欧亨利短篇小说集(14)

Sadly,Soapystoppedhisuselesssinginganddancing.Asuddenfearseizedhim.Washeimmunetoarrest?Wouldneverapolicemanlayhandsonhim?TheIslandseemedanunattainableArcadia.Hebuttonedhisthincoatagainstthenorthwind.
Inacigarstorehesawawell-dressedmanlightingacigar.Hehadsethissilkumbrellabythedoor,Soapyenteredthestore,tooktheumbrella,andwentoutwithitslowly.Themanwiththecigarfollowedhastily.
"Myumbrella,"hesaid.
"Oh,isit?"saidSoapy."Well,whydon"tyoucallapoliceman?Itookit.Yourumbrella!Whydon"tyoucallacop?Therestandsoneonthecorner."
Theumbrellaownerslowedhissteps.Soapydidlikewise.Thepolicemanlookedatthemcuriously.
"Ofcourse,"saidtheumbrellaman,"thatis-well,youknowhowthesemistakesoccur-I-ifit"syourumbrellaIhopeyou"llexcuseme-Ipickeditupthismorninginarestaurant-ifitisyours,why-Ihopeyou"ll-"
"Ofcourseit"smine,"saidSoapy.
Theex-umbrellamanretreated.Thepolicemanhurriedtohelpawell-dressedwomanacrossthestreet.