The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-07-14
ON THE SUNSET TRAIL.
The Fate That Befen a Faithful
Mail Carrier.

MAIL carrier.
Danny Redmond was the mail carrier
on the Sunset trail, and he fully
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,
it wound its way far over the dreary
plains of Kansas, across the Cimmarron,
and on and on into the great state of
the Lone Star
But Danny's route only extended to
Crooked Creek, town consisting of
grocery store. At this time the popula-
ton 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 experienced the appalling loneli
ness If existence in those thinly-peo-
pied plains, where you can see your
next-ioor neighbours 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'll 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,
interchangeable 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.
"Git out o the way of the United
States mall" would come the warning,
and he would prudcntly 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-
ercise his authority.
How longingly and cXpcctantly those
eager pioneers would watch the letters
distributed! Though, perhaps, they
had no grounds for expecting a letter,
of f1,ni ;,,l-
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 lying shot at
some unwieldy rattlesnake that had
dragged it's notified 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. 1t 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 com
partments, one on each claim. Some
how 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 a
girl would come out and chat with the
carrier while her specialized fathers
attention was riveted 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 to that pink sun
bonnet. And the soothing gopher that
sat up conveniently close to his burrow
would wonder for what reason fellow
would want to bite pretty girl like
her. But Rosie didn't seem to mind the
punishment a bit. All, fear Danny
would feign have fingered longer at the
unprepossessing post of Wabash, but
the United States mail must be carried
on.
One day a cowboy came into the fort
with jaded mustang and slash across
his cheek and reported that he had
been chased by band of Arapahoes
These children @ nature had grown in
solent with we'll feeding and little
work. They often became thus at ir-
regular intervals, and breaking from
the reservation swept north upon the
the scattered settlers of the plains, con-
siderably depopulating those sparsely
inha bited districts. Their great father
in Washington, they complained, was
not giving them enough blankets, and
in consequence, they were compelled
to trade their moccasins for fire
water"
Danny was preparing to start upon
his route when the news came.
"You oughtn't to go, Dan," they said,
'for they'll strike right up the CHM
marion like they allays do, an morn
likely fall afoul of you. If you do
your scalpll dangle from some red mig
gers belt before mornin'."
I'm not skeert," replied he, settling
himself in the saddle, land, besides,
the folks at Wabash and at the Criclx
ought to be warned. And you know
the mail has to go as long as it's any
ways possible
The spur touched Dolly's flank more
often than usual, but she kept up brave
ly, and Danny clattered into Wabash
ahead of time. Imparting the alarm
ing intelligence to old man Beck, the
postmaster, and cautioning him to get
the family ready and start for the post
without further delay, he rode on to-
ward Crooked Creek.
'Jewhillakers!" exclaimed one of the
watchers. whats Danny ridin' so all
fred fast about? Must be suthin' up"
They soon knew, and scattered for
their respective claims to prepare for
fight ere the storm burst.
Danny clinched the. saddle tighter
and looked to his weapon ere he mount
ed for the home ride. He was not
afraid. Had he been a coward he
would have remained safely at the
p,,fo f1n