Belding banner., 1914-06-10
PAUL STANFORD
GETS STUNNING BLOW
: WHILE IN MEXICO
INTERESTING INCIDENT DURING
TRANSITION FROM MADERO
TO HUERTA


wherever there was any excitement
During that long period when the bal;
kan states were preparing 70 resist
their masters, the Turks, Stanford was
there watching the preliminary move
ment and Joined In one OF the expedi-
tions which set out from Bulgaria.
And now when Mexico was In tur-
moil he was observing the struggle
among the various factions. One day
while dining at restaurant he made
the acquaintance OF a Mexican who
sat at the same table with him. Senor
Jose Sandoval offered TO show the
American the sights OF the capital and
piloted him from one curiosity 10 an
other. thus acquiring his fervent friend
ship. Then Sandoval offered TO intro
duce his new acquaintance to some or
the Mexican ladies' Stanford assented
and was taken TO call upon Senorita
Maria Molina
Stanford's women acquaintances
were not added to. because he was sat
isfied to spend all his time with Sc
norita Molina. She was very pretty
and had all the coquettish ways of
Spanish girl
We'll" said Sandovai one day. some
time after the introduction. what do
you think of the senorita | have made
you acquainted with?'
"She is very fascinating but at the
same time very unsatisfactory"
Unsatisfactory? What do you mean
by that?"
Il can't make her out. ] don't know
whether she is fooling me for pur-
pose or whether she has given me
bit Of her beart."
Sandoval looked at the American
scrutinizingly. Explain" he said.
There is something about her that
makes me distrust her. replied Stan
ford.
2 We'll. then, why do you not take
pains TO learn something about berT'
Z How can do that?''
e observe when she goes out; then go
into her house and-weIl. look about
you" 4
"Spy on herY' asked Stanford sternly.
Call 1t what you like. You are Ia
love with her. Being In love with her.
/ presume you wish to marry her. Are
you 30 squeamish that, you would mir.
ry a woman who may be an adven.
turess rather than satisfy yourself that
she is a proper person 10 be your
wifer" - 'N
Stanford listened. but did not reply.
Sandoval continued:
II am too fond OF you not to try TO
prevent, you from making a misalli-
ance Either do what suggest or
drop Senorita Molina at once and nev-
er see her again"
Stanford acted upon neither Of these
alternatives at once Indeed. he never
intended to act upon either OF them.
But one day he called on, his enchant.
ress during her absence from home.
and Sandoval's suggestion came buzz
ing about his ears like a bumblebee.
But he could not stoop to spy upon the
woman he loved. Having been told
that Senorita Molina would not be long
gone. he sat downs in a corner TO wait
for her. He fell into a doze. from
which he WAS awakened by a mans
voice in the hall speaking in Spanish.
"Sehori,a have brought word TO
you at the risk or my life The gen
eral says, that you have done so much
for the Constitutional cause that he
hopes yon will not refuse TO do this
one thing more. The president must
be-
Here the mans voice dropped so low
that Stanford failed TO hear him. There
was reply. also in low voice-Se-
steps were heard leaving the house.
followed by woman's going upstairs
Stanford did not like the idea of the /
lady's knowing that he had her secret. |
1t occurred TO him TO leave before she .
should come downstairs. The twilight /
had come on. and. going out through I
the door. he made his way under some
trees and disappeared.
The next day he met Sandoval. The
latter noticed that he looked troubled
Have you met Senorita Molina late
ly," he asked Of the American.
81 have not had n word with her
since ] saw you last" was the reply, \
and Stanford turned the conversation
into another channel. But what he I
bad overheard troubled him. He be- 1
lieved that he knew what was meant \
by the unfinished sentence He was \
horrifed that the girl he loved should |
be an assassin. He brooded over the
matter till he felt that he must prevent H
her from staining her fair hands with
blood. Whom could he trust? No one
but his friend Sandoval. He told San
foval that the presidents life was in
danger and asked him TO impart the
TO the man II concerned. San
foval did not ask him where he had
acquired the information. But two
hours after the interview Stanford
called on senorita Molina. to learn that
she had been arrested and taken away.
The next day he received a farewell
from her written before she was to be
secretly executed. She said she loved