The Ordway new era., 1918-08-02

-23-
Just as he finished speaking, the well
come ''pup-pup" of "A machine gun in
their rear rang out. and the front line
OF 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 1ed in a wild rush back to
their trench, amid the cheers of d.
company. They were forming again
for another attempt. when In the rear
of ID company came mighty cheer.
The ammunition had arrived and with
1t n battalion of Scotch to re-enforce
them. They were saved. The unknown
machine gunner had come to the rescue
I'm the nick of time.
With the re-enforcements 1t was an
easy task to take the third German
line.
After the attack was over, the cap
thin and three of his noncommissioned
officers, wended 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 ID
company for his magnificent deed.
They arrived at the gun. and nn awful
sight met their eyes.
Lloyd had reached the front line
trench, after his company had left It, A
strange Company was nimbly crawling
up the trench ladders. They were re-
endorsements going over. They were
Scottles, a9d they made a magnificent
sight in their brightly colored kits and
bare knees.
Jumping over the trench, Lloyd raced
across "Ns Mpu's Land" unheedlng 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
d company. Leaping trenches. and
gnsping for breath, Lloyd could see
right nheoa Of him his company in q
dead-eIdcd sap of communication
trench. and across the open. away In
front OF them, mass of Germans pre-
pairing 10, L charge. Why didn't ID
company fire ca them? Why were they
SO strangely Silent? What were they
whiting for7 'Then he knew-their am
munition wau exhausted.
But what was that on his right? A
machine gun. Why didn't 1t open fire
and save them7 He would make that
guns crew do their duty. Rushing
over to the gun he saw why 1t had not
opened fire. Scattered around Its base
lay six still forms. They had brought
their gun to consolidate the captured
position, but u German machine gun
had decreed they would never fire
again.
Lloyd rushed to the gun and, grasp
ing the traversing handles. trained II
on the Germans. He pressed the thumb
piece, but only a sharp click was the
result. The gun was unloaded. Then
he realized his helplessness. He did
not know how to load the gun. Oh
why hadn't he attended the machine
gun course In England7 He'd beer
offered the chance, but with blush Of
lie Hhu Dttt
afraid. The nickname of the machin,
gunners had frightened him. The,
were called the Suicide club" Now
because of this fear. his company
would be destroyed. the men of d com
pany would have to die. because he
Albert Lloyd, had been afraid of
name. In his shame he cried like
baby. Al yway he could die with then
and, rising to his feet, he stumble,
over the body of one OF the gunners
who emitted faint moan. A CLEAN
of hope flashed through him. Perhap
this man could tell him how to loa
the gun. STOPPING over the body h
gently shrok 1t and the soldier opene
his eyes. Seeing Lloyd, he close
them again and. in faint voice, said