Describe the policeman from the story after 20 years
Answers
O. Henry does a remarkable job of introducing a major character without actually revealing who he is. The reader is deliberately misled into taking the cop for just one of many uniformed cops patrolling a beat in New York City. The cop (who we later realize is Jimmy Wells) also deceives Bob, who mistakes him for the cop assigned to this particular beat and thinks he is only stopping to talk to him because he looks as little suspicious standing in a darkened doorway. Bob doesn't give Jimmy a chance to identify himself but starts in doing all the talking.
“It's all right, officer,” he said, reassuringly. “I'm just waiting for a friend. It's an appointment made twenty years ago...."
Bob seems to be trying to show that he is completely innocent and at ease. He lights his cigar, both as a way of showing he feels at ease and of demonstrating that he is standing in a doorway because he can't very well light a cigar or smoke it out in the rain. When he lights the cigar he reveals that he is the man wanted by the Chicago police. So Jimmy refrains from introducing himself to his old pal and lets him do most of the talking.
O. Henry makes Jimmy seem like just another uniformed beat cop simply by describing an ordinary beat cop.
Trying doors as he went, twirling his club with many intricate and artful movements, turning now and then to cast his watchful eye adown the pacific thoroughfare, the officer, with his stalwart form and slight swagger, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace.
Fabulous answer wow nice