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?"