The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1892-07-15
THE SUNSET TRAIL.

=
Danny Redmond was u mail carrier
on the Sunset Trail, and he fully reafs
fzed tbe imDortauce of his nositioD
Troeao ,,,i,,ht s+oo,,o+o oi,Ii1inotio,,
-. ..m e. 49, IT,, ct.tl-
'en' p'il' Uu' 'u0 = "i'' ''"''1 niali
must 20 Flsh' aheau' anu OH ScLieuule
Hme at that AS Tor the sunset Trail,
1t 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.
Bnt Danny's route only extended to
Crooked Greek, town consisting of q
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 loneliness of ex-
istence in those thinly pe0pled plains,
where you can see your next door neigh
boris shanty on clear days only, can
realize the Joy with which they heralded
this blue eyed, brown haired bunch of
turbulence.
1.-Two o'clock" would comment some
unkempt denizen, consulting the sun
"Danny'll be here in ten minutes"
Then they would look till their ewes
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,
indefatigabe gallop of the mustang.
PerchanCe some settler coming into
the postofice would appreciate the best
side of the road and jog along in the
path that Danny chose.
"Git ont O the way Of the United
States mailV would come the warming,
!. 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 a fire
eater the obstructor might be, he switch,
ed off when the carrier demanded the
right of way.
And that was often. For that lad had
the idea inCulcated into his being that
all other powers, terrestrial and celestial,
were secondary considerations when the
United States mail was concerned, 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 q flying shot al
some unwieldy rattlesnake that had
dragged its notified form out on the rail
to loil in the sun, and who would not be
able to wiggle into the tall grass ere the
United States mail was upon him. Along
GllB route ttlG SebIleTb WOlIu GOING DuI Ol
their shanties, half bent, and wave theil
sombreros and cheer the buoyant rider.
Wabash was the onlv stop, 1t was OF
the same importance as Crooked Creek
only there were two houses instead Oi
one, OF rather a double house, for the
owners of the claims that ioined ur
there occupied e. shanty of two conpart
meDts. one on each claim. Somehow OF
other the scamp would sit straighter in
the saddle and null DolIy's head ur
higher when tbev aDproaebed Wabash
and n nrettv little neacb of a girl would
come out and chat with the carrier
while her snectacIed fathers attention
was Tiveted On The letter nackages Doj
Iy wonId nrobablv think that Danny
was gettine rather weigbtv on one sidt
as he bent low In the saddle. DANGEROUS
ly close To that mink sunbonnet, And
the gcofinp CONNER that sat nm con.
yeniently close 10 his burro would won
der for what reason n fellow y 2uld want
to b;te a nrettv mi iiTe ber Rnt Rogif
didn,t seem ~ mind tbe nunighment !
b;t Al fear Danny vo1ld feign bavf
Ingerad Iongar IA tba nnnrenossess n q
nost ~ Wabash bnt-tbe ITnited State
man rorst he carr;ed on
Nje,bt wo,Id faII era be cyossad tbe
dark Cimmarron and on ansnicions
njebts M ,n,,o,, 2vos ,r,ell mn Il be slTx
e~fsoHNN Tf+T A'rT = - ~NN = ~ - II ~