The Nevada County picayune., 1918-05-09
Courage and Cash
 oo
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa
 per Syndicate)
By R. RAY BAKER

per Syndicate.) Long before she left Indiana-where she first saw the light of day and sub sequently saw the light of some 7,666 days-Catherine Owens had decided on the three c" policy when 1t came to matrimony. A man must have cour- age and cash; then he would stand chance of possessing Catherine. It was principally on account of her fathers health that they had gone out to run the small sheep ranch in sparsely settled part of Montana, and there, exiled from civilization, Cath erine didn't change her views. In fact, as none of the men who occasionally appeared at the ranch seemed to have either of the necessary qualifications, she gradually lost interest in the sub Ject 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 was twenty-one, and at that age most girls begin to have serious thoughts of we'd ded bliss.
 Thus things stood when a strange young man rode up to the veranda of the ranch house one sunny afternoon an6 acHnH hot ha Dbon aF being guest at the supper table. He said the prospects were, If he didn't obtain real meal soon, that he would fall by the wayside before he reached Odessa, ten miles away.
 Catherine was seated on the veranda reading. Her father was out tending his flock and her mother was taking nap.
 "The first real man besides my fa- ther that have seen in the whole year I've been here," said Catherine-to her self. His hair was coal black, as were his eyes, and he straddled his lively bay mount with a jauntiness that captivated Catherine-almost. His broad-brimmed hat sat rakishly on his head and he wore a blue shirt. cordu roy brooches. cowhide boots. red bandana kerchief-everything a cowboy is supposed to wear but ire Quently doesn't except on parade. The stranger even "toted' a revolver in a holster on cartridge belt around his waist.
 With gallant sweep of his hat he introduced himself as Fred Garland and dismounted, as though 1t was a foregone conclusion he would be in- vited to stay. AS matter of fact, 1t was. Catherine wouldn't have let him get away.
 The meal was jolly one. Garland told humorous stories and proved very entertaining. His speech and manners showed education and refinement; and as Catherine watched him with her big, gray eyes, she became decidedly interested.
 After that Garland was a frequent visitor, and 1t was plain from his ac- tions that Catherine was the attrac- tion. He proved to be a mystery, for he never 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 were walking in the woods, the eonyersa- ton took a personal turn. Catherine Intentionally guided it into that chan nel, for she was curious concerning Garand's past-as well as his present. They sat on a log, and he chewed a piece of grass while she built house of sand on the ground with the end of her parasol.
 Presently Garland leaned close to her and said earnestly: v --.
 "I might just as we'll tell you now what's been in my mind since l met you. I want to marry you"
 Catherine had been expecting 1t, rather hoping for 1t. However, she didn't fling herself into his arms; in- stead, she carefully wrecked the sand house with the parasol.
 "I don't know" she said demurely. You see, don't know anything about you" ~..,.
 He hesitated several minutes, twist ing his hat out. of shape. Then he spoke in a rather strained tone:
 Its a rather painful topic. came of good family and was educated at Yale but I guess I was black sheep, for I never made use of what learned contented myself with drifting aimlessly about, existing by doing various kinds of jobs. Finally landed on a cattle ranch in this neigh borhood. Not very rosy prospect, admit, but If you were my wife I'd have an incentive to do something worth while"
 Catherine was fond of him. she was bound to admit. and she told him so. However, she had taught herself to hold the three O. creed almost sacred, and she said she would have to reserve her decision for week.