The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-02-18
\ ROMANCE OF THE cRusADEs
Br ARK. SWEET.

! bh AtAA- SW
 We doubt much that anything more thrilling than the conduct of the lead CTS of the crusades at the siege of An tioch can be found in the pages of Virgil or Homer.
 The crusaders stood in grim battle array under the fortified walls of An tioch, anxiously awaiting the signal to attack. Godfrey encouraged his knights to noble deeds of valor. But who should be the first to climb the storming ladders. 1t was & risky pro- ceeding to climb that ladder, for on top of the wall stood the Saracen chief, Dennis O'Toole, poising brick, while around him, with clubs and TO- volvers in their hands, were Tim Sul. livan, Mike McCool, John Kelly. Mike O'Ratierty, Parnell, Dennis McClosky, and lot more of the Pavnim horvies, who were suffering to get tair chance at Sir Godfrey, Peter the Hermit, Don Quixote de ia Mancha, and other noble knights.
 Sir Godflcy took hold of the ladder with both hands to ascend the dreaded 1 Rottn to NtSJttup W HUH N0iNC WHH uVxttu 1 from the ranks:
 al say. colonel, don't carry of that ladder"
 The taunt was unmcritesl. for Sir Godfrey was not that kind of a knight, never having been a member of any legislature whatever, besides he had too much sense to carry oil the ladder when anybody was looking There was no danger of his stealing that ladder, for he only took hold of it to steady it for the alarmed fool who wanted to go up. The Paynim on the wall redoubled their howls of def ance. Sir Godfrey de Bouillon was about to say something. when half a brick, hurled by McClosky, caromed on the helmit of the grandest knight of his day.
 "Sir Godfrey" exclaimed Robert de Flanders, "let me climb that ladder. l used to be clerk in dry goods store, and know all about step- lad ders. have wife In Chicago, If she hasn't got divorce since we left that seaport, and as she's not so very ugly, and have an accident policy for two thousand dollars in good company, l reckon sh" will find another husband without much trouble and expense, so let me be the first to 20 up the dreaded path to death."
 Muttering n silent imprecation, Godfrey de Bouillon clenched his teeth, grasped the ladder with both hands, and was about to climb, when loud, manly voice called out:
 "Forbear, Sir Count" Fulcard holds him back Fulcard Is young man without kith or kin, brave as Il circus lion. "Listen to me, Sir Count. Thou art the son of St. George. Thy admiring brothers honor thee with a glorious name, and were we to lose thee, we would not know where to find thee, or anybody to take your place in running the business. If l fall, none will bewail my fate, for the only friends have at home in New York are my creditors, who have long since given up all hope of my ever declaring dividend. In heavens name, Sir Count, l implore thee pre- want me not, for l am the bully boy ] W A'A o E ieSH cy ptSi " iitHl~ ber of the New York fire company, and, by my halidome, among you Paynim miscreants l perceive Mike Donahoc, who used to be on the police force under Captain Williams, and who clubbed me one night when 1 was coming home late and tired from an oyster supper, with Jim Bennett and Tom Ochiltree. Allow me to climb this ladder and erect mansard roof over his left optic"
 "Give way, Sir Count. Allow Sir Fulcard his request" pleaded the knights.
 And Fulcard fearlessly ascended to begin the attack.
 AS we are little shaky about dates and names, the reader is at liberty to make any corrections he secs fit. At any rate, the main fact that the city of Antioch was besieged by the Cru saders is correct, and that is doing very well in these days where there is such a discount on truth Tezas 1 Siftings.