Graham guardian., 1910-07-22
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THE SAVING OF
NED PARKER.

4lnotny burke anu EuWdEu Edr6cF
were partners in a hole In the ground
In Colorado. Burke was an oldish
man, and Parker was thirty-fve.
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 comely,
but the Burkes were not a refined fam
fly, and despite her olive complexion
and red cheeks she was not good to
look upon. She had lustrous black
eye, which puzzled most people who
gazed into 1t to know whether she
was friend or enemy. She would nev-
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 70
grub stake him while he made some
diggings in region where he sus-
pected there was gold Burke was
under contract ofgfve Parker 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
tons There was something wild
about the girl that fascinated Parker,
and at the same time he felt that If be
won and Tilted her she would prove
dangerous person to cast of Not
that he had any intention Of doing
anything of the kind. re was simply
permitting himself 70 drift to the edge
Of a cataract.
Inc oay Came when he felt that It
was tlDs 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 to
match between them. If 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, 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, 1t didn't please him.
While Parker was sliding into dan
gerous situation Burke was striking
ore that paid better and better the
farther he went down. He regretted
that for 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 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 go
over for chat with his partner. At
least that was what he tried to make
himself believe was his intention,
though 1t 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 he couldn't
fathom. Presently he felt desire to
smoke and, going on, took up several
pipes that lay on a rude shelf. looking
them over successfully. One. he no.
ticed. was filled with tobacco.
Don't smoke that ,un," said Ellen.
"I've filed it for myself"
"You smokel'' exclaimed Parker,
astonished. 81 never saw you do that"
She took 1t out Of his hand, and he
filed another When he had lighted
1t he went outside. Ellen followed
with the pipe he had first taken up
and lighted match. She put the
stem In her mouth and was about to
touch the fame to 1t when her father,
white as cloth. dashed toward her
and, seizing the pipe, threw it far
away. There was terrific explosion
that would have blown the girl to
atoms.
Parker stood looking at the other
two In astonishment.
"Why didn't you let me alone, dadT
The words came from the girl, a
wall Of despair.
"What does oil this meanT asked
Parker.
By this time Burke had sufficiently
recovered himself to say. though he
was trembling like leaf:
"Somethin' must "a got into the
pipe by mistake. don't like keepin'
this blastin' material about the cabin,
and / won't do 1t no more"
Gradually false explanation began |
to creep over Parker. He attributed
the filling Of the pipe with an explo-
sive to Ellen, thinking she had in |
tended to end her life and blight his. |
Her father had filed the pipe, intend. |
ing that Parker should smoke 1t. El- |
len had seen him do 1t and suspected |
his design. 1t was as much this as |
her thwarted love for Parker that had |
led her under an impulse to an in |
tended suicide.
1--WE somethin' to tell you," pursued
Burke, conscience stricken, I've
struck payin' dirt I took some out
last week that assays $500 to the
ton"
Parker went up to Ellen, took her
hand, pressed 1t and without word
turned and went to his cabin. He |