Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1910-09-01
.Cl1l PASSES OFF
AS man FOR FIVE
YEARS WITH EASE
Finally She Unmasks, and Now
She Enjoys the Sensation
Her Story Is Giving
Her Friends.

Afsl BaSped With aStOnlShment and
then laughed yesterday. when they
heard the amazing story of alias Al
+! Martinez" or Elena B. Smith who for
1--WE years had posed as d man, and in
mans clothing had gone through all
sorts of masculine experiences. from
business to rough houses and had
never been suspected. These We're
the persons with whom "Al Martinez"
worked and played and at whom she
Is now quietly laughing, demurely and
| femininey clad, at the Hotel Bre-
1 WORT.
In business establishments where the
supposed young "Spaniard' had been
employed the routine was everywhere
broken up by reminiscence, excited
gossip and laughter. The stenogra-
piers. telephone operators and other
women employees thought it was not
so surprising that they had not dis
covered the secret of Martinez because
they had not been closely associated
with him.
Told Her Their Secrets.
4 Consequently they bantercd men
workers Who had gone to cafes. to the
races. to ball games and even to box
ing matches with "Al" and had not
dreamed they We're going about with
woman Moreover, they had given
him their confidence about love aft
fairs. matrimonial difficulties, debts,
/
4 him that would have been consid-
cred most shocking to Il woman
| You may assure all my young men
friends. however," said Mrs. Smith
that I'll never tell any one where I've
been With them or what they said to
me. Even if l aim a girl again I'll keep
| TO the male code of honor about such
| things
Al the first business place where
Al MARTINEZ worked after taking up
that role in Boston and coming here
| the tobacco mandatory of Jacob
Stahl, jr. now at First avenue and
/ Ninety-eighth street-"Al" is still we'll
remembered MIR. Stah was not there.
but forewoman of the factory (who
asked that her name be withheld) said
u used to have trouble keeping my
1 girls from flirting with Martinez he
was SO good-looking and Well dressed.
One girl wanted to marry him and was
almost heartbroken when he left"
The big wooden house of S. Stein &
Co. at Fifth avenue and Eighteenth
| street, was a-buZz over the strange
story. Henry Bernhard, one OF the
partners, was the man who engaged
Martinez there as IA bookkeeper in the
spring of 1906. He was inclined to be
trifie chagrined when asked about
| this.
"of Course, He Worked Here"
But when he saw the smiling faces
VI tlie poohkeepers ana heard the open
/ siggles of the girls about the place.
Mr.. Bernhard enjoyed hearty laugh
il 'lis own ll expense .3l .
~ inc clo.n Importing house of Greeff
q 70. a. mercer ahd spring streets.
most of the laughs. apparently. were
d, lhe expense OF w james Faith. the
,l l'., VINO not only advanced young
,N .. several llihes. put when ne
left gave him a letter testifying to how
honest and capable young man. the
pe ..I' VAS. U.s.
NJ i'p on ASK .is me- poul NLilrtlhez' SAID
' NJ. n,a T. Tue lleau n'okKeepef. or
49,. $3.50. &c, .s M9lhed mere We peen near
1t..s ous NiaieiieH all DAY. NO.
.,,ss saet Aiien ne vas Molllah-never
saspe :, i'ue ASK WIZ Faith' mes the
~ 10, c;, $500.
ro -. ie 70; sie nearby they
ana H. he ny SIM sou''s npahiafd
Mart inv, Dn ,s ea ~ eiJoSea lellng now
,.a ~ liz .l'' -. ~ - ~. ~, nus loot on the
IT.. liz g.. az. ~ '..e 1leeio employ
90. ihiS "e.s III Siit- ran VI loVo.