The Forrest City times., 1894-09-21
goodwill toward any one of American or European blood.

panions in crime-who formed the most notorious and daring band of robbers in southern Colorado-did not escape the vindictive spirit of Black Rosa. But the woman was useful to them, and when plentifully supplied with drink there was no crime too black for her wicked heart nor scheme too deep for her cunning brain. If she possessed a single redeeming trait no one had been able to discover it. Durango had been ablaze with the glory of frontier life-a glory which comes but once in the lifetime of new town. But there was then little regard felt for the future by the for tune hunters who swarmed the streets and filled up the hotels and held high revelry in the saloons and dance halls of that camp.
 Honest men with capital, seeking to double their investments in a fort night, stood on the same level of as sociation with the horse thief and thc road agent. Mine promoters and gamblers drank over the same bar. The crack of the stage drivers whip
 
 Business conversations and ribald songs, laughter and curses inter- mingled in wild hurrah chorus.
 John France stood leaning with his back against the end of the bar in the saloon attached to the leading hotel of the town. His hands were thrust into the side pockets of his sack coat, while his face bore a puzzled look. John Frances handkerchief was miss ing. That was q mere incident, yet he continued to look puzzled.
 Going back to the mine in the morn ing?" asked the clerk of the hotel minute later, as France approached the desk and asked for writing ma terial.
 "Yes, sure.''
 Stage leaves at two o'clock
 ssWell, call me a half hour earlier, and don't, for your head, let me miss the stage. 1 must be at the mine to- morrow by all means. By the way, I have lost a white silk hankerchief with black border Look out for it. !"
 A few minutes later, while France was still busy writing. Sheriff Barney approached him and presented little Mexican chap in whose possession had been found the silk handkerchief.
 What shall l do with him?" asked the sheriff.
 "Lock him up," said the manager of tGe Bull Domingo hotel, dock him up. That is the little rascal who came to me few minutes ago begging for money. l gave him two bits and he shows his gratitude by stealing my handkerchief"
 The attention of the loungers about the hotel office was attracted by these loudly spoken words of John France; but they did not hear what he said in hurried undertone to the sheriff, so there was a murmur of indignation against the man who would seek the punishment of child for stealing a silk handlxerchief-and that after it had been returned.
 John France laughed and went to his room. while the sheriff smiled, as he always smiled in danger and out, and led the boy away. The crowd looked puzzled
 He had my boy locked up. did he?" shrieked Black Rosa, when the details of this little episode were related to her. The black face of the little Mex ican woman seemed ablaze with indig- nation. He shall pay for this.'
 ''Senora forgets the two silver dol lars" taunted Robber Dan; 'I thought the sonora might feel sorry that We had planned to rob this fine Ameri- cano. But it's all right now-is it, dearest?" he added, mockingly.
 Rob him. murder him,' yelled Black Rosa. and she staggered from her chair. as if she would carry out her own command, but fell on the floor m heap.
 Dan and his pals lifted the woman to bed, and the leader remarked that she would sleep till morning, and be neither help nor hindrance. It had been known for twenty-four hours that the money-some ten thousand dollars flor the Bull Dimingo pay roll had been received, but until announced by Manager France it was not known when that gentleman would start for the mine.
 At twelve o'clock that night four men, heavily armed, rode out of Du- rango.
 Two hours later the stage followed them, with one occupant on the in- side and the driver alone on the front boot Bloomer, the driver. might as we'll have been unaccompanied so far as the inside occupant of the coach was concerned. But he was used to these lonely rides, and when passen- ger preferred to be exclusive it simply exhibited to Bloomer the poor taste of