ill
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 1908.
. THE MORNING ASTOR IAN. ASTORIA. OREGON.
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Because we are conducting it honestly and truthfully. This store has never deceived the people has al
ways done just as it advertised to do and when we advertised that we were going to quit business and
would give unusual bargains, at this great sale every one knew that we meant what we said and that there
would be bargains worth coming for, and the enormous crowds that has thronged this store since this
sale opened proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that those who came first were pleased with the saving
they made and are coming back for more every day and telling others of their, good fortune.
Good News for Tuesday Shoppers
Bargains That Have Never
Come Your Way Before
25 Boys' suits from 3 to 7 years, all good matcriabandwcllfinn
made, values $4.00 to $6, while they last ...... ....................... ...... ..BUU
33 Boys' Suits 8 to 14 years, knee pants, good staple suits in
Fancy Tweedsand Cassimcres,$4.50 to $8, '.while they Q JJ
Boys' 2 piece suits with knee pants,valucsto$8.50, sizcsCO Hfl
8 to J2 years, while they last 1....................;................ ... yfc.dU
25 dozen Boys' Knee Pants, sizes 3 to 14 years, good aUQ7
wool material values' to $1 , while thev last, the oair.... ... .... 0 1 u
: ,?..,.-.. . ,.-,. ' . , ' , , ,
Great Corset, Bargains
3000 pairs P. N. Corsets, white and drab, short or medium
lengths with hose supporters, $ J grade,while they last, pair flOc
200 pairs corsets all sizes, and in white, drab, and black, not
all sizes of every kind but all sizes in the lot. the pair Qc
Big Snap in Men's Shirts
25 dozen Men's Fancy Dress Shirts, all sizes,14 1-2 to 17, arid
that sold to $1.25, on sale while they last....... 20c
6 dozen Boys' Laundered Bosom Fancy Shirts, regular 75c
ana 5uc values, on sale while they last at each RC
Big values in Ladies', Children's and Misses' Shoes every day. Watch for big specials for Wednesday
and Thursday, Don't miss coming to this store every day. Remeber, only 1 1 more days then we quit.
Blue Sign ii 10
IE BOSTON tSffl
The Big
Blue Sign
Social
: A
Impossibility
r- y Vonat H. Hatnt.
Copyright, 1907, by Donal 11 Haints,
N0
a
E8BRO shifted In his lent, set
tled hit eycglusscs more flnnly
upon bis dom and, with bli
gloved hands folded on tbe top
of bla cane, turned b!a glance again
to tha field of play. On all sides of
btm men and women were abandoning
themselves to excesses of enthusiasm,
but bis cold neutral tinted eyes fol
lowed tbe movements of tbe muddy
figures on tbe gridiron without a trace
of excltoment, tbougb tbey lost no de
tail! of tbe play.
"I beg your pardon"-Desbro' blgb
pitched, nervous voice cut Incisively
Into tbe throaty cheer of which the
man nezt to him was delivering him
self "but can you tell me who la tbe
black balred man at tackle"
"Babblngton," snapped the other
shortly and turned again to bis cheep
tag, while Desbro murmured courteous
thanks. , .
, Turning a pair of fieldglasses upon
the field, Desbro" watched tbe strug
gling figures Intently for a few mo
menta; then, laying tbe binoculars
aside and lighting a cleorette, bo com.
nienccd to tnlk to himself In a, low
tone, oblivious of bis surroundings.
"A matchless physique," he mutter
ed; "poupled with a face which might
have been Adnm's-ns devoid of the
spark of intelligence as an ox's the
very embodiment of the gtinio be Is
playing." .,',;,,',, .
Hs Intent gaze, nqted a sudden con
gestion of the, padded,, figures below
lilru onil an eager crnulug of nocks
from the scnts of the big stand. One
of the opposing' plnyors lay stretched
on the turf writhing In pain, wbllo a
group of the visiting eleven's support
ers leaned from their scats and point-,
ed lmpotently accusing fingers at the
man . called Dabblngton, who stood
looking down at the prostrate figure
with bis bands on bis massive hips.
A cold little sneer gathered about
tbe corners of Desbro's mouth as he
atched the incident. ;; - ;
"What callousness," he . exclaimed
softly, "what savagely unconscious cal
lousness! Is tbe man an anachronism
or only a brute? Such simple minded
awnnrrn for physical agony caused
by one's own hands Is the marc oi
mere coarseness or a throwback,
"I must see more of this strange
man," be told himself and walked to
tbe gymnasium, where be sat for an
hour gaslng at the celling with a
preoccupied air. When Dabblngton's
great bulk emerged from the door lead-
Ing to the hatha an hour later, Desbro
rose and walked to meet blm.
"Mr. Babblngton?" be asked. Tbe
other nodded.
"My name Is Desbro," be went on
rapidly, bis suddenly keen eyes search
Ing tbe other's face. . "I come from tbe
same part of the country that you do,
"NO,1
HfBWHRBS T8ffl IB WHAT I
... GAMBion."' :-... .
and I thought possibly you might give
me news of an old friend, Morton
Harold Morton. Did you. happen to
know him?",
"Morton?"' he said slowly. "Morton?
No, don't believe I know him."
"Ah, of course," Desbrdf hastened to
say, "I thought perhaps" And he
wove a few sentences of easy fiction
before turning abruptly on bis beel.
A few hours Inter he sat In the bil
liard room, of Jils fraternity bouse lis
tening curiously to the tqlk,of the men
which centered about the game of tbe
afternoon. Tbe comments were all live
ly, enthusiastic, on tbe team's chances,
in the Individual prowess of the men,
and constantly recurring In tbe bum of
conversation was Itabblngton s name,
"The finest type of a player tbe crop
, of new men has produced," a fair hair
od man with a big voice called from
I one end of tbe smoky room.
"Right you arfr Desbro broke In
luddenly Tbe men around tbe tables
turned In astonishment for to have
Desbro offer comment on matters of
this nature was unusual.
, "Right you are, I say," be repeated,
leaning back In his chair and survey
ing tbe curious faces through h
glasses. "This man is the very emooo
lmcnt of tbe spirit fostered by this
beautiful game of yours built for a
human chopping block or battering
ram, aa tbe case may demand! By the
exertion of those muscles for which he
Is no more responsible tban Thompson
there for bis red hair he brings down
on bis richly undeserving head the
frenzied cheers of a sport erased
crowd. lie sends a man less fortunate
ly endowed physically than himself
Into a few moments of unhappy obliv
ion .and then grins at you with crass
satisfaction wheu you cheer him not
for himself or because bis name means
anything, but simply for what be has
done.
"This Dabblngton comes out of no
where," Desbro continued, "a grace
less, coarse flbered clod, with a giant's
strength and the broad ideas of a goat,
hungry for notoriety of the sort his
great muscles can command, and you
pamper his cheap cravings with unc
tion. You sit lnthe stands and shout
yourselves hoarse while be is battering
some poor fellow In the arena, and you
will go furtbor. You will desire the
rapture of this athletic Hon In spite of
the fact that ho is a a social Impossi
bility, and you will be crowding around
trying to put your fraternity pins on
his coat. Bah!
"I talked with the man, looked into
bis great, oxllfce eyes dea devoid or
the spork of real life"
The unfinished sentence broke abrupt
ly, and every eye In the room followed
Desbro's startled glance to the door
way, whore, turning bis, cane in Ms
hmuls and staring at the speaker with
an expression wholly Indescribable,
stood Dabblngton. For a moment there
was the dead silence of 'utter 'embar
rassment;'' then One by' one the mori
turned to tbe tables, while Babblngton
cleared bis throat and spoke.
. "I came to see If possibly I hadn't
misunderstood you," be said, turning
to Dosbro. "That name you mention
ed was Morton, wasn't It?"
Desbro, redder than any man had
ever seen him, nodded without speaking.'-,
. ,-. v;
. "I thought possibly I hadn't under
stood," Babblngton explained, backing
swkwardlv out of the door, "and I did
know a man nnrui-a tiorcou.'
A few moments later Desbro passed
the door of the billiard room, wearing
the raincoat and slouch hat which be
Invariably wore on tbe evening walks
which were as much a part of his ex
istence as bis meals.
No man pretended to know the object
of these nightly walks of Desbro's. To
all Inquiries be responded that "they
gave him a chance to think without In
terruptlou."
At tbe gate Desbro paused to light a
cigarette, and tbe flare of the match
as he shielded It from tbe snappy Oc
tober wind brought his thin features
Into prominence against tbe darkness.
Babblngton, standing under a tree not
a dosen yards away, turned as the sul
phur sputtered and saw. Ills great
hand clinched Instinctively Into a fist,
and he had already taken a step for
ward when Desbro turned and started
quickly down the street
Babblngton waited a few moments,
then stepped lightly on to the sidewalk
and followed, quietly at first and then
without caution as Desbro paid no at
tention to the footfalls behind him. He
glanced now and then at the receding
lights and then Increased tbe length of
bis strides as Desbro's phrases' throb
bed through his mind.
"Social Impossibility!" be muttered,
gritting bis teeth over tbe phrase. "I'll
teach the little whelp!"
Ills eyes never left the little spark
which marked the other's position, but
very time be started to close the gap
between them something checked him.
His thoughts refused to ruu to any but
a given point a fierce desire to get his
hands upon tho man who had held his
Ignorance' up to a roomful of men
while be stood and listened helplessly.
As be hod Btood under the tree In front
of the house he had felt only a sense
of Impotcncy, of shame, a gulping feel
ing of disappointment which was not
easy to understand, a sickening realiza
tion that some of Desbro's words bad
rung true.' -.' ' -" "'. ' ' ''- ' "
Block after block the man In front
walked, turning now to the right and
now to the left, sometimes walking
rapidly and again idling along at a
snail's pace. They passed through tbe
business streets, lonely and deserted
under the harsh glare of the arc lights.
Here Desbro paused to talk with a po
liceman with whom be seemed to be
on excellent terms, and, turned sudden
ly cold at the sight of the patrolman,
Babblngton crossed the street and
nearly lost bis man, who wheeled
abruptly Into a dark side street
Babblngton was conscious that a
struggle bad commenced within him
and that .the1- first beat of anger was
passing. He grew ashamed of bis
erowlnir cslmnoss. fearful lest the, cool
ing Influence of the walK roo mm or
tbe merited retaliation which ho knew
his massive arms could administer.
Desbro stopped abruptly to light an
other cigarette, and his pursuer halted
In the midst of a stride. For an in
stant be paused irresolute, divided be
tween tbe lingering desire to close his
fingers on Desbro's neck and a sodden
Impulse to run, to get away from ev
erything, back to the life where other
I men bad lived and talked like himself.
The hotter sensation " triumphed, and
Babblngton had , taken three quick,
lithe steps toward his Victim when, si
lent as the sbndows from which they
sprang, a little knot of men threw
themselves at Desbro.
The shock of the attack not Only
drove from Babbington's mind every
vestige of his own wrath, but bereft
him for an Instant of the power of mo
tion, lie beard Desbro give a low exclamation-
and saw bythe last flicker
of tbe match the slight figure attempt
ing to shield Itself by leaping behind
an iron pole. In another Instant he
found himself In the center or a press
of struggling figures. He received
blows and felt the impact of bis hand
against flesh as he returned them.
"Where are you, Desbro?", he shout
ed. "Sing out."'
"Here," came a choking voice from
behind him, "quick!"
A club struck Babbington's arm with
a numbing shock, but he kicked the
man who wielded It into Insensibility
and the next Instant was tearing an
other ruffian from off Desbro's pros
train form. Two of tbe assailants lay
on the ground, mere blotches In the
darkness. The others bad disappeared.
Desbro rose to Ids feet slowly and
took a step toward bis rescuer.
I say," be commenced, then stopped
abruptly. "So this is the cheap coals
of Ore' method yon pursue, Is it?" he
continued, with a sneer.
A sudden easy smile passed over
Babbington's face.
, "No," be answered shortly; "this Is
what I came tor," and be struck Des
bro squarely In the face, felling him
Instantly. .
For an Instant tbe knowledge of the
strength In his great muscles fright
e&ed btm, nnd he leaned over Desbro
anxious!?. Satisfied that be had struck,
no harder tban he Intended, be leaned
against the Iron post panting from bis
exertions. Tbe two roughs on the
ground recovered their senses and
scuttled off into the night He could
hear Desbro's watch ticking and kept
track of tbe seconds for two full min
utes. Then he noticed that the fallen
man was bareheaded and puttered
about ou bis hands and knees In the
dead leaves and the filth of the gutter ,
until l found Dnshro'a hat
"Can you walk?" ne asKea snoruy.
The disheveled figure nodded, and In
silence tbey made their way back
through the deserted streets. In front
of the fraternity house tbey separated
without words,
Desbro gave up his nightly walks for
a week and was seen but little oatside
his room. He explained his marred
cheek and a stiffness in one leg by a
fall through a broken crossing.
"Going to make another character
study or the game, Desbro r
Desbro shook his bead and smiled
"I'm continuing one," be answered
shortly.
It was with a more Interested, lessl
coldly critical expression that he fol
lowed tbe movements of tbe men On
the white striped field beneath blm.
The problem confronting the varsity
team as a different one from that
which Desbro had watched on the first
occasion, for Instead of feeble oppo
nents who would only afford them
good practice they faced an eleven of
their own class. v
From the first the enemy's tactics
had been obvious. Tbey realized that
In Babblngton there was a living oppo
sition which barred all progress to tbe
varsity's goal line, and toward the
wearing down of his great strength
they had directed their efforts. Men.
had been led to the side lines pale and
bleeding, and the list of the visitors'
substitutes was diminished, but still
Babblngton formed the center of every
attack and was the rock about which
split the enemy's onslaughts. , It was
not a showy exhibition, but It was a
splendid piece of physical stamina, and
the great crowd was appreciative. They
saw that Babbington's ' endurance
would make victory possible, and they
rose In a great wall of color and cheer
ed him furiously.
"Babblngton! Babblngton!"
Close to the goal poets Babblngton
raised his great frame from the tangle
of the last attack which had shattered
Its force upon htm and faced the shout
ing crowds. Slowly he raised a huge
fist and shook It In the face of the mul
titude, which grew wonderlngly silent
"Curse you," he shouted, and the
sound of his hoarse voice carried to
every part of the stands, "leave my
name alone?!
Desbro smiled quietly.
"In the term soclal impossibility,'
he muttered, "I was guilty of gross In
justice." v
When the whistle sounded the end of
the half, he scrambled down from his
seat, climbed the wirefence inclosing
the field and walked toward Babblng
ton, who, with hanging head, was
talking slowly toward the side lines.
Will you shako bands, Babblngton?
ls asked, smlllne j