Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-09
A QUEEN oF GAMBLERS.
TIE HISTORY OF MISS LoNNA PAouIIA
A Young Girl Who Beat the Card Players el the Southwest at Their Own
 Games.
Buffalo Express.

Buffalo Express.
 It is long time ago that Lonna Pa quita ruled at Paso del Norte, Mex, over the cowboys and outlaws and greasers. It will be a much longer time until her successor appears. Gambling as fine and all-consuming art with woman is.not SC marked as in the old days. when laws were, fewer and crimes were commoner. Women play at games of chance. per- haps, just as devotedly as of yore, but the days have passed when 1t was not an extraordinary happening for woman, fair and gentle, to outplay cowboys. out laws and gamblers and not only win all their money, but also drain the bank. Lonna Paquita often did this. T
 And who among the old timers of Tex as, New Mexico and Arizona does not re- member Lonna Paquita? She of the black hair and laughing eyes; whose cheeks were bright as morning, whose smile muddled the brain and confused the fingers of the deftest dealer. Close your eyes again and see the slim, petite figure at the gaming table and hear once more the soft voice naming the card which seemingly could not resist the charms of the player. Listen as of old te the sympathy. and sorrow lavished on the losers as the queen of gamblers gath cred. up her winnings when there was nothing left the others to lose. True, that the Paquita has been dead these fif- teen years. but the oldest gambler will stop his play to tell you of her, and his hard, cold face will relax and his voice will soften as he tells you of the one wom- an he acknowledged as his mistress in his art.
 Lonna Paquita, or as she was known, the Paquta, was born in Chihuahua about 1850. No one knows who or what her parents were. When a child about 12 years old, gambler named Quaietor found her homeless and friendless in the city in which she was born. She was then remarkably pretty. Qualetor taught her all his tricks with the cards. He spent hours instructing her in the intri- cacies of Mexican monte. She learned rapidly, soon equaling Qua1etor in skill and dexterty
 None of the old-timers have forgotten her first appearance at Paso del Norte. She was 16 years old, and small for her age. She came with Qualetor, who said he was her uncle. When Qualetor was there to gamble he practically lived at Lark Garrettson's. Garrettson ran the biggest gambling house on the border. Ills game was practically without limit. The Paquita appeared, clinging closely to her alleged uncle. The bank expected Qualetor, who was a heavy player, and had made proper preparations for his play. As Qualetor played the Paquita stood beside him silent and observant. Luck was against the Mexican and he lost heavily. Finally, when his pile of gold had diminished to a few coins, he turned to the Paquita and, showing the money before her. said gruf1y Here child, win with them'
 Dealer and players smiled sympathetir cally, thinking Qualetor had quit back ing his luck for the night and desired to let the child amuse herself moment be- fore he went away. The Paquita seated herself leaning both elbows on the table. with her hands supporting her shin. The play went on. The child won. As she played the dealer eyed her in wonder It was not strange that child under stood how to gamble, but never before had child played with such skill and Judgment. The bank lost rapidly. The Paquita won bet after bet. The heaps of gold grew on the table in front of her. Decks were changed, but without avail. CT was tried, but with no better success than the first. The Paquita's luck was amazing The other players dropped out one by one The dealer and the child faced each other. The bank lost. Then Garrettson himself took the cards. He was famed as the shrewdest gambler on the border. But he could not beat the child. Finally he said:
 Here is what is left in the bank. It matches your winnings. Win or lose, the next draw takes it?'
 The Paauita nodded A king lay on the board
 T play king in the door," she said in Spanish.
 The spectators gasped. Such risk was folly. There was still half the deck against iher Even Garrettson smiled. He dealt The king stood in the door. The Paquita had won. Garrettsons bank had been broken and broken by child. The Paquita turned to Qualetor.
 T am tired" she said
 The gambler gathered up her winnings and handed them to Garrettson, asking him to put them in the safe for the night Then he and the Paquita went out. The fact that child had beaten the Garrett son bank spread along the entire border. Qualetor and the Paquita travelled from town to town. playing in all of them and usually winning. They quarreled even tually. however. and in 1870 the Paquita, then beautiful girl of 20, came back to Paso del Norte alone She again appeared at Garrettson's. Her old time luck seemed to have deserted her. for she lost heavily and a week later went away.
 She was next heard of in New Mexico. She had allied herself with a gang of the worst characters in the southwest and in a short time became their leader. Un- der her the outlaws traversed New Mex leo stealing and plundering. When the climate got too hot for them they slipped across the line into Mexico. The Paquita forsook this life after a year of exciting adventure and turned up in Fl Paso with Sam Brnsley, the handsomest and most depraved gambler of his time. Brinsley crossed the Rio Grande river and opened up Garrettsons place, the latter having been killed by young Mungey, his dealer Brinsley prospered The Paquita lent the attraction of her presence to his place, sometimes as dealer but usual ly as player. sl
 She played any game. Her popularity was apparent from the outset. The game she played, whatever 1t might be, was always the popular game of the house The table at which she played was ai-