Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-08-02
CHAPTER xxIV-Continued.

-22-
On his left, In the darkness, he could
uote out the shadowy forms Of trees;
crawling on his hands and knees, stop
ming and crouching with fear at each
.hell.burst, he finally reached an old
orchard and covered at the base Of
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
osty 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. 1870. LIST
London Regt. r. 3. Killed In action.
Arrl %, 1915. r. I. P" Crest in
Peace).
When it dawned on him that he had
been hiding all right in a cemetery
his reason seemed to leave him, and q
mad desire to be free from 1t all made
him rush madly away, falling over lit
tie wooden crosses, smashing some and
trampling others under his feet.
In his flight he came to an old
French dugout, half caved in and par
tally filed with shiny and filthy wa
ter.
Like fox being chased by the
hounds, he ducked into this hole, anC
threw himself on a pile Of old empty
sandbags, wet and widowed. Then
unconsciousness.
On the next day, he came to; fal
distant voices sounded In his ears
Opening his eyes, in the entrance o.
the dugout he saw a corporal and tw'
men with fixed bayonets.
The corporal was addressing him:
Get up, you white-livered blighter
Curse you and the day you ever joine'
D company, spelling their fine rec
ord! It'll be you up against the wal
and good job too. Get hold Of hin
men, and if he makes break, give hiI
the bayonet and send it home, the COW
ardly sneak. Come on, you, NOV;
we've been looking for you lon
enough"
Lloyd trembling and weakened b
MS 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 shot!"
The captain, utterly Disguised wit
MIN, sent him under escort to divisio
headquarters for trial by court-ma
tal, charged with desertion under fir
They shoot deserters in France.
During his trial, Lloyd sat as OF
oazed, and could put nothing forwal
IN his defense, only an occasion
Don't have me shot,"
His sentence was passed: ITO
shot at 1888 o'clock in the morning
May 18, 1915" This meant that
mad only one more day to live.
lie did not realize the awfulness
MS sentence; his brain seemed par
yzed. He knew nothing of his tri
unoer guard, in motor lOrry to Il
Sahdbagged guardroom in the villag
where he was dumped on the floor al
iert while sentry with fixed bay
net paced up and down In front Of Il
entrance.
Bully beef, water and biscuits we
'eit beside him for his supper.
Inc sentry, seeing that he ate not
my came inside and shook him by t
shoulder, saying In kind voice:
Cheero, laddie, better eat som
uilng. You'll feel better. Don't 81
up nope. You'll be pardoned befo
morning. know the way they n
.nese things. They're only trying
scare you, that's all. Come now, tina
good lad, eat something. tn ma
"e e, world look different to you"
Inc good-hearted sentry knew
"as lying about the pardon. BE KIN,
uothlng short Of a miracle could sa
the poor lad.
lloyd listened eagerly to his sentr,
S bofus' and believed them. A look
o ovpe came into his eyes, and he rave
'usiy ate the meal beside him.
~ ABOUT an hours time, the CHI
NJ. n came to see him, but Lloyd wor
co. none OF him. He wanted no p
~, lie was to be pardoned.
ao-t artillery behind the lines 8,
opened up with everything Ii