The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1918-06-14
Courage and
Cash
n0
ny r. A BAKRR


Copyright 1918. BY the Mcclure Nswspa-
per s~yndicate)
Long before she left Indlana-where
she irst saw the light Of day and sub
sequently saw the light OF some 7.o0d
days-Catherine Owens had decided on
tho three G" policy when II came TO
matrlmony. A man must have cour.
aee and cash then he would stand a
chance Of possessing Catherine.
II was principally on o OF her
fathers health that they had gone out
TO a the small sheep ranch In a
uparsely settled part OF Montana. and
there, exiled from civilization. Cath.
crime didn't change her views In fact.
az none OF The men who occasionally
appeared NJ the ranch seemed to have
either OF the necessary qualifications.
she gradually lost interest In the sub
Jet Of marriage and devoted her spare
time. which was plentiful. to people In
story books.
Nevertheless, while she looked with
disdain on all the mere male creatures
that happened along. Catherine had
hopes lingering somewhere within her
that the three c" man would enter
her little world sometime. She wns
twenty-one, and NJ that age most girls
begin to have serious thoughts OF we'd.
ded bliss.
Thus things stood when a strange
young man rode up 10 the vernndn OF
the ranch house one sunny afternoon
and asked what were the chances OF
being a guest NJ the supper table. lie
said the prospects were. n he didn't
obtain n real meal soon. that he would
fall BY the wayside before he reached
Odessa, ten miles away.
Catherine was seated on the yernndn
reading. Her father was out tending
bis flock and her mother was taking
q nap.
The nrst real man besides my "a.
Their that have seen In the whole year
I've been here" said Catherine-to her.
self. His hair was coal black, a. we're
his eyes aud he straddled his lively
bay mount with n jauntiness that
u%ptlNutri Cutherine-aimost. His
broad.brimmed hat sat rakishly on his
head aud he wore a blue shirt. cordu.
ROY breeches. cowhide boots, a red
bnndana NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
cowboy Is supposed to wear but fire.
Quently doesn't except on parade. The
stranger eve "toted" a revolver In a
holster on a cartridge belt around his
waist.
with a gallant sweep Of his hat he
introduced himself as Fred Garland
and dlsmounted. as though II vas a
%foregons conclusion he would be In.
vited To stay. A. n matter OF fact, u
was. Catherine wouldn't have let
him get away.
The meal was a jolly one. Garland
told humorous stories and proved very
entertaining. His speech and manners
showed education and refinement and
~ Catherine watched him with her
big. gray eyes, she became decidedly
Interested.
After that Garland was a frequent
visitor, and II was plain from his ac.
lions that Catherine was the attrac.
ton. He proved TO be a mystery. for
he told where he came from,
where he was going or the nature OF
his vocation.
one day. six weeks after they be-
came acquainted. while they we're
walking IN the woods. the conversa.
ton took a personal turn. Catherine
Intentionally guided II Into that chan.
mel. for she was curious concerning
0arlAnd's past-as well as his present.
They sat On a log, and he chewed a
piece Of grass while she built n house
OF sand on the ground with the end
OF her parnsol.
Presently Garland leaned close 20
her and said earnestly;
Il might just as well tell you now
what's been In my mind since ! met
you. ] want to marry you"
Catherine had been expecting u.
rather hoping for Il. However, she
didn't Ming herself into his arms In
stead. she carefully wrecked the sand
house with the pnrasol.
II don't know she said demurely.
"You see, ] don't know anything about
you"
He hesithted several minutes. twist.
Ing his hat out OF shape. Then he
spoke IA a rather strained tone:
Its a rather painful topic. I came
OF a good family and was educated
at Yale; but ! guess I was a black
sheep, for | never made use OF what I
I contented myself with
drifting aimlessly about, exiting by
doing various kinds Of jobs. Finally I
on'a cattle ranch In this neigh.
borhood. Not n very rosy prospect. I
admit, but II you were my wife I'd
az Incentive TO do something
worth while"
Catherine was fond Of him. she was
bound To admit, and she told him 20.
However, she had taught herself TO
hold the three @" creed almost sacred,
and she said she would have 20 reserve
her decision for a week.
aINa aIpVaya said a man ur.t.Ia l.-..