The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-10-30
/ GiH7 BY l
lARIhuR tyY EnpEYl

opened fire. Scattered around Its base
lay six still forms. They had brought
their gun to consolidate the captured
position, but 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 sharp click was the
result. The, gun was unioaded. Then
he realized his helplcssness. He did
not know how TO load the gun. Oh,
why hadn't he attended the machine.
gun course in England? He'd been
offered the chance, but with blush of
shame he remembered that he had been
afraid. The nickname of the machine
gunners had frightened him. They
were called the Suicide club" Now,
because of this fear, his company
would be destroyed, the men Of ID com.
pany would have to die, because he,
Albert Lloyd. had been afraid Of q
name. In his shame he cried like q
baby. Anyway he could die with them
and. rising to his feet, he stumbled
over the body Of one Of the gunners.
who emitted a faint moan. A CLEAN
Of hope flashed through him. Perhaps
this man could tell him how to loac
the gun. STOPPING over the body he
gently shook IL and the soldier opened
his eyes. Seeing Lloyd, he closed
them again and, In a faint voice. said :
Get away, you blighter. leave me
alone. I don't want any coward around
me-"
The words cut Lloyd like a knife,
but he was desperate. Taking the re-
volver out Of the holster Of the dying
man he pressed the cold muzzle to the
soldiers head and replied:
"Yes, IL Is Lloyd, the coward Of
Company d, but SO help me God, IL
you don't tell me how to load that gun
I'll put a bullet through your brain -
A sunny smile came over the coun-
tenance of the dying man and he said
In a faint whisper:
"Good old boyl / knew you wouldn't
disgrace our company"
Lloyd interposed: For Gods sake,
IL you want to save that company you
are so proud Of, tell me how to load
that ID gunl"
AS If reciting a lesson in school, the
soldier replied in a weak, singsong
voice: Insert tag end Of belt In feed
block, with left hand pull belt left
front. Pull crank handle back on roll
er, let go, and repeat motion. Gun is
now loaded. To fire, raise automatic
safety latch, and press thumbpiece
Gun Is now firing. II gun stops, ascer
tain position of crank handle"
But Lloyd waited for no more. With
wild joy at his heart, he took a belt
from one of the ammunition boxes ly-
ing beside the gun, and followed the
dying mans instructions. Then he
pressed the thumbpiece and burst of
fire rewarded his efforts. The gun
was working.
Training IL on the Germans he shout
ed for Joy as their front rank went
down.
Traversing the gun back and forth
along the mass of Germans, he saw
them break and run back to the cover
of their trench, leaving their dead and
wounded behind. He had saved his
company, he, Lloyd, the coward, had
"done his bit" Releasing the thumb
piece, he looked at the watch on his
wrist. He was still alive at "3 49,"
ping pa bullet sang through the
air, and Lloyd fell forward across the
gun. A thin trickle of blood ran down
his face from little, black round hole
In his forehead.
"The sentence of the court had been
duly carried out"
The captain slowly raised the limp
form dropping over the gun and. wip-
ing the blood from the white face, rec
ognized 1t as Lloyd, the coward Of d
company. Reverently covering the face
with his handkerchief he turned to his
''noncoms" and. in voice husky with
addressed them:
"Boys. It's Lloyd, the deserter. He
has redeemed himself, died the death
of her0-died that his mates might
live"
That afternoon solemn procession
wendell its way toward the cemetery.
In the front stretcher was carried by
two sergeants. Across the stretcher
the Union Jack was carefully spread.
Behind the stretcher came a captain
and forty-three men, all that were left
Of ID company.
Arriving at the cemetery, they halt
ed In front Of an open grave. ALI about
them wooden crosses were broken and
trampled into the ground.
A grizzled old sergeant, noting this
destruction, muttered under his
breath: Curse the cowardly Brighter
who wrecked those crossesi II could
only get these two hands around his
CONTINUED Next Week.