Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-10-08
INNS, he thourh, Of.

lights and cunningIy displayed wares
behind plate glass made = shop Win-
dow conspicuous. soapy toos a cob
bIestone aud dashed II through ihe
glass People came running around
the corner. a policeman IN th@ lead
soapy stood still with his hands III
his pockets aud smiled at the slgh'
Of brass buttons.
where's the man that done tha''
inquired the officer excitedly.
Don't you figure out that J mlgnl
have had something TO do with III
said Soapy. not without sarcasm oui
friendly, as one greefs good FORTUNE
The poIiceman's mind refused TO ac-
cent Soapy even as a clew. Men who
smash windows do not remain TO par
lev with the laws minions- They take
70 their heels. The policeman saw
man halfway down the block running
m catch a car. With drawn club be
Joined In the pursuit. Soapy. with dis
pust I'm his heart, loafed along. twice
unsuccessful.
ON the opposite side of the street
was n restaurant Of no great preten-
sions. II catered TO large appetites
and modest purses. Its crockery and
atmosphere were thick. its soup and
napery thin. Into this place SoapY
took his accusive shoes aud telltale
trousers without challenge. AT table
he sat and consumed beefsteak. flap
lacks, doughnuts and pie. And then
to the waiter he betrayed the fact that
the minutest coin and himself were
strangers.
Now get busy and call a cop" said
Soapy land don't keep a gentleman
waiting"
mo cop for youse." said the waiter
with q voice like butter cakes ana an
eye like the cherry In a Manhattan
cocktail Hey. Con-"
Neatly upon his left ear on the cal
| lous pavement two walters pitched
Soapy. He arose, joint by joint, as
carpenters rule opens. and beat the
dust from his clothes. Arrest seemed
but a rosy dream. The island SEEM
ed very far away. A policeman who
stood before a drug store two doors
away laughed and walked down the
street.
Five blocks Soapy Travelled before
his courage permitted him to WOO cap
ture again. This time the opportunity
presented what be fatuously termed
to himself ''cinch." A young WON
an of a modest and pleasing guise was
standing before a show window gaz'
ing with sprightly interest at its dis
play of shaving mugs and inkstands
and two yards from the window a
large policeman Of severe demeanoI
leaned against a water plug.
1t was Soapy's design to assume the
role of the despicable and execrated
"masher." The refined and elegant ap
pearance of his victim and the CONT
guilty of the conscientious cop encour
aged him to believe that he would soor
feel the pleasant official clutch upor
his arm that would insure his winter
quarters on the right little. tight LITTLE
isle.
Soapy Strengthened the lady mission
ary's ready made tie, dragged hi
shrinking cuffs into the open. set hi
hat at a killing cant and sided to
ward the young woman. He mad
eyes at her, was taken with suddel
coughs and "hems." smiled. smirket
and went brazenly through the impu
dent and contemplate litany Of tn
hoI Goa
saw that the policeman was watching
him fxedly The young woman NOV
ed away few steps and again be
slowed her absorbed attention upol
the shaving mugs. Soapy followed
boldly stepping to her side, raised hi
hat and said:
"Ah, there, Bedelia! Don't you wan
to come and play in my yard"
The policeman was still looking. Tn
prosecuted young woman had but t
beckon a finger and Soapy would b
practically Ell route for his insula
haven. Already he imagined he coul
: feel the coy warmth of the station
house. The young woman faced hin
and. stretching out a hand, caugh
j Soapy's coat sleeve.
Sure. Mike" she said joyfully, ii
. you'll blow me to pail Of suds. II
have spoke to you sooner, but the co
, was watching"
! With the young woman playing tn
| clinging ivy to his oak Soapy Wake
past the policeman. overcome wit
! gloom. He seemed doomed to liberty
| At the next corner he shook off hi
companion and ran. He halted in tn
district where by night are found tn
: lightest streets. hearts. VOWS and !
brettos. Women in furs and men
.. greatcoats moved gayly in the wintr
S air. A sudden fear seized Soapy tha
5 some dreadful enchantment had rel
dered him immune to arrest. Th
e thought brought little of panic upo
l. it. and when he came upon anothe
y policeman lounging grandly in front {
It a transplendent theater be caught {
: the immediate straw Of "disorderl
= conduct"
+ On the sidewalk Soapy began to ye
= drunken gibberish at the top of b.
e harsh voice. He danced. howled. rave
and otherwise disturbed the welkin.
It The policeman twirled his club, turl
a ed his back to Soapy and remarked
n citizen:
"'Tis one of them Yale lads celebra
6 in the goose egg they give to the Har
L ford college. Noisy, but no harm
= We've instructions to Fave them be-"
Disconsolate, Soapy ceased his III
II availing racket. Would never a polio,
]. man lay hands on him? In his fame
= the island seemed an unattainabl
q Arcadia. He buttoned his thin Goa
o against the chilling wind.
) In cigar store he saw a we'll dres.