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OnhisbenchinMadisonSquareSoapymoveduneasily.
Whenwildgeesehonkhighofnights,andwhenwomenwithoutsealskincoatsgrowkindtotheirhusbands,
andwhenSoapymovesuneasilyonhisbenchinthepark,youmayknowthatwinterisnearathand.
AdeadleaffellinSoapy'slap.ThatwasJackFrost'scard.
JackiskindtotheregulardenizensofMadisonSquare,andgivesfairwarningofhisannualcall.
AtthecornersoffourstreetshehandshispasteboardtotheNorthWind,footmanofthemansionofAllOutdoors,sothattheinhabitantsthereofmaymakeready.
Soapy'smindbecamecognisantofthefactthatthetimehadcomeforhimtoresolvehimselfintoasingularCommitteeofWaysandMeanstoprovideagainstthecomingrigour.
Andthereforehemoveduneasilyonhisbench.
ThehibernatorialambitionsofSoapywerenotofthehighest.InthemtherewerenoconsiderationsofMediterraneancruises,ofsoporificSouthernskiesdriftingintheVesuvianBay.
ThreemonthsontheIslandwaswhathissoulcraved.Threemonthsofassuredboardandbedandcongenialcompany,safefromBoreasandbluecoats,seemedtoSoapytheessenceofthingsdesirable.
ForyearsthehospitableBlackwell'shadbeenhiswinterquarters.
JustashismorefortunatefellowNewYorkershadboughttheirticketstoPalmBeachandtheRivieraeachwinter,soSoapyhadmadehishumblearrangementsforhisannualhegiratotheIsland.
Andnowthetimewascome.
OnthepreviousnightthreeSabbathnewspapers,distributedbeneathhiscoat,abouthisanklesandoverhislap,hadfailedtorepulsethecoldashesleptonhisbenchnearthespurtingfountainintheancientsquare.
SotheIslandloomedbigandtimelyinSoapy'smind.
Hescornedtheprovisionsmadeinthenameofcharityforthecity'sdependents.InSoapy'sopiniontheLawwasmorebenignthanPhilanthropy.
Therewasanendlessroundofinstitutions,municipalandeleemosynary,onwhichhemightsetoutandreceivelodgingandfoodaccordantwiththesimplelife.
ButtooneofSoapy'sproudspiritthegiftsofcharityareencumbered.Ifnotincoinyoumustpayinhumiliationofspiritforeverybenefitreceivedatthehandsofphilanthropy.
AsCaesarhadhisBrutus,everybedofcharitymusthaveitstollofabath,everyloafofbreaditscompensationofaprivateandpersonalinquisition.
Whereforeitisbettertobeaguestofthelaw,whichthoughconductedbyrules,doesnotmeddleundulywithagentleman'sprivateaffairs.
Soapy,havingdecidedtogototheIsland,atoncesetaboutaccomplishinghisdesire.Thereweremanyeasywaysofdoingthis.
Thepleasantestwastodineluxuriouslyatsomeexpensiverestaurant;andthen,afterdeclaringinsolvency,behandedoverquietlyandwithoutuproartoapoliceman.
Anaccommodatingmagistratewoulddotherest.Soapylefthisbenchandstrolledoutofthesquareandacrossthelevelseaofasphalt,whereBroadwayandFifthAvenueflowtogether.
UpBroadwayheturned,andhaltedataglitteringcafe,wherearegatheredtogethernightlythechoicestproductsofthegrape,thesilkwormandtheprotoplasm.
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