O.Henry

The narrator and his friend, Bill Driscoll, decide to kidnap a child for two thousand dollars as part of a fraudulent scheme to sell plots of land in Western Illinois. They select a ten-year-old boy, Johnny , from the small Southern town of Summit and take him to a cave two miles away. However, instead of being scared, the little boy is extremely happy and seems to be having the time of his life. The two friends believe that kidnapping will be an easy way to make money, but their plans go awry when the boy, whom they name Red Chief, turns out to be a wild and uncontrollable child. Will Bill and Sam succeed in getting the ransom money, or will the boy turn out to be a little demon for the kidnappers? Read this humorous story to find out the fate of the helpless kidnappers.

Humor

English

The Ransom of Red Chief

A beautiful, elegantly dressed young woman is sitting in one of the luxurious train coaches in Denver when two young men, handcuffed together, enter the coach. As they take the only available seat near the woman, she suddenly recognizes the handsome man, Mr. Easton, an old acquaintance from Washington. However, something seems off—Easton's right hand is bound by the handcuffs. He casually explains his situation, but the truth of who he really is slowly unfolds as the train continues its journey. Will the young woman believe Easton's story? What is the true nature of his connection with the handcuffed man? Read this suspenseful story by O. Henry to discover the reality of Mr. Easton.

Contemporary Fiction

Hearts And Hands

Miss Martha, a single forty-year-old woman, owned a small bakery. A customer came to her bakery two or three times a week and bought only two loaves of stale bread. Miss Martha felt pity for him and wanted to offer him a tasty meal. However, when she tried to help the man, it turned out to be a disaster. What is the mystery hidden behind the stale bread? Who could that man be—perhaps a wizard or just an ordinary human being? Read this heartwarming story to discover the true identity of the man.

Mystery

Witches' Loaves

This story is about a clever princess, Josefa, who is the daughter of the king of a cattle kingdom. Due to her intelligence, Ripley Givens desires to marry her, hoping to impress the princess with his bravery. However, a twist occurs when Josefa encounters a Mexican lion. Where did this Mexican lion come from, and how did the smart princess react upon seeing him? Was Ripley successful in inspiring the princess, or did he also fall victim to the princess’s cleverness? Read this story to uncover all these answers.

Adventure

The Princess and the Puma

A mysterious ailment has taken hold of the residents of Greenwich Village, claiming lives with alarming speed. Among the afflicted is a young, ambitious girl, Johnsy whose battle with the disease is teetering on the edge of despair. Each passing day adds to her hopelessness. Will Johnsy be able to fight the disease or will she surrender to the shadows of desperation? Read the story to uncover the answers that lie within the hard struggle for survival.

Author Name: O.Henry

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Author Name: O.Henry

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