Gunnison news-champion., 1918-05-03

the front line. snd perhaps he killed
or rnaiIned- The thought mnde him
shudder. the cold sweat coming out In
beads on his face.
On his left. In the darkness. he could
make out the shadowy Forms Of trees;
crawling on his hanax and knees. stop
ping and crouching with fear at each
saeIl-burst, he finally reached an old
orchard and covered at the base OF a
shot-scarred apple tree
He remained there all night. listen
ing to the sound Of the guns and ever
praying. praying that his useless life
would be spared
As dawn began TO break. he coulc
discern little dark objects protrudinS
from the ground all about him. Curl
osity mastered his fear and he crawled
to one of the objects. and there. in the
uncertain light. he read on q lii'!e
wooden crUSs:
-Pte. H. $. Wheaton. No. 1910. ist
Lond N Rsgt. Il. r. Killed in action
April -. 1916 T. l. r." Crest in
Peacc).
When II dawned On him that he had
been hiding all night In n cemetery
his reason seemed TO leave him. and
med desire 10 be free from IL all made
him rush madly away. falling over 1T
tie wooden crosses. smashing some and
trampIing others under his feet.
In his aIght he came TO an old
French dugout half caved I'm and par
tally filled with sllmy and filthy wa
ter.
Like q fox being chased by the
hounds. he ducked into this hole. hii''
threw himself on pile Of old einpIy
sandbags. wet and mildewed. Then
unconsciousness.
ON the next day. he came to; far
distant voices sounded In his ears.
Opening his eyes. in the entrance OF
the dugaut he saw corporal and t"o
men with fixed bayonets--
The corporal was addressing him:
"Get up; you white-llvered blighter I!
Curse you and the day you ever Joined
D company, spelling their fine rec
ord! It'll be you up against the wall.
and n good Job too. Get hold of him.
men. aud II he makes break. give him
the bayonet. and send IL home. the cow
ardly sneak. Come on, you. move,
we've been looking for you long
enough"
Lloyd. trembling and weakened by
his long fast. tottered out. assisted by
soldier on each side of him.
They took him before the captain
but could get nothing out Of him but:
'For Gods sake, sir. don't have me
shot. don't have me shot!"
The captain. utterly disguised with
him. sent, him under escort to division
headquarters for trial by court-mar-
tial. charged with desertion under fire.
They shoot descrters'in France.
During his trial. Lloyd sat as one
dazed and could put nothing forward
In his defense. only an occasional
Don't have me shot!"
His sentence was passed: "To be
shot at 3 :3S o'clock in the morning of
May IS. 1916" This meant that he
had only one more day to live.
He did not realize the awfulness Of
his sentence his brain seemed para.
!yzed. He knew nothing Of his trip.
under guard. in motor lOrry to the
sandbagged guardroom in the village,
where he was dumped on the floor and
left. while sentry with a fixed bayO-
net paced up and down In front of the
entrance.
Bully beef. water and BISCUITS were
left beside him for his supper.
The sentry, seeing that he ate moth
ing. came inside and shook him by the
shoulder. saying In kind voice:
'Cheero. laddie. better eat some
thing. You'll feel better. Don't give
up hope. You'll be pardoned before
morning. know the way they run
these things They're only trying to
scare you. that's all. Come now, that's
good lad. eat something. It'll make
the world look different to yoC"
The good-hearted sentry knew he
was lying about the pardon. He knew
nothing short Of n miracle could save
The poor lad.
Lloyd listened eagerly to his sentry'k
words, and believed them. A look Of
hope came into his eyes. and he raven
ously ate the meal beside him.
In about an hours time, the chap
lain came to see him, but Lloyd would
have none Of him. He wanted no par
son he was to be pardoned.
The artillery behind the lines sud
denly opened up with everything they
had. An intense bembariment Of the
eneIny's lines had commenced. The
roar Of the guns was deafening
Lloyd's fears came back with a rush.
and he covered on the earthen dool
with his handb over his face.
The sentry, seeing his position. came
In and tried to cheer him By talking to
him:
"Never mind them guns. boy. they
won't hurt you. They are ours. We
are giving the Boches . dose Of their