The daily Alaskan., 1917-11-08

level and didn't realize what l had de- cided-had no hint of it, In fact.
 No sooner was he out of sight than l began to do some very tall hustling. l went to lady barber and told her l wanted my hair cropped close to my head, soldier style. had an unusually good head of hair, long, luxuriant and black The barber almost wept when insisted 1t had to go She cut 1t so could part 1t on the side. The only time during the operation l had a pang of regret was when she began shaving my neck. The razor made me realize was in for something mighty big. had good laugh when took my first neck In the mirror al myself as boy. wasn't Lad The lady barber did not laugh. The sight Of such a Sacrilege seemed 10 make her sad. She told me most folks wanted 10 grow halr-not lose it.
 After the hair cut It did not take me very long to jump into my uniform. have spent much Of my life on a ranch, where 1 wore riding brooches or bib ovcralls. so the clothes were familiar to me and did not feel strange. was right at home in them. l never was happier in my life than when l took stock of my makeup, sure enough sol dier and said to mySelf-very posi- lively:
 "I'm going with John and the troop
 l left the house just as It was. lt seemed a small matter to me at time like this. Reluctantly. l had promised my husband I would go to his family in Kentucky and remain there until hls return. Instead of this, l 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 Tuny. would have tried to ger 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 gocdbys. Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, triends-every one was there to give godspeed. The soldiers themselves seemed 10 be In the best Of spirits. They laughed and ioked and acted like men who were going away on a big holiday. although there was strain of seriousness through 1t all that made a lump rise in your throat every now and then.
 1 did not finger long outside the train for fear l might be recognized, though l it was difficult 10 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. figured that the cook car would be the safest place, because there 1 could be busy doing something, and it would be easier for me to get by unnoticed. So when the cooks came | along I fell In with them and went into the car. They thought l was a new one and never paid any attention to me. Of course, my long connection with the army helped me, since l 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 l was gone the slip and gone out on still hunt for me. You can fool a man, but YOU cannot fool a dog. The minute she spied me she came on the run, with a yelp and leap. Cutie lot of the older men knew my dog. and l thought ev- cry minute they would notice her Yio- lent attentions. | tried to chase her away. She seemed to regard this as an invitation and parked happily. l grew cross and pushed her aside, ordering her home She stood and looked at me in q surprised way. I could not seem too familiar with her and play my part had to treat her as a strange dog. As was boarding the train she came after me with a bound. l 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 had to treat her as stran- ger.
 There were some nervous moments before that train pulled out. kept in the background as much as could. After what seemed to me years there came tense moment and a 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 a mess of pigs knuckles and Sauerkraut for some Germans"
 One of the old boys from the camp, 6 man In my husbands company, whom I knew, was speaking. It was the first time had been directly addressed. l