The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-08-16
cHApraa xxlv-cootlnusd.

CHAPTER xStv--centlnue
--22--
0n BIS lst,. la tho darkness. he could
snake out the shadawy forms Of trees /;
crawling 90 bis hands and knees. stop.
ping and erouching With fear at each
shellhufst. he finally reached an old
orchard and covered az the base OF q
ah0taearrsd apple tree.
iIe remained there all night. listen,
ms h the sound ~ the guns and ever
praying. praying that his useless life
wauld Be spared
As dawn begae 30 break, be could
discern ilttle dark objects protrudlng
from the ground 81 about him. Curl
eslty mastered his fear and he crawled
90 pAs ~ the objects. aud there, tn the
unIeftain light. he read Oh little
wooden crusaf
sRte u s. wheatou, No. 1870. list
london Regt. r. " Killed 81 action.
April 2a. 1919 " l. n" Crest In
peReel
When n aAwned on him that he had
heen hialng ali night la cemetery
sis reason seemed 10 leave hisa, aud a
usad desire 10 be free srosa II All made
tin rash madiy away. falling over ut
Gle wooden crosses. smashing some and
frampllug others uader his feet,
n hts night be came 10 an old
French augous. haif cnyed Ia and par.
italy filled with shiny and tilthy wa
Ter,
lake fox being chased by the
hounds, be ducksd into this hole. and
threw himself GA . pile Of old empty
sandbags wet and mlidewed Then
Inconsistencies
on The next day. be came to far
distant voices sounded Ia his ears
Opening his eyes. Ia the entrance Of
the augout he saw q corporal and two
men with Fixed hRyonets
The corporal was addressing him:
sUet on, you white-liyered Brighter
Curse yen and thS day you ever Joined
y cpu,peny. spelling their flne rec.
ord ten be you up against the wall.
aud coed JOB too. Oct hold OF him
men, sad 4 be makes break. give him
ghe baSonet, bnd send Il home. the COW
ar,ily sneak. Come on. you. move.
we've betn looking Tor you loag
eaouglt
liold trembling and weakened by
his long fast, tottefsd ont assisted ~
: soldier an each side Of hlm.
They took him before the captain
bat rpaid gei nothing out Of him but
"fos ahd'a sake air. don't have me
shot dent have me shot e.
The eapyaln, utterly Disguised with
HIN sfnt hltn nnder escort 10 division
headquarters for trial by court mar
uas charged with desertiun under fire
They shoot deaefters ID France
usfriUg his trial, Lloyd sat as one
daEed aud could put nothing forward
60 ~ defense, only an occasional
"I'pat base me shot =
llls sentence vas passed 30 be
shot a Z rs O'Clock 10 the morning OF
Mss is l0ia@ This meant that he
tha only enc more day 10 live.
he ava not realiae The awfulness 81
bis ssateAee; hls brain seemed para.
iyzod ne knew nothing Of HIS trip.
uader guard ID a nioter lorry 10 the
ssudhsggu5 Fusrdro0m In the village.
where BY was dEmpea on the door and
left ahiis q @easFy with hxed bayos
nef Paced - Rnd down 10 front of the
gntrsee
Huliy beef watsr and biscuits were
lesl besias hln saE his supper.
The stntrs sessag thst he ate nosh-
inE rsnas inside and shook him BY the
shan'ies saytug il kind voice
"Chesro iaddis. better eat some
thiHg Eqail FEEL better. Doa't give
~ hoGss Yoa1i be par,lened before
asoTnlag 1 know the Way they run
these gh!ngs, They're only trying to
senre yaa that's ail. Come now. that's
good lad eat something IAN make
the norl3 look different 10 you
The Eo0a hearted sentFy knew he
was lytn9 about the pardon. He knew
nothing short " miracle could save
the p9er lad
Lloyd listened eagerly 10 bis seusry's
words and believed them A look %
hope came into his eyes. and be raven.
ousiy ase the meal beside him.
10 about an hours time. the chap
iain came to see him, but Lloyd would
have noae % him. He wanted no par
soa he was 70 be pardoned.
The ARTILLERY behind the lines sue
eeniy opsaed ap vita everything they