E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Project Gutenberg Beginners Projects,Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
BY B. M. BOWER
Author of Chip of the Flying-U, The Flying-U's Last Stand,
The Gringos, etc.
1916
FOREWORD
For the accuracy of certain parts of this story which deal mostintimately with the business of making motion pictures, I am indebted toBuck Connor. whose name is a sufficient guarantee that all technicalpoints are correct. His criticism, advice and other assistance have beeninvaluable, and I take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation andthanks for the help he has given me.
B.M.BOWER.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I THE INDIANS MUST GO
II "WHERE THE CATTLE ROAMED IN THOUSANDS, A-MANY A HERD AND BRAND..."
III AND THEY SIGH FOR THE DAYS THAT ARE GONE
IV THE LITTLE DOCTOR PROTESTS
V A BUNCH OF ONE-REELERS FROM BENTLY BROWN
VI VILLAINS ALL AND PROUD OF IT
VII BENTLY BROWN DOES NOT APPRECIATE COMEDY
VIII "THERE'S GOT TO BE A LINE DRAWN SOMEWHERES"
IX LEAVE IT TO THE BUNCH
X UNEXPECTED GUESTS FOR APPLEHEAD
XI JUST A FEW UNFORESEEN OBSTACLES
XII "I THINK YOU NEED INDIAN GIRL FOR PICTURE"
XIII "PAM. BLEAK MESA—CATTLE DRIFTING BEFORE WIND—"
XIV "PLUMB SPOILED, D'YUH MEAN?"
XV A LETTER FROM CHIEF BIG TURKEY
XVI "THE CHANCES IS SLIM AND GITTIN' SLIMMER"
XVII THE STORM
XVIII A FEW OF THE MINOR DIFFICULTIES
XIX WHEREIN LUCK MAKES A SPEECH
XX "SHE'S SHAPING UP LIKE A BANK ROLL"
Luck Lindsay had convoyed his thirty-five actor-Indians to theirreservation at Pine Ridge, and had turned them over to the agent in goodcondition and a fine humor and nice new hair hatbands and other fixings;while their pockets were heavy with dollars that you may be sure wouldnot he spent very wisely. He had shaken hands with the braves, and hadpromised to let them know when there was another job in sight, and tospeak a good word for them to other motion-picture companies who mightwant to hire real Indians. He had smiled at the fat old squaws who hadwaddled docilely in and out of the scenes and teetered tirelessly roundand round in their queer native dances in the hot sun at his behest, whenLuck wanted several rehearsals of "atmosphere" scenes before turning thecamera on them.
They hated to go back to the tame life of the reservation and tostringing beads an