The Washington herald., 1918-03-07
"OER THE TOP"
Copyrighted By Arthur Guy Empey.
By ARTHUR GUY EMPEY

CHAPTER xxIV-CONTINUED.
He very seldom read the papers. but
one momentous morning, the land
lady put the morning paper at his
place before he came down to break
fast Taking his seat. he read the
iaring headline, "Conscription Bill
Passed" and nearly tainted. Excuslng
himself, he stumbled upstairs to his
bedroom, with the horror of 1t gnaw-
ing into his vitals.
Having saved up a few pounds, he
decided not TO leave the house, and
to sham sickness, 50 he stayed in his
room and had the landlady serve his
meals there.
Everytime there was a knock at the
door, he trembled all over, imagining it
was q policeman who had come to
take him away to the army.
One morning his fears were real
lied. Sure enough there stood a DO
liceman with the fatal paper. Taking
it in his trembling hand, he read that
hes Albert Lloyd, was ordered to re-
port himself to the nearest recruiting
station for phsical examination. He
reported Immediately, because he was
afraid to disobey.
The doctor looked with approval
upon Lloyd's six feet OF physical per
lection, and thought what a fine
guardsman he would make, but ex-
amined his heart twice before he pass
ed him as physically fit;" It was beat
ing 30 fast.
From the recruiting depot Lloyd was
TAKEN with many others. in charge
OF sergeant, to the training depot at
Aldershot, where he was given an out
Mt OF khaki, and drew his other equip
ment. He made a fne-looking soldier,
except for the slight Shrinking in his
shoulders, and the hunted look In his
eyes.
At the training depot It does not
tahe long to find out a mans charao-
ter. and Lloyd was promptly dubbed
WINDY. In the English army,
windy means cowardly.
The smallest recruit in the barracks
looked on him with contempt, and
was not slow to show it in many
ways.
Lloyd was a good soldier, learned
quickly, obeyed every order promptly,
never groused at the hardest fatigues.
he was afraid to. He lived in deadly
Iear OF the officers and Non CONS
over him. They also despised' him.
One morning about three months
aIter his enlistment, Lloyd's company
was paraded, and the names picked
Tor the next draft to Francs were
read. When his name was called, he
olo not step out smartly. two PAGES to
t@ne @ 'front.' and answer cheerfully,
here, SIR" as the others did. He 1ust
T0NnFad 0Wlr = q
barracks amid the sneers of the rest.
Tnat night was an agony OF misery
TO him. He cotld not sleep. Just
cried and whimpered in hfs bunk, be-
cause on the morrow the draft was to
sail for France, where he would see
death on all SIDES, and perhaps be
killed himself. On the steamer, cross
ing the channel. he would have Jump
ed overheard to escape, but was
afraid Of drowning.
Arriving in Franco, he and the rest
We're huddled into cattle cars. on the
slde OF each appeared in white letters,
Cheyaux s. Hommes 40." after hours
OF humping over the uneven French
road beds they arrived at the train
Ing base of Rouen.
AT this place they were put through
weeks rigid training in. trench
warfare. On the morning of the eighth
Gay. they paraded at 10 o'clock, and
were inspected and passed by Gen.
IL then were marched to, the
quartermasters to draw their gas
helmets and trench Equipment,
AT In the afternoon; they were
again hustled into cattle cars. This
time. the Journey last two days. They
disembarked at the town of Prevent,
and could hear q distant dun booming.
Win knees shaking. Lloyd asked
the sergeant what the noise was and
nearly dropped when the sergeant re-
piled In somewhat bored tone:
Oh, them's the guns up the line.
Wen be up there in a couple o. days
or so. Don't worry, my .laddie, you'll
see more OF 'em than you want before
you get 'ome to Blishty again, that is,
II you're lucky enough 70 get back.
Now lend hand there unioadin. them
cars, and quit that everlasting shak-
in. believe yer scared" The last
with contemptuous sneer.
They marched ten kilos. fuli mack. 10
. little dilapidsted village, ana ths
y -I :.