, 1918-05-09
Courage and
Cash
g@0
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per syndicate.)
BY r. A BAKER


Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per syndicate.)
Long before she left Indiana-where
she first saw the light of day and sub
sequently saw the light of some 1866
days-Catherine Owens had decided on
the "three 9" policy when it came to
matrimony. A man must have cour-
age and cash; then he would stand a
chance of possessing Catherine.
1t was principally on account of her
fathers health that they had zone out
to run the small sheep ranch in a
sparsely settled part of Montana, and
there, exiled from civilization, Cath
crime 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 G" 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 verapda of
the ranch house one sunny afternoon
and asked what were the chances of
being a 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
a nap.
1.-THE first real man besides my IA
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
c~iptivated Catherine-almost. His
PREDETERMINED hat sat rakishly on his
head and he wore a blue shirt, cordu-
roy %breeches, cowhide boots, a red
bandana handkerchief-everything a
cowboy Is supposed to wear but FREE
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 a
foregone conclusion he would be in
vited to stay. AS a matter of fact, 1t
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
as Catherine watched him with her
big, gray eyes, she became decidedly
interested.
After that Garland was a freuuen
visitor, and 1t was plain from his &C.
lions that Catherine was the attrac-
ton. 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 dav six weeks after thew he
came acouainted. while they were
walking In he woods. the conyersa-
tion tool a personal turn. Catherine
intentionally guided IT into that chan.
mel. for she was curious CONCERNING
Garland's past-as well as his present,
Thev sat on a log. and he chewed a
niece Of grass while she built a house
Of sand ON the ground with the end
of her parasoI.
presently Garland leaned close TO