Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-02-24
THE SAVING OF
NED PARKER.

1lmOtny burke anu EuWaEu Edkket
were partners in hole In the ground
in Colorado. Burke was ar oldish
man, and Parker was thirty five.
Burke lived with his family in cabin
near where his interest lay, and Par
ker lived in cabin by himself. Ellen
Burke kept the cabin for her father,
he being a widower. She was comedy.
but the Burkes were not refined fam
fly, and despite her olive complexion
and red cheeks she was not good to
eye, which puzzled most people who
gazed into it to know whether she
was friend or enemy. She would new
er be either in half hearted way.
Ned Parker was young man who
had come out from the east with
means TO engage in mining. Burke
had met him and persuaded him to
grub stake him while he made some
diggings in region where he sus-
pected there was gold. Burke was
under contract to give Parker a half
interest in any paying mine he might
strike.
While Burke was working with his
pick and shovel Parker was paying
more attention to Ellen than was good
for either Of the two young people,
considering the difference in their sta
lions. There was something wild
about the girl that fascinated Parker,
and at the same time he felt that IL be
won and Tilted her she would prove
a dangerous person to cast of Not
that he had any intention Of doing
anything of tine kind. He was simply
permitting himself to drift to the edge
Of cataract
The day came when he felt that 1t
was time to break with her. He told
her that he had done very wrong to be
with her as much as he had. for there
were insurmountable objections 10 a
match between them. II she thought
best he would go away. She listened
to him calmly and admitted the truth
Of what he said, but denied that there
was any necessity for him to go away.
They were sitting on bench outside
the cabin at the time. a board with
four sticks for legs. and he bent for
ward to get beyond her unkempt locks
falling over her temples to see into her
eyes, He got view Of them, and.
though what he saw he couldn't make
out. ii didn't please him.
While Parker was sliding into dam
gerous situation Burke was striking
ore that paid better and better the
farther he went down. He regretted
that for a paltry grub stake he should
have to divide with any one else. His
mind was so intent on his find that he
failed to notice what was between
Parker and his daughter. The evil
one. who Is constantly lurking about
gold. finally secured a hold on the old
miner. and he began to wish his part
ner out Of the way. The wish intensi-
fed until he began to think Of ways
by which Parker could happen to elm
mate himself.
Parker was used after supper to 60
over for chat with his partner. At
least that was what he tried to make
himself believe was his intention,
though II was really to be under the
spell Of Ellen's strange eyes One
evening as usual. he went over and
was chatting with the old man on the
very bench where he had told Ellen
there could never be anything between
him and her. She was moving In and
out. putting things to rights, and Par
ker saw that there was something
away down in her heart be couldn't
fathom. Presently he felt a desire to
smoke and. going on, took up several
pipes that lay on rude shelf, looking
them over successfully. One. he no
ticed. was filed with tobacco.
Don't smoke that 'un," said Ellen.
1--WE filed 1t for myself"
"You smoker exclaimed Parker,
astonished. II never saw you do that"
She took It out Of his hand. and he
filled another. When he had lighted
1t he went outside. Ellen followed
with the pipe he had first taken up
and a lighted match She put the
stem In her mouth and was about to
touch the fame to 1t when her father.
white as a cloth, dashed toward her
and. Selling the pipe. threw 1t far
away. There was terrific explosion
that would have blown the girl to
atoms.
Parker stood looking at the other
two in establishment.
why didn't you let me alone, dadT
The words came from the girl,
wall Of despair.
What does all this meanr asked
Parker.
By this time Burke had sufficiently
recovered himself to say, though be
was trembling like leaf:
"Somethin' must "a got into the
pipe by mistake. l don't like keepin'
this blastin' material about the cabin,
and~I won't do 1t no more"
Gradually false explanation began
to creep over Parker. He attributed
the filing Of the pipe with an explo-
sive to Ellen, thinking she had In