The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-05-10
Courage and
Cash
@1
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)
By r. RAY BAKER

IssssssssssSsssssssssssSsssssssssSssS
Copyright, 1915 by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate.)
Long before she left Indiana-wher
she first saw the light of day and sub
seQuently saw the light of some 1865,
.days-Catherine Owens had decided OF
the "three CT policy when it came t,
matrimony. A man must have cour
age and cash; then he would stand
chance of possessing Catherine.
1t was principally on account of he
fathers health that they had gone on
to run the small sheep ranch in .
sparsely settled part of Montana, ant
there, eXiled from civilization. Cath
erine didn't change her views. In fact
as none or the men who occasionally
appeared at the ranch seemed to have
elther 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
1lsdain on all the mere male creatures
tnat happened along, Catherine had
hopes lingering somewhere within hel
that the three G" man would enter
her little world sometime. She was
twenty-one, and at that age most girls
Degin to have serious thoughts of wed.
ded bliss.
Thus things stood when strange
young man rode up to the veranda of
the ranch house one sunny afternoon
and asked what were the chances of
Deing guest at the supper table. He
SAID the prospects were, if he didn't
obtain a 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 ia
Their 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
Day 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 breeches, cOwhide boots, red
bandana handkerchief-eyery a
cowboy is supposed to wear but fire.
quently doesn't except on parade. The
stranger even "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 dismounted, as though it was
foregone conclusion he would be in
vited to stay. AS matter of fact, it
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 it was plain from his ac-
lions that Catherine was the attrac-
ton. He proved to be 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 conversa-
ton took personal turn. Catherine
Intentionally guided it into that chan
mel, for she was curious concerning
Garland's past-as well as his present
They sat on log, and he chewed a
piece of grass while she built a house
of sand on the ground with the end
of her parasol.
Presently Garland leaned close to
her and said earnestly.
Il might just as we'll tell you now
what's been in my mind since 1 met
you. / want to marry you"
Catherine had been expecting if
rather hoping for it. However, she
didn't fling herself into his arms: in
stead, she carefully wrecked the sand
house with the parasol.
81 don't know" she said demurelv
"You see, don't know anything abont
you"
He hesitated several minutes, twist
ing his hat out of shape. Then he
spoke in rather strained tone:
Its rather painful topic. 1 came
of a good family and was educated
at Yale; but / guess 1 was a black
sheep, for never made use of what I
learned. 1 contented myself with
drifting aimlessly about, existing by
doing various kinds of jobs. Finally 1
landed on a cattle ranch in this neigh
borhood. Not very rosy prospect, 1
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 G" creed almost sacred,
and she said she would have to reserve