davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1918-06-20

rear.
We saluted as the general passed us.
! The 1rishman had broad grin on his
face and we could scarcely believe our
eyes-the general was under arrest.
After passing few feet beyond us, the
general turned, and said in a wrathful
voice to Atwen:
"Tell this d-n fool who am. He's
arrested me as spy"
Atwell was speeches.. The sentry
butted in with:
"None O. that gassin' out o. you.
Back to headquarters you goes, Mr..
Fritz. Open that face o. yours again,
an I'll dent in your napper with the
butt o. me rifle"
The generals face was a sight to be-
hold. He was fairly boiling over with
rage, but he shut up.
Atwell tried to get in front of the
sentry to explain to him that 1t really
was the general he had under arrest,
but the sentry threatened to run his
bayonet through him, and would have
done it, too. So Atwell stepped aside,
and remained silent. / was nearly
bursting with suppressed laughter. One
word, and would have exploded. 1t
Is not exactly diplomatic to laugh at
your general In such a predicament.
The sentry and his prisoner arrived
at brigade headquarters with disas-
trous results to the sentry.
The joke was that the general had
personally issued the order for the
spy's arrest. It was a habit of the gen.
eral to walk through the trenches on
rounds Of inspection, unattended by
any of his staff. The Irishman. being
new in the regiment, had never seen
the general before, so when he came
across him alone in a communication
trench, he promptly put him under ar
rest. Brigadier generals wear a red
band around their caps.
Next day we passed the Irishman
: tied to the wheel Of a timber, the be-
ginning of his sentence of twenty-one
days, field punishment No. 1. Never
before have seen such a woebegone
expression on a mans face.
For several days, Atwell and made
ourselves scarce around brigade head
quarters. We did not want to meet
the general.
The spy was never caught.
Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1918-06-20

eyes
At the training depot IL does not
take long to find out a mans character.
and Lloyd was promptly dubbed
windy" In the English army windy
means cowardly.
The smallest recruit In the barracks
looked on him with contempt, and was
not slow to show 1t In many ways.
Lloyd was good soldier, learned
quickly, obeyed every order promptly.
never groused at the hardest fatigues.
He was afraid to. he lived In deadly
fear of the officers and "noncoms" over
him. They also despised him,
4 One morning about three months
was paraded, and the names picked out
for the next draft to France were read.
When his name was called, he did not
step out smartly, two PAGES to the
front, and answer cheerfully, Here,
sir" as the others did. He just faint
ed in the ranks and was carried to bar
racks amid the .sneers OF the rest.
That night was an agony of misery
to him. He could not sleep. Just cried
and whimpered In his bunk, because
on the morrow the draft was to sail
for France, where he would see death
on all sides, and perhaps be killed him
self. On the steamer, crossing the
channel, he would have jumped over
board to escape. but was afraid OF
drowning.
Arriving In France. he and the rest
were huddled into cattle cars. On the
side of each appeared In white letters,
"Hommes 40, Chevaux g." After hours
of humping over the uneven French
roadbeds they arrived at the training
base OF Rouen.
At this place they were put through
a weeks rigid training In trench war
fare. On the morning of the eighth
day they paraded at ten o'clock, and
were inspected and passed by General
H, then were marched to the quar-
termaster's, to draw their gas helmets
md trench enufpunent
Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1918-06-20

court.
''There are twelve rifles, one Of
which contains a blank cartridge, the
other eleven containing ball cartridges.
Every man is expected to do his duty
and fire to kill. Take your orders from
me. Squad-'Shun"
We came to attention. Then he left.
My heart was Of lead and my knees
shook.
After standing at attention" for
what seemed a week, though in reality
1T could not have been over five min
utes, we heard low whispering in our
rear and footsteps on the stone flag
ging of the courtyard.
Our officer reappeared and In a low,
but firm voice, ordered:
"About-Turn
We turned about. In the gray light
of dawn, a few yards in front Of me, I
could make out brick wall. Against
this wall was dark form with white
square pinned on its breast. We were
supposed to aim at this square. To the
right of the form noticed white spot
on the wall. This would be my target.
Ready Aiml Firep'
The dark form sank into q huddled
heap. My bullet sped on it's way, and
hit the whitish spot on the wall; /
could see the splinters fly. Some one
else had received the rifle containing
the blank cartridge, but my mind was
at ease, there was no blood of a
Tommy on my hands.
"Order-Arms About-Turni Pile
Arms! Stand-Clear."
The stacks were reformed.
"Quick - March! Right - Wheel
And we left the scene Of execution be-
hind us.
1t was now daylight. After march
ing about five minutes, we were dis
missed with the following instructions
from the officer in command:
Return, alone, to your respective
companies, and remember, no talking
about this affair, or else it will go hard
with the guilty ones"
We needed no urging to get away. I
did not recognize any of the men on
the firing squad; even the officer was
stranger to me.
The victims relations and friends in
Blighty will never know that he was
executed; they will be under the i'm
preston that he died doing his bit for
king and country.
In the public casualty lists his name
will appear under the caption "Acci-
dentally Killed." or Died"
The day after the execution re-
ceived orders to report back to the
line, and to keep a still tongue In my
head.
Executions are q part of the days
work, but the part we hated most of
all, think-certainly the saddest. The
British war department is thought by
many people to be composed of rigid
regulations all wound around with red
tape. But 1t has a heart, and one OF
the evidences of this is the considerable
way in which an execution is concealed
and reported to the relative of the un-
fortunate man. They never know the
truth. He is listed in the bulletins as
among the accidentally killed"
In the last ten years / have several
| times read stories in magazines Of
towards changing, in a charge, to he
roes. used to laugh at 1t. 1t seemed
easy for story-writers, but I said,
'Men aren't made that way.P But over
in France 1 learned once that the
streak of yellow can turn all white. /
picked up the story, bit by bit, from
the captain of the company, the SEN
tries who guarded the poor fellow, an
well as from my OVID observations At
Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1918-06-20

first did not realize the whole of his
story, but after q week Of investiga-
ton it stood out as clear in my mind
as the mountains of my native West In
the spring sunshine. 1t impressed me
so much that i wrote it all down in
rest billets on scraps of odd paper.
The incidents are, as I say, every bit
true; the feelings of the man are true
Il know from all l underwent in the
fighting over in France.
We will call him Albert Lloyd. That
wasn't his name, but 1t will do:
Albert Lloyd was what the world
terms a coward.
In London they called him a Stacker.
His country had been at war nearly
eighteen months, and still he was not
in khaki.
He had no good reason for not en-
listing, being alone In the world, hav-
ing been educated in an orphan asy-
lum, and there being no one dependent
upon him for support. He had no good
position to lose, and there was no
sweetheart to tell him with her lips
to go, while her eyes pleaded for him
to stay.
Every time he saw q recruiting SER
geant he'd stink around the corner out
of sight, with terrible fear gnawing
at his heart. When passing the big re-
cruitfng posters, and on his way to
business and back he passed many, he
would pull down his cap, and look the
other way from that awful finger
"Your King and Country Need YOU"
or the boring eyes of Kitchener, which
burned into his very soul, causing him
to shudder.
Then the Zeppelin raids-during
them, he used to crouch In a corner of
his clearinghouse cellar, whimpering
like whipped puppy and calling upon
the Lord to protect him.
Even his landlady despised him., al
though she had to admit that he was
"gocd pay" .,
He very seldom read the papers, but
one momentous morning the landlady
put the morning paper at his place be-
fore he came down to breakfast. TAX
ing his seat he read the flaring head
line, Transcription Bill Passed" and
nearly tainted. Excusing himself, he
with the horror of 1t gnawing into his
vitals.
Having saved up a few pounds, he
decided not to leave the house, and to
sham sickness, so he stayed In his room
and had the landlady serve his meals
there.
Every time there was a knock at the
door he trembled all over, imagining 1t
was a policeman who had come to take
him away to the army.
One morning his fears were realized
Sure enough, there stood policeman
with the fatal paper. Taking 1t In his
trembling hand he read that he, Albert
Lloyd, was ordered to report himself
to the nearest recruiting station for
physical examination. He reported I'M
mediately, because he was afraid to
disobey.
The doctor looked with approval
upon Lloyd's six feet of physical per-
lection, and thought what fine
guardsman he would make, but exam
ined his heart twice before he passed
him as physically fit" 1t was beating
so fast. ..... ...t
From the recruiting depot Lloyd was
taken, with many Others, in charge of
q sergeant, to the training depot at AL
dershot, where he was given an outfit
of khaki, and drew bis other equip
ment. He made a finelooking soldier,
except for, the slight shrinking In bis
shoulders and the hunted look In bis
Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1918-06-20
CHAPTER XIV.
The Firinu SQUAD,

tnS FTtH9 oQu00s
A few days later had orders to re-
port back to divisional headquarters,
about thirty kilos behind the line. I
reported to the A. P. M. assistant pro-
vost marshaD. He told me to report
to billet No.. 78 for quarters and ra-
tons.
1t was about eight o'clock at night
and I was tired and soon fell asleep in
the straw of the billet. 1t was a mis-
cradle night outside, cold, and drizzly
rain was falling.
About two in the morning I was
awakened by some one shaking me by
the shoulder. Opening my eyes 1 saw
a regimental sergeant major bending
over me. He had lighted lantern in
his right hand. 1 started to ask him
what was the matter, when he put his
finger to his lips for silence and whis-
pered:
sect on your equipment, and, with
out any noise, come with me-"
This greatly mystified me, but
obeyed his order.
Outside of the billet, I asked him
what was up, but he shut me up with:
''Don't ask questions, it's against Or
ders. don't know myself"
It was raining like the mischief.
. We splashed along a muddy road for
about fifteen minutes, finally stopping
at the entrance of what must have
been an old barn. In the darkness, I
could hear pigs granting, as If they
had just been disturbed. In front of
the door stood an officer in a mack
(mackintosh). The r. s. M. went up
to him, whispered something, and then
left. This officer called to me, asked
my name, number and regiment, at the
same time, In the light Of a lantern he
was holding, making a notation in
little book.
When he had finished writing, he
whispered:
"Go into that billet and wait orders,
and no talking. Understand"
stumbled into the barn and sat on
the floor in the darkness. I could see
no one, but could hear men breathing
and moving; they seemed nervous and
FOSLIeSS. KNOW i was.
During my wait, three other men
entered. Then the officer poked his
head in the door and ordered:
Fall in, outside the billet, in single
rank"
We fell in, standing at ease. Then
he commanded:
"Squad-'Shunl Numberr"
There were twelve of us.
"Right-Turn! Left-Wheeli Quick
March, And away we went. The
rain was trickling down my back and
I was shivering from the cold.
With the officer leading, we must
| have marched over an hour, blowing
through the mud and occasionally
stumbling into a shell hole in the road,
when suddenly the officer
wheel, and we found ourselve
of enclosed courtyard.
The dawn was breaking
rain had ceased.
In front of us were four stacks of
rifles, three to a stack.
The officer brought us to attention
and gave the order to unpile arms. We
each took aerifle. Giving us "Stand at
ease" in a nervous and shaky voice
| he informed:
"Men, you are here on a very solemn
duty. You have been selected as q
firing squad for the execution of sol.
der, who, having been found guilty
of a grievous crime against king and
country, has been regularly and duly
tried and sentenced to be shot at 8 rs
a. N. this date. This sentence has beer
approved by the reviewing authority
and ordered carried out. 1t is our duty
to carry on with the sentence of the
The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-03-19
WHY THERE ARE I. w. WIS

Mr. Nelson Norris the experience Of hi wentysix
years. and income big enough that the price Of shoes ism
exactly matter of him. testified the witness stand IN
the kyards arbitration proceedings that three pairs OF shoes per
year is too much for workngsman's child.
The sum per year plenty Of money to live said
Mr. Norris Twenty dollars child too much to spend
its clothing.
Mr. Norris chairman board of directors of Morris and Co.,
is undoubtedly weversed in the budgetng of family He probably
has by experience by reading the womens magazines
that chidrenc shoes cost only-we, what do they cost
with three children reports that three years ago she
could buy good eaod for 5 pair For
this child even she cannot shoes worth buying for less
than $3.50 child three she has to Sl75 What
does she mean by buying? She shoes that will wear
months She buy cheap shoes STILL but they go
pieces utterly six weeks She cannot afford to buy shoes when
will not wear.
This woman says fifty dollars per year per child
comfortable allowance for clothing That allows her
good every years. which can be passed down from
other and will at least four years She could
thirty dollars but that would be pretty close to the
edgethee would be eggngs for winter in that would
eaky rubbers and all cotton underwear instead OF part wool
Mr. Norris of deeply interested in having the new
generation of his working force without showing any e
undernoursmen under arbng UNDERLYING in general
As of fact 81 2SS not the wage in his plant
That only $780, Most of the Morris employees get less than that
The Company made last $OOOOO far than ever
before
Mr. young He be forgiven his Ignorance
of the price of chdren clothing But he not be forgiven III
insoence toward Who Nelson Morris to decide
that for the other human being two of shoes
enough or too much? Who made him dictator human af
s9 Who gave puower issue sumpuary legislation
that bugbear of all democracles!
Well let's fair We did We ordinary folks who are too
law TO think things out ourselves who permit the Nelson
Morrises of the country to flourish.
In the kind of disregard for the needs OF
humanity perfectly the establishments of such
CARNATIONS the l. w. W.
But the l. W. W. method wrong 1t is ourselves who by
clear thinking action must remedy things for the good OF
all of us.
Better years bonnet this Easter than place lay
cur heads year from
The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-03-19

Better last years bonnet this Easter than place to lay
cur heads year from now.
The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-03-19
Summit

Several from here attended the
sale of Mr.. w. s. Aantle of East Mays
vile and also the sale of Mr.. Homer
Reeves of near Mayslick.
Mrs. Georgia Mae Case visited her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Roe of
Lewisburg.
Mr. W. ]. Seward has purchased a
Dodge touring car from Mike Brown
& Company of Maysville.
Mr. Richard Seward has returned
after taking several months course
at Wilson's Business College, Cincin-
natl, Ohio.
Several families have moved and
are moving from our midst. Among
them are Mr.. Ed Tucker and family,
Mr.. c. B. Hill and family and Mr.. H.
H. Stevens and family.
Mrs. Beckett and daughter of Mt.
Gilead have returned home after a
pleasant visit to the formers daugh-
ter, Mrs. Clarence Phillips.
Mr.. George E. Hit and family Of
Mayslick have moved to their home
recently purchased from Mr.. Charles
Lloyd on the Stonelick pike.
Mr.. Patrick Conner of this vicinity
has purchased Buick touring car
from the Maysville Buick Co.
Miss Nina Stevens visited her broth
er, j. r. Stevens, last week.
The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-03-19
DOUBT DISAPPEARS
No One in Maysville Who Has Bad
Back Should Ignore This
Double Proof.

Does your back ever ache?
Have you suspected your kidneys?
Backache is sometimes kidney ache.
I, With it may come dizzy spells,
Sleepuess nights, tired, dull days,
Distressing urinary disorders.
Doan's Kidney Pills have been en-
dorsed by thousands.
Are recommended here at home,
You have read Maysville proof.
Read now the Maysville sequel.
Renewed testimony; tseted by time.
Mrs: John Burns, West Second
Street, says 81 was subject to
severe spells Of backache and other
kidney trouble. They would como on
every three or six months and there
were times when / was confined to bed
and rendered helpless. The quick and
decided benefit received from Doan's
Kidney Pills was wonderful. have
never had such severe attacks since"
Statement given February 10, 1919
NO TROUBLE SINCE
On November Is, 1916, Mrs. Burns
said: II have the same good words
OF praise for Doan's Kidney Pills to-
day, as ever. ! have not needed kid
ney medicine since l took them"
Mrs. Burns is only one Of many
Maysville people who lave gratefully
endorsed Doan's Kidney Pills. II your
back aches-if your kidneys bother
you. don't simply ask for a kidney
'emedy- ask distinctly for DOAN'S
KIDNEY PILLS, the same that Mrs
Burns had-the remedy backed by
home testimony. so cents at all
stores. Foster-Milburn Co., Props,
Buffalo, N. Y. when Your Back is
Lame.Remembe the Name"
The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-03-19
THE truth ABOUT
ECZEMA and PILES

Thousands and thousands Of people, says
Peterson, are learning every week that one
80 cent box of Peterson's Ointment will
abolish Eczema and Danish piles, and the
grateful letters l receive every day are
worth more to me than money.
/ had Eczema for many years on my head
and could not get anything to do 1t any
good. l saw your nd and got one box and
owe you many thanks for the good 1t has
done me. There isn't blotch on my head
now, and / couldn't help but thank Peter
son, for the cure is great, Mrs. Mary Hill,
400 Third Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa.
have had itching piles for 10 years and
Petersons Is the only ointment that re-
lieves me, besides the piles seem to have
gone. A. B. Kruger, 1927 Washington Ave.
nue., Racine, Wis.
Use Peterson's Ointment for old sores,
salt rheum and all skin diseases. It ban
ishes pimples and blackheads in less t. Il
10 days and leaves the skin clean, clear and
pleasant to look upon. Druggists guaran.
tee It.
The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-03-19
MIXED METAPHORS
Los Angeles Times)

In the good old days of spread
eagle oratory when language was far
more fowery and figurative than it
is now, 1t took cool head behind a
vehement manner to steer a safe
course among SMILES and metaphors.
Absurdities we're frequent; yet, car
ried along by the speakers earnest
ness and fire in delivery, the most
wildly ridiculous metaphors often
The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-03-19

pass unnoticed. At a memorial meet
ing in honor of the most famous of
American orators, Wendell Phillips, a
magnificent speaker, referred to the
spirits of the great departed which, on
leaving this earth, "wend each its
way, swifter than winged eagle,
loftier than soaring falcon-sweep-
ing across the mighty spaces of the
heavens as glorious comet sweeps,
rushing ever onward, forward and up
ward, to its goal in Abraham's bos-
om!"
,Oratory of that type, even without
the mixed metaphor, is rare survival
from the fashion of an earlier time.
is more restrained and less
ornate nowadays. Yet even in the
simpler style of our own time, public
The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-03-19

speakers Of experience, as well as
blunderers and beginners, OCCASION
ally slip up ON their metaphors. Any
schoolboy could correct the errors
that have been reported as having re-
Gently been made by English politi-
clans.
The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-03-19

Mr.. William Trouts returned home
Saturday from several weeks stay
at French Lick, Ind.
The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-03-19

Mr.. Charles Brice Emmons, of
Flemingsburg, spent Saturday and
Sunday here with friends.
The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-03-19

Mrs. John Dodd, Of Dover, is visit
ing her daughter, Mrs S. NJ. King, of
Forest avenue.
The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-03-19

Mrs. Hull and daughter, Miss Anna
Laura, of Flemingsburg, were visitors
in the city Saturday.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-07-05
NJ CONKEY5 BON
TOFERRy NINE:
ONE OF FASTEST GAMES OF TIE
SEASON STAGED ON MARTINS
FERRY FIELD.
Score Tied Until Ninth inning when an
Error Loses Game-4argest Crowd
OF The Season.

After battling - II" ninth inn'nr and
holding Martins fc"ry $""r"l',S, The
fast McConkry n'nc ~ ''Iis city. los On"
OF III" fastest s7l;ues Of II" s"'LSoa E"S-
tertlay On an error in II" last inning.
Yesterdays game WAS ono o: IA" fast
est. cIrancst exhibitions OF baseball eyer
witnessed on the League lark GROUNDS
and fully 1000 persons were On hand T."
witness the battle.
Soon after nc game opened il was
seen that It was 4 pitchers duel between
Rurkhart and Jack Nelly and both pr
formed IN lnaStcrtui style. lfUrkiHrl
hal seven STRIKE cut and NriliJ had
eight.
Ii tn" ninth inning III" M"''"nh"N%
went through their l,nlr without scoring
ami IT LOOKED rs though extra innings
would h. played. However IN tho last
hall. after Martins Ferry :IaG W." men
out. two men were placed "ii has" and
the winning run Wa Sh"v"! over ''n I
hit and error Tn score: