Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of the story Read this excerpt from "After Twenty Years" by O. Henry When about midway of a certain block the policeman suddenly slowed his walk. In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. As the policeman walked up to him the man spoke up quickly.

"It's all right, officer," he said, reassuringly. I'm just waiting for a friend. It's an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn't it? Well, I'll explain if you'd like to make certain it's all straight About that long ago there used to be a restaurant.

where this store stands— 'Big Joe Brady's restaurant Which statement best describes how the pacing of the passage affects the story?

A. It creates mystery by moving the story quickly from focusing on details about the officer's patrol to providing specific details about Bob's appearance.

B. It creates mystery by slowing the pace with Bob's lengthy, unsolicited, and obviously untrue explanation for why he is lingering in the doorway.

C. It creates tension by moving from the slower pace of the description to the faster pace of Bob's dialogue, which suggests an uneasiness on Bob's part.

D. It creates humor by slowing the pace so that Bob can have a confusing interaction with the policeman that calls attention to his foolishness.