The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-11-22
CHAPTER xxIV-continued.

-22--
On his left, in the darkness, ne cou'o
make out the shadowy forms or trees
crawling on his hands and knees STOP
ming and crouching with fear at eacn
sheII.burst. he finally reached an Ole
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 lie
would be spared.
AS dawn began to break, he could
discern little dark objects protruoine
from the ground all about him. Curl.
osity mastered his fear and he crawleo
10 one of the objects, and there, In the
uncertain light, he read on a little
wooden cross:
"Pte. III. 8. Wheaton, No. 1870, Isl
London Regt. R. f. Killed In action
April 25, 1915. r. I. P" crest IN
Peace).
When It dawned on him that he had
been hiding all night in cemetery
his reason seemed to leave him. and q
mad desire to be free from 1t all mace
him rush madly away. falling over lit
tie wooden crosses, smashing some ana
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 a fox being chased by the
hounds. he ducked into this hole anu
threw himself on a pile of old empty
sandbags, wet and mildewed. Iheh-
uncOnsciousness.
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 blighter
Curse you and the day you ever joined
d company, spelling their fine rec
ord TIN be you up against the wall
and good Job too. Get hold OF him
men, and If 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
his long fast, tottered out. assisted by
q soldier on each side Of him.
They took him before the captain,
but could get nothing out Of him but;
"For Coos sake, sir, don't have me
shot, don't have me shOt!
The captain, utterly dlsgusted with
him, sent him under escort to division
headquarters for trial by court-mar-
tIal, charged with desertiOn under hre.
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 shot"
His sentence was passed: ITO be
shot at 8 :3S O'Clock in the morning of
May 1S, 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
Iyzed. He knew nothing of his trip.
under guard, in motor lorry to the
sandbagged 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 the
shoulder, saying in a kind voice:
"Cheero, laddle, better eat some
thing. You'll feel better. Don't give
mn hope. You'll be pardOned before
morning. l know the way they run
these things. They're only trying to
scare you, that's ALL. Come now, that's
q good lad. eat something. It'll make
the world look different to you."
The goOd-hearted sentry knew he
was lying about the pardon. he knew
nothing short of miracle could save
the poor lad.
Lloyd listened eagerly to his sentry's
words, ana DeleVeu tncn' AoOA VI
hope came into his eyes, and he raven
busly ate the meal beside him.
In about an hours time, the chap
lain came to see him, but Lloyd would
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 they
had. An intense bombardment Of the
snemy's lines had commenced. The
roar Of the guns was deafening.
Lloyd's fears came back with a rush.
md he covered on the earthen door
with his hands over his face
The sentry, seeing his position, came |
In and tried to cheer him BY talking b |
him;
"NSver mind them guns, boy, thsy |
won't hurt you. They are ours. We |
are giving the B0ches 9 dose Of their |
own medicine. Our boys are going over |
tho top at dawn Of the morning 20 take
their trenches. Wen give 'em : taste