The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-05-28
lover the Top"
By An American Soldier
Who Went
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
Machine Gunner Seroins IN Franee
tCopyright 1917. By Arthur Cur Bmpsyl
Meehine Cunne, Seroins In France

(CopyrtRht lbiI. d Artnur Guy 1mpeyl
Opening his eyes, In the entrance of
the dugout he saw a corporal and two
men with fixed ~bayonets.
The corporal was addressing him:
Get up, you white-livered blighteri
Curse you and the day you ever joined
ID company, spelling their fine rec
ordl tn be you up against the wall,
and a good job too. Get hold of him,
men, and if he makes a break, give him
the bayonet, and send Ii 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
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 disguised with
him, sent him under escort to division
headquarters for trial by court-mar-
tial, charged with desertion under fire.
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 shoti"
His sentence was passed: ITO be
shot at 3 :38 O'Clock In the morning Of
May Is, 1915" Fhis meant that he
had only one more day to live.
He did not realize the awfulness OF
his sentence; his brain seemed para
lyzed. He knew nothing of his trip,
under guard, in a 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, laddie, better eat INT
thing. You'll feel better. Don't give
up hope. You'll be pafdoned before
morning. / know the way they run
these things. They're only trying to
/ SCdIc you, ludL I'LL. OOlnC nOWy TINT >
a 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 a miracle could save
the poor lad.
Lloyd listened eagerly to his sentry's
words, and believed them. A look of
1 hama 90 n fp&n hto auao and ho raua1
ously ate the meal beside hin.
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 p~ardoned.
The artillery behind the lines sud-
denly oRsned up with everything they
had. An intense bombardment of the
enemy's lines had commenced. The
roar Of the guns was deafening.
Lloyd's fears anne back with a rush,
and he covered on the earthen floor
with his hands over his face.
The sentry, seeing his position, came
in and tried to cheer him by talking to
him:
Never mind them guns, boy, they
won't hurt you. They are ours We
| are giving the Boches a dose of their
own medicine. Our boys are going ove
the top at dawn OF the morning to take
| their trenches. Wen give EN- a taste
of cold steel with their sausages and
beer. You just sit tight now until they
relieve you. I'll have to go now, lad,
as it's nearly time for my relief. and I
don't want than IN GaQ ma Q-fQ1Etnf
with you. So long, laddie. cheero."
With this, the sentry resumed the
pacing of his post. In about ten min
utes' time he was relieved, and a ID
company man took his place.
Looking into the guardhouse. the
sentry noticed the covering attitude OF
Lloyd. and. with a sneer, said to him:
"Instead of whimpering in that cor
ner, you ought to be saying your pray
ers. It's bally conscripts like you
what's spoilin' our record. We've been
out here nigh onto eighteen months.
and you're the first man to desert his
post. The whole battalion is laughin'
and pokin' fun at d company, bad
luck to you but you won't get another
chance to disgrace us. They'll put
your lights out in the mornin'."
After listening 20 this TRADE, Lloyd,
not going to shoot me, are they2 Why,
the other sentry said they'd pardon
me. For Gods sake-don't tell me I'm
to be shot" and his voice died away In
a sob.