English
FiveblocksSoapytravelledbeforehiscouragepermittedhimtowoocaptureagain.
Thistimetheopportunitypresentedwhathefatuouslytermedtohimselfa"cinch."
Ayoungwomanofamodestandpleasingguisewasstandingbeforeashowwindowgazingwithsprightlyinterestatitsdisplayofshavingmugsandinkstands,
andtwoyardsfromthewindowalargepolicemanofseveredemeanourleanedagainstawaterplug.
ItwasSoapy'sdesigntoassumetheroleofthedespicableandexecrated"masher."
Therefinedandelegantappearanceofhisvictimandthecontiguityoftheconscientiouscopencouragedhimtobelievethathewouldsoonfeelthepleasantofficialclutchuponhisarmthatwouldinsurehiswinterquartersontherightlittle,tightlittleisle.
Soapystraightenedtheladymissionary'sreadymadetie,draggedhisshrinkingcuffsintotheopen,sethishatatakillingcantandsidledtowardtheyoungwoman.
Hemadeeyesather,wastakenwithsuddencoughsand"hems,"smiled,smirkedandwentbrazenlythroughtheimpudentandcontemptiblelitanyofthe"masher."
WithhalfaneyeSoapysawthatthepolicemanwaswatchinghimfixedly.
Theyoungwomanmovedawayafewsteps,andagainbestowedherabsorbedattentionupontheshavingmugs.
Soapyfollowed,boldlysteppingtoherside,raisedhishatandsaid:"Ahthere,Bedelia!Don'tyouwanttocomeandplayinmyyard?"
Thepolicemanwasstilllooking.ThepersecutedyoungwomanhadbuttobeckonafingerandSoapywouldbepracticallyenrouteforhisinsularhaven.
Alreadyheimaginedhecouldfeelthecozywarmthofthestation-house.Theyoungwomanfacedhimand,stretchingoutahand,caughtSoapy'scoatsleeve.
"Sure,Mike,"shesaidjoyfully,"ifyou'llblowmetoapailofsuds.I'dhavespoketoyousooner,butthecopwaswatching."
WiththeyoungwomanplayingtheclingingivytohisoakSoapywalkedpastthepolicemanovercomewithgloom.Heseemeddoomedtoliberty.
Atthenextcornerheshookoffhiscompanionandran.
Hehaltedinthedistrictwherebynightarefoundthelighteststreets,hearts,vowsandlibrettos.
Womeninfursandmeningreatcoatsmovedgailyinthewintryair.
AsuddenfearseizedSoapythatsomedreadfulenchantmenthadrenderedhimimmunetoarrest.
Thethoughtbroughtalittleofpanicuponit,andwhenhecameuponanotherpolicemanlounginggrandlyinfrontofatransplendenttheatrehecaughtattheimmediatestrawof"disorderlyconduct."
OnthesidewalkSoapybegantoyelldrunkengibberishatthetopofhisharshvoice.
Hedanced,howled,ravedandotherwisedisturbedthewelkin.
Thepolicemantwirledhisclub,turnedhisbacktoSoapyandremarkedtoacitizen.
"'TisoneofthemYaleladscelebratin'thegooseeggtheygivetotheHartfordCollege.Noisy;butnoharm.We'veinstructionstolavethembe."
Disconsolate,Soapyceasedhisunavailingracket.Wouldneverapolicemanlayhandsonhim?
InhisfancytheIslandseemedanunattainableArcadia.Hebuttonedhisthincoatagainstthechillingwind.
Inacigarstorehesawawell-dressedmanlightingacigarataswinginglight.Hissilkumbrellahehadsetbythedooronentering.
Soapysteppedinside,securedtheumbrellaandsaunteredoffwithitslowly.Themanatthecigarlightfollowedhastily.
"Myumbrella,"hesaid,sternly.
"Oh,isit?"sneeredSoapy,addinginsulttopetitlarceny.
"Well,whydon'tyoucallapoliceman?Itookit.Yourumbrella!Whydon'tyoucallacop?Therestandsoneonthecorner."
Theumbrellaownerslowedhissteps.Soapydidlikewise,withapresentimentthatluckwouldagainrunagainsthim.Thepolicemanlookedatthetwocuriously.
"Ofcourse,"saidtheumbrellaman--"thatis--well,youknowhowthesemistakesoccur--I--ifit'syourumbrellaIhopeyou'llexcuseme--Ipickeditupthismorninginarestaurant--Ifyourecogniseitasyours,why--Ihopeyou'll--"
"Ofcourseit'smine,"saidSoapy,viciously.
Theex-umbrellamanretreated.Thepolicemanhurriedtoassistatallblondeinanoperacloakacrossthestreetinfrontofastreetcarthatwasapproachingtwoblocksaway.
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