The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-01
THE LOVE AFFAIR OF
PACKSADOLE PARKS.
ny 4. {. MCKENZIE.



score miners and prospectors who had
pitched their camps around Abe's cabin.
only two remained; the rest had betal1en
themselves away.
Sam Porter aud Packsaddle Parks were
no less disturbed by the prospect Of an
Indian raid than were their felIow-pros-
pectors. Had the news come week ear
ier they would have been among the first
to pun up stakes and light out for Silver.
across the border. But during that week
Abe Bendum's wife's sister Sally had ap-
peared at the ferry and ten tribes of
Apaches could not have driven the part
ners away. Neither was Abe 10th 10 keep
the two prospectors in the vicinity. For
five years he had worked TO get the ferry
running, and. although he had the two
woman on his hands, it needed something
worse than an Indian scare to drive him
out of his chosen territory. In has rough
way he was a man of penetration. and il
took no great discernment 20 see why the
partners hung around the ferry.
Il reckon" said he to his wife, the
boys are sweet on Sally; they will stick by
US, lnJunS or no InJunS.'
Whereupon Mrs. Bendum opined that as
both Mr.. Porter and Packsaddle Parks
were in love with Sally something worse
than an Apache scare might arise 20 dis
turb the quiet of ella ferry. Abe thought
the matter over. Then. Selling a favura-
BILE opportunity, tackled the partners when
they were together.
Look here, boys" said be. "a gal is a
gal, but | don't want TO see no disturbin'
of the beautiful relations between you
two. Now suppose you settle this gal
question nice and cordial"
Sam caught the old mans meaning be-
fore Packsaddle Parks quite realized what
the ferryman was driving at.
Parks" said he, Abe is right I'm
in earnest and you mean business Sup
pose we let Abe arbitrate this matter and
the one he selected for the girl win have
the first show"
Parks always followed his partners ad-
vice, so the matter was left to Abe and
on the following day he rendered his de-
cision
Gentlemen" said he, powerful solemn.
''I respects and love both Mr.. Porter and
Mr.. Parks If l were pickin out a man
TO court she grizzly I'd select Mr. Parks,
seem ne was IdlSth ItBHt mere IN TINS
| territory. an is handy with gun and
bowie knife. But, as we are considern'
the future of dear relative, an Mr..
Porter being raised in the east, is better
suited TO a lady of refinement, my choice
falls on Mr.. Porter"
Packsaddle Parks looked upon the
ground and rubbed his chin rehectively.
Il reckon" said he, Sam has the drop
on me when 1t comes to polish and adooca-
IL Cs.,1r
Gated gal. If II had been in any other
way, I'd have fought, certain, but ma i'm
agreed to stand by the arbitration, Samn
have first show"
So saying Packsaddie Parks took down
his rifle, expressing his determination to
put in two days hunting somewhere in the
mountains.
On the third day he showed up at the
ferry meeting Sal by accident as she was
toting a pail of water.
john said she, refusing his proffered
aid, Sam Porter says you want me to
marry him.
Packsaddle was so overcome by sur
prise that he only looked at her without
utterng a word
well, Mr.. Parks" continued she, red
flush DER spreading her face, II accept
him, but l didn't think 1t of you"
Packsaddle reokoned his pardener had
DEGn WOIhtuS TIC CidlAll piGtlJ ndiht buAg
being unused to woman's way, decided the
matter was ended and the others polish
and superior education had won the day.
He hung around the ferry for a week or
two until one day Porter suggested that
they do a little prospecting beyond the
Black Range.
you See" said he Il want to make
a strike for Sally and / will be married
soon and our pile is running mighty low"
an rrT..I fho f.,-r
house had lost much of its charm for him
and. in mis- open-heartedness he wanted 10
help Sam and Sally.
The morning following, the two part
ners started with their outfit for the
Black Range country. Despite numerous
Indian signs no one molested them during
the two weeks they remained in the hills
and il was not until crossing the valley
between the Black Range and the Mo
COLON mountains on the return trip they
saw anything of the red men. While
driving their four pack mules along a lit
tie mesa on the edge of Black canon, a
band of Apaches suddenly swarmed out
of the mesquite bushes and surrounded
them
AT first the braves. made ~ hostile dem
onstration, but offered to help drive the
mules with every offer OF good Will and
friendship To Sam Porter this seemed
a good sign, but Packsaddle Parks knew
the Indians too well to be deceived by
their apparent friendliness. And his fears
were justified. Understanding the
Apache language, he presently heard the
Indians discussing the plan they had
adopted, which was to attack the whites
as soon as they had driven the mules from
the mesa into the canon-and the TRAN to
the edge of the latter was scarcely a mile
longer
Straightway he began to turn over in
his mind how he could escape the fate
which the redskins had planned for him.
He knew that some distance ahead the
, mesa sloped to the edge of the canon
where was an abrupt fall of twenty-five
or thirty feet The bed of the gorge was
filled with scrub pine which, could any
one gain them, would hide him from the
ewes of the Indians and escape might be
possible Then another thought came 10
him. Could he leave Sam 10 the mercy
of the savages? What would Sally say if
he returned without her lover? He shut
his hands hard, for he knew the customs
of the Indians; If one prisoner escaped
they would doubly torture his companion
A quarter of a mile down the trail some
one had located claim, leaving a pile Of