The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-10-14

ford college. Noisy, OUT no Marin.
We've instructions to Fave them be-"
Disconsolate. Soapy ceased his un-
availing racket. Would never police
man lay hands on him! In his fancy
the island seemed an unattainable
Arcadia. He buttoned his thin coat
against the chilling wind
In cigar store he saw well dress
ed man lighting cigar at swinging
light His silk umbrella he had set
by the door on entering. Soapy STEP
ped inside. secured the umbrella and
sauntered Off with it slowly. The man
at the cigar light followed hastily.
"My umbrellaw he said sternly.
"Oh. is it?" sneered Soapy. adding
insult to petit larceny. well. why
don't you call policeman: took IT..
Your umbrella: Why don't you Ncall
a cop? There stands one on the cor
| ner."
The umbrella owner slowed his steps.
Soapy did likewise. with a PRESENT.
mentl that luck would again run against
him. The policeman looked at the two
curiously.
"Of course" said the umbrella man
-"that is-wel. you know how these
mistakes occur. If it's your UNI
brella hope you'll excuse me. pick
ed it ND this morning in restaurant.
If you recognize it as yours. why. !
hope you'll
"Of course it's mine" said Soapy
viciously.
The ex-umbrel!a man retreated. The
policeman hurried to assist tall blond
in an opera cloak across the street In
front of street car that was ap-
preaching two blocks away.
Soapy walked eastward through a
street damaged by improvements. he
hurled the umbrella wrathfully into
an excavation. He muttered against
the men who wear helmets and carry
clubs. Because be wanted to fall into
their clutches they seemed to regard
him as king who could do no wrong.
At length Soapy reached one OF the
avenues to the east where the glitter
and turmoil was but faint. He set
his face down this toward Madison
square. for the homing instinct sur
wives even when the home is park
bench.
But on an unusually quiet corner
Soapy came to standstill. Here was
an old church. quaint and rambling
and gabled. Through one violet stain
ed window a soft light glowed. where,
no doubt. the organist lOitered over
the keys. making sure OF his mastery
of the coming Sabbath anthem. for
there drifted out to Soapy's ears sweet
music that caught and held him trans
fixed against the econvolutions Of the
iron fence. gs. S
The moon was above, lustrous and
serene; vehicles and pedestrians Were
Few; sparrows twittered sleepily In
the caves. For a. little while the scene
might have been country church
yard. And the anthem that the organ,
list played cemented Soapy to the, iron
fence, for he had known it well in the
days when his life. contained such
things as mother and roses and am
billions and friends and immaculate
thoughts and collars.
The conjunction of Soapy's receptive
state of mind and the influence about
the old church wrought a sudden and
wonderful change In his soul. he
viewed with swift horror the pit into
which be had tumbled, the degraded
days. unworthy desires. dead hopes,
wrecked faculties and base motives
that made up his existence.
And also in a moment his heart re-
sponded thrillingly TO this novel mood
An instantaneous and strong impulse
moved him to battle with his desper-
ate fate He would pull himself out
Of the mire: be would make man OF
himself again: be would conquer the
evil that had taken possession Of him.
There was time. He was comparatively