Connecticut western news., 1892-09-01
THE SUNSET TRAIL.

Danny Redmond was mail carrier on the Sunset Trail, and he fully real ized 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, it wound its way far over the dreary plains of Kansas, across the Cimmar- ron, and on and on into the great state of the Lone Star. .g
 But Danny's route only extended to Crooked Creek, town consisting of grocery store At this time the popu- lation of Ford county could have been easily corralled on quarter section, and had comfortable standing room at that. Danny was an apostle to these lone settlers, and only one who has ex- perienced the appalling lonAiness of ex- istence in those thinly peopled plains, where you can see your next door neigh bor's shanty on clear days only, can realize the joy with which they heralded this blue eyed, brown haired bunch of turbulence.
 "Two o'clock" would comment some unkempt denizen, consulting the sun "Danny'l be here in ten minutes"
 Then they would look till their eyes ached afar to 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, indefatigable gallop of the mustang.
 Perchance some settler coming into the postoffice would appreciate the best side of the road and jog along in the path that Danny chose.
 "Git out O the way of the United States mail" 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 every one of those fellows down at the office to stand at his back to the last shot? So, no matter how much of fire eater the obstructor might be, he switch ed off when the carrier demanded the right of waF
 And that was often. For that lad had the idea inculcated into his being that all other powers, terrestrial and celestial, were secondary considerations wi the United States mail was concerne and he seized every opportunity to exercise his authority.
 How longingly and expectantly those eager pioneers would watch the letters distributed Though perhaps they had no grounds for expecting letter, yet their hope did not sink until the last one was put away.
 Then the return mail would be made up, and at the exact minute Danny would vault into the large Mexican sad dle-almost as large as he or Dolly and with the all potent mail securely strapped to the girdles on each side, he would recommence his long ride, never stopping as he tried a flying shot at some unwieldy rattlesnake that had dragged it's mottled form out on the rail to loll 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 out of their shanties, half bent, and wave their sombreros and cheer the buoyant rider.
 Wabash was the only stop. It was Of the same importance as Crooked Creek, only there were two houses instead of one, or rather a double house, for the owners of the claims that joined up there occupied shanty of two compart- ments, one on each claim. Somehow or other the scamp would sit straighter in the saddle and pull Dolly's head up higher when they approached Wabash. and pretty little peach of girl would come out and chat with the carrier while her spectacled fathers attention was riveted on the letter packages. Dol ly would probably think tfat Danny was getting rather weighty on one side as he bent low i'll the saddle, dangerous ly close to that pink sunbonnet. And the scoffing gopher that sat up con- veniently close to his burro would won- der for what reason fellow would want to bite pretty girl like her. But Rosie didn't seem to mind the punishment a bit. An, fear Danny would feign have fingered longer at the unprepossessing post of Wabash, but-the United States mail must be carried on.
 Night would fall ere he crossed the dark Cimmarron, and on suspicious nights the moon was we'll up in the sky when he rode, with @ whoop and halloo that stilled the bowling of the coyotes, into Fort Dodge-the journey done. One day cowboy came into the fort with 8 jaded mustang and slash across his cheek, and reported that he had been chased by band of Arapahoes.
 These children of nature had grown in solent with we'll feeding and little work.
 They often became thus at irregular in- tervals, and breaking from the reserva, tion swept north upon the scattered set tiers of the plains, considerably depopu- Iating those sparsely inhabited districts. Their great father in Washington, they complained, was not giving them enough blankets, and in consequence they were compelled to trade their moccasins fo1 fire water"
 Then a wild flight would commence for the fort and larger towns for pro tection. The heather would rage about with fire and sword. Occasionally some wandering cowboy in search of Mayer | icks would share the fate of the settlers Then the great father in Washington | would order out his blue coated disci l pliners and poor Lo would start back tc his reservation with becoming num1l1Uy. Then delegation would go to the great father with a spurt of oratory about the
 treading of his people into the earth by l the foot of the paleface.
 Danny was preparing to start upon hii route when the news came.
 "You oughn't to go, Dan," they said
 "for they'll strike right up the Cimmar ron like they a1lays do and morn likelN
 fall afoul of you. If you do your scalpl
 dangle from some red nigger's belt be
 fore mornun."
 "I'm not skesrt,' replied he, settling ! hArnssk ia. the saddls. 'sud baddsa thl