The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-08-21
A Stunning
Blow
Bv MARTHA v. MONROE

ital of that country to see was to
be seen. Paul Stanford was wealthy
and had not settled down to any bust
ness or profession. He spent his time
wherever there was any excitement.
During that long period when the Bal
kan states were preparing to resist
their masters, the Turks. Stanford was
there watching the preliminary move
ment and Joined in n of the expedi-
lions which set out from Bulgaria.
And now when Mexico was in a tur-
moil he was observing the struggle
among the various factions. One day
while dining at a restaurant he made
the acquaintance of Il Mexican who
sat ut the same table with him. Senior
Jose Sandoval offered to show the
American the sights Of the capital and
piloted him from one curiosity to an
other. thus acquiring his fervent friend
ship. Then Sandoval offered to intro
duce his new acquaintance to some OF
the Mexican ladies. Stanford assented
and was taken to call upon Senorita
Maria Molina.
Stanford's women ac%quaintances
were not added to. because he wal sat
isfed to spend all his time with Sc
norita Molina. She was very pretty
and had all the coquettish ways of a
Spanish girl. ~. q" H. 't1'
"Well," said sandoval one day, some
time after the introduction. whit do
you think Of the senorita I have made
you acquainted WITH"
"She is very fascinating, but at the
same time very unsatisfactory"
Unsatisfactory? What do you mean
by that?"
II can't make her out. 1 don't know
whether she is fooling me for a pur-
pose or whether she has given me a
bit of her heart"
Sandoval looked at the American
scrutinizingly. Explain" he said.
There is something about her that
makes me distrust her." replied Stan
ford.
well. then. why do you not take
pains to learn something about herr"
How can ! do that?'
"Observe when she goes out; then go
into her house and-well. look about
you"
Spy on her?" asked Stanford sternly.
Call it what you like. You r in
love with her. Being in love with her.
l presume you wish to marry her. Are
you so squeamish that you would mar
ry a woman who may be an adven-
turess rather than satisfy yourself that
she is a proper person to be your
| wife?"
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 I suggest OF
drop Senorita Molina at once and new
err see her again."
Stanford acted upon neither of these
| alternatives at once. Indeed. he v
intended to act upon either of them.
But one day he called on his enchant-
ress during her absence from home.
and Sund0val'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 down 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.
"Senorita. l have brought word to
you at the risk Of my life. The gen
eral says that you have done SO much
for the Constitutional cause that he
hopes you will not refuse to do this
one thing more. The president must
he
Here the mans voice dropped so low
that Stanford failed to hear him. There
was u reply. also in a low vOice-Se-
norita Molina's-and then a mans foot
steps were heard leaving the house.
followed by a woman's going upstairs.
Stanford did not like the idea of the
lMdy's knowing that he had her secret.
1t occurred to him to leave before she
should come downstairs. The twilight
had come n and. going out through
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.
II have not had a word with her
since I saw you last" vas the reply.
and Stanford turned the conversation
into another channel. But what he
had overheard troubled him. He be-
1 lieyed that he knew what was meant
by the unfinished sentence. He was
horri6ed that the girl he loved should
be an assassin. He brooded over the
matter till he felt that be must prevent
her from staining her fair hands with
blood. Whom could he trust? No n
but his friend Sandoval. He told San
doval that the presidents life was in
danger and asked him to impart the
warning to the man 1t concerned. San.
doval did not ask him where he had
acquired the information. But two
hours after the interview Stanford
called on senorita Molina, to learn that
| aha had hoon aRnoaknN aud k.L>~ -.