, 1918-05-09

Catherine scarcely spoke to him
during the rest Of the walk home. He
apologized repeatedly, saying a snake
always gave him "the shivers."
Its the one thing I'm afraid Of" he
declared. I'D rather face a lion than
a snake. I've seen two men die from
snake bites"
She prepared to enter the house.
Il can't accept your OFFER" she said
colby. "a man must have courage to
win my affections"
Without a word he mounted his
horse and disappeared down the road,
while h stood and watched him and
meditated on the cruelty of fate In
sending that snake into their path.
Two weeks later the Odessa bank
was robbed of $4,000 by a lone bandit,
wearing a mask, who appeared sud-
denly at noon, held up the employees
ut the point of a gun, seized all the
money in sight and got safely away,
although several bullets were sent
whizzing about his head.
Shortly after that the stage coach
between Odessa and Bay Springs was
stopped by the same man and the pas
sengers relieved of their. v%aluables.
When n old man attempted to Sc
crete his few dollars, the bandit shot
him in the leg.
The next day the Bay Springs post
office was visited by the outlaw, who,
on ccount of his daring, had earned
the cognomen of Reckless" The post
office paid him a forced toll of $500.
One week later Reckless stood amid
a clump of trees a mile from the Owens
ranch and smoked a cigarette while
| he adjusted his mask. His horse was
tethered to a nearby tree. In the dis
lance could be heard the rumbling of
the Brento coach on the way to Odes-
sa. Presently it appeared over the
crest of a hill, and Reckless adjusted
his belt so his revolver vas in easy
reach.
His Eyes on the stage coach, slowly
drawing near, Reckless was not aware
of the presence of another man,
creeping stealthily upon him from be-
hind, until the newcomer threw him
self at the outlaws shoulders. A furi-
u struggle ensued.
Catherine Owens was in the kitchen
washing dishes. Her mother had
Joined Mr.. Owens, who was watching
his grazing sheep.
Suddenly the door at her back was
thrown open, and she whirled in
fright, dropping a plate to its doom on
the floor. A man wearing a mask stood
before her. From description she had
| read of the outlaw she recognized his
black gauntlets and his Mexican hat.
"Recklessi !" she exclaimed. stepping
back in terror.
He nodded.
But what can you want here?" she
cried. "This is just a sheep ranch,
and there's no money to speak of in
the house."
He answered in mild, quiet tones:
81 don't want money; 1 want you"
Thereupon he took off his mask.
"Fred ~ she screamed. $50 you're
the bandit. What do you want with
mef'
"Just to marry you," he responded
with a smile.
She covered her eyes with her
hands.
"Never!" she cried. Better ten
times a man afraid of a snake than
a miserable outlaw who shoots old
men,"
Garland laughed and tossed aside
the gauntlets and hat.
Reckless is on the way to Odessa
in the stage coach with two men hold
ing guns at his head" he said. II
caught him while he was preparing to
hold up the stage, and 1 put on these
things just to fool you Since I've
shown a little courage, will you have
mel"
She stared incredulously at him, but
his eyes never flinched before hers,
and slowly a smile crept across her
face.
'Tve got to believe you" she said,
because 1 love you. You don't know
how l have regretted sending you
away the other day for 1 realize lots
of brave men are afraid of snakes.
And about the ~money-well, I'll even
forget that. Anyhow" she added, you
have earned the $500 reward offered
by the Odessa bank"
Garland shook his head.
az can't accept it," he replied. "You
see, 1 own the Odessa bank. I didn't
tell o all my story the other day,
because-well, 1 didn't want to be mar
ried Just for the cash I had"