The Washington herald., 1920-06-24
NN his bench in Madison
~ Square soapy moved uneasily
Whan uttd -eese honk nign OF

at hand.
A dead leaf fell ir Soapy's lap.
That was Jack Frosts card. JACK
is kind to the regular denizens OF
Madison Square. end gives fatr
warning of his annual call. AT the
corners of four etfeets he hands
his pasteb1ard to the North Wind.
footman OF the msnsicn of All
outdoocs, SC that the inhabitants
thereof may make ready.
Soapy's mind became cognizant
Of the fact that the time had come
for him to resolve himself into
singular Committee OF Ways ana
Means TO provide against the COM
ing rigor. And. therefore, he
moved uneasily on his bench:
The International ambitions OF
Soapy were not of the highest. In
them there were no considerations
of MediterTanesn cruises, of So
porific Southern skier or drifting
in the Vesuvian Bay. Three months
on the Island was what his soul
crayed. Three months of assured
board and bed end congenial COM
pany, aafe from Boreas and blue
coats. seemed to Soapy the essence
OF things desirable.
For years the hospitable Black
wells had been his winter quar-
ters. Just as Lis more fortunate
fellow New Workers. had bought
their tickets to Palm Beach ana
the Riviera each winter. so Soapy
had made his humble arrange
ments for his annual hegira to the
Island. And now the time was
cUme. On the previous night three
Sabbath newspapers, distributed
beneath his coat. about his ankles
and over his lap, had failed to re-
pulse the cold as he slept on his
bench near the sprrting fountain
in the ancient square. So the Is
land doomed big and timely In
Soapy's mind. He scorned the pro-
visions made in the name of char
ity for the city's dependents. In
soapy's opinion the Law was more
benign than Philanthropy. There
was an endless round Of institu-
tions, municipal and eleemosy-
nary, on which he might set out
and receive lodging and food ac-
cordant with the simple life. But
~ VI OOdfg cpAI ~ NHC
gifts of charity are encountered.
il not in coin you must pay in hu-
initiation of spirit for every bene-
mt received at the hands of philan-
thropy. As'Cacsar had his Brutus.
every bed of charity must have its
toll Of bath. every loaf of bread
its compensation of a private and
personal inCuisition. Wherefore
1t Is better to lie a guest Of the
law. which though conducted by
rules. does not Ireddle unduly with
a gen:leman's Erlvatc AFFAIR.".
Soapy, having decided to go to the
Island, at once set about accom-
plishing his desire. There were
many easy ways of doing this. The
pleasa1test was 10 dine luxurious
ly at some expensive restaurant;
and then. after declaring inscl-
vency. be randed over quietly ard
without upTcar &c a policeman. An
accommodating magistrate would
do the rest.
SoApy left his bench and stroll
ed out Of the square and across
the level sca of asphalt, where
Broadway and Fifth Avenue flow
together. u BrcaGway he turn
ed. and halted at 4 glitterins cafe.
where are gathered together
nightly the choicest products of
the grape, the Eilkworm and the
protop\s.n.
Soapy had confidence in himself
from the low est buttor of his vest
upward. He was shavcn. and his
coat was decent and his neat
black. ready-tied four-in- hand had
been presented to him by a lady
missionary on Thanksgiving Day.
II he could reach 2 table in the
restaurant UnsUspected success
would be his. The portion of him
that would show above the table
would raise TO doubt in the wait
er'S mind. A roasted mallard
duck. thought SoapY, would be
about the thira-with q bottle OF
Chablis. and thcn Camembert, a
demi -tasse and cigar. One dol
lar for the cigar would be enough.
The total woulG not be so high as
to call forth any supreme mari
festatio1 OF revenge from the cafe
management; and yet the meat
would leave hin filled and happy
for the journey to his winter ref
uge
But as Soapy set foot inside the
restaurant door the head walters
eye fell upon his frayCd trousers
and decadrnt shoes. Strong and
ready hands turned him about and
conveyed him in silence and haste
to the sidewalk anC averted the
t1nnhlA fofn Of hn
lard.
Soapy turned eff Broadway. 1t
seemed that his route to the COW
eted land was not TO be an cpl
cureln one. Some other way Of
entering limbo must be thought
Of.
At corner of Sixth Avenue
electric lights ard cunningly dis
played wares behind Tlate-glass
male e shop window conspicuous.
Soapy took a cobblestone and
dashed it through the glass. Peo-
pie came running around the cor
ner, a policeman in tho lead. SCapy
stood still. Will his hands in his
pockets. and smiled at the sigh. of
brass buttons.
"Where's the man that done
that?" inquired the officer excited
ly.
Don't you figure out that 7
might have had something to do
with it?" said SOapy. not without
sarcasm. but friendly, as one
greets good Torture.
The policeman's mind refused to
accept Soapy even as a clue. Men
who smash windows do not re-
main to parley with the laws min
ions. They take to their heels.