Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-08-09
CHAPTER xXlV-Continued.


lust AS he finished speaking, the well
come "pup-pup" of a machine gun In
their rear rang out, and the front line
~ the onrushing Germans seemed to
melt away. They wavered, but once
again came rushing onward. Down
went their second line. The machine |
gun was taking an awful toll of lives. |
Then again they tried to advance, but |
the machine gun moved them down. |
Dropping their rifles and bombs, they
broke and fled in q wild rush back to
their trench, amid the cheers of "D'
company. They were forming again
for another attempt, when in the rear
of y company came a mighty cheer.
The ammunition had arrived and with
II a battalion of Scotch to reinforce
them. They were saved. The unknown
machine gunner had come to the rescue
in The nick Of time.
With the re-enforcements it was an
easy task to take the third German
llne.
After the attack was over, the cap
tain and three Of his nOncOmmisSiOned
officers, wendell their way back to the
position where the machine gun had
done its deadly work. He wanted to
thank the gunner in the name of d
company for his magnificent deed.
They arrived at the gun, and an awful
sight met their eyes.
Lloyd had reached the front line
trench, after his company had left it, A
strange company was nimbly crawling
W the trench ladders. They were re-
endorsements going over. They were
Scotties, and they made a magnificent
sight in their brightly colored kits and
bare knees.
Jumping over the trench, Lloyd raced
across mo Mans Land" unheeding the
rain Of bullets, leaping over dark forms
on the ground, some of which lay still,
while others called out to him as he
speeded past.
He came to the German front line,
but 1t was deserted, except for heaps
OF dead and wOunded-a grim tribute
to the work of his company, good old
ID company. Leaping trenches, and
gasping for breath, Lloyd could see
right ahead Of him his company In q
dead-ended sap Of communication
trench, and across the open, away In
front OF them, mass Of Germans pre-
pairing for charge. Why didn't D
company fire on them? Why were they
so strangely silent? What were they
waiting for? Then he knew-their am
munition was exhausted
But what was that on his right? A
machine gun. Why didn't it open fire
and save them? He would make tina
guns crew do their duty. Rushing
over to the gun he saw why it had no
opened fire. Scattered around it's bas'
lay six still forms. They had brough
their gun to consolidate the captured
position, but a German machine gul
had decreed they would never fir
again.
Lloyd rushed to the gun and, grasp
Ing the traversing handles, trained
on the Germans. He pressed the thum
piece, but only a sharp click was tn
result. The gun was unloaded. The
ne realized his helplessness. He di
'N hhoW HOW W lOdu IUC gun. vi
why hadn't he attended the machine
gun course In England? He'd bee
offered the chance, but with blush Q
shame he remembered that he had bee
afraid The nickname of the machin
gunners had frightened him. The
We're called the Suicide club" Nov
because Of this fear, his compan
would be destroyed, the men of D con
pany would have to die, because h
Albert Lloyd, had been afraid Of
name. In his shame he cried like
oaDy. Anyway he could die with thel
and, rising to his feet, he stumble
over the body Of one Of the gunner
VINO emitted faint moan. A gleal
OF hope flashed through him. PerhaI
this man could tell him how to lOa
ne gun. STOPPING over the body /
gently shrok it and the soldier Opene
MS eyes. Seeing Lloyd, he close
them again and, in faint voice, sait