fiy the Greatest American Humorists MEDIUM-SIZED JOURNEYS By STRICKLAND W. QILLILAN v---/ Henry F. Cfcero had Helvla for a mother and a Helllva father, accord ing to Plutarch, who wrote me about it in answer to my request for some first-hand biographical data. He was called Cicero because there was a mark on the end of his nose that looked like a vetch, and a vetch is a clcer. 1 would tell you what vetch • meant if I knew; then you would know what cicer meant. He was the peanut-brittle kid of his class at school but took to poet/y. When they had cured him of that he went to school quite awhile in town, and studied elocution. When he would be at home, none of his mother's friends would come to their house for fear he would be asked to recite “Lasca," of “The Hoy Stewed on the Hurning Deck,” for them. He practiced in (lie squire’s court awhile and got to he a right good petti fogger. Once he tried a ease in which the main squeeze, William P. jSylla, was prosecuting, and won it. Cicero heard that Sylla was looking for him with a gun, and so he went away from there. Also Cicero’s tumm.v gave him lots of trouble. He had eaten once at a lunch counter at a railway sta tion when he was away at school and had never recovered from it. Put he got some better, and returned when a postcard from home told him Sylla had quit looking for him. Throughout his entire life, Cicero was noted for his keenly appreciative qualities. This wonderful faculty of appreciation was largely used on him self. No man stood better with Cicero than he did. and no man in ihe empire thought more of Cicero than lie thought' himself. Charity began at home, with him, all right. In cross-questioning he was a regu lar sass-box. Many an Innocent man pTended guilty and served a jail sen tence nit her than bo cross-questioned by him. If the witness or the prisoner had goitre or lame legs or a wart on his chin or if his father had not been honest, Cicero joyfully threw it up to the Victim in public, and didn’t seem to know but that he was being real smart in doing so. Jn many ways he reminded one of a skunk, though ho had good qualities. Catalina lived thi n, and didn’t aim to overlook any opportunities for orn eriness. Once some one got into Cat Cicero Heard That &ylla Was Lock ing for Him with a Gun. iltne's tl- \ n i found a 1ett« >■ from' Arch: bold plotting against the stale. 1 This was r* . rU' i to Cicero, v, !>o got | busy'and made Cad;: • o uneasy that he gathered un •" lei of d'reha-ged Bro ' ' !e sehiii-!a .old went away' with as a b d; ymrd, Jrh? ora*- ’ tion Cicero deliverI on theae occa sion: have nr-.-: • iionble for every boy o:l girl that !) ■ non along a bit in Latin. Lein;.; off rod the territorial governorship of Macedonia and of Gaul, lie to k Macedonia. lie didn't -■need an; Gaul. (NV.y see what some thing made' me do!) Cluerw. wis: 1 i m; was pruieemim; ai toin* was ilio Frauds J. Henoy of hi* v.'k' a c.^diiw w. ■ f Lem'il'w k-ffa, of whom Plu tarch jocosely says "he had a good la mi: but a ills* 'Hite liver," raised a rue lion and piled excelsior soaked in oil in llicj ferry buk Logs and the city hail and the opera house and Hi 1 flat iron buikiki- ; ku:i;.'d to .at iiro to all of them and whack up on the insurance, Cicero sent turns around in d:-guise and found out the whole thing, so that afterward th senate‘ac cused him of abusing the secret serv ice privileges. Cicero took part per sonally in killing JLentulus and liis gang, who are still dead, as we go to press. Afterward the opposition got into the saddle and Claudius had a warrant issued for Cicero, who immediately started out to rouse people's sympathy for him. This was a mighty cheap but mighty keen piece of work on Cicero’s part, and got him a lot of Coley’s army camp-followers. So after he had skipped out awhile to avoid subpoena and had come back, he was stronger with the mob than ever, and was elected road supervisor with a good majority. Throughout his life Cicero was cor dially loved and despised by the poli ticians and common people. His health was always pretty poor, and sometimes he felt so badly that he had to be a vegetarian nearly all day. When he was through with politics he went to Africa to hunt lions, and things were much quieter in Rome. (Copyright, 1909, by W. <3. Chapman.) I (t < —MM—^ (Copyright, by J. U. I.lpplmott Co.) He had been sentenced for three years, and now they were ended Thrice during those three years ills wife had come to him. Once she had brought Barton. She was coming to day, he remembered. He wondered if Barton would come as well. The prison hell clanged six. Pre cisely on the last stroke of the trem bling monster the huge iron gates swung slowly inward, the figure of a man slouched through, keeping step to a soundless rhythm, and the gates clashed behind him, with a vibrating sweep that sent the blood racing through his veins. The woman by the roadside waited, pressing one hand hard against her heart. “Molly! Molly!” he exclaimed, wild ly. “At last! All these years, and now—” He drew back at the chill touch of her lips. “What is it?" he instinctively asked. The man in the background held out his hand. “Well, Fraser,” he said heartily, "glad to see you, "old chap. Not quite up to the mark, arc.you?" he added sympathetically; “but we’ll soon make that right.” For an instant the old Fraser ap peared through the prison mask. He involuntarily straightened himself, and his eyes sought his wife’s. "Tha'nks, Barton,” he said quietly. Then, with a tender ring in his voice— “Aren’t you glad, Molly?" he asked beseechingly. “Of course, .Tim,” answered Molly quietly. "Why shouldn’t I be glad when my husband is free from prison walls ?” "But, Molly," he stammered, "you •—you speak so oddly!” "Do I?” She laughed a little. “It's your imagination, Jim. Let's sit down “Jimp on this rock a while. I'm so tired,” i she added drearily. He looked at her with close attcn- ! tiou. Barton’s figure was visible round ing a headland a few feet away. ‘‘You’re a little pulled down, ’ oily, j dear, but we'll have you right, again in i no time,” lie said cheerfully. ' Now i that I’m free to use fhy brains once i more, you and Margie sha'n't want for ! anything. How is Margie?” be sud denly asked. "She's well,” his wife answered list- : lessiy. He took off his bat, baring bis head j to the twilight breeze. IIis wife kept bar eyes fixed on a j tuft of yellow daisies it her feet. Her voice was pry low. "Where are you goi?ig, Jim?" "Where am 1 going!" lie stan d at , her in amazement. "Why, home, of j course.' Molly, what’a the m tier with you ?” She sprang to her feet and fa ■ J ; him fiercely, her loosened hair bk>w- i ing in the wind. "You’re not corning to my home!” j she cried, a bitter, concentrated ring of rage-in her clear tones. ‘‘You’re not coming to mine! Do you think, James*! Fraser, that I’ve toil d end skive J all ! these years that you ni'riht have a frgble r:i.: ■*. :o aroii off your prison fette s it your leisure? Do you think (hat Ui.s and ms grace '.'man noth, g 1/ ■ • owl edge that our name is blighted, and that, wherever we go, we are likely to be pointed at and scorned? Do you tlynk I can brush this know led ■ aside, as 1 would brush away a fly? Do you think I have enjoyed slaving h i hours a day, with this retnenibranc ■ raging at my heart and brain! Am what does your coming out mean t" me," she cried shrilly, her eyes aflame and her bosom heaving. “It means ruin—ruin. Margie and I have moved. People where we are now don't know you. They don’t even know that I have a husband! They respect us, and now our lives will be ruined for the second time, and—by your hand!” At her first words Fraser had sprung up like a man shot through the heart. He swayed as he stood leaning heavily against the rock. "Molly!” he gasped. “You never said—” "No, I never.said anything,” she in terrupted. “It’s been eating my heart out, and you never even suspected it. I never can live with you again,” she said coldly. Her eyes repelled him. She extracted a shabby pocketbook from her dress, and wi,th shaking fin gers undid the fastenings. "I have brought you some money," she said shortly. “I do this, as I have done all the rest, because you were once iny husband, and because I still bear your name, hut now I have done my duty, and this is the end of it." She ex tended the money rigid)' Ho tossed It contemptuously over the rock. The beautiful virgin sky had suddenly grown dark. With n fierce pang, he felt a wild rush of longing for'the solitude of his prison cell. At this moment his wife seemed less a woman to him than a disturbing element in his long cherished plans, lie flushed darkly. To wait three years —for this! He crossed over and laid one arm on her bowed shoulders. “Molly," he said huskily. "Molly, you don't know what you're saying—you don’t know what you're doing. There hasn't been an hour in the day or night that I haven’t been planning for you and Margie. My Clod! You knew 1 was innocent—you knew I didn’t take tlie money. What if all the others believed me guilty! You knew—you didn't doubt me!" He stooped entreat ingly. His eyes besought her. "Come, Moll,” he said gently, “let us go home." She looked at the blue vault above, where the stars were beginning to tremble. The croak of the crickets came shrilly to her ears. '1 can't,” she said somberly—"1 can’t. Every stitch that I put into that hateful coarse sewing seemed to take iue farther away from you. Oh!” she suddenly cried out, “let me go! Let me go!” Hhe twisted her hands convulsively. “You don't know—you can't understand!” The man was trembling like a wounded animal. With a miserable gesture he raised his torn hat as he stumbled blindly away. Barton, approaching from the oppo site direction, start 1 in blank bewil derment at the retreating figure. ‘‘Good heavens!” he ejaculated. "Where's he going?” “He's going out of my existence,” replied Molly simply. Barton whirled round on her. “What do you mean?” he abruptly Inquired. Molly stood at bay. She knew Bar ton well enough to divine how her at titude would affect him, and she hesi tated to reveal it. Already, in her mind, little clouds of doubt were form ing. In these three years Barton had been her friend and stay, the sustain ing, helpful figure in the foreground of her existence. At this juncture, half unconsciously, she looked to him. Her eyes were imploring, but Barton af fected not to observe it. She answered him desperately: "We—I don’t think Jim and 1 are suited to each other any more,”, she said miserably. Barton was honestly shocked. “He's your husband," raid Barton sternly, hurt that his unacknowledged ideal of womanhood could be found wanting. “1 don’t know anything about a woman’s love,” ho said bitter ly, "but I know how a man would feel,” he added, Ills pity for 1friend carry ing him away. A look of acutes: pain swept over Molly's b’anched fr.ee, “You don’t uud mend—you don’t know," she raid.i u; . ul: ively. “I don’t love him any loir, - 1 wish 1 did— 1 wish 1 did!” she repeal d in agony. “Poor Jim—poor old fellow!" said Barton regretfully, the sympathy in his voice goading her .to despair. He seated himself on an adjacent rock and began thought"' Uy punching holes in the turf with his stick, He did not i , i meet her eyes. “I rotrenilii t,” he said reflectively, "someifling Jim oiff-c . d to in• • th t time you were t o ill. He v. ; pretty look 1 sew in thorn to-day. ‘Br.rtor; he said, ‘if my wiTodies it's all up with me’—and 1 could hear him msy ing that for a week afterward ); and i when voa \ out of d.ty, r the whole'oil ‘’a know it, just by the giori- 1 lied look i ’i Ids Taco." He ea: i a quick g: nice at the mo tionless fly are by tt. rock, but her hupds were clinch* d, and she did not v “./fnd when Margie was born," n.ir . go..'d enough for that liltlo moisel. lid | an apple big enough and red er.o gu ! her eyes, I sup; * > ." kc v ant c, . ' terrogativcly, “veu iv> a a,her that I ig I lire on Main street about six y> a;s ago? It was aH in the papers,, o$ 'course, and, wcl.—,l.o ki^man whoa* • oven yet. I don't know t! *,t you ’ ever heard," he rest; uod, softly,‘‘what ! were Jim’s lira; v. ords as soon as lie , could speak. ‘Don't tell Molly,’ he said, v ntly, and v in i you did come ! ho tried to hide Ids burned hands so 1 as nat to frighten you,” 1 His glance wandered down the lonely retd. Silent and empty, it stretched tvway Into the gloom of the gathering night. In the stillness they heard the solitary plashing of the waves. He rose and l'acpd Molly doubtfully. ‘‘ShiHl we go now, Mrs. Fraser?” he politely asked. “We camnake the : 8:15.” She broke down with a little cry. The next instant sue was running swiftly down the road. “Jim!” she called, eagerly. “Jim!” Her voice floated over the darkening reach of water. Barton, in the dis tance, saw her stumble, fall, recover herself, and press hurriedly forward. On and on she sped, peering Into every clump of hush searching be hind great bowlders, straining her ' eyes over the dusty road which lay before her, white and bare. Molly felt that her heart was bursting. Oh, if God would only forgive her, and let her find Jim before (the thought was agony) It might be too late! Then she turned the corner and saw him. He was coming quickly toward her, and the light of a great gladness in his tired eyes. Like one stricken with unspeakable yearning, she held out her arms. Going! Going! The remarkable sale we are now conducting has set the whole town talking Every Spring and Summer Suit MUST BE CLEARED AWAY DURING THIS MONTH Any $22.50 or $20.00 Suit of Clothes in our store Now $12.50 Any $16.50 or $15.00 Suit of Clothes in our store Now $9.50 4 Doors South ^R?chairdson THE COMERS AND COERS HAPPENINGS OF INTEREST TO YOU AND ME. -, What Your Friends and Their Friends Have G^en Doing the Past Week. I*o .'niian of Arago was in Falls City Saturday. Wm. )«Ili*r and family were Falls j Citj visitors Saturday. Sec Clarence Hcck for your goal this fall, Phone iOl. .Mi .tosh' Cllroy loft Saturday for a vi: il with 1 knives at Friend, Neb. Mr C. C. Da via entertained Miss Gen<- m* Cross of Fktlrbury thin wool . H . i'.v E’iol and family from the con! y were chautnuqua visitors I Saturday. Mrs. Elmer Ni.'kles of St.. Joseph, Mo, visit* .1 this-.. week with relatives in tiijs city. Mfss Stella Wil -in of Columbus, <)., visit. J this wo- 1. witii her sister, Mrs. R, Wilson. E. )i. Doro and wife of Salem were tl. w.,, ,s A. It, Scad 1 and family S urday and Sunday. Mrs, Saiinmi St'wart of Reserve, '.A. . spent Sunday with h r parents, Jim DeWald and wife. Mrs. Lloyd Morris of Bethany, vis ited with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Lowe over Sunday. Dr. J. 1). Houston of Nebraska City, j a brother of Dr. I. M. Houston, spent Sunday with him in this city. dost ph -Vedrov, of Stella, Nohr., • i lied relatives in this city and at-, i >'ded the Chautauqua Sunday. May Thnaenman and Sam !!■•, r of LuvaHin w re iiiuoia those who a! t iuied the ehauLauqua here Sunday, Among ibe Preston people on the, . haufauqua grounds Sunday w :-r '.Mrs, ■ ifq Sh 11. , Joan Mohler and vrii■ •: Among the Morrill; Has., 1> ‘OjT. vfho uitended the ehantauqua Sunday j were: Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Ptmce. Mensri, Wm. B'indk and Truman! Howard, Mrs. Spmcoons and daugh ; i ,',i and Mr. r.nd Mrs. Haim.". M m m • ~ *wMi • mm* ' ***"* •*- g ' . New ! • t I ’• Stationery i just Received - | All snappy designs and of j | excellent quality. 1 he sc are regular 35c ami 50c boxes. We have them on sale for two weeks only at 25c a box Better get one before they are gone, at McMillan’s Pharmacy Opposite Postoffice Falls City, Neb. Salem will hold an assembly on Sunday, August 8, at the old clrnu I a aqua grounds. The program con tests of hand music, basket, dime is, and a lei tare by Rev. F. IT Day of tie- Christian church. T'lu* sutij et of tiie address will be, "The Religions of Yesterday, Compared With the Re ligion of To-day.” Roy Daggett, received ills new arti ficial limit Saturday and soon after was seen on the street walking with only a very slight limp. This was due to the newness of the limb and will no dtfubt soon wear off. Roy is to he congratulated on the fit and gen* rai appearance of bis foot. -3a I cm Judex. Among the Verdon people at the Chautauqua Sunday were: Mr. and Mrs. Jay Parsons, Mr. and Mrs.1 Sig Ful ler, Mrs. lva Ewing, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Ayers, Mr. and Mrs. George Knapp, Mrs. Joe Parsons, May John on, Wallace Vrnold and Emmejvon Bowers. The 11 i nk- light plant at Hum boldt wu • out of commit -ion one night last week on account of a broken shaft. B.v-tlie way, Humboldt has the best ei •etric service of any town in southeast Nehru d a. i’ney furnish day power t.no. .1. ft. Cain, Jr., is tin* republican county chairman to manage the year’s campaign. Everything points to a lively routes this tall nml with ninth an able Ini- r iyr the G. O. I*, the democrats will ha,. who spent the j past week in this city with friends,; returned to her home in Stella Mon-1 day. Homer Howe, one of the lium-j boldt's energetic business men, was on the Chautauqua grounds Saturday. Rudolph Fisher and family and Miss Julia Frauenfelder of Verdon were Falls City visitors Saturday. Miss Carrie Melvin of lola, Kas., visited with her cousins, the Misses j lieineman, in this city. Misses Viola Draper and Cecil j Youngman were among the Humboldt people here Sunday. MisS Wanna Zimmerman of north of | Humboldt was a Chautauqua visitor | part of the week. Ewing Herbert brought a party of | young ladies over to our Chautauqua Saturday. Miss Nina Snow attended the chau j tauqua here Sunday. For the Best Ice Cream go to 1). W. Sowles. Herbert. Il< dges was an Auburn vis itor Monday. —Fcr Sale—My horse, buggy and harness.—Harry Cueter. Cecil Lowe is visiting his 'Mister, Mrs. Lloyd Morris at Bellini y. Mrs, Oliver Ileikcs of Hiawatha, is visiting old friends in this city. The Chautauqua grounds looked like Humboldt the lader part of the session. Ainong the Salem visitors here on Thursday were Miss Grace Ifarhmd, Oliver Tihleu find Ruby Stouffcr. Mrs. Charles Hedges of Indinnola, Neh , mother of Herbert Hedges, vis ited a few days with him this week. Among those who attended the chant .er a from Harnda^Averc C. F. Ki le u 1 family ami Miss I‘.< rt.ha 'Vfiek Ilay Hint and wife of Humboldt W' re tlie gm.-tsof Guy Green wild and niio while ntteudinK the chai.iiniqua boro Sunday, I. t ri t anr, anti Mix. M. I,. Wilson Sunday. M ins Yotta Bl.il returned homo from a few weeks’ \ihit with rela tint *i d felon dr. at St. Joseph and Kansas City, Mo, Mrs. J. W. Cullen and daughter, Hilitii, and Mias Nellie Weav r were among tim Verdon people < 1 the eiiautatujua . rounds Saturday. Ammo the Hiawatha visitors to our eity Smut ty were John Miller and Mis- s Shepherd, Hansen, artd Cou tr, < r. i’li';, ranic in an rout.mobile. M s, William Mtiw » an*! Poloaion Boaeiu-y of Morrill, Kan, and Art f.Hbty and family of Sub'S 1m, wore in Fail ('try Saturday, tin go i ts of relit her) and friends. P. H. Hart ami wife of Reserve, Kan, and 5**. rry Hart, Jr., ar»l Miss Neill ■ iVittr.'.i "r of Hiawatha, were KaestB at the 11. B. Bn reha rd home Sunday. and Miss Alma Dencklt r. ! and Prof. Gardner, of the To ronto Quartette, said that the Piano furnished by the Hum boldt Piano Co., was the best furnished on their tour of the United States. Our Pianos are of the better makes and we cater to the best trade. Any person or persons interested in Pianos will do well to in- [ vestigate our Pianos. OUR PRICES AND TERMS ARE RIGHT We have added the Kimball and Otto Wisner to our iarge list of good Pianos. Cali on u> or write us and we will call on you. HUMBOLDT PIANO COMPANY HUMBOLDT, NEB.