IFL Limitation causes engine confusion?

Working on some graphics currently, and I need image to display for more than 9 'counts' (or whatever the length is) that the IFL's display for. So, I have this:

myGraphicA.jpg 9
myGraphicB.jpg 9

Now, if I make the 9 ANYTHING higher, then the image simple dosen't animate at all in-game... it just stays myGraphicA.jpg forever.

So, I then, on a hunch, tried the following:

myGraphicA.jpg 9
myGraphicA.jpg 9
myGraphicB.jpg 9
myGraphicB.jpg 9

Surprisingly, this also caused confusion to the engine, and it still just displayed myGraphicA.jpg for all eternity. So, the very first example I gave way above DOES work, but it goes so fast I think I'm gonna have a seizure!

What's my question, you're probably asking by now... well, it's this...

-) What are the limitations on .IFL files?

-) Is there any way to get it to display a single graphic for MORE than 9 counts?

-) What is The Matrix?


Thanks to anyone who can assist!
-Dave C.