The Washington times., 1904-12-04


bands. and when soapy moves uneasily
on his bench I'm the park, yon may know
that winter is near at hand.
A dead leaf fell in Seapy's lap. That
was Jack Frosts card Jack is kind to
the regular denizens Of Madison Square,
and gives fair warning OF his annual
call At the corners Of four streets he
hands his pasteboard 70 the North Wind.
footman OF the mansion OF All Out
doors 30 that the inhabitants thereof /
may make ready.
Soapy' s mind became cognizant OF the /
fact that the time had come for him TO /
remove himself into a singular commit /
Tee OF ways and means 20 provide |
against the coming rigor. And there /
fore he moved uLeasily on his bench.
The hiberna tOrial ambitions OF Soapy /
were not of the highest. In them there |
were no considerations OF Mediterran- |
can cruises. of sOporidc Southern skies |
or drifting in the Vesuvian Bay. Three |
months on the island was what his |
soul craved. Three months of assured /
board and bed and congenial company.
safe from BOreas and bluecOats. seemed
10 SoaDy the essence of things desirable /
For years the hospitable Blackwens
had been his winter quarters. JUST as
his more fortunate fellow New Workers
had bought their tickets to Palm Beach
and the Riviera each winter. so had
SOapy made his humber arrangements
for his annual hegira 70 the island. And
now the time was come. On the night
before three Sabbath newspapers, dis
tributed beneath his coat, about his an
kles and over his lap. had failed 10 re-
pulse the cold as he slept on his bench
near the squirting fountain in the ancient
square. So the island loomed big and
timely in SOapys mind. He scorned the
provisions made in the name of charity
for the city's de- ndents. In Soapy's
opinion the law was more benign than
philanthropy. There was an endless
round or Institutions. municipal and
eieemosynary, on which he might set
out and receive lodging and food accor-
dant with the simple life. But 20 one
az Soapy' proud spirit the gifts OF char
ity are encumbered. II not in coin you
must pay in humiliation Of spirit FOR
every benefit received at the hands OF
philanthropy. As Caesar had his Brutus.
every bed OF charity must have its toll
Of a bath. every loaf OF bread its COM
pensation OF private and personal in
quisition. Wherefore il is better 10 be
Quoted by rules, does not meddle unduly
with gentleman's private affairs.
soapy. having decided 10 go to the
island. at once set about accomplishing
his desire. There were many easy ways
Of doing this. The pleasantest was 10
dine luXuriuuslv at some expensive res
taurant; and tuen. after declaring In
soivency. be handed over quietly and
without uproar 10 a policeman. An ac-
commodatmg magistrate would do the
rest.
SOapy left his bench and strolled out
or the square and across the level sea
II asphalt. where Broadway and Fifth
Avenue flow together Up Broadway
he turned. and halted at d glittering
cafe. where are gathered together night
ly the choicest products Of the grape
the silkworm and the protopiasm.
soapy had confidence IN himself from
the lowest button OF his vest dpWard.
lie was shaven and his coat was decent
and his neat black. ready-tied fOur-in-
hand had been presented 10 him by a
lady missionary on Thanksgiving Day.
II he could reach table iu the res
taurant unsupported success would be-
his. The portion Of him that would
show above the table would raise nO
doubt ga the walters mind. A roasted
Malard duck. thought S0apy. would bee
about the thiHg-With "a bottle of Cha
blis and then Camemb-rt, demi-
tasse and a cigar. One dollar for the
cigar would be- enough. The total would
not be so high as To cau forth any
supreme manifestation OF revenge from
the cafe management; and yet The mea
would leave him nued and happy foi
faf.r r4afrs
But as Soapy set foot inside the res
taurant door the head walters eye Tel
upon his frayed trousers and decaden
shoes. Strong and ready hands turne,
him about and conveyed him IN silence
and haste 60 the sidewalk and ayertet
tho ignoble fate OF The menaced AIallard
Soapy turned off Broadway IT seem
ed that his route 10 the coveted islaa'
was not 10 be an epicurean one. Som
other way Of entering limbo must b.
thought OF.
AT corner Of Sixth Avenue eIectri
lights and cunningly displayed ware
behind plate-glass made shop wlnao'
conspicuous. Soapy took up cObble
stone and dashed it through the glass
People came running around the eorne
a policeman in the lead. soapy stoo
stiu. with his hands I'm his pockets. an
smiled at the sight OF brass buttons.
Where the man that done that?
inquired the officer. eXcltedly.
Don't you figure out that / might haN
had something 10 do with it, sal
soapy. not without sarcasm, but frienC
lily, as one greets good fortune.
The policemans mind refused 10 a,
cept Soapy even as a clue Men WI
smash windows do not remain 20 parle
with the laws minions. They take
their heels The policeman saw a ma
half way down the block running
catch a car. With drawn club he joins
IN the pursuit. soapy. with disgust
his heart. loafed along, twice unsueces
ful
On the opposite side Of the street We
a restaurant OF no great pretensions.
catered 20 large apDetites and mode
purses. It's cr0okery and atmosphel
were thick. its soup and napery thi
Into this place soapy took his sccustN