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please figure out WHAT THE AUTHOR DID...

A SIN OF OMISSION

around midnight, a sly looking man slips into a luxury city building. a woman occupant, watching his actions from a fourth-floor window, grows suspicious and dials 911 for a patrol car. This lady complains, "A man in a brown suit, with shaggy hair, a slight build, and a criminal air is prowling through my lobby."
Fairly soon two young cops, Smith and Jarvis, pull up. Looking for an unknown vargant, Smith spots Jim Oats walking out a front door. Oats, a minor burglar, is bold as brass , arrogant, and calm. Smith grabs him by his collar.
"O.K., Oats," snarls Smith, "what brings you to this location?"
Fixing his captor with a chilly look and frosty indignation, Oats quips, "I can go on a short stroll. Lift your filthy hands off of my shirt. I'm not guilty of anything."
Smith drops his hands limply. This haughty air is too much for him to swallow. Angrily Smith says, "What a story. I'm nobody's fool, you punk. I just wish I could put you back in jail, but I can't obtain any proof againstg you. You know all about why I'm at this building- a station log full of burglar, arson, abd muggings."
"Now, now," Oats laughs, "think of my rights. How can you talk this way?" Smith's probing hands start to frisk Oats for guns, narcotics, anything unlawful or contraband. Nothing shows up- only a small bound book. "What's this?" Smith asks.
Oats, tidying up his clothing, pluckishly says, "That's my political study of voting habits in this district. Why don't you look at my lists? I work for important politicians now- guys with lots of clout." An ominous implication lurks in this last thrust.
"Don't talk down to us," Smith snaps. But studying Oat's book, Jarvis finds nothing unusual. Smith finally hands him back his lists. Our cops can't hold him. Jarvis admits Oats can go. Just as a formality, Jarvis asks him, "Did you commit any criminal act in this building? Anything at all of which a courtroom jury could fin you guilty?"
"No," Oats says flatly. "No way," and jauntily skips off. Halthing six blocks away, Oats digs a tiny picklock from his socks and a diamond ring from his shaggy hair.

supposedly the title alone is supposed t o be a huge hint.. thanks for helping

http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1164245698

User Icon for Explain Bot Explain Bot answered
1 year ago

Based on the provided passage and the given title "A Sin of Omission," it seems that the author purposely left out important information or details that could have helped the characters in the story identify the criminal activities of Jim Oats. The author may have intentionally omitted this crucial information as a literary device to create suspense or to highlight the theme of deception. Let's analyze the passage to understand what the author did.

In the story, a suspicious man, Jim Oats, is seen entering a building by a woman who reports his actions to the police. Two young cops, Smith and Jarvis, respond to the call. Smith confronts Oats and accuses him of being in the location for dubious reasons. Oats denies any wrongdoing and provokes Smith by suggesting that he has political connections.

Smith searches Oats but finds nothing except a small book, which Oats claims to be a political study. Smith hands back the book after finding nothing incriminating. Jarvis then asks Oats if he committed any criminal act in the building, to which Oats flatly denies. However, after leaving the building, Oats is revealed to have stolen a diamond ring using a picklock.

The sin of omission in this story lies in the fact that the author never explicitly reveals Oats' criminal actions or the stolen ring until the very end. The title, "A Sin of Omission," hints that crucial information was intentionally left out, possibly to create a surprise twist or underscore the theme of deception.

In order to figure out what the author did in this story, we must analyze the passage and pay attention to the events and details that are presented, as well as the information that is intentionally withheld until later. By examining the characters' actions, dialogues, and the overall narrative structure, we can uncover the author's intention and the significance of the sin of omission in the story.