The Mena weekly star., 1918-06-27
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down the communication trench to the front line. No one noticed Lloyd's white and drawn face.
 After they had relieved the company in the trenches, Lloyd, with two of the old company men, was put on guard in one of the traverses. Not shot was fired from the German lines. and no one paid any attention to him crouched on the firing step. On the first time in. a new recruit is not required to stand with his head lover the top" He only 'sits it out" while the older men keep watch. At about ten o'clock. all of sudden, he thought hell had broken loose. and crouched and shivered up against the parapet. Shells started bursting, as he imagined, light in their trench. when in fact they were landing about hun dred yards in rear of them, in the sec. ond lines.
 One of the older men on guard. turn ing to his mate, said:
 There goes Fritz with those d--d trench mortars again. It's about time our artillery 'taped' them, and sent over a few. We'll. I'll be d--d. where's that blighter of a draft man gone to? There's his rife leaning against the parapet. He must have legged it. Just keep your eye peeled, Dick, while l report it to the sergeant I wonder if the fool knows he can be Chaf f,f.. 4.<g |. .fa postT'
 Lloyd had gone. When the trench mortars opened up, maddening ter TOT seized him and he wanted to run, to get away from that horrible din, anywhere to safety. So quietly sneak ing around the traverse, he came to the entrance of q communication trench. and ran madly and blindly down 1t, running into traverses, stumbling into muddy holes. and falling full length over trench grids.
 Cropping blindly. with his arms stretched out in front of him. he at last came out of the trench into the village, or what used to be a village, before the German artillery razed it. Mixed with his fear he had pe- cuiiar sort of cunning. which whis- pered to him to avoid all sentries, be- cause If they saw him he would be sent back to that awful destruction fin the front line, and perhaps be killed or maimed. The thought made him | shudder. the cold sweat coming out in beads on his face.
 On his left. In the darkness. he could make out the shadowy forms of trees crawling on his hands and knees, stop l ping and crouching with fear at each shell-brrst, he finally reached an old orchard and covered at the base of q shot-scarred apple tree.
 He remained there all night, listen Ing to the sound of the guns and ever l praying. praying that his useless life l would he spared.
 As dawn began to break. he could discern little dark objects protruding from the ground all about him. Curl osity mastered his fear and he crawied to one of the objects. and there, in the uncertain light, he read on little wooden cross:
 "Pte. H. s. Wheaton, No. 1870. 1st London Regt. R. F. Killed in action. April 25. 1916. R. I. F." (Rest in Peace).
 When 1t 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 It all made him rush madly away, falling over lit ! tie wooden crosses. smashing some and trampIing others under his feet. In his flight he came to an old 1 French dnaout. half caved in and par tialiy dad with sliny and filthy wa
 ef
 lirs s~~ hafnr chased by the hounds he ducked into this hole, and threw himself on pile of old empty sandbags, wet and mildewed. Then 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 It'll be you up against the wall and good job teo. Get hold of him, men, end if he makes break, give him the bayonet and send It home, the cow ardiy 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 a 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 me shot, don't have me shoti"
 The captain, utterly disgusted with him. sent him under escort to division headquarters for trial hy cnurt-mar- tiai. charged with desertion under fire.
 They shoot deseriers 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 :38 o'clock in the morning of May 1S. i916." This meant that he had only one more day to live.
 He did not realize the awfulless of bta anutoraa. Me heatx, ooor,,ad v,s -.. /