The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-04-15
The DAILY
SHORT STORY
Courage and Cash
BY r. RAY BAKER.
Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure
~ IS.,-,.,o. Syndicate

ONG DeLOFS BIG 4S4|
# where she first saw the light OF
\ VI dav and subsequently saw the
! Itch. of some 1856 days-CatheFtne
j ogens had decided on the three z
1oIicv when It came to matrtmony-
4 man must have courage a7d cash.
4J,ey, he would stand chance OF pos
sessing Catherine.
II wac principally on account OF her
fsther's health that they had gone our
10 mn the small sheep ranch IN a
sparsely settled part OF montana, ana
there. exiled from civilization, Catn-
crime didn't Change her views. IN 1aSt.
rs none OF the men who occasionally
aoneared at the raEch seemed to nave
eitI,er Of the necessary qualifications,
& she gradually lost interest IN the SUP
4 Iect Of maria sc and devoted her spare
ffn1e. which s:as plentiful. to people IN
story books.
1isdain on all the mere male creatures
- 81 happened along. Catherine had
hopes lingering somewhere within heF
aaat the three c. mag would enter
IA - little world some Gne. She was
kwenty-one, and at that age most girls
begin to have serious thoughts Of wed
led bliss.
Thus things stood when a strange
he ranch home one sunny afternoon
and asked what were the chances OF
being a guest at the supper table. He
said the prospects were. il he didn t
obtain a real meal soon, that he would
6aIl by the wayside before he reached
odessa, ten miles away.
Catherine was seated on the Teran-
da reading. Her father was out tend
inc his flock and her mother was TAX
ing nap.
aThe first real man beside my faith
er that have seen in the Whole year
I've been here" said Catherine-to
herself. His hair was coal black, as
we're his eyes. and he straddled his
lively bay mount with a jauntiness
that captivated Catheripe-almost.
His broad:brimmed hat sat rakishly
on his head and he wore blue shirt,
corduroy breeches. cowhide boots. a
red bandana handkerchief everything
4 cowboy Is supposed to wear but ire
: Quently doesn't except on parade. The
stranger even "toted'' revolver in a
holster on a cartridge belt around his
waist.
with gallant sweep OF his hat he
Introduced himself as Fred Garland
and dfsmounted as though it was a
foreSone conclusion he would be in
Yited to stay. AS matter of fact. it
was. Catherine wouldn't have let him
The meal vas 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 frequent
visitor. and It was plain from his ac-
tons that Catherine was the attrac-
ton. He proved to be DysterE, Tor
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 we're
walking IN the woods, The conversa-
ton took personal turn Catherine
Intentionally guided it into that chan
mel. for she was curious concerning
GarIand's ,past-as we'll as his present
They sat on a 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 t0
her and said earnestly:
HsI might Just as we'll tell you now
what's been in my mind since met
sou I want to marry you"
Catherine had been expecting it,
rather hoping for 1t. However. she
didn't Ting herself into his arms; in
stead, she carefully wrecked the sand
house with the parasol.
''T don't know" she said demureiy.
"Tou see, don't know anything about
you"
Ing his hat out OF shape. Then he
Its rather painful topic came
Of a good family and was educated
at Yale: but I guess l was black
sheep, for never made use OF what
learned. 1 contented myself with
drifting aimlessly about existing by
doing various kinds Of Jobs. Finally
landed on cattle ranch in this neigh
borhooG. Not a 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 tc admit, and she told him so.
However. she had taught herself to
bold the three c. creed almost sa-
bred. and shs sell size would have tc
reserve her dec. or a week.
'I've always ~aGn would Ia
% be in good : u eircumstaa'
before I'd MARI ~ she explaiT
Money means mole lot in
World"
She decided however. while the.
we're walking back to the ranch. i,
snake suddenly wriggled out from
somewhere and coiled itself in front o,
them. Garland grew pale. and his arm
which she gripped in fright. actually
appeared to tremble- He stopped in
his tracks, despite her admo1it!ons to
kin the snake, and stood idly BIZ while
She oveTcame her own terror and dis
patched the reptile WITH stone.
Catherine scarcely spoke 10 him
during the rest OF the walk home. He
apoIosized repeatedly, saying a snake
always gave him the shivers."