The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-04-09
A MEXICAN'S
FLIGHT
BY ARTHUR W. BREWSTER

village lived two families, one o.
whom, the Fernandez. favored the gov
eminent, while the other, the Molinas
were known to be revolutionary sym
pathizers
Nevertheless. these two families hat
been intimate friends for years, and
when revolution came and the
Madero government was about to be
deposed both families made an ar
rangement for mutual protection, II
the Madero side won then any hunted
Molina would If possible be concealed
in the Fernandez home. II the Diaz
side won the Fernandez might seek
refuge In the Molina home.
Young Leandro Fernandez. a boy OF
eighteen, during the lighting for the
capture OF the police In the City of
Mexico acted with the government
! troops and when the end came fed to
the home of the Molinas. He was of
no political importance. but had bit
ter enemies who desired to take ad-
vantage of the anarchy that followed
the presidents assassination, to be
avenged upon the young soldier. He
was successful in reaching the Molina
home and making an entry without be-
ing seen.
Leandro, not relishing remaining bid
den away in an attic or cellar, pos
sessing fresh, rosy cheeks and being
without the slightest sign of beard,
resolved to make himself up as girl
in order that he might 90 about like
other persons. Senorita lnez Molina.
a girl Of sixteen, was about his size
and loaned him some OF her wardrobe.
His mother procured him blond wig
and sent it to him, and with a little
paint and powder his maidenly toilet
was complete. He had been educated
In New England. so was able to pass
himself off for an American girl. a
niece Of Senior and Sonora Molina.
No sooner were the revolutionary
forces victorious than young Fernan-
dezs enemies. led by one Manuel Co
sarees, set watch for him at his
home. expecting to take him there after
the assassination OF the president
They waited for him to arrest him on
forged order of the revolutionary die
tator, but he did not appear. They
were about to give up, thinking that
he had fed to the country. when some
of the neighbors of the Molinas heard
that he was In their house masquerad-
ing as a girl. and. the report reaching
Cosarees. he made Inquiries and found
that the only two young persons in the
Molina family were lnez Molina and
her cousin. Miss Mary Ashurst or
Massachusetts.
Had the would be murderers been
certain that this supposed Mary Ash
urst was the man they wanted or had
she not posed as an American they
would not have hesitated to take him
out forcibly and kill him. But first
they must satisfy themselves that the
girl was a man and the man they want
ed. and. secondly-a matter of even
more importance--they dare not risk !
troubling a citizen of the United States. !
The Diaz government was at the time |
In dread OF American Intervention. and I
any man committing an outrage on an |
American citizen would be severely |
punished.
The Cosarees gang visited the Molina |
home ostensibly to make an inspection
IF some kind and saw Fernandez. but |
lid not recognize him, though he rec
,gnized them. They went away evil
iently dissatisfied. and Fernandez be-
ieved that as soon as they could make
Ip their minds TO some method of
procedure they would call again.
Ii was natural to suppose that If
hey suspected him they would bring
woman for the purpose of determln-
ng IL he were really a woman, and
lpon the discovery of his sex they
would take him a prisoner into Next
o and shoot him on the way. Some
hing must be done to provide for such
contingency. II
The plan was hit upon for the two {
iris to change Identities by means of !
makeup. Inez. who was about the I
anne complexion as Fernandez, put on ]
be clothes he had worn during the Wis
. OF his enemies. The blond wig was =
hen put on, and she was made up i
nth wax and cosmetics to resemble
i'm. He. too. was made up for Inez. Q
True enough. the very next day after !
leir first visit they came again. This c
me they threw off the mask and. v
a forged order from the new
,gime. said they were looking for a
Iadero soldier who had assassinated
Diaz supporter. They had heard that '
= was masquerading as an American
ri from Massachusetts and wished to
,termine the truth OF the rumor They g,
Id brought a woman who would sat a
fy herself that the person was really "
female, and If Il turned out to be so v
at would end the matter. y
Ii was coming evening when they =.
lied and the lights had not been
,hted The two girls were sitting to-
,ther In corner. and Inez. now
Ianged to personate the Massachu-
it's girl. arose and accompanied the i;
oman to another room. In a few I.
Inutes both returned. and the woman hi
ported herself satisfied Then the =
sitors went away and did not return
But Fernandez thought IL prudent to L
he his departure. Resuming the per IN
nality OF the Massachusetts girl. be
lveled to Vera Cruz as such and did ~