonlight； though daylight showed them an odd； light…blue tint for
photographic purposes。 On a farther slope cunningly placed by the scenic
artist to catch the full sunlight of midday； the camp of the Chavez brothers
gleamed softly in the magic light。
So far had spring roundup progressed that Luck was holding the camp in Tijeras
Arroyo for picture…making only。 Applehead's calves were branded； to the
youngest pair of knock…kneed twins which Happy Jack found curled up together
cunningly hidden in a thicket。 They had been honored with a 〃close…up〃 scene；
those two spotted calves； and were destined to further honors which they did
not suspect and could not appreciate。
They slept now； as slept the two camps upon the two slopes that lay
moon…bathed at midnight。 Back where the moon was making the barren mountains a
wonderland of deep purple and black and silvery gray and brown； a coyote
yapped a falsetto message and was answered by one nearer at handhis mate； it
might be。 In a bush under the bank that made of it a black blot in the
unearthly whiteness of the sand； a little bird fluttered un；easily and sent a
small； inquiring chirp into the stillness。 From somewhere farther up the
arroyo drifted a faint； aromatic odor of cigarette smoke。
Had you been there by the bush you could not have told when Annie…Many…Ponies
passed by； you would not have seen hercertainly you could not have heard the
soft tread of her slim； moccasined feet。 Yet she passed the bush and the bank
and went away up the arroyo； silent as the shadows themselves； swift as the
coyote that trotted over a nearby ridge to meet her mate nearer the mountains。
Sol following much the same instinct in much the same way； Annie…Many…Ponies
stole out to meet the man her heart timidly yearned for a possible mate。
She reached the rock…ledge where the smoke odor was strongest； and she
stopped。 She saw Ramon Chavez； younger of the Chavez brothers who were
ten…mile…off neighbors of Applehead； and who owned many cattle and much land
by right of an old Spanish grant。 He was standing in the shadow of the ledge；
leaning against it as they of sun…saturated New Mexico always lean against
anything perpendicular and solid near which they happen to stand。 He was
watching the white…lighted arroyo while he smoked； waiting for her；
unconscious of her near presence。
Annie…Many…Ponies stood almost within reach of him； but she did not make her
presence known。 With the infinite wariness of her race she waited to see what
he would do； to read； if she might； what were his thoughtshis attitude
toward her in his unguarded moments。 That little； inscrutable smile which so
exasperated Applehead was on her lips while she watched him。
Ramon finished that cigarette； threw away the stab and rolled and lighted
another。 Still Annie…Many…Ponies gave no little sign of her presence。 He
watched the arroyo； and once he leaned to one side and stared back at his own
quiet camp on the slope that had the biggest and the wildest mountain of that
locality for its background。 He settled himself anew with his other shoulder
against the rock； and muttered something in Spanishthat strange； musical
talk which Annie…Many…Ponies could not understand。 And still she watched him；
and exulted in his impatience for her coming； and wondered if it would always
be lovelight which she would see in his eyes。
He was not of her race； though in her pride she thought him favored when she
named him akin to the Sioux。 He was not of her race； but he was tall and he
was straight； he was dark as she； he was strong and brave and he bad many
cattle and much broad acreage。 Annie…Many…Ponies smiled upon him in the dark
and was glad that she； the daughter of a chief of the Sioux； had been found
good in his sight。
Five minutes； ten minutes。 The coyote； yap…yap…yapping in the broken land
beyond them； found his mate and was silent。 Ramon Chavez； waiting in the
shadow of the ledge； muttered a Mexican oath and stepped out into the
moonlight and stood there； tempted to return to his campfor he； also；