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CURRENT LITERATURE
Soapy had confidence in himself from the low-
est button of his vest upward. He was shaven,
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. If he
could reach a table in the restaurant unsuspected
success would be his. The portion of him that
would show above the table would raise no doubt
in the waiter's mind. A roasted mallard duck,
thought Soapy, would be about the thing-with
a bottle of Chablis, and then Camembert, a demi-
tasse and a cigar. One dollar for the cigar would
be enough. The total would not be so hich as
to call forth any supreme manifestation of re-
venge from the cafe management; and yet the
meat would leave him filled and happy for the
journey to his winter refuge.
But as Soapy set foot inside the restaurant
door the head waiter's eye fell upon his frayed
trousers and decadent shoes. Strong and ready
hands trlled him about and conveyed him in
silence and haste to the sidewalk, and averted the
ignoble fate of the menaced mallard.
Soapy turned off Proadway. It seemed that
his route to the coveted island was not to be an
epicurean one. Some other way of entering limbo
must be thought of.
At a corner of Sixti Avenue electric lights
and cunningly displayed wares behind plate-glass
made a shop window conspicuous. Soapy took a
clnhble-stone and dashed it through the glass.
People came running around the corner, a police-
man in the Icad. Soapy stood still, with his hands
in his pockets, and smiled at the sight of brass
butt ns.
"Where's the omn that clone that ?" inquired
the officer excitedly.
"Don't you figure out that T might have hadl
something tlo do with it?" said Soapy, not with-
out snreasil. hot friendly, as one greets good
fortune.
The policcnman's mind refused to accept Soapy'
even as a clue. Men who smash windows do
not remain to parley with the law's minions. They
take to their heels. The policeman saw a mania
half way down the block runninlg- to catch a car.
With drawn club he joined in the pursuit. Soapy,
with disgust in his heart, loafed along, twice un-
successful.
On the opposite side of the street was a res-
taurant of no great pretensions. It 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 and telltale trousers without challenge. A\t
a table be sat and consumed beefsteak, flapjacks,
doughnuts and pie. And then to the waiter he be-
trayed the fact that the minutest coin and himself
were strangers.
"Now get busy and call a cop," said Soapy.
"And don't keep a gentleman waiting."
"No cop for youse," said the waiter, with a
voice like butter cakes and an eye like the cherry
in a Manhattan cocktail. "Hey, Con!"
Neatly upon his left ear on the callous pave-
ment two waiters pitched Soapy. He arose, joint
by joint, as a carpenter's rule opens, and beat
the dust from his clothes. Arrest seemed but a
rosy dream. The Island seemed 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 capture again. This time
the opportunity presented what he fatuously
termed to himself a "cinch." A young woman
of a modest and pleasing guise was standing he-
fore a show window gazing with sprightly inter-
est at its display of slhaving mngs and inkstanlds
and two yards from the window a large police
man of severe demeanor leaned against a water
plug.
It was Soapy's design to assume the r le of
the despicable and execrated "masher." The re
Fined and elegant appearance of his victim and
the contiguity of the conscientious cop encouraged
him to believe that he would soon feel the pleasant
official clutch upon his arm that would insure hi=
winter quarters on the right little, tight little isle.
Soapy straightened the lady missinnary's ready-
made tie, dlraggedl his shrinking cliffs into the
open, set his hat at a killing cant and sidled
toward the young woman. lie made eyes at her,
was taken with sudden coughs and "hems,"
smiled, smirked and went brazenly tilroulh the
imnudent and contemptible litany of the "'masher.
With half an eye Soapy saw that the policeman
was watching him fixedly. The young omO11n
moved away a few steps, and again bestowed her
absorbed attention upon the shaving mugs. Soapy
followed, boldly stepping to her side, raised 1li'
hat and said:
"A\h there, Bedelia l Don't you want to come
and play in my yard?"
The policeman was still looking. The perse
cuted young voman had but to beckon a ingier
and Soapy would be practically en route for h :
insular haven. Already he imagined he could
feel the cozy warmth of the station-house. Th~e
young woman faced him and, stretching out a
hand, caught Soapy's coat sleeve
"Sure, Mike." she said joyfully, "if you'll beis
me to a pail of suds. I'd have spoke to ylou
sooner, but the cop was watching.
With the young woman playing the clin'
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