Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-02-22
ROUTE SIX THIRTY"

ROUTE SIX THIRTY.
The mail route between Binley and
Clovis was so dangerous, for various
reasons, that when the contract came
to be let for carrying it, there was
but one bidder. That was old PAW
Hatley," as everybody called him,
who lived on claim on the noun
tain side above Binley, and he had so
many boys, and they were so idle
and worthless, people said if half
dozen of them were killed carrying
the mail, why all the better, prehaps,
for the rest.
1t was rather hard saying, but
Paw" was not the least disturbed
thereby, and made no remark. But
if he had it would doubtless have
been, "Mebby so, mebby So" for no
one knew better than himself how
generally useless his boys were, and
he often wondered in a dull sort of
way why it was so. If one had told
him they were not properly brought
up, he would have glared indignant
ly and then, with a contemptuous
glance about the wretched log cabin
that had been their only home, he
would have answered with a grim
smile:
There want no show fer EN-,
stranger. They had ter take Their
chances"
And seeing the poverty, and
general wretchedness that abounded,
a stranger would mentally conclude
the chances had been slim, and it
was no wonder the nine were not
ornaments to society, or credit to
their parents. For there was nine
of them, ranging from fifteen to thir-
ty in age, and not one much less than
six feet tall.
There was much rejoicing among
them when they found the govern
ment had given the contract to
"Paw," for twenty-five mile ride
four times a week, on a half wild
broncho. meant unlimited fun in
their estimation. OF the danger
from fire, flood, robbers or wild an
imals they never thought; nor, if
the truth must be told, did they care
much for the pay. Anything for
excitement. and to get away from
home and "Paw's" commands to
work in the fields where their scant
supply of corn was raised for 'pone,'
and to fatten the hogs that supplied
their only meat save what wild game
fell before their rifles. Living the
wild, unrestrained life they did, work
was something to be shirked When
ever possible, and not one but would
have perilled his life to avoid the
(to them degradation of using the
hoe.
|
There was a good deal of dispute
among the boys as to who should
carry the mail the first time, and
PAW listened good-naturedly for
a while.
"See yer, boys" he said at length,
when they seemed to come to blows,
Eyer wastin too much jaw. Hams
goin' 18th ther mail Tomorrow
He's Their stiddist, en- ther rest kin
be gitten trustier vile he's gone"
That settled the matter for q
time, for singular as it may sound,
the old mans word was law. So
early Monday morning Ham set of
from the village, the mail pouch
securely strapped to the saddle, with
rifle and revolvers ready for instant
use.
The route was all the way through
a broken, mountainous region,
where deep ravines and rocky canon
alternated with stretches of dense
timber whose dusky aisles were in
Tested with wolves, bears and the
dreaded mountain lion. The road
was seldom travelled, indeed it was
but trail at best; and when wash
ed by fierce mountain storms, was
almost impossible, for one unused
to follow.
Every Monday and Thursday, rain
or shine, the mail must be delivered
at Clovis, and on Thursdays and Fri
days the return sack be promptly
in the post-masters hands at Binley.
For a long time all went well, "Paw"
keeping the older, more trusty boys
on the trail, till at last it got to be
an old story, and one morning, a
year later, four of them went of to
some newly discovered silver Dig
gings, and Ham suggested the
younger boys be given a chance
The old man shook his head and
looked in perplexity from. Alf to
Ken, and on to Cor.
81 VOW. | dunno how twill work