The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-23

men decided that could not escape from tho forest anyhow, that my pursuers did not follow me into the woods7 l know that only they were satisfied with send ing stream of bullets into the forest and loft me alone.
 But Botchkareva-or Yashka. as she was called by her comrades of the mems regiment during her two years service in which she was decorated for saving 50 lives from No Mans Land-decided tc give herself up to the bolshevik forces of the neighborhood. All outlets were guarded, and it was better, she reasoned to give herself up voluntarily than te be captured. Also, she had provided herself with a good excuse for being 1T the vicinity. where her real object was to bring news of Korniloffs army back to Petrograd: she was nominally goins to bath" for treatment of the lat. est and severest of her five wounds Several members of the bolshevik invesi. gsting committee before which she was brought wished to shoot her at once, but the chairman said, since they were an ir rvestigating committee. they ought to investigate the case before ordering the execution. Yashka continues:
 GAVE HER COURAGE
 The words of the chairman of the fn- vestigation committee gave me courage One could see that he was educated. humane chap. Subsequently I learned that he was a university student His name was Ivan Ivanovitch Petrukhin.
 While he was still discoursing, a man dashed in like a whirlwind, puffing, per spring, but rubbing his hands in satis- faction.
 "Ah, I just finished a good job! Eff teen of them, all officers The, boys got them like that" and he bowed and made sign across the legs. 'The first volley peppered their legs and threw them in a heap on the ground. Then they were bayoneted and ,siashed to pieces. Ho, ho, ho. There were five others captured with them-cad dets They tried to escape and the food fellows gouged their eyes out "
 I was petrified. The newcomer was Of middle height, heavily built, and dressed in an officers uniform but with out the epaulets He looked savage, and his hideous laughter sent shudders up my spine. The bloodthirsty brute! Even Petrukhin's face grew pale at his en- trance. He was no less person than the assistant to the comma nder-in chief ot the bolsheviK army. His name was Pugatchov.
 He did not notice me at first, so ab- sorbed was he in the story of the slaugh- ter of the fifteen officers.
 And here We have a celebrity Petruk- hin said, pointing to me.
 me dSSiStdHt COHfHldIiucF d stcp forward in military fashion, stared at me for an instant. and then cried out in a terrifying voice:
 "Botchkareva"
 He was beside himself with joy.
 "Ho ho ho," he laughed diabolicafly. 'Under the old regime l would have got ar award of the first class for captur- ing such a spy! I will run out and tell the soldiers and sailors the good news. yuin knnvv how tO take care or her. lHo, ho, hor'
 arose thunderstrfcken. I wanted 10 say something, but was speechless- Pe- trukhin was deeply mortified, too. He ran after Pugatchov, seized him by the m, and shouted:
 What is the matter; have you gone insane? Madame Botchkareva came here herself Nobody captured her She Is going to Kislovodsk for a cure. She Is a sick woman. She claims that she lost her way. Anyhow. she never fought -rsfrst I1S She returned home after we took over the power"
 ~Ah. you don't know herr! exclaimed Pugatchov ''She Is Kornflovka, tho night hand of Korniloff"
 '~weH, we are not releasing her, arc ~er' parried Petrukhin. 'I am going tc cnfl the committee together and have ar investigation of her story made"
 An investigationr scoffed Pugatchov. -And if YOU don't find any evidence against her, will you let her go? You don't know her. She Is a dangerous characteri How could we afford to save her. I wouldn't even waste bullets on her. I would call the men and they would make fine kasha of herr
 He made motion toward the ooor. Petrukhin held on to him.
 "Rut consider she Is a sick woman! he pleaded what Is the investigation committee for if not to investigate oe-' fore punishing? Let the committee look frto the matter and take whatever action it considers best
 COMMITTEE SUMMONED
 At this point the commandant of tho station arrived He supported Fetruhnin: .You can't act like that in such case, he said: .tthis Is clearly matter for tho investigation committee. If she is round guilty, we win execute her.
 Petrukhin went to summon the mem hers of the investigation committee. who were all, twelve in number common SOL diers As soon as he broached the news to each juror, he later told me, the men became threatening. talking of the good fortune that brought me into their hands. Ru+ Petrukhip argued with each Of them In my favor, as he was convinced Of the rerujnepess of my alib In such man. ner he won some of them over to my side
 Meanwhile Pugatchov paced the room like caged lion. thirsting for my oiood. AAh. if I had only known it before, | would have had you shot in company with those 15 officers" he addressed me.
 'I would not have the heart to shoot at my own brothers, soldiers or OIL cers.'' I remarked
 "Eh, you are singing aiready, no turned on me. we know your Kind.
 "All in all" I declared, "you are not better than the officers Of the oid zine. at that instant.
 "I beg you not to yell,' he turned to Preatchov. feeling more confident with the committeeman at his back. She IS In our hands now. and we will do oustice. If is for us to decide if she IS guilty. Leave her alone.'
 Petrukhin was afraid to defend mo too much. lest he be suspected Of g1v1ng aio to a soy. He prefererd to work indirectly for me. by influencing the committed nen individually. It was decided that inc ease be submitted to tho commander ir-chtef. Sabftn, for review and sentence' ' believe. on the motion of Petrukhin- This was just trick to slave off 1mme- d;ata execution, but tho expectation amons the men was that my death was certain. Nevertheless l was profoundiy grateful to Petrukhin for his humane at Itttude. He was man of rare quahtles, and among bolsheviki he was almost unique
 used as Jail for captured oincers anu other prisoners It was ath-champer' al there.