The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-06-21

4
ing around the traverse. he came 10 the
entrance Of a communication trench
and ran madly and blindly down Il,
running into traverses, stumbling into
muddy holes. and falling full length
over trench grids.
Cropping blindly, with his arms
stretched oft III front OF him, he AZ
last came out of the trench into the
village, or what used to be a village,
before the German artillery razed IL.
Mixed with his fear, he had a pc
culsar sort Of cunning, which whls-
| pered to him TO avoid all sentries. be-
cause II they saw him he would be
sent back to that awful destruction In
the front line, and perhaps be killed
or MANNED The thought made him
shudder, the cold sweat coming out In
beads on his face.
On his left. in the, darkness, he could
make out the shadowy forms Of trees;
crawling on his hands and knees, stop
ping and crouchlng with fear at each
shell-burst. he finally reached an old
orchard apd covered at the base Of a
shot-scarred apple tree.
He remained there all night, listen.
Ing to the sound of the guns and ever
praying. praying that his useless life
would be spared.
AS dawn began TO break. he could
discern little dark objects protrudIng
from the ground all about him. Curl
osity mastered his fear. and he crawled
to one Of the objects. and there. In the
uncertain light he read on a little
wooden cross:
"Pte. II. S. Wheaton, No. 1870. LIST
London Regt. R. +. Killed In action.
April %. 1915 R. L p" Crest In !
Peace).
When 1t dawned on him that he had |
been hiding all night In a cemetery
his reason seemed TO leave him, and a /
mad desire to be free from II all made
him rush madly away. failing over lit
tie wooden crosses, smashing some and
trampling others under his feet.
In his flight be came to an old
French dugout. half caved In and par
tally hIled with Shiny and nlthy VA
ter.
Like . fox being chased b. he
hounds. he ducked into this hole, and
ihrew himself on pile Of old empty I
'andbags. wet and mildewed. Then
lnconsciousness.
On the next day. he came TOT far I
istant voices sounded In his ears. q
,pening his eyes. In the entrance Of {
he dugout he saw O corporal and two 0
len with fixed bayonets. Ii
The corporal was addressing him: q
Get up, you white-livered blIkhteri
urse you and the day you ever Joined y
company. spelling their fine rec. d
'di tn be you up against the wall, a
I'D a good Job too. Get hold Of him. z
en-, and II he makes break, give him q
e bayonet, and send II home. the cow N
IDLY sneak. Come on. you, move.
eve been looking for you long g
Iough." e,
Lloyd. trembling and weakened by ri
long fast. tottered out. assisted by st
soldier on each side OF him. al
They took him before the captain.
i could get nothing out OF him but: st
For Gods sake, SIR. don't have me IN
OF. don't have me shot r.
The captain. utterly disguised with Dc
m. sent him under escort to division co
adquarters for trial by court-mar.
!. charged with desertIon under fire. hi
They shoot deserters in France. m,
During his trial. Lloyd sat as one re,
zed, and could put nothing forward we
his defense. only an occasional 70,
ont have me shoti'
His sentence was passed: ITO be ser
Il at 1888 O'Clock in the morning OF hir
y IS 1916" This meant that he POI
only one more day to live.
lie did not realize the awfulness Of
sentence; his brain seemed parn-
ID He knew nothing OF his trip. VIII
Ter guard. in n motor lorry to the r.,
dragged guardroom in the village.
re he was dumped on the floor and oh.
while sentry with a fixed bayo-
paced up and down in front Of the I
ance. -
ully beef. water and biscuits were lin,
beside him for his supper. the
be sentry. seeing that he ate moth ho,
came inside and shook him by the 9
Ilder. saying In kind voice: tbr,
'neero' Iaddie, better eat some ing
8. You'll feel better. Don't give the
hope. You'll be pardoned before -bl
hing. l know the way they run "
things. They're only trying to ness
e you. that's all. Come now. that's faciI
cd lad. eat something. tn make the
world look different to you juml
e good-hearted sentry knew he head
lying about the pardon. He knew on h
Ing short OF miracle could save dawl
'oor lad. that
'yd listened eagerly to his sentry's amol
S. and believed them. A look Of hims
came into HIS eyes, and he raven sent
ate the meal beside him. that
about an hours time. the chap was
anne to see him, but Lloyd would wish
none Of him He wanted no par He '
he was to be pardoned. bang
: artillery behind the lines sud Ill
opened up with everything they was
An intense bombardment Of the with