Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-08-09
CHAPTER xxlv-continued.


After standing at attention" for
what seemed week, though in reality
II could not have been over FIVE min
utes, we heard low whispering In our
rear and footsteps on the stone flag
ging Of the courtyard.
OUT officer reappeared and In a low,
but firm voice, ordered:
~AbOut-Turn I"
We turned about In the gray light
OF dawn, few yards in front Of me- I
could make out brick wall. Against
this wall was dark form with a white
square pinned on It's breast. We were
supposed to aim at this square. To the
right of the form noticed white spot
on the wall This would be my tnrget
Ready Aim Fire p
The dark form sank into huddled
heap. My bullet sped on its way, and
hit the whitish spot on the wall; |
could see the splinters fly. Some one
rise had received the rifle containing
the blank cartridge, but my mind was
ut ease, there was no blood Of
Tommy on my hands.
AOrtier-Arms About-Turn, Pile
Arms Stnnd-Clear.'
The stacks were reformed.
Quick = March Right : Wheel"
And we left the scene OF execution be-
hind us.
IT was now daylight. After march.
ing about five minutes, we were dis.
missed with the following Instructions
from the officer in command:
Return, alone, to your respective
companies, and remember. no talking
about this affair or else il Will 60 hard
With the guilty ones
We needed no urging to get away. |
did nor recognize any of the men on
the firing squad; ever .he officer was
stranger to me.
rMf victims relations and friends In
Bighty Will never know that he was
executed they will be under the I'M.
preston that he died doing his bit for
king and country
10 the public casualty lists his name
sfn appear under the caption "Accl-
Gentaily Killed or Died
The day after the execution re-
reired orders to report back to the
ane, and 10 keep a sill tongue in my
head
Executions are o part Of the days
WORK, hut the part We hated most or
BIZ. think-certainly the saddest. The
British war department is thought by
nnny people to be composed Of rigid
regulations all wound around with red
tape. But il has heart ana one of
The evidences Of this is he lonsiderate
way in which an execution is concealed
md reported to the relative Of the un.
fortunate man. They never know the
ruth He Is listed In The bulletins as
lmong the incidentally Killed.
In the last ten years have several
Zines read stories In magazines Of
'owards changing, In a charge, TO he Z
pes used to laugh at It, 1t seemed
'asy for story writer's. but said, |
Men aren't made that way But over
q France | learned once that the i
freak OF yellow can turn all white. 4
Aeked up the story, bit by bit, from
he captain of the company, the SEN q
mes who guarded the poor fellow, as n
Fell as from my own observations. At /
rst did not realize the whole Of his f
tcry, but after week OF Investiga. h
On II stood out as clear In my mind
the mountains Of my native West In Il
10 spring sunshine. II impressed me "
much that | wrote Ii all down In IL
MT billets on scraps Of odd paper. "
be Incidents are, as say. every bit ST
ne; the feelings OF the man are true fir
4 know from all underwent In the 81
hitting over In France. &c
We will call him Albert Lloyd. That ra
asn't his name. but 1t will do:
Albert Lloyd was what the world to
rms coward. mr.
In London they called him Stacker. on
His country had been at war nearly 70
ghteen months, AM still ne was not on
khaki 40
He had no good reason for not en- Oh
King, being alone In the world, hay- BIO
been educated In an orphan asy- DIR
o. and there being no rse dependent