Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-01-24
Soapy O'Shay
By HOWARD MARSCHENER
G. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.
,COAPY O'SHAY, known along the
" Wide road in the Wilderness for

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an unusual aversion to them-but
SOapy had to be on Broadway that
night on an errand Of business. And
business was poor. 1t wasn't what it
used to be!
mo, sir" Soapy admitted, thinking
yellOw-suited example of human pros
perity walking toward him, and Soapy
carefully judged the man with his Cog
gle eyes. The Bright Light Of the
Bronx turned his head, revealing
what the Madison Square garden boys
term cauliflower ear, so Soapy got
out of his way. He wanted no run-in
with a middleweight pug. The tin
ear whirled past, and, a hero-worship-
per at heart Soapy turned to watch
those broad shoulders disappear
through the crowd.
Suddenly, SOapy felt hard tug on
his arm, jerking him halfway around.
why, l haven't" Soapy began
glibly, as he always did on certain I'M
fortunate occasions. He stopped, when
he saw that huge hulk Of man was
addressing him.
"Say, Buddy" the Hulk whined.
'Im just in from Texas, an wanna
know where l can meet some o. these
pretty gals"
SOapy's eyes narrowed, and he won
dered to which racket this beefer be-
lOnged.
Il dunno where you can meet people
around here" Soapy admitted, wishing
to get away with great haste
"Oh, tha's all right" the Bruiser said
airily. lowering his voice. II gotta
thousand bucks wit me-" He fished
in his vest pocket, pulled something
out, covered by his huge, cupped hand.
Then, to SOapy, he cautiously revealed
what looked like million dollars
Soapy's eyes popped as he saw a
twenty printed on one of the bills. The
size of the roll entranced him; glued
his feet to the pavement.
well, l dunno" Soapy admitted
thoughtfully, taking deep drag on his
cigarette. You might try Granski's
Pavilion across the street."
"Hey, yu, gotta match?"
Events were coming too fast Soapy
looked at the recent arrival. and abb
sently held out his cigarette. The fat,
stocky man, dressed in typical Broad
way purple, took the prOffered light, and
held it to his own cigarette.
do you know where I can meet
some of these pretty gals?" the tall
Hulk asked the Broadwayite.
SOapy got suspicious.
They're working together. It's a
racket" he admOnished himself. SOapy
wondered If they had him in mind as
the goat for something.
Sure, Big Boy" said the brilliant
| example of what not to wear. 81 know
| place where we can go together. An
Il got some dough-" Now SOapy knew
it was a racket. No two people on
| Broadway ever discuss the state of
their finances with a perfect stranger,
unless 1t is for comparison all around.
Being the stranger. Soapy didn't say
| anything.
"Okay, We'll go together" the Hulk
said. He looked at Soapy O'Shay.
| "HOw about maxim it a threesOme?
Nav, I'm broke" SOapy answered.
The Brute and the City Slicker be-
| gan prevailing on SOapy to change his
mind. SOapy noticed that each spoke
in turn, each brought up convincing ar
| guments. 1t was so obvious!
Boys SOapy said sorrowfully, II
| gotta wife an kid; otherwise I'd 60
with Won In q p,iputo Tn, Sorfo hrolyo -
The "sorta" did 1t. The other two
| began exerting their strongest persua-
| siOns.
"Ferget the wife," suggested the
Texan.
SOapy shrugged his shoulders, and
to give his words force, began waving
his arms as he spoke. Il can't do
that" he said, tapping the Hulk's
| chest.
Jaw, come on" Broadway's self-con-
fessed darling argued.
Soapy turned to him. I'D like to,
but guess just can't. -oo-oof!"
Some one had pushed Soapy against
| the thick-set ones chest. The little
guy recovered his balance, and glared
| google eyed at a hatless man running
in the general direction Of Central
park.
"How much dough you got with
| your" Broadway demanded.
"Oh. only about half buck" Soapy
| lied.
Broadway smirked, and the Hulk
| took the cue. well, / gotta be
breezin'," he said. Comm with me,
Mac"
Sure" the Broadwayite said. $50
long" he flung over his shoulder at
Soapy.
Soapy eased his slight form to the
curb by a sidewalk newsstand. and
then walked rapidly in the opposite
| direction from the other two He en-
tered half-lit Forty-ffth street, and
| swung into semi-dark alley.
Reaching up his coat sleeve, Soapy
| pulled out the Hulk's roll. As he sus-
| pected, there were about twenty dol
lar-size pieces of paper. folded under
| the double sawbuck. The dummy
bills, he dropped
From his left outer pocket, Soapy
extracted the Broadwayite's billfold.
| This contained seventeen smackers
| which SOapy also pOcketed