The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-19
EVENING STORY
Courage and Cash.
BY RAY BAKER.
Copyright, 1915 by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate)

where she first saw the light of day
and subsequently saw the light of
some 1866 days-Catherine owens
had decided on the three CO policy
when it came to matrimony. A man
must have courage and cash; then he
would stand a chance of possessing
Catherine.
1t 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
aerine 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 CO man would enter
her little world some time. She was
81, and at that age most girls begin
to have serious thoughts of welded
bliss.
Thus things stood when a strange
young man rode up to the veranda of
the ranch home one sunny afternoon
and asked what were the chances of
being a guest at the supper table. He
obtain a real meal soon, that he would
fall by the wayside before he reached
Odessa, ten mile away.
Catherine was seated on the veran-
da reading. Her father was out tend
ing his flock and her mother was TAX
ing a nap.
1.-The first real man beside my
father that have seen in the whole
year I've been here" said Catherine
to herself. His hair was coal black,
N,ie h CIR ID ad hi
lively bay mount with a jauntiress
that eaptivated Catherine-almost.
His broad brimmed hat sat rakishly
on his head and he wore a blue shirt,
corduroy breeches. cowhide boots, a
red bandana handkerchief-every
thing a cowboy is supposed to wear
but frequently doesn't except on par
ade. The stranger even "toted" a re-
vo1ver in a holster on cartridge belt
around his waist.
With a gallant sweep of his hat he
introduced himself as Fred Garland
and dismounted, as tho it was a fore
gone conclusion he would be invited
to stay. AS a 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 man
ners showed education and refinement;
and as Catherine watched him with
eddy interested
After that Garland was a frequent
visitor, and it was plain from his ac-
tons 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.
Zone day, six weeks after they be-
came acquainted, while they were
walking in the woods, the conversa-
| ton took a personal turn. Catherine
Intentionally guided it into that cham
mel, for she was curious concerning
Garland'S paSt-aS well as his present.
They sat on log, and he chewed a
of sand on the ground with the end
of her parasol
Presently Garland leaned close to
her and said earnestly:
II might just as well tell you now
| what's been in my mind since I met
you. 1 want to marry you"
Catherine had been expecting it.
| rather hoping for it. However, she
didn't fling herself il-.o his arms; in
stead, she carefully wrecked the sand
house, with the parasol.
II 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 1 came
of a good family and was educated at
Yale; but I guess I was a black sheep.
for l never made use of what I
learned. I contented myself with
drifting aimlessly about. existing by
doing various kinds of jobs. Finally
| landed on a cattle ranch in this neigh
borhood. Not a very rosy prospect
admit, but if you were my wife I'd
| have an incentive to do something
worth WHILE
fond Of hin, 1x,, G
bound to admit. and she told him So
However, she had taught herself to
hold the three CT creed almost
sacred, and she said she would have
to reserve her decision for week.
I've always said a man would have
to be in good financial circumstances
before I'd marry him." she explained
Money means a whole lot in this
world
She decided. however, while they
were walking back to the ranch. A
snake suddenly wriggled out from
somewhere and coiled itself in front of
i them. Garland grew pale. and his
arm. which she gripped in fright,
actually appeared to tremble. He
monition to kill the snake, and stood
| idly by while she overcame her own
terror and dispatched the reptile with
a stone.
Catherine scarcely spoke 20 him
during the rest of the walk home He
i apo1ogized repeatedly, saying a snake
always gave him 1.-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 me-. die
from snake bites"
| She prepared to enter the house.
l. IT can't accept your offer" she said
scoldly. "A man must have courage to
win my affections"
without a word he mounted his
Ehorse and disappeared down the road,
while she stood and watched him and
meditated on the cruelty of Fate in
sending that snake into the path.
| Two weeks later the Odessa bank
was robbed of 81, 600 by a lone bandit,
wearing a mask. who appeared sud
denly at noon, held up the employees at
/ laa mint of a seized ha