Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-03-22
THE SAVING OF
NED PARKER.

icopyFight. lsos. BY American Press Asso-
eiati0n.l
Timothy Burke ana Edward Parker
were partners IN q hole in the ground
In Colorado Burke was en- OIdlsh
man. and Parker was thIrty-Hve
Burke lived with his family In a cabin
near where his interest lay, and Par
ker lived In cabin BY himself. Ellen
Burke kept the cabin for her father.
be being q widOwer. She was comeIy,
but the Burkes were not a refined fam.
ny, and despite her olive complexion
and red cheeks she was not good TO
look upon. She had q lustrous black
eye. which puzzled most people who
gazed into It to know whether she
was friend or enemy. She would new
Or be either In a 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 be made some
diggings IN region where he sus-
Dected there was gold. Burke was
under contract to give Parker a half
interest I'm 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
tor either Of the two young people,
eonaidaFing the difference IN their sta
tiona. There was something wild
about the girl that fascinated Parker.
and ct the same time he felt that II he
won and Tilted her she would prove
10 dangerous person to cast on. Not
that he had any intention Of doing
anything Of the kind. He was simply
permitting himself to drift to the edge
OF 4 cataract.
The day came when he felt that II
was time 70 break with her. He told
her that he had done very wrong 70 be
With her as much as be had. for there
were insUrmountabIe objections TO q
match between them. II she thought
best be would 20 away. She listened
10 him calmly and admitted the truth
" what he said, but denied that there
was any necessity for him to 20 away.
They were sitting on q bench outside
the cabin at the time. board with
four sticks for legs. and he bent for.
ward to ret beyond her unkempt locks
falling over her temples 10 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 a dan.
gerOus situation Burke was striking
ore that paid better and better the
farther be went down. He regretted
that for q paltry grub stake he should
have TO divide with any one else His
mind was 20 intent on his find that he
failed 70 notice what was between
Parker and his daughter The evil
one. who Il constantly lurking about
gold, nnally secured bold on the old
miner. ana be began to wish his part
neF out Of the way. The wish intensi-
ned aulil he began 70 think Of ways
BY which Parker could happen 10 elm
mate himself.
Parker was used after supper to go
over for a chat with his partner. At
least that was what be tried to make
himself believe was his intention.
though II was really to be under the
spell Of Eilen's strange eyes. One
uvening, as usual. he went over and
ives 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.
her saw that there was something
away down IN her heart be couldn't
IAthom. Presently he felt q desire to
smoke and. going on. took up several
pipes that lay on a rude shelf. looking
them over successfully. One. he mo-
ticed. was EllIed with tobacco.
"Don't smoke that 'un," said Ellen.
1--WE Gllled It for myself"
sYou smoker exclaimed Parker,
antonlshed. II never saw you do that"
She took It cut Of his hand, and he
oiled another. When be had lighted
Il he went outside. Ellen followed
with the pipe be had nrst taken up
and = lighted match. She put the
stem In her mouth and was about to
touch the dame to It when her father,
white a. q cloth. dashed toward her
and. seizing 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. dadY"
The words came from the girl. .
wall Of despair.
'what does all this meanY' asked
Parker.
ny this time Burke had suilaciently
Cseoverod himself to say. though be
was trembling like q leaf;
''Somethln' must q got into the
pipe BY mistake I don't like keepin'
this blastin' material about the cabin.
ana ] won't do Il no more
Gradually q FALSE explanation began
% creep over Parker. He attributed
ne alling Of the pipe with an explo-
Uivs 70 Ellen. thinking she had In
tanaea Go end her life and blight hla.