奇书网

第39章 The Cop and the Anthem（第1页）

第39章ThedtheAnthem

O。Henry

OnhisbenMadisonSquareSoapymoveduneasily。Whenwildgeesehonkhighofnights，andithoutsealskincoatsgrowkindtotheirhusbands，andymovesuneasilyohepark，youmayknowthatwihand。

AdeadleaffellinSoapy'slap。ThatwasJap;apos;scard。JadtulardenizensofMadisivesfairwarningofhisannualcall。AttheersoffourstreetshehandshispasteboardtotheNorthWind，footmanofthemansionofAllOutdoors，sothattheinhabitantsthereofmaymakeready。

Soapy'smindbeisahatthetimehadtoresolvehimselfintoasingularitteeofWaysaainsttheingrigour。Andthereforehemoveduneasilyonhisbench。

&orialambitionsofSoapywere。Inthemwereioerraneancruises，ofsoporifiskiesintheVesuviahsontheIslandwaswhathissoulcraved。Threemonthsofassuredboardandbedandialpany，safefromBoreasas，seemedtoSoapytheessehingsdesirable。

ForyearsthehospitableBlackos;shadbeenhiswiers。JustashismorefortunatefellowNewYorkershadboughttheirtiBeadtheRivieraeater，soSoapyhadmadehishumblearrasforhisaheIsland。Aimewase。Ontheprevioushributedbehhiscoat，abouthisanklesandoverhislap，hadfailedtorepulsethecoldashesleptonhisbehespurtingfountaisquare。SotheIslandleandtimelyinSoapy'smind。Hesedtheprovisiohenameofcharityforthecity'sdepes。InSoapy'sopiniontheLawwasmnthanPhilanthropy。Therewasanendlessroundofinstitutions，munideleemosynary，osetoutandreceivelodgingandfoodatwiththesimplelife。ButtooneofSoapy'spriftsofcharityareeinustpayinhumiliationofspiritforeverybehehandsofphilanthropy。AsCaesarhadhisBrutus，everybedofcharitymusthaveitstollofabath，everyloafofbreaditspensationofaprivateandpersonalinquisitioisbettertobeaguestofthelaw，whichthoughductedbyrules，doesnotmeddleundulywithagentleman'sprivateaffairs。

Soapy，haviotheIslaaboutaplishihereweremanyeasywaysofdoingthis。Thepleasaodineluxuriouslyatsomeexpe;aerdesolvendedoverquietlyandwithoutuproartoapoliaagistratewoulddotherest。

Soapylefthisbendstrolledoutofthesquareandacrossthelevelseaofasphalt，whereBroadwayandFifthAveogether。UpBroadwayheturned，aaglitteringcafé，wherearegatheredthtlythechoicestproductsofthegrape，thesilkrotoplasm。

Soapyhadhimselffromthelowestbuttonofhisvestupward。Hewasshaven，andhiscoatwasdedhisblack，ready-tiedfour-in-haedtohimbyaladymissionaryonThanksgivingDay。Ifhecouldreachatableiued，successwouldbehis。Theportionofhimthatwouldshowabovethetablewouldraisenodoubtier'smind。Aroastedmallardduck，thoughtSoapy，wouldbeaboutthething-withabottleofdthe，ademi-tasseandaedarwouldbeealwouldnotbesohighastocallforthaatiefromtheagemehemeatwouldleavehimfilledandhappyforthejourohiswinterrefuge。

ButasSoapysetfootiaurantdoortheheados;seyefelluponhisfrayedtrousersashandreadyhandsturnedhimaboutandveyedhimietothesidewalkaheighemenacedmallard。

SoapyturnedoffBroadway。Itseemedthathisroutetothecovetedislandwasnottobeanepieotherwaylimbomustbethoughtof。

AtaerofSixthAvericlightsandglydisplayedwaresbehindplate-glassmadeashopwindowspicuous。Soapytookaeahroughtheglass。Peopleingroundtheer，apolithelead。Soapystoodstill，withhishandsinhispodsmiledatthesightofbrassbuttons。

"os;sthemanthatdo?"iheofficer，excitedly。

"Don'tyoufigureoutthatImighthavehadsomethingtodowithit?"saidSoapy，notwithoutsarcasm，butfriendly，asoodfortune。

Thepoli'smioacceptSoapyevenasawhosmashwindowsdooparleywiththelaos;smiotheirheels。Thepolisawamanhalfwaydownthebltocatchacar。Withdrawnclubhejoi。Soapy，withdisgusti，loafedalong，twisuccessful。

Oesideofthestreetwasarestaurantofensioeappetitesapurses。Itscrodatmospherewerethick;itssoupahin。IntothisplaceSoapytookhisaccusiveshoesarouserswithoutge。Atatablehesataeak，flapjautsaheerhebetrayedthefactthatthemidhimself>

"busyandcallacop，"saidSoapy。"Anddon'tkeepageing。"

"Nocopforyouse，"saidthewaiter，withavoicelikebutterdaheaManhattancocktail。"Hey，!"

&lyupoearontheenttitchedSoapy。Hearosejointbyjoint，asater'sruleopehedustfromhisclothes。Arrestseemedbutarosydream。TheIslandseemedveryfaraoliwhoststoretwodoorsawaylaughedahestreet。

FiveblocksSoapytravelledbeforehiscepermittedhimtotureagain。Thistimetheopportuhefatuouslytermedtohimselfa"ch。"Ayoungwomanofamodestandpleasiandingbeforeashoithsprightlyisdisplayofshavingmugsandinkstands，andtwoyardsfromtheoliofseveredemeaalug。

Itos;sdesigntoassumetheroleofthedespidexecrated"masher。"Therefiappearanceofhisvidthetiguityofthetiouscedhimtobelievethathewouldsooofficialthatwouldierquartershtlittle，tightlittleisle。

Shteheladymissionary'sready-madetie，draggedhisshrinkingtotheopeatakillingdsidledtowardtheyoungwomeher，wastakenwithsuddend"hems，"smiled，smirked，abrazenlythroughtheimpudentaiblelita;masher。"WithhalfaneyeSoapysaoliwaswatghimfixedly。Theyoungwomanmovedas，andagaiowedherabsorbedattentionupontheshavingmugs。Soapyfollowed，boldlysteppingtoherside，raisedhishatandsaid:

"Ahthere，Bedelia!Don'tyouwanttoeandplayinmyyard?"