The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1892-08-12
ON THE SUNSET TRAIL.
The Fate That Befen a Faithf,t
Mail Carrier.

IN the Sunset trail, and he fuIlv
realized the Importance OF his position.
Traffic might stagnate, civilization
might pail, but the United States mail
must go right ahead, and on schedule
time at that AS for the Sunset trail
n wound its way far over the drearv
Mains Of Kansas, across the Cimmarron.
and on and on into the great state OF
the Lone star
But Danny's route only extended 10
Crooked Creek, "A town consisting of n
grocery store. At this time the popula.
ton of Ford county could have been
easily eorralled on quarter section.
and had comfortable standing room
at that. Danny was an apostle 20
these lone settlers, and only one who
has experienced the appalling loncE-
ness of existence in those thinly-peo-
pled plains, where you can see vour
next-door neighbours shanty on clear
DAYS only, can realize the ioy with
which they heraldcd this blue.cyed.
brown-haired bunch of turbulence.
1.-TWO o'clock" would comment some
unkempt dcnizen, consulting the sun.
IdHiN Al bN liNIN III Ntil minutes.
Then they would look till their eyes
ached afar 10 where the Sunset trail
tipped over the roll of prairie at the
horizon. Soon their watching would
be rewarded, and steadily and swiftly
would the bay mare, Dolly, bear her
rider down the trail in that swinging.
indefatigablc gallop of the mustang.
Perchance some settler coming into
the post Office would appreciate the
best side of the road and jog along in
the path that Danny chose.
Cit out q the way Of the United
States mall" would come the warning.
and he would prudently git" to the
other side of the road. for Danny could
and would shoot. and, besides, didn't he
have everyone of those fellows down at
the Office to stand at his back To the
last shot? SO no matter how much of a
fire eater the obStructer might be. he
switched off when the carrier demanded
the right of-way.
And that was often. For that Lad had
the idea inculcated into his bling that all
other powers, terrestrial and celestial.
were secondary considerations when
the United States mail was concerned
and he seized every opportunity TO ex-
ercjSc his authority
How lonEingly and eXpcctantlv those /
eager pioneers would watch the letters |
distributed Though, perhaps, they |
had no grounds for expecting letter. |
vet their hope did not sink until the |
last one was put away.
FrIn,, Ia, 4 1.
up, and al the exact minute Danny |
would vault into the large Mexican sad !
dle-almost Us large as he or Dolly
and with the all-potcnt mail securely |
strapped tO the girdles on each side. ne |
would recommence his long ride, never
stopping as he tried Il flying shot ut
some unwieldy rattlcSnakc that had
dragged it's notified form ont on the
rail to Toll in the sun. and who would
not be able to wiggle into the tall grass
ere the United States mail was upon
him. Along the route the settlers would
come ont of their shanties half bent
and wave their sombreroS and cheer the
buoyant rider.
Wabash was the only stop. II was of
the same Importance as Crooked Creei;,
only there were two houses instead of
one, or rather, double house, for the
owners of the claims that joined up
there occupied shantv OF two com
partmentS, one on each claim. Some
how or other the scamp would sit
straightcr in the saddle and pull Dolly's
head up higher when they approached
Wabash, and n pretty little peach of Il
girl would come ont and chat with the
carrier while her specialized fathers
attention was rivctcd on the letter
package Dolly would probably think
that Danny WAS getting rather weighty
on one side as he bent low in the sad
die, dangerously close 10 that pink sun
bonnet. And the soothing gopher that
sat up conveniently close 10 his burrow
would wonder for what reason a fellow
would want TO bite pretty girl like
her. But Rosie didn't seem to mind the ;
punishment IA bit. All, fear Danny .
would feign have fingered longer at the
post of Wabash, but
the United States mail must be carried ,
on.
One day cowboy came into the fort |
with jadcd mustang and a slash across {
his cheek and reported that he had
been chased by a band of Arapahoes.
These children of nature had grown in
solent with we'll feeding and little :
work. They often became thus at ir-
regular intervals, and breaking from I
The reservation swept north upon the {
ihe scattered settlers of the plains, con- 4
'idcrably depopulating those sparsely I
Inhabited districts. Their great father
IN Washington, they complained, was
not giving them enough blankets, and,