The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1909-04-28
Dooeooo soso oooosoooes
. THE SAVING OF /:
. NED PARKER. Z

tcopyrisRt ipoa y American Press Aasc-

were partners m q hole IN the ground
In Colorado. Burke was an oldisf
man. and Parker was thirty.nye
Burke lived with his family IN d cabih
near where his interest lay. and Par
ker lived Ia 4 cabin by himself. Ellen
Burke kept the cabin for her fakhers
he being d wldoweE She was coniely,
but the Butkes were not a refined iarns
ily, and despite her olive complexion
and red CHECKS she was not good II,
look upon. She had alusrous black
eye. which puzzled most people who
gated into It to know whether she
was friend OF enemy She would new
or be either IN d half heprted wly.
Ned Parker was a young man who
had come out from the east with
means TO engage IN mining, Burke
had met him and persuaded him 10
grub stake him while he made some
digglngs In a region where he suss
pected there was gold, Burke was
under contract q give Parker q half
interest IN any paying mine he mighe
strike.
Z 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 No.
won and Tilted her she would prove
d dangerous person 10 cast Oh. NOT
That lie had my Intention Of doing;
anything Of the kind. He was simply
permitting himself 10 drift to the edge
OF d cataract
The day came when he felt that ~
was time 70 break with her. he tolds
her that be hid done very wrong to- be-
with her as much rs he had, for there;
were Insurmonntable objections to B
match between them n she thought
best be would 20 away. she Astene6l
to him calmly and admitted the TRUTH
Of what he said. but denied that there.
was any necessity FOR him to 80 awayr
They were sitting on bench outsi
the cabin at the time. board willis
four sticks for legs. and he bent for
ward TO ret beyond her unkempt kcitza
failing over her temples to see Into her
eyes. Tie got a view Of them, and
though what be saw he couldn't make
ont, X sss..'t plcase him.
Mile farker was sliding into a dan
gcrous situation BnrlIe was striking
ore that paid better and better me
farther be went down. He regretted
that for a paltry grub stake he should
have to divide with any one else Bis
mind was SO intent on his iind that he
failed to notice what was between
Parker and his daughter The eyil
one. who Is constantly lursing about
gold, finally secured hold on the old
minor. and he BEGAN to wish his part
ner out Of the way. The wish intenai.
tied until he began to think Of ways
by which Parker could happen to elm
mate himself.
Parker was used after supper 70 60
over for chat with his partner, At
least TINT was what be tried to make
himself believe was his intention
though It was really to be under the
smell 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 20 rights. and Par
ker saw that there was something
AWAY down IN her heart he couldn't
fathom. Presently he felt desire to
smoke and; going on. took rp several
pipes that lay on d rude shelf. looking
them over PROGRESSIVELY. One he mo-
iced was Hllcd with tobacco.
Don't smoke that I'M said Ellen
ave filed It fortnysclf.1
-You smoker exclaimed Parker,
astonished. Il never saw yputnthatg
She took II out Of IDS hand@ and he
oiled another When be had lighted
Il be went outside. Ellen followed
with the pipe he hid tirst taken ap
and llghted match She put the
stem In lier mouth and was about 20
touch the tame 20 II when her tather'
white az Il cloth. dashed coward her
and, seizing the ripe thssw y far
away There was Il terrific eAplosipnf
TINT would have blown the girl e
atoms
PARKER stnpd looking ut the otheE
two In asrUpishtncnt
why didn't ypnlct me alone dadi
The words came from the glrl, 9
wall Of despair.
'wha, does ~ this nieanY asked
PARKER.
ny this time Burl;e bad sufficiently
recovered himself q shy, though Re
was treilbling Iilse d leaf
-Sonethin' must ~ got trtD the
plpe by mistaEe. don't Ilks keepin
this blaSiia material about me elbln,
and won't do It no more
Gradually u false explanation began
70 creep over Parker. Ene attributed
- ~.