Connecticut western news., 1917-11-08

of course he thought it was on the level and didn't realize what l had de- cided-had no hint of 1t, in fact.
 No sooner was he out of sight than began to do some very tall hustling. went to lady barber and told her wanted my hair cropped close to my head, soldier style. I had an unusually good head of hair, long, luxuriant and black. The barber almost wept when I insisted it had to go She cut it so I could part it on the side. The only time during the operation had pang of regret was when she began shaving my neck. The razor made me realize was in for something mighty big. I had good laugh when took my first peek in the mirror at myself as boy. I wasn't bad. The lady barber did not laugh. The sight of such sacrilege seemed to make her sad. She told me most folks wanted to grow hair-not lose it.
 After the hair cut it did not take me very long to jump into my uniform. l have spent much of my life on ranch, where I wore riding brooches or bib overalls, so the clothes were familiar to me and did not feel strange. I was right at home In them. I never was happier In my life than when I took stock of my makeup, sure enough sol dier and said to myself-very posi- lively:
 "I'm going with John and the troop"
 I left the house just. as it was. It or atf fn ma Q tirp0n like this. Reluctantly, had promised my husband I would go to his family in Kentucky and remain there until his return. Instead of this, found myself in an automobile speeding for Douglas, where the troops were even then en- training. With me was Fluffy" my bulldog. That was the only hurt, leav- ing Tuffy. I would have tried to get her enlisted in K company as mascot. only they do not allow dogs.
 Everything was confusion around the station. Soldiers and civilians were hurrying here and there. Girls were bidding their sweethearts clinging goodbys. Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, friends-every one was there to give godspeed. The soldiers themselves seemed to be in the best of spirits. They laughed and joked and acted like men who were going away on big holiday, although there was strain of seriousness through it all that made lump rise in your throat every now and then.
 did not finger long outside the train for fear I might be recognized, though it was difficult to single out any strange soldier, because there were so many raw rockies who had just enlisted and had not had time to get acquainted much. I figured that the cook car would be the safest place, because there I could be busy doing something, and it would be easier for me to get by unnoticed. So when the cooks came along fell in with them and went into the car. They thought I was a new one and never paid any attention to me. Of course, my long connection with the army helped me, since knew the regulations and customs better than most of the rockies.
 Dog Almost Betrays Her.
 Tuffy almost spilled the beans for me. She had given the chauffeur who was to take care of her while I was gone the slip and gone out on a still hunt for me. You can fool man, but you cannot fool dog. The minute she spied me she came on the run, with yelp and leap. Quite lot of the older men knew my dog, and I thought ev- cry minute they would notice her vio- lent attentions. I tried to chase her away. She seemed to regard this as an invitation and parked happily. I grew cross and pushed her aside, ordering her home. She stood and looked at me in a surprised way. I could not seem too familiar with her and play my part. had to treat her as a strange dog. As 1 was boarding the train she came after me with bound. I pushed her away from the steps and walked up. Poor Tuffy, she wanted to be a soldier the worst way. I hated to leave her. She was the only one to say goodby to me- and I had to treat her as a stran- ger.
 There were some nervous moments before that train pulled out. kept in { the background as much as I could After what seemed to me years there came tense moment and chorus of ''goodby, good luck, God bless you" The cars began to move. We were on our way to join Pershing.
 Look out there, rookie, or the first thing you know you'll be fixing mess of pigs knuckles and sauerkraut for some Germans"
 One of the old boys from the camp, a man in my husbands company, whom knew. was speaking. It was the first time I had been directly addressed. I