American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-07-30

at them. Give them HI Lord, IL
we only had a machine gun, we could
wipe them Quit Here they come, get /
ready, men,"
Just as he finished speaking, the well
come "pup-pup" OF a machine gun in
their rear RAM out. and the front line
of the o%nrushing 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 a wild rush back to
their trench, amid the cheers of ID"
company. They were forming again
for another attempt, when in the rear
OF ID company came a mighty cheer.
The ammunition had arrived and with
1t 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 II was ar
easy task to take the third German
line.
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 ID
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 1t. A
strange company was nimbly crawling
up 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
d company. Leaping trenches, and
gasping for breath, Lloyd could see
right ahead of him his company in q
dead-ended sap of a communication
, trench, and across the open, away In
front of them, a mass of Germans pre-
pairing for a charge. Why didn't L
2 company fire on them? Why were they
so strangely silent? What were they
3 waiting for? Then he knew-their am
: munitiOn was exhausted.
] But what was that on his right? 4
> machine gun. Why didn't it open fir
+ 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 its bas
y lay six still forms. They had brough
I their gun to consolidate the capture,
position, but a German machine gu
g had decreed they would never fir
q again.
n Lloyd rushed to the gun and, grasI
q ing the traversing handles, trained
y on the Germans. He pressed the thum
piece, but only a sharp click was tn
d result. The gun was unloaded. The
It he realized his helplessness. He di
II not know how to load the gun. Oh
h why hadn't he attended the machinI
q gun course in England? He'd bee
IS offered the chance, but with a blush {
lr shame he remembered that he had bee
n afraid. The nickname of the machi1
e gunners had frightened him. The
n were called the Suicide club" Nov
)t because of this fear, his compan
Is would be destroyed, the men of ID cor
pany would have to die, because h
e Albert Lloyd, had been afraid Of
II name. In his shame he cried like
ct baby. Anyway he could die with the
and, rising to his feet, he stumble
over the body of one of the gunner
In who emitted a faint moan A glea
of hope flashed through him. Perhal
Or this man could tell him how to los
Id the gun. STOPPING over the body
a gently shook it and the soldier Open'
ur his eyes. Seeing Lloyd, he clos'
them again and, in a faint voice, SAT-
Id sect away, you Brighter, leave Il
AZ dlOnt. L uOu 1 want dhy NOWaAh AAOu
he me-"
1 The words cut Lloyd like a knit
I'D but he was desperate. Taking the I
- volver out of the holster of the dyil
man he pressed the cold muzzle TO d
soldiers head and replied
- "Yes, it is Lloyd, the cOward
NJ. Company d. but so help me God,
T. you don't tell me how to load that g
- I'll put a bullet through your brain
til A sunny smile came Over the cou
ut tenance of the dying man and he SO
lis in a faint whisper:
"GOOd old boy. l knew you wouidl
disgrace our company
ISIS Lloyd interposed For Gods sal
.da if you want to save that company y
are so proud of. tell me how to 10
- that ID gun"