Question

Who is referred to as "ex-umbrella man" and why? Describe Soapy's feelings at this juncture of the narrative.

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As part of his hare-brained scheme to get arrested and sent to prison for the winter, Soapy attempts to steal a silk umbrella from a well-dressed man in a cigar store. As Soapy walks off with the umbrella, the owner follows him and tells him that it belongs to him. Soapy makes no attempt to return the umbrella; in fact, he goads the gentleman into calling for the police. The hapless tramp is certain that once the umbrella man does this, a policeman will duly arrive on scene and arrest him for petit larceny. Before long, he'll be safe and sound inside a nice warm prison cell.
But it doesn't work out like that. The ex-umbrella man—so-called because he no longer has the umbrella in his position since Soapy took it from him—declares that it's all been an honest mistake and quickly beats a retreat. It would seem that he himself is some kind of criminal and so doesn't want to attract the attention of the police.
As one can imagine, Soapy is extremely angry and frustrated at his latest failed effort to get arrested. We know this because he hurls the umbrella "wrathfully" into an excavation, a hole in the ground that's been dug as part of improvements to the street.

The Cop and the Anthem

Who is referred to as "ex-umbrella man" and why? Describe Soapy's feelings at this juncture of the narrative.

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