The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1917-01-19
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

SlS1C SHC Nbutt SIN
Just you wait. Antoine will be call
ed with next years troops, and you
will see what he will do
One morning notices were posted
that the reserves of 1919 were called
for. Antoine was very happy. He
Gade his mother and Louise goodbv
and, taking position on a gun carriage
for he was in the artillery-rodc
away with his, arms folded over his
swelling chest, for all the world like n
gunner with many service stripes on
his sleeve.
Antoine was what was considered
good s0ldicr-that is, he was soldicrly
III his appearance and attended to his
duties with zest. But this is no cri-
terion as to how man VIII act con
fr0nted By missiles Of war or cold
steel. In his first fight his battery was
paced in a gap between two s,oneS in
the ground to defend it AGAINST Il
charge of Germans. Antoine. who had
been advanced to the rank of sergeant.
was placed in command of two can
non, separated from the rest. and or
dered to hold his position at any cost.
During the thick of the fight he left
his guns and was seen running as fast
as his legs would carry him to the
rear with half a dozen shells in his
arms.
THAT man said one who saw him,
IL, l.,
to get away so fast with those heavy
steel shells. But why does he not drop
them? How singular!.'
The Germans poured through the gap
left by Antoine. whose men fed with
him, and were thus enabled to turn the
position. The fight that day was lost
for they held the ground they took
The commander of the French force
whose duty it was to repel this attack
was furious He ordered Antoine's ar
rest and trial by court martial. An
tome begged to be permitted to see
him, but his request was refused.
When the news of AntOines disgrace
was carried back by a wounded com
W
one said: Il told you so. Antoine was
altogether too anxious to spill blood.
1t is not surprising that his ardor was
cooled at facing an enemy"
Meanwhile Antoine sent for his cap
tain and turned over to him the shells
that he had carried from the battle
field, asking him to produce them on
his trial. 1t was not long delayed, for
the general was anxious that punish
ment should be melted out to the man
whose ingIorious retreat had lost the
fight
When Antoine was about to be
brought before the court letter from
Louise was handed him. Opening it,
he read it and took comfort. She said
that she did not believe that he had
run away from the battlefield and if
he had he doubtless had a good reason
for doing so. At any rate, she was
still of the opinion that he was brave
man.
When the court was opened the
charges and evidence produced show
ed that Antoine had run away from
his guns with his arms full of shells.
The accused made a statement that
he had been placed in charge of two
guns without any ammunition. He
was confronted with the shells that
he had carried away.
Taking up one of the shells, he asked
for an ak, which was brought to him,
and, setting the shell on it's base, he
ak on its upper pointed end. Every
man of the court dropped on the floor
to avoid the expected explosion. .
But no explosion came. Instead the
shell was split in two parts, and
quart of sand was scattered over the
floor.
MAY 1t please the court" said An
tome when the members had regained
their seats, having no ammunition, it
was impossible to defend my guns.
They were in such position that l
could not get them away. 1t was Of
the utmost importance that l bring
back these shells, that an examination
should be made with a view to cor
recting the evil of furnishing wooden
missiles filled with sand"
Through Antoine's act it was learn
ed that some enemy to France had
substituted large number of wooden
shells for metal ones. Antoine was
complimented in orders and at the
same time promoted to be lieutenant.
When the news of his vindication
and promotion reached her native vii
lage every one kept silent but Louise,
who said
u told you So"