Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-03
THE SUNSET TRAIL.

Danny Redmond WAS maIl carrier
On the Sunset Trail, and he fully READ
lied the importance u his position.
Traf,c might stssl--te. civilization
uishs pail. Dat tho unitsd States mal
n1ss ~ right ahead and On schedule
tzne AZ thai. As fer rho Sunset Trail.
Il wound its way TAR over the dreary
plains Of KAnazs. scruss the Cfmmar--
ron, and on and on into the great state
Of sk.s Lone Star.
Bas Dsnnys route only extended 70
Crooked Greek, town consisting Of
grocery store. At this time the popu-
lakion Of Ford county could have been
easily eorralled ON a quarter section.
and had comfortable standing room at
that. Da1nny was an apostle TO these
lone settlers. and only one who has ex-
parssnced the appalling loneliness Of ex-
silence IN those shmly pecpied plains.
where you can see your next door neigh
boris shanty on clear days only, can
rez>ll1e rho Joy with which they heralded
thas b&zss eyed, brown haired bunch OF
turbulence.
Two O'Clock" would comment some
unkspps deuiseE. consulting the sun
"Danny1l BE here IN ten minutes"
Thsn they would look till their eyes
achet sfar TO where the Sunset Trail
TYPED over the roll Of prairie ar the
horizon Soon their watching would DO
rewarded. and steadily and swiftly
w0uld the bay mare. Dolly, bear her
rider down the trail in tna. swinging,
interchangeable sallop Of the mustang.
Perohance some settler coming into
the possoetce would appreciate the best
side Of the road and jog along in the
path that Danny chose.
''Gis out o the way Of the United
Sta<ss Inail!r would come the warning.
and he would pradssntly git" TO the
other sido Of tho road, for Danny could
and would shoot, and besides didn't he
navo every one Of those fellows down at
the Office TO stand at his back to the last
sho<s "a. no matter how iuuch OF a ire
eater the INSTRUCTOR might be, he switch
ed OF when the carrier demanded the
riyhs0f way.
And that was often. For that lad had
TIN idea inculcated into his being that
sltcthrr powers, terrestrial and celestial.
wase secondary considerations when the
Uuleeu S1sses mail was concerned, and
he so1wed every opportunity to exercise
his authority.
How hngmgiy and expectantly those
eager pioneers would watch the letters
distrfbatedi Though perhaps they had
no gpDunAs sor expecting q letter. yet
their hope did noteink until the last one
wa pat away.
Then ths geturu mail would be made
up. and at tho exact minute Danny
would vsnls into the large Mexican sad
dls--sfmsst a. large ss he or Dolly
and with tia al potent mail securely
str>pVud toths girdies ON each side. he
womb reoounneoco has long ride, never
stupp1ng, - be tired a flying shot at
sous unwts1dy rattlssnake that had
draSSed ~ notified form out on the rail
o.. iolR trthe. sun. snd who would not be
ao<e sowiggls into the tall grass ere the
United SsAtesrnail was upon him. Along
thu rcuse shs settlers would come out OF
thssr shsntfs<. bali bent. and wave their
sornhreroa add cheer tho buoyant rider.
Wabash was the only stop. Ii was OF
the same importance ~ Crooked Creek.
only thexe were two houses instead OF
ouoLsr rkther . double house, for the
owrers- Of Me claims that joined up
fherc occupied a shanty II two compart-
merits. one on each claim. Somehow or
other TIE scamp woald sit strsighser in
the saddle snd pun Dorly's head up
higher WHEN they approached Wabash.
and pretty little pssch ofa girl would
como out and chat with the carrier
wndie her specialized fathers attention
was rivsted on the letter packages. Dol
ly would probably think that Danny
was getting rather weighty on one side
asthe lent low in the saddle. dangerous
" cio~s To that PINK sunbonnet. And
tss sc1ffing <vpher that sat up con-
venssu@y esoseite his s<rro would won
der for what reason fellow would want
70 bsts pretty girl like her. Bot Rosie
didn't s..s.sn "a rssnd the punishment a
hit. Al. fear Den-y would feisn have
fingered longer At the unprsposse~xing
pest ~ " 4hezh bus--the United States
Hsil must hs earried on.
yxht would fall ere he crossed the
dark Csrnn-rron. and on auspicious
nixhts she uuocu was well MP m the sky
when ne rosa. with wboOp ard h~iloo
that <ssssd shs bowling Of the coyotes,
ints-E'ars DRhss-sfe journey done.
one day a so~bsy came into the fort
with issiet uaisfau4- and a slash ACROSS
his c6esk, and reported that he had
been chssa.l BY n hand Of Arapahoes.
Ths>n ch.drun ~ nstnrs hal grown IN
solent With wria feeding and little work.
They often eecarre thus At irregular IN
tarvals. aud trsssksng from the reservs-
ton s<eps ucrth apen the scattered set
tiers - the plains. considerably depopu-
lafiDz tnpse sparSs,;,> inhabited districts.
Their xrees Nfh-r IN Washington. they
resnplairs.sf. vssncsgrvinx them enough
tlankess. Ard N cos1sssuuence they we're
ecrnesslets 70 trade their noccasins for
sire water.
Thssa a wfsd fight wouid commences
for she tar* and larger towns for prp-
tes.fis,n. The heathen would rage about
with are and sword Occasionally some
wandering eewtoy IN search - Maver-
Scks pcna shar- ths fate Of the settlers.
Then tie great father IN Washington
vould order git his sine coated disci-
plissers and psor 10 would start back 70
kfs reservation wsth becoming humility.
Then delegation ~onsd 20 - the great
fatisr With a spsrt 81 sretory slseut tIss
freasisr,g u his pes'ple into tie earth by
the feet ~ ne paieface