The Mena weekly star., 1918-07-04
MACHINE GUNNER jEpNNGNfRANCE
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DatIdhon or Scotcn to re-enforce them. They were saved. The unknown machine gunner had come to the rescue in the nick of time.
 With the re-enforcements it was an easy task to take the third German line.
 After the attack was over, the cap tain and three of his noncommissioned officers, wended their way back to the position where the machine gun had done It's deadly work. He wanted to thank the gunner in the name of b company for his magnificent deed. They arrived at the gun, and an awful sight met their eyes.
 Lloyd had reached the front line trench. after his company had left 1t. A strange company was nimbly crawling | up the trench ladders. They were re- endorsements going over. They were Scotties, and they made a magnificent sight in their brightly colored kits and bare knees.
 Jumping over the trench, Lloyd raced across No Mans Land" unheeding the rain of bullets, leaping over dark forms on the ground, some of which lay still. while others called out to him as he speeded past.
 He came to the German front line, but itswas deserted except for heaps of dead and wounded--a grim tribute to the work of his company, good old D company. Leaping trenches, and gasping for breath, Lloyd could see right ahead of him his company in a dead-ended sap of a communication trench, and across the open, away in front of them, mass of Germans pre- paring for charge. Why didn't D company fire on them? Why were they so strangely silent7 What were they waiting for7 Then he knew-their am- intuition was exhausted. But what was that on his right? A machine gun. Why didn't 1t open fire and save them? He would make that guns crew do their duty. Rushing over to the gun he saw why it had not opened fire. Scattered around its base lay six still forms. They had brought their gun to consolidate the captured position, but a German machine gun had decreed they would never fire again.
 Lloyd rushed to the gun and, grasp ing the traversing handles, trained it on the Germans. He pressed the thumb piece, but only sharp click was the result. The gun was unloaded. Then he realized his helplessness. He did not know how to load the gun. Oh, why hadn't he attended the machine gun course in EnglandY He'd been offered the chance, but with blush of shame he remembered that he had been afraid. The nickname of the machine gunners had frightened him. They were called the Suicide club" Now, because of this fear. his company would be destroyed. the men of D con- pany would have to die, because he, Albert Lloyd, had been afraid of name. In his shame he cried like baby. Anyway he could die with them and, rising to his feet, he stumbled over the body of one of the gunners. who emitted faint moan. A gleam of hope flashed through him. Perhaps this man could tell him how to load the gun. Stopping over the body he gently shook 1t and the soldier opened his eyes. Seeing Lloyd, he closed them again and. in a faint voice. said:
 "Get away, you blighter. leave me alone. don't want any coward around me"
 The words cut Lloyd like a knife, but he was desperate. Taking the re- man he pressed the cold muzzle to the soldiers head and replied:
 "Yes. 1t Is Lloyd, the coward of Company D. but so help me God. If you don't tell me how to load that gun I'll put bullet through your brain r
 A sunny smile came over the coun- tenance of the dying man and he said in faint whisper:
 Good old boy knew you wouldn't disgrace our company"
 Lloyd interposed: "For Gods sake. If you want to save that company you are so proud of, tell me how to load that d--d gunf'
 No 1T hteAtthE o iteHou III oNnVVts tAc soldier replied in a weak. singsong voice: Insert tag end of belt in feed block. with left hand pull belt left front. Pull crank handle back on roll CT. let go, and repeat motion. Gun is now loaded. To fire. raise automatic safety latch, and press thumbpiece. Gun Is now firing. If gun stops. ascer- tain position of crank handle"
 But Lloyd waited for no more. With wild joy at his heart. he took a belt from one of the ammunition boxes ly- ing beside the gun, and followed the dying mans instructions. Then he pressed the thumbpiece and burst of fire rewarded his efforts. The gun was working.
 Training 1t on the Germans he shout ed for joy as their front rank went down.
 Traversing the gun back and forth along the mass of Germans. he saw them break and run back to the cover pf their trench, leaving their dead and wounded behind. He had saved his company. he. Lloyd. the coward. had alone his bit" Releasing the thumb pfece he lroicd at the vatcb on his