Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-11-22
CHAPTER xxIv-continued.

I;:st as he finished speaking. the well
come "rup-pup' of machine gun In
their rear rang cut, and the front nps
# the Onrushing Germans seemed to
melt away. They wavered, but once
lgain came rushing onward. Down
vent their second line. The machine
sun was taking an awful toll of lives.
Then again they tried 10 advance, but
he machine gun niowed them down.
Cropping their rifles and bombs. they
broke and fled in q wild rush back to
heir trench. amid the cheers of I'd"
company. They were forming again
or another attempt, when in the rear
# d company came mighty cheer.
The ammunition had arrived and with
it battalion of Scotch 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
ofiicers, wendell their way back to the
position where the machine gun. had
done its deadly work. He wanted to
hank the gunner i'm the name of ID
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 mo 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,
hut 1t was deserted. except for heaps
Of dead and wounded-a grim tribute
to the work Of his company, good old
n company. Leaping trenches. and
sasping for breath. Lloyd could see
right ahead Of him his company In q
dead-ended sap of a communication
trench, and across the open, away in
front of them, a mass of Germans pre-
pairing for a charge. Why didn't d
company fire on them? Why were they
so strangely silent7 What were they
waiting fort Then he knew-their am.
munition 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 1t 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 CUR
had decreed they would never fire.
again.
Lloyd rushed to the gun and, grasp
ing the traversing handles, trained 4
On the Germans. He pressed the thumb
piece. but only sharp click was thu
result. The gun was unloAded. Ther
he realized his helplessness. He die
not know how to load the gun. Oh
why hadn't he attended the machine
gun course In England? He'd beer
offered the chance, but with blush O
shame he remembered that he had beef
afraid. The nickname Of the machin,
gunners had frightened him. The.
were called the Suicide club" Now
because of this fear, his compan!
would be destroyed, the men of d com
pany would have to die. because he
Albert Lloyd. had been afraid Of {
baby. Anyway he could die with then
and, rising to his feet, he stumble,
over the body of one of the gunners
who emitted a faint moan. A CLEAN
Of hope flashed through him. Perhap
this man could tell him how to loa,
the gun. STOPPING over the body h
gently shook 1t and the soldier opene,
his eyes. Seeing Lloyd. he closes
them again and. In faint voice, said
Get away. you blighter, leave m
alone. I don't want any coward aroun
me-"
The words cut Lloyd like a knife
but he was desperate. Taking the re
volver out of the holster Of the dyin
man he pressed the cold muzzle to tn
soldiers head and replied:
"Yes, 1t Is Lloyd. the coward O
Company d, but SO help me God,
you don't tell me how to load that gu
I'll put bullet through your brain
A sunny smile came over the cour
tenance of the dying man and he sal
in faint whisper: