第39章 The Cop and the Anthem (第1/2页)

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O.Henry

OnhisbenchinMadisonSquareSoaymoveduneasily.Whenwildgeesehonkhighofnights,andwhenwomenwithoutsealskincoatsgrowkindtotheirhusbands,andwhenSoaymovesuneasilyonhisbenchintheark,youmayknowthatwinterisnearathand.

AdeadleaffellinSoay&aos;sla.ThatwasJackFrost&aos;scard.JackiskindtotheregulardenizensofMadisonSquare,andgivesfairwarningofhisannualcall.AtthecornersoffourstreetshehandshisasteboardtotheNorthWind,footmanofthemansionofAllOutdoors,sothattheinhabitantsthereofmaymakeready.

Soay&aos;smindbecamecognisantofthefactthatthetimehadcomeforhimtoresolvehimselfintoasingularCommitteeofWaysandMeanstorovideagainstthecomingrigour.Andthereforehemoveduneasilyonhisbench.

ThehibernatorialambitionsofSoaywerenotofthehighest.InthemwerenoconsiderationsofMediterraneancruises,ofsoorificSouthernskiesordriftingintheVesuvianBay.ThreemonthsontheIslandwaswhathissoulcraved.Threemonthsofassuredboardandbedandcongenialcomany,safefromBoreasandbluecoats,seemedtoSoaytheessenceofthingsdesirable.

ForyearsthehositableBlackwell&aos;shadbeenhiswinterquarters.JustashismorefortunatefellowNewYorkershadboughttheirticketstoPalmBeachandtheRivieraeachwinter,soSoayhadmadehishumblearrangementsforhisannualhegiratotheIsland.Andnowthetimewascome.OnthereviousnightthreeSabbathnewsaers,distributedbeneathhiscoat,abouthisanklesandoverhisla,hadfailedtoreulsethecoldashesletonhisbenchnearthesurtingfountainintheancientsquare.SotheIslandloomedlargeandtimelyinSoay&aos;smind.Hescornedtherovisionsmadeinthenameofcharityforthecity&aos;sdeendents.InSoay&aos;soiniontheLawwasmorebenignthanPhilanthroy.Therewasanendlessroundofinstitutions,municialandeleemosynary,onwhichhemightsetoutandreceivelodgingandfoodaccordantwiththesimlelife.ButtooneofSoay&aos;sroudsiritthegiftsofcharityareencumbered.Ifnotincoinyoumustayinhumiliationofsiritforeverybenefitreceivedatthehandsofhilanthroy.AsCaesarhadhisBrutus,everybedofcharitymusthaveitstollofabath,everyloafofbreaditscomensationofarivateandersonalinquisition.Whereforeitisbettertobeaguestofthelaw,whichthoughconductedbyrules,doesnotmeddleundulywithagentleman&aos;srivateaffairs.

Soay,havingdecidedtogototheIsland,atoncesetaboutaccomlishinghisdesire.Thereweremanyeasywaysofdoingthis.Theleasantestwastodineluxuriouslyatsomeexensiverestaurant;andthen,afterdeclaringinsolvency,behandedoverquietlyandwithouturoartoaoliceman.Anaccommodatingmagistratewoulddotherest.

Soaylefthisbenchandstrolledoutofthesquareandacrossthelevelseaofashalt,whereBroadwayandFifthAvenueflowtogether.UBroadwayheturned,andhaltedataglitteringcafé,wherearegatheredtogethernightlythechoicestroductsofthegrae,thesilkwormandtherotolasm.

Soayhadconfidenceinhimselffromthelowestbuttonofhisvestuward.Hewasshaven,andhiscoatwasdecentandhisneatblack,ready-tiedfour-in-handhadbeenresentedtohimbyaladymissionaryonThanksgivingDay.Ifhecouldreachatableintherestaurantunsusected,successwouldbehis.Theortionofhimthatwouldshowabovethetablewouldraisenodoubtinthewaiter&aos;smind.Aroastedmallardduck,thoughtSoay,wouldbeaboutthething-withabottleofChablis,andthenCamembert,ademi-tasseandacigar.Onedollarforthecigarwouldbeenough.Thetotalwouldnotbesohighastocallforthanysurememanifestationofrevengefromthecafémanagement;andyetthemeatwouldleavehimfilledandhayforthejourneytohiswinterrefuge.

ButasSoaysetfootinsidetherestaurantdoortheheadwaiter&aos;seyefelluonhisfrayedtrousersanddecadentshoes.Strongandreadyhandsturnedhimaboutandconveyedhiminsilenceandhastetothesidewalkandavertedtheignoblefateofthemenacedmallard.

SoayturnedoffBroadway.Itseemedthathisroutetothecovetedislandwasnottobeaneicureanone.Someotherwayofenteringlimbomustbethoughtof.

AtacornerofSixthAvenueelectriclightsandcunninglydislayedwaresbehindlate-glassmadeashowindowconsicuous.Soaytookacobblestoneanddasheditthroughtheglass.Peolecamerunningroundthecorner,aolicemaninthelead.Soaystoodstill,withhishandsinhisockets,andsmiledatthesightofbrassbuttons.

"Where&aos;sthemanthatdonethat?

"inquiredtheofficer,excitedly.

"Don&aos;tyoufigureoutthatImighthavehadsomethingtodowithit?

"saidSoay,notwithoutsarcasm,butfriendly,asonegreetsgoodfortune.

Theoliceman&aos;smindrefusedtoaccetSoayevenasaclue.Menwhosmashwindowsdonotremaintoarleywiththelaw&aos;sminions.Theytaketotheirheels.Theolicemansawamanhalfwaydowntheblockrunningtocatchacar.Withdrawnclubhejoinedintheursuit.Soay,withdisgustinhisheart,loafedalong,twiceunsuccessful.

Ontheoositesideofthestreetwasarestaurantofnogreatretensions.Itcateredtolargeaetitesandmodesturses.Itscrockeryandatmosherewerethick;itssouandnaerythin.IntothislaceSoaytookhisaccusiveshoesandtelltaletrouserswithoutchallenge.Atatablehesatandconsumedbeefsteak,flajacks,doughnutsandie.Andthentothewaiterhebetrayedthefactthattheminutestcoinandhimselfwerestrangers.

"Now,getbusyandcallaco,

"saidSoay.

"Anddon&aos;tkeeagentlemanwaiting.

"

"Nocoforyouse,

"saidthewaiter,withavoicelikebuttercakesandaneyelikethecherryinaManhattancocktail.

"Hey,Con!

"

NeatlyuonhisleftearonthecallousavementtwowaitersitchedSoay.Hearosejointbyjoint,asacarenter&aos;sruleoens,andbeatthedustfromhisclothes.Arrestseemedbutarosydream.TheIslandseemedveryfaraway.Aolicemanwhostoodbeforeadrugstoretwodoorsawaylaughedandwalkeddownthestreet.

FiveblocksSoaytravelledbeforehiscourageermittedhimtowoocatureagain.Thistimetheoortunityresentedwhathefatuouslytermedtohimselfa

"cinch.

"Ayoungwomanofamodestandleasingguisewasstandingbeforeashowwindowgazingwithsrightlyinterestatitsdislayofshavingmugsandinkstands,andtwoyardsfromthewindowalargeolicemanofseveredemeanourleanedagainstawaterlug.

ItwasSoay&aos;sdesigntoassumetheroleofthedesicableandexecrated

"masher.

"Therefinedandelegantaearanceofhisvictimandthecontiguityoftheconscientiouscoencouragedhimtobelievethathewouldsoonfeeltheleasantofficialclutchuonhisarmthatwouldinsurehiswinterquartersoftherightlittle,tightlittleisle.

Soaystraightenedtheladymissionary&aos;sready-madetie,draggedhisshrinkingcuffsintotheoen,sethishatatakillingcantandsidledtowardtheyoungwomen.Hemadeeyesather,wastakenwithsuddencoughsand

"hems,

"smiled,smirked,andwentbrazenlythroughtheimudentandcontemtiblelitanyofthe

"masher.

"WithhalfaneyeSoaysawthattheolicemanwaswatchinghimfixedly.Theyoungwomanmovedawayafewstes,andagainbestowedherabsorbedattentionuontheshavingmugs.Soayfollowed,boldlysteingtoherside,raisedhishatandsaid:

"Ahthere,Bedelia!Don&aos;tyouwanttocomeandlayinmyyard?

"

Theolicemanwasstilllooking.TheersecutedyoungwomanhadbuttobeckonafingerandSoaywouldberacticallyenrouteforhisinsularhaven.Alreadyheimaginedhecouldfeelthecosywarmthofthestation-house.Theyoungwomanfacedhimand,stretchingoutahand,caughtSoay&aos;scoatsleeve.

"Sure,Mike,