Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1895-12-07
A PAso DEL NORTE ROMANCE.
Dug UP BY n Correspondent of the
Buffalo Express.

The Buffalo Express gives a length
story about the Juarez "Queen O
Gamblers" from which the CITIZEN take
the following:
SIT is long time ago that Louna Pa
quits ruled at Psso del NoIte, Mex.
over the cowboys and outlaws ant
greesers. 1t will be much longer tim'
until her successor appears. Gambling
as a fine and all consuming art witt
women is not so marked as in old days
when laws were fewer and crimes were
commoner. Women play at gamee OF
chance, perhaps, just as devotedly as OF
yore, out the days have passed when il
was not an extraordinary happening for
a woman. fair and gentle, to outplay
cowboys. outlaws and gamblers and not
only win all their money, but also drain
the bank, Louna Paquits often did this.
"And who among the old timers Of
| Texas, New Mexico and Arizona does
not remember Louna PsqHita? She Of
the BLACK hair and laughing eyes; whose
checks were bright as morning, whose
| smile muddled the brain and confused
the fingers of the deftest dealer. Close
your ey,s Bgain and see the slim petite
figure at the gambling 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 to the sympathy and sorrow lavish
ed on the losers as the queen of gsmb-
iers gathered up her winnings when
there was nothing left the others to
lose. True, that the Paquita has been
dead these fifteen years, but the Oldest
gambler will stop his play to tell you OF
her, and bis hard, cold face will relax
and his voice will GOTTEN as be tells you
of the one woman he acknowledged as
MS mistress in bis art.
"Louna Pnquita, or ss she was known,
the P6quiis, was bern in chihuahua
1850. No one knows who OF what her
parents we're. When a child about II
years old, u gambler named Qus,etor |
found her homeless and frlendiess 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 |
lntricacies of Mexican monte. She learn |
ed rapidly soon equaling Queletor in |
skill and dexlerity.
Meme of the cid timers have forgot |
ten her first appearance at Paso del /!
Norte. She Was 16 years old and small /
for her age. She came with Qu6letor,
who said he was her uncle. When /
Qualetor was there to gamble be prsctl
rally lived at Lark Gsrrettson's. Gar
-ettson ran the biggest gambling house
on the border. His game YVES practically /
without limit. The Peguita appeared
c!iugng closely to her alleged uncle.
Tie bank expected Qusletor, who wss
heavy player, and had made proper prep
erations fyr his ( lay. As Qualetor play
ed the PequIta stood beside him silent
aud observant. Luck WAS against the
Mexican and he lost heavily. Finally,
Then hie pile of gold had diminished to
a few coins, he turned to the P6quita,
aud shoyiDg the money before her, said
gruffiy, Here, child, win with them.
'Dsaler gnd players smiled sympa-
tbe' ically, thinking Qualet'r had quit
backing his luck for the night and de-
sired 10 let the chilo amuse herself a
moment before he went away. The
Paquita seated berself. leaning both
lboWs on the table, with her hands
supporting her chin. The play went
on. The child Won. AZ che played the
dealer eyed her in wonder. 1t was Lot
tfSna that child knew how to gam
ble, but never before had child played
with such skill and judgment The bank
lost rapidly. The Paqulta won bet after
bet. The heaps of cold grew On the
Ia ble in froBt OF her. d cks c7ere chang
ed, but without rvail. The bank con-
tiuued to lose. A new dealer was tried
but with no better success thar the
first. The Psquita's luck was amazing.
he dealer and the child faced each
other. The bank lost. Then Garretson
himself took the cards. He was famed
rs the shrewdest gambler on the border.
But he could not beat the child. Finally
be said.
Here is what is left in the bank. It
your winnings. Win or lose,
the next draw takes it?"
The Paquita nodded. The king lay
op the board.
II play q king in the door," she said
in Spanish.
The spectators gasped. Such risk
was folly. There was still half the deck
against her. Even Garrettson smiled.
He dealt. The king stood in the door.
The Paquita had won. Garretson'
bank had been broken and broken by a
child.
According 10 the Buffalo dIscoverer OF
Psauita she killed be'self in New Mexi-
co to escape arrest as the leader OF @
gang of outlaws.