Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-08-16
THE SUNSET TRAIL.


Traffic might stagnato, civilization
might pail, but tho U.iied States mail
must go right ahead. aud on schedule
time at that. AS for tho Sunset Trail,
II wound its way far over the dreary
plains OF Kansas, across the Gmmsr-
ron, and on and on into the great state
Of tho Lone Star.
But Danny's route only extended to
Crooked Greek. town consisting OF a
grocery stere. AZ this time tho popu-
lation OF Ford county could lave been
easily corralled On a quarter section,
and had comfortable standing rooIn at
that Danny was ~ apoet,e 10 these
lone settlers. and only one who has ez-
perienced tho appalling louekness Of az
istenco In those thinly peopled plains,
whero yos can 500 your next door neigh
boris shanty ON clear days only, cen
realize tho Joy with which they heralded
this blue eyed, brown haired bunch Of
turbulence.
1.-TWO O'clock would comment some
unkempt denizen. consulting tho sun.
"Dannyu DO here Ia ten minutes."
Then they woul.; look till their eyes
ached afar TO where the 6unset Trail
tipped over the roll Of prairie at the
horizon. Soon their watching would Be
rewarded. and steadily aud swiftly
would tho bay mare, Dolly. beaS bes
rider down the trail In that swingtns
indefatlgablo gallop OF the mustan&
Perchanco some settler coming hte
tho postofiice would appreciate the best
side u the road and Jog along h tie
path TINT Danny ehoee.
Cit ont o tho way Of the United
States mall" would come the warning,
md he would prudenuy "git" 70 tho
other side Of the road, for Danny could
and would shoot, and besides didn't he
have every one Of those fellows down st
tho office TO stand at his back To the Last
Bhotf So, no matter how much Of fire
eater the obstructor might be, he switch
cd of when tho carrier demanded the
right OF way.
And that was often. For That lad bad
tho idea inculoated into his being that
all other powers. terrestrial and celestial,
were secondary considerations when the
United States mail was concerned, and
ho soized every opportunity TO exercise
his authority.
How longingly and expectsntly those
eager pioneers would watch tho Letters
distributed! Though perhaps they had
no grounds for expecting letter, yet
their hope did not sink until the last ono
was put away.
Then the return mail would be made
up, and at tho exact minute Danny
would vault into the largo Mexican ead,
dlo-almost as large as no or Dolly
and with tho all potent mail securely
strapped 10 tho girdles on each side, bo
would recominence his long ride, never
stopping as no tried flying shot at
some unwieldy rattlesnsie' that had
dragged It's mottled form out ON tho ran
10 loll In tho sun, and who would not bo
able to wiggle into the tail gfass ere tho
UnitedStates mail was uupn him. Along
tho route the settlers would come out Of
their shantiee, half bent, md wave their
sombreros and cheer the buoyant rider.
Wabash was the only stop II was os
the same importance - Crooked Creol,
only there were two houses instead q
ono, or rather q double house, foy The
owners OF the claims that joined up
there occupied shanty of two compart
ments, ono on each claim. Somehow or
other the scamp would sit straighter In
tho saddle and pun Dollye head up
higher when they approached Wabash
and prott little peach OF gin would
como out md chat With the carrier
whilo her spectacied fathers attcnaoa
was rtveted on the letter packages. Dol
ly would probably think that Danny
was gotting rather weighty on ono side
as he bent low In the saddle, dangerous
ly close to that pink sunbonn5t> And
tho scofilng gopher that sat up con
veniently close 10 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 0
bit. All, fear Danny would feign have
fingered longer st the unprepossessing
post Of Wabash. but-the United States
mail must bo carried on.
Night would fall ero he crossed The
dark Ummarron, and on auspicious
nights the moon was we'll mp In the sky
when no rode, with whoop and halloo
that stilled tho bowling Of tho coyotes,
into Fort Dodge-the journey done.
Ono day cowboy came into the fort
with O jadod mustang aud a slaah across
bis cheek. and reported that he had
been chased by a band OF Arapahoes
These children OF nature had grown In
solent with well feeding and little work.
They often became thus at irregular In
tervals, and breakine from tho rescrvs-
ton swept north upon the scattered set
tiers Of tho plains, considerably depopu-
latang those sparaely inhabited districts
Their great father In Warrington, they
complained, was not giving them enough
blankets. and In consequence they were
compelled 10 trade thaif noccasins for
"hyo wRts~'
Danny waa prepartns 10 start upou nn
route when the news camo
"You oughnt 10 go, Dan,' they ssSd,
''for they'll strike right up tho C,mmar-
ron liko they allays do, aud MORN likely
fall afoul Of you. Hyou do your scalp1l
danglc from some red nigger's bolt 10
foro mornun.s
''fm not skeert,- replied bo, settling
himself In tho saddle, End besides the
folks Mt Wabash and at the crock ought
30 DO warned. And you know tho mali
has to go as long As ivs anyways pos-
sible.r