The Alaska citizen., 1910-08-06

road. Near daylight she reached the camp of the parliament troop and. crawling inside the lines, lay herself down near the prisoners.
 When the sun came up the cap tain of the guard counted the group of Cavaliers who had been intrustcd to his care the evening before and was surprised to find one more than should be. He reported the circum- stance to the commander of the force. who merely snapped back:
 Well, make it five in thirteen" l As soon as the command had breakfasted the prisoners were marched out into field near by. Thirteen bits of paper were put in a helmet, seven blanks and five marked with a skull and bones Then from hat all were required to draw number. The prisoners were then to draw from the helmet in order of the numbers they had drawn from the hat. Those drawing skulls and bones were to be shot
 Mary Aikenside stepped up to the hat to draw her number The off cer in charge saw her and said:
 What are you doing here? You are nothing but child" l The officer was about to order her 10 stand aside when he recalled his commanders words. Make it five ] in thirteen" He suffered her to draw number, and she drew No.
 Then began the drawing from the ] helmet
 No. 3 was the first man to draw a skull and bones. His knees gave way beneath him as he tottered back from the helmet Marys turn came next
 T protest against that boys draw l ing!" exclaimed young Egbert Booth.
 The commander paid no attention 10 him, and Mary drew. Her paper was blank
 While the drawing was going on Mary stepped up beside Egbert Booth and slipped her blank paper in ] his hand He looked at her. then at the paper. and handed il back to l her. She gave him a look of mute appeal, but it did not move him. 1 He was unwilling to stand on any other basis than that of his com rades Mary's object had failed. She sank back out of sight to hide her dis tress. When Booth went up to the helmet to draw she watched him with eager eyes. He drew, turned and held up the paper to the boy who had befriended him. It was a | blank.
 ! Mary fell in q faint
 The prisoners who had drawn death heads were placed in q line and a party of musketccrs were about to fire upon them when a shout was heard from an adjoining wood, and a band of Cavaliers came charging over the field The Round heads, surprised and outuumbcred. 1 took to flight The skull and bones" men clung together in an embrace. Then Egbert Booth turn ed to Mary.
 "Whence came you, boy?" he ask ed in kindly voice.
 I'm Sir Thomas Aikenside's son."
 indeed! You are none of ours. No. l came here
 The sentence was never finished. The commanding officer of the Cav Hers rode up and seeing Mary, asked if the king needed to rob the cradle for recruits. Mary took advantage of the remark to tell him that she was a temporary volunteer. and de sired permission to go to her home. An hour later, having watched the house for an opportunity, she stole inside and up to her room without being discovered Indeed the house hold were out in every direction searching for her.
 Mary had barely time to assume her own maidenly apparel when they began to return from their fruitless search. Then she heard voices below.
 'I am beholden, sir, to a son of yours for a great favor, I come to thank him.
 Indeed, sir!"
 Yes, he was with us this morning in our camp"
 T have but one son, and he has not been in your camp"
 Mary left her room and went downstairs. Flushing scarlet, she joined the group, among whom was young Egbert Booth. On seeing her he started.
 'I see my would-be preserver," he said, ''in girls apparel"
 You see my daughter" said Sil Thomas, "in her own apparel
 Mary stood with her eyes bent or the ground.
 ''Explain!" said her father in a severe tone.