Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1918-12-31
CHAPTER xxIv-continued.

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 nm old
orchard and covered at the base of q
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 little
wooden cross:
"Pte. II. S. Wheaton, No. 1910, list
London Regt. II. H. Killed In action.
April rs, 1916. R l. p" Crest In
Peace).
When II dawned on him that he had
been hiding all Eight in cemetery
his reason seemed to leave him, and
mad desire to be free from II all made
him rush madly away. falling over lit
tie wooden crosses, smashing some and
trampllng others under his feet.
In his fight he came to an old
French dugout, half caved in and par
TALLY filled with shiny and filthy wa
ter.
Like a fox being chased by the
hounds, he ducked into this hole. and
threw himself OH a pile Of old empty
sandbags, wet and widowed. 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 corporal and two
men with fixed bayonets.
The corporal was addressing him:
"Get up, you white-livered Brighter
Curse you and the day you ever Joined
ID company, spelling their fine rec
ord tn be you up against the wall
and good job too. Get hold of him
men. and II he makes a break, give hin
the bayonet, and send ii home, the COW
ardly sneak. Come on, you, move
we've been looking for you ioni
enough"
Lloyd. trembling and weakened b!
his long fast, tottered out. assisted b,
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 M
shot, don't have me shotl"
The captain. utterly disguised wit
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 on
dazed, and could put nothing forwar
in his defense. only an occasiona
"Don't have me shot
His sentence was passed: ITO b
shot at :3S O'Clock In the morning o
4 May IS, 1916" This meant that h
had only one more day to live.
He did not realize the awfulness @
his sentence; his brain seemed pari
lyzed. He knew nothing of his triI
under guard, in a motor lorry TO tn
sandbagged guardroom in the village
where he was dumped on the floor an
left, while a sentry with a fixed bay'
net paced up and down in front Of tn
entrance.
Bully beef, water and biscuits wer
left beside him for his supper.
The sentry, seeing that he ate notl
ing, came inside and shook him by III
shoulder saying in kind voice:
"Cheero, laddie, better eat SOM
thing. You'll feel better. Don't civ
up hope. You'll be pardoned befoi
morning. l know the way they ru
these things. They're only trying
scare you, that's all. Come now, that
a good lad, eat something. tn max
the world look different to you"
The goOd-hearted sentry knew
was lying about the pardon. He kne
nothing short Of miracle could say
the poor lad.
Lloyd listened eagerly to his sentry
words, and believed them. A look {
hope came into his eyes, and he rave
ously ate the meal beside him.
In about an hours time, the cha
lain came to see him. but Lloyd wou
have none Of him. He wanted no pa
= son; he was TO be pardoned.
The artillery behind the lines su
denly opened up with everything the