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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.Soapyhadconfidenceinhimselffromthelowestbuttonofhisvestupward.Hewasshaven,andhiscoatwasdecentandhisneatblack,ready-tiedfour-in-handhadbeenpresentedtohimbyaladymissionaryonThanksgivingDay.Ifhecouldreachatableintherestaurantunsuspectedsuccesswouldbehis.Theportionofhimthatwouldshowabovethetablewouldraisenodoubtinthewaiter'smind.Aroastedmallardduck,thoughtSoapy,wouldbeaboutthething--withabottleofChablis,andthenCamembert,ademi-tasseandacigar.Onedollarforthecigarwouldbeenough.Thetotalwouldnotbesohighastocallforthanysuprememanifestationofrevengefromthecafemanagement;andyetthemeatwouldleavehimfilledandhappyforthejourneytohiswinterrefuge.ButasSoapysetfootinsidetherestaurantdoortheheadwaiter'seyefelluponhisfrayedtrousersanddecadentshoes.Strongandreadyhandsturnedhimaboutandconveyedhiminsilenceandhastetothesidewalkandavertedtheignoblefateofthemenacedmallard.SoapyturnedoffBroadway.Itseemedthathisroutetothecovetedislandwasnottobeanepicureanone.Someotherwayofenteringlimbomustbethoughtof.AtacornerofSixthAvenueelectriclightsandcunninglydisplayedwaresbehindplate-glassmadeashopwindowconspicuous.Soapytookacobblestoneanddasheditthroughtheglass.Peoplecamerunningaroundthecorner,apolicemaninthelead.Soapystoodstill,withhishandsinhispockets,andsmiledatthesightofbrassbuttons.Where'sthemanthatdonethat?inquiredtheofficerexcitedly.Don'tyoufigureoutthatImighthavehadsomethingtodowithit?saidSoapy,notwithoutsarcasm,butfriendly,asonegreetsgoodfortune.Thepoliceman'smindrefusedtoacceptSoapyevenasaclue.Menwhosmashwindowsdonotremaintoparleywiththelaw'sminions.Theytaketotheirheels.Thepolicemansawamanhalfwaydowntheblockrunningtocatchacar.Withdrawnclubhejoinedinthepursuit.Soapy,withdisgustinhisheart,loafedalong,twiceunsuccessful.Ontheoppositesideofthestreetwasarestaurantofnogreatpretensions.Itcateredtolargeappetitesandmodestpurses.Itscrockeryandatmospherewerethick;itssoupandnaperythin.IntothisplaceSoapytookhisaccusiveshoesandtelltaletrouserswithoutchallenge.Atatablehesatandconsumedbeefsteak,flapjacks,doughnutsandpie.Andthentothewaiterbebetrayedthefactthattheminutestcoinandhimselfwerestrangers.Now,getbusyandcallacop,saidSoapy.Anddon'tkeepagentlemanwaiting.Nocopforyouse,saidthewaiter,withavoicelikebuttercakesandaneyelikethecherryinaManhattancocktail.Hey,Con!NeatlyuponhisleftearonthecallouspavementtwowaiterspitchedSoapy.Hearose,jointbyjoint,asacarpenter'sruleopens,andbeatthedustfromhisclothes.Arre