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Show -BOOKS IN BRIEF 1 0. Henry Tells Tale of 'Cop And Anthem' By ELIZABETH C. JAMES A DHY leaf fluttered into Soapy's lap. That would be the calling card of Jack Frost. In fact just last night Soapy had noticed that winter was approaching because three newspapers adroitly disposed did not keep out the chill as he lay on his favorite park bench. Soapy disliked the cold months, but with a little luck, he would manage. Being an observant man, Soapy had learned long ago that there were two alternatives for him during dur-ing the winter: Philanthropy or the Law. The former ... .. carried with it cer- 1 yfy.-.-: '-4 tain circumstances - that interfered with . v 1 a gentleman's pri- t vacy, as baths and . . j such. So, Soapy had ' J j long favored the -j i Law which did not meddle with his t x tastes as an individ- R-1, " ual. I t -f Since he must do ' something at once Elizabeth about the cold James weather, and since there was nothing to deter him now, he might as well begin at once. There were certain activities that Soapy knew carried ninety days on the Island, where there was heat and food, and clothing enough. Soapy went into a not too respectable respect-able looking restaurant and ordered a pleasing dinner. When he had dined slowly and with precision, he announced that he had no money and suggested that the waiter call a cop. The next instant Soapy was gathering himself together off the sidewalk. Soapy Is Luckless. The second method would likely work. Picking up a brick he slammed it into a plate glass window. win-dow. When the cop came. Soapy said "Here I am, I did it." The cop answered, "Who are you trying to kid, wise guy?" And was off to catch a man who was running after a street car. Those were two of Soapy's best cards, but he still had a few up his sleeve. Across the street stood a modest looking girl, gazing at the winter styles. He sidled up to her, cleared his throat, and carried on the usual antics of a masher. She walked slowly along, Soapy after ONCE IN PRISON William Sidney Porter was born in 18G2 in Greensboro, N. C. O. Henry, his pen name, came later. As a young man he went to Austin, Texas, where he worked in a bank. It was there that the embezzlement of 51,150 occurred, a crime that has never been really cleared up. However, Howev-er, Porter was sentenced to serve five years in an Ohio penitentiary peniten-tiary for the crime. In prison he settled down to a concentrated program of writing. In 1903 he contracted with the New York World to do a story a week at S100 each. When he died in 1910, his body was interred in AsheviLle, N. C. Of him the Encyclopaedia Bri-tannica Bri-tannica stales, "The tragedy of I his own life taught him a chival-I chival-I rous tenderness for the unlucky." I her. There was a cop nearby that Soapy was counting on. Finally the girl turned, caught Soapy's arm and whispered, "I would have come I over sooner, but the cop was watch-1 watch-1 ing us and I had to figure it out." She hung onto him as to an old friend, but at the next corner Soapy bolted. He didn't want anything to do with women. Disturbing the peace is a sure one, thought Soapy, tugging at his coat to hold it closer, drunks and crazy people are always locked up. Accordingly Ac-cordingly he began his act, yelling and dancing around wildly. The cop watched a minute, and turning to the bystanders, he explained, " 'Tis one of them Yale lads celebratin' the game. We've instructions to lave them be." Fatalistic End. Soapy was disheartened. What did it take to rate the three months on the Island? He mused over his possibilities, pos-sibilities, and like a homing pigeon, he rambled along the avenues toward Madison Square Garden. Presently he passed a cathedral, dark except for one winduw that was rimmed with light. Soapy looked, and then his ear caught the ! pulsing tones of a pipe organ. What I In the world? An anthem, one that ! did things inside of Soapy. He thought of all the forbidden thoughts, of his mother, of when he was a little boy and had a respectable respect-able way of living. These thoughts upset him until the result was that Soapy gave up his idea of spending the winter on the Island. He would get a job, he would be somebody and show the world! A familiar touch sent a shiver down his arm. Looking up he saw the broad face of a cop. "What you doin'?" Soapy answered, "NothinV "Then come along." The Magistrate gave him three mouths on the Island on a charge of vagrancy. Bell Syndicate WNU Service. |
