Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-08-04
BLACK ROSA'S CIR Y OF DEATH.
By Lewis II. Eddy.

shook with rage. Trembling in every
nerve, she glared vieiously and shook a
long, bony finger in the faces of the
group Of miners who, with jests and
Jeers, had met 'ler supplications for
charity
Get out of this, you black devil"
one Of them shouted I'VE have had
enough of you"
She's got plenty of money" cried
another.
Wears diamonds in the city" sheer
ed third.
"Muerte a los gringosr' repeated the
woman, with a Shrek which would
have chilled the blood of men unused
to her vicious ways.
Manager France, of the Bull Domin-
go, heard the disturbance between the
miners and the miserable old woman as
he came up the gulch.
Here my good woman" said he,
here are two silver dollars. You had
better not stay around here" he added,
kindly, as she took the money and
called the blessings of the saints upon
his generous soul. THE men are not
used to giving aims, and they will only
treat you unkindly."
He'd better be savin' them 81 to help
out the pay roll of the Bull Domingo
remarked a saloon keeper, who had
been keeping a slate for nearly three
months for the accommodation of work
men upon that property.
It's a woman as always breaks a
heart" urged a miner.
Sonora Rosalina Ortiz once enjoyed a
happy home in the City of Mexico. her
birthplace She had all the opportuni-
ties of education, both in Spanish and
English, and in her early married life
had travelled much.
But misfortune came to her in the
death of her husband and two OF their
three children, after the loss of all the
property they possessed. They had for
several years made their home in the
United States, where Senior Ortiz had
died, leaving his widow penniless. Pow,
erty and sin were her undOing, and
when the Colorado mining fever filled
the mountains with fortune seekers OF
high and low degree, Sonora Ortiz
drifted to Durango.
She was living with a hardened char
acter known as "Robber Dan, an
American, whose life both in and out OF
the penitentiary was a series OF mis-
deeds.
They were we'll mated in their Grim
inal careers, though the woman had
thus far known no more of prison life
| than is afforded by county jails. Her
only child, boy of twelve years, had,
! like his mother, become a professional
beggar and thief.
The i'll treatment she had received az
| the hands and tongues Of the miners
! at Rico had burned into her soul like a
| hot iron. though the wound was largely
healed by the soft words and the silver
so kindly bestowed by John France.
Even Robber Dan and Eis male COM
Danions in crime-whO formed the most
notorious and daring band of robbers in
| Southern ColOradc-did not escape the
vlndictive spirit of Black Rosa. Bu'
| 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 foI
her cunning brain.
Durango was ablaze with the glory OF
frontier life-a glory which comes bu'
| once in the lifetime of new town.
Honest men, with capital, seeking tC
double their investments in fortnight
stood on the same level of association
with the horse thief and the road agent
Mine promoters and gamblers drank
over the same bar. The crack of the
stage drivers whip was but the echo OF
the pistol shot.
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%ace bore puzzled look.
John Frances handkerchief was
missing. That was a mere incident
yet he continued to look puzzled.
Going back to the mine in the morn
ing?" asked the clerk of the hotel a
minute later. as France approached the
desk and asked for writing material.
Yes, surew
"Stage leaves at two o'clock.
well call me a half hour earlier
and don't, for your head, let me miss
! the stage. | must be at the mine to-
morrow by all means BY the way,
have lost a large white silk handker-
chief, witb<a 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 | do with him?' asked
the Sheriff.
Lock him up" answered the man
| ager of the Bull Domingo, sternly
| Lock him up, That is the little rascal
who came to me a few minutes age
! begging for money. | gave him two
| bits and he shows his gratitude by
stealing my handkerchief
The attention of the loungers about
the hotel Office did not hear what was
said in a hurried undertone to the sher-
if. so there was a murmur of indigna-
tion against the man who would seek
the punishment of child for stealing
4 silk handkerchief-and that after il
| had been returned.
"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 Mexican wo-
man seemed abaze with Indignation
'He shall pay for this"
Sonora forgets the two silver dol
| lars" tainted Robber Dan. Il thought
the sonora might feel sorry that we had
planned to rob this fine American. But
it's all right now-is it, dearest?' he
added mockingly.
Rob him. Murder him. yelled
Black Rosa, and she staggered from heI
chair as if she would cary out her own
| command but fell on the floor in a