Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1910-01-07
ON THE CALLOUS PAVEMENT TWO WALTERS
a. PITCHED SOAPYn


streets he hands his pasteboard to the
north wind. footman Of the mansion
of All Outdoors. so that the inhabit-
ants thereof may make ready.
Soapy's mind became cognizant of
the fact that the time had come for
him tt resolve himself into a singular
committee Of ways and means to pro-
vide against the coming rigor., And
therefore he moved uneasily on his
bench. 5.....-,, -, t. II. AN: 5....,.
The hibernatorial ambitions Of Soapy
were not of the highest. In them there
were no considerations of Mediterra-
mean cruises of soporific southern
skies or drifting in the Vesuvian bay.
Three months on the island was what
his soul craved. Three months, Of as
sured board and bed and congenial
company. safe from Boreas and blue
coats. seemed to soapy the essence Of
things desirable. 80 :;.5::s ",,'s's' $.
For years the hospitable Biackwell's
had been his winter quarters. Just as
his more fortunate fellow. New. York
ers had bought their tickets to Palm
Beach and the Riviera each winter. so
Soapy had made his humber. arrange
ments for his annual ~hegira. to the Is.
land. And now the time was come.
On the previous night three Sabbath
newspapers. distributed: beneath bis
coat, about his ankles, and over his
lap, had. failed TO repulse the cold as
he slept on bis: bench near the squirting
fountain In the ancient square. = So
the island doomed big and timely In
/ Soapy's mind. He scorned the proyf-
sions made in the name of charity FOR
the city's dependents In Soaps opin-
ion the law was, more benign than
philanthropy There. was an endless
i round Of institutions, municipal and
eleelnos nary. on which he might set
4 out and receive lodging and food ac-
Z cordant with the simple life. But to
one Of Soaps proud spirit the gifts
Of charity are incnmbered. If NOT Ia
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 les toll of "A bath, every loaf of
bread Its compensation Of d private
and personal tnquisition wheref fore 1t
is better to he ca guest of the law.
which. though conducted BY rules, does
4 not meddle unduly with a gentieman's
h private affairs.
s.! i Soapy, having decided to 90 to the
Fl island, at once set about accomplish.
4 ing his desire. T here were many easy
(. ways Of doing this The pleasantest
\ was to dine luxuriously at some ex-
4 pensive restaurant and then. al tersde.
claring insolvency. be handed over
quietly and without rproar fo police.
man. An acconmoda fling magistrate
Il would do the res.
Il 5Soapy left his bench and strolled Out
. Dc he square and across the level sea
, of asphalt where Broadway and Fifth
.ayenue flow together UP Broadway
4 be turned and halted tia glitterine
1:cafe where are gat hered toget hernight
" the choicest products Of the grape
II the silkworin and the protepl asEa.ssssats
Soapy had confid ence IN himself from
, the lowest button Of bis vest upward
He was shaved. and his coat was de
cent, and his neat black. ready tied
f0ur-in.hand had been presented Il
him BY q lady missionary on Thanks
giving dag. r. he could reach a table
an5 the restaurant ,lnsuspe cted. success
would be bis. The portion5of him thai
would show aboYe the fable would
raise no doubt 10 the walters mind
] roasted snailard duck. thought soapy
svould be- about the thing. with q bot
ele Of Ghahlis. and then Camembart. 4
I desnitaase and a One dollar fol