The Cop and the Anthem

"The Cop and the Anthem" is a short story written by the 19th-century American author O. Henry (1862–1910). The story's protagonist, Soapy, is a professional beggar in New York. His primary goal is to get sent to the Island, where prisoners are kept in relatively comfortable conditions. Other well-known works by O. Henry include the short stories "The Purple Dress", "The Caliph and the Cad", ...