Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-06-01
By RIDER HAGGARD

Iathsr sf "Sht,' King Soiomon's Mins," Etc.

"Your counsel, holy father" answer ed wulf. ...
 So, having seen that the tent flap was closed and that none fingered near. Goodwin told him his dream.
 The old man listened patiently, nor l did-he seem surprised at this strange story since in those days men saw, or thought they saw, many such visions.
 When he had. finished Goodwin asked of him as he had asked of Wulf: 'What think you, holy father? Is. this dream or is 1t message!"
 Goodwin Darcy" he answered, "I have learned to know you as a true ] servant of the church. It we'll may be 1 that to such. one as you foresight has been given, that through you those who rule us may be warned and all Chris tendon saved from great sorrow and disgrace Come, let us so to the king and tell this story. for he still sits ID council yonder."
 So they went out together and rode to the royal tent Here the bishop was admitted, leaving them without. Pres ently he returned for them. Already it was near midnight, but still the great pavilion was crowded with barons and chief captains. At the head of the table sat the king, Guy of Lusjenan, weak faced man, clad in splendid armor. On his right was the white haired Count Raymond of Tripoi and on his left the black bearded. frowning master of the Templars, clad in his white mantle, on the left breast of which the red cross was blazoned. Words had been running high, their faces showed it, but just then silence reigned. The king looked up and, see ing the bishop, asked peevishly:
 What is it now? Oh, I remember; some tale from those tall twin knights. We'll, bring them forward"
 So the three of them came forward, and at Godwin's prayer the bishop Egg bert told of the vision that had come to him not more than an hour ago while he kept watch upon the mountain top. At first one or two of the barons seemed disposed to laugh but when they look ed at Godwin's high and spiritual face their laughter died away. Indeed, as the tale of the rocky hill and the dead who were stretched upon it went on they grew white with fear, and whitest of them all was the king.
 'Is all this true, Sir Godwin?" he asked when the bishop had finished.
 ''It is true, my lord king" answered Goodwin.
 His word is not enough" broke in the master of the Templars. Let him swear to it on the holy rood, knowing that if be lies it will blast his soul to all eternity
 Now there was an annex to the tent, rudely furnished as a chapel, and at the end of this annex tall, yelled ob- ject Ruhnus, the bishop of Acre, who was clad in the. armor of knight, went to the object, and, drawing the veil, revealed a broken, blackened cross, set around with jewels, that stood about the height of man above the ground, for all the lower part was gone.
 At the sight of it Goodwin and every man present there fell upon his knees, for since St. Helena. found it, over sev- en centuries before, this had been .ac- counted the most precious relic in all Christendom-the very wood upon which the Saviour suffered, as, indeed, it may have been.
 'Now," broke in the voice of the master of the Templars, ''let Sir God. win Darcy swear to the truth of his tale upon this rood
 Rising from his knees Goodwin ad, xanced to the cross, and, laying his hand upon the wood, eaid:
 Upon this very rood I swear that not much more than an hour ago saw the vision which has been told to the kings highness and to all.''
 The bishop drew back the covering over the cross, and in silence the e0uh- cil took their seats again about the table Now the king was very pale and fearful; indeed, a gloom lay upon all of them.
 Tt would seeln," be said, that here a messenger has been sent to us from heaven. Dare we disObey his mes sageT'
 The Grand Templar lifted his rugged, drowning lace.
 "A messenger from heaven, said you, king? To me he seems more like messenger from Saladin. Tell us, Sir Goodwin, were not you and your broth CT once the sultan's guests at Da- mascus, and were you not officers of the sultan's bodyguard?'
 Now all looked intently at Goodwin, who besitated a little, foreseeing how his answer would be read, whereon Wulf spoke in his loud voice:
 Aye, we acted as such for awhile and-doubtless you have heard the sto- ry-saved Saladin's life when he was attacked by the assassins.'
 "Oh,' said the Templar, with bitter sarcasm, you saved Saladin's life, did you? I can we'll believe it. Now, Sir Knights, answer me one more ques- ton''-
 "Sir Templar, with my tongue or with my sword:'' broke in Wulf, but