The Ordway new era., 1918-07-26
CHAPTER xxIV-continued.

-22-
on his left, In the darkness, he could
make ont the shadowy forms of trees
crawling on his hands and knees, stop
ping and crouching with fear ut each
sheIl-hurst. he finally reached an old
orchard and covered at the base OF
shot-scarred apple tree.
lie 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 protrudinS
from the ground all about him. Curl
oslty mastered his fear and he crnwled
to one OF the objects. and there. in the
uncertain light. he read on a little
wooden cross:
"Pte. II. s: wheaton. No. 1910, LIST
London Regt. II. Z. Killed in action.
April 25. 1915. R. 1. p" Crest In
Peace).
When It dawncd 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 1t all made
him rush madly away. falling over lit
tie wooden crosses, smashing some and
trampllng others under his feet.
In his flight he came to an old
French dugout, half caved in and par
TALLY filled with s'imy and filthy wa
ter.
Like fox being chased by the
hounds. he ducked into this hole. and
threw himself on pile of old empty
sandbags, wet and mildewed. Then
inconsistencies.
On the next day. he came to; far
distant voices sounded in his ears.
Opening his eyes, In the entrance OF
the dugout he saw a corporal and two
men with fixed bayonets.
The corporal was addressing him:
"Get up, you white-livered blighter
Curse you and the day you ever Joined
d company, spelling their fine rec
ord! It'll be you up against the wall,
and a good job too. Get hold of him.
men, and IL he makes break. give him
the bayonet and send 1t home. the cow
ardly sneak. Come on, you, move,
we've been looking for you long
enough"
Lloyd. trembling and weakened by
iho iOhb iuot, tolACitu out- aoSAotNN ~
a soldier on each side of him.
They took him before the captain,
but could get nothing out of him but:
For Gods sake. sir. don't have me
shot. don't have me shot"
The captain, utterly disgusted with
him. sent him under escort to division
headquarters for trial by court-mar-
tial, charged with desertion under fire.
They shoot deserters in France.
During his trial, Lloyd sat as one
dazed, and could put nothing forward
in his defense, only an occasional
"Don't have me shoti"
His sentence was passed: ITO be
shot at 3: :3S o'clock in the morning OF
May is, 1916" This meant that he
had only one more day to live.
He did not realize the awfulness OF
his sentence; his brain seemed para
lyzed. He knew nothing OF his trip
under guard, in a motor lorry to the
sandbngged guardroom in the village
where he was dumped on the floor and
left, while a sentry with a fixed bayo
net paced up and down in front of the
entrance.
Bully beef. water and biscuits were
left beside him for his supper.
The sentry. seeing that he ate moth
ing. came inside and shook him by this
shoulder, saying In kind voice:
"Cheero, lnddie, better eat some
thing. You'll feel better. Don't give
up hope. You'll be pardoned before
morning. / know the way they rur
these things. They're only trying t'
scare you. that's all. Come now. that
good lad, eat something. It'll maxi
the world look different to you"
The good-hearted sentry knew HI
was lying about the pardon. He knew
nothing short of miracle could saw
the poor lad.
Lloyd listened eagerly to his sentry
words, and believed them. look o
hope came into his eyes, and he raven
ously ate the meal beside him.
In about an hours time, the chap
lain came to see him. but Lloyd woult
have none of him. He wanted no par
son; he was to be pardoned.
The artillery behind the lines sud
denly opened up with everything the,