Jimmy Valentine's Reformation
after O. Henry
Jimmy Valentine was released that day.
"Now, Valentine," said the warden, "you'll go out today. Make a man of yourself. You are not a bad fellow really. Stop breaking open safes and be honest."
"Me?" said Jimmy in surprise. "Why, I've never broken a safe in my life." The warden laughed. "Better think over my advice, Valentine."
In the evening Valentine arrived in his native town, went directly to the cafe of his old friend Mike and shook hands with Mike. Then he took the key of his room and went upstairs. Everything was just as he had left it. Jimmy removed a panel in the wall and dragged out a dust-covered suitcase. He opened it and looked fondly at the finest set of burglar's tools. It was a complete set made of special steel. The set consisted of various tools of the latest design. Over nine hundred dollars they had cost him.
A week after the release of Valentine there was a new safe-burglary in Richmond. Two weeks after that another safe was opened. That began to interest the detectives. Ben Price, a famous detective, got interested in these cases.
"That's all Jimmy Valentine's work. He has resumed business. He has got the only tools that can open any safe without leaving the slightest trace."
One afternoon Jimmy Valentine came to Elmore, a little town in Arkansas. A young lady crossed the street, passed him at the corner and entered a door over which was the sign "The Elmore Bank". Jimmy Valentine looked into her eyes, forgot what he was and became another man. She lowered her eyes and blushed slightly. Young men of Jimmy's style and looks were not often met in Elmore. Jimmy called a boy who was standing on the steps of the bank and began to ask him questions about the town and the people of the town. From this boy he learnt that this girl was Annabel Adams and that her father was the owner of the bank.
Jimmy went to a hotel and registered as Ralf Spencer. To the clerk he said that he had come to Elmore to start business. The clerk was impressed by the clothes and manners of Jimmy and he was ready to give Jimmy any information. Soon Jimmy opened a shoe-store and made large profits. In all other respects he was also a success. He was popular with many important people and had many friends. And he accomplished the wish of his heart. He met Miss Annabel Adams and she fell in love with him too. Annabel's father, who was a typical country banker approved of Spencer. The young people were to be married in two weeks. Jimmy gave up safe-burglary forever. He was an honest man now. He decided to get rid of his tools.
At that time a new safe was put in Mr. Adams' bank. The old man was very proud of it and insisted that everyone should inspect it. So one day the whole family with the children went to the bank. Mr. Adams enthusiastically explained the workings of the safe to Spencer. The two children were delighted to see the shining metal and the funny clock. While they were engaged, Ben Price, the detective, walked into the bank and stood at the counter watching the scene. He told the cashier that he was just waiting for the man he knew. Suddenly there was a loud scream from the women. Unseen by the elders, May, the smallest girl had shut herself in the vault.
"It's impossible to open the door now," said Mr. Adams in a trembling voice, "because the clock of the safe hasn't been wound. Oh, what shall we do? That child – she can't stand it for long because there isn't enough air there!"
"Get away from the door, all of you," suddenly commanded Spencer. Jimmy happened to have his suit-case with him because he was going to get rid of it that day. Very calmly he took out the tools and in ten minutes the vault was opened. The others watched him in amazement. The little girl, crying, rushed to her mother.
Jimmy took his suit-case and came up to Ben Price whom he had noticed long before. "Hello, Ben", he said, "Let's go. I don't think it matters much now." And then suddenly Ben Price acted rather strangely. "I guess, you are mistaken Mr. Spencer," he said. "I don't seem to recognize you. I think your fiancée's is waiting for you, isn't she?" And Ben Price turned and walked out of the Bank.
Mr. Know-All by W.S. Maugham
Once I was going by ship from San-Francisco to Yokohama. I shared my cabin with a man called Mr. Kelada. He was short and of a sturdy build, clean-shaven and dark-skinned, with a hooked nose and very large liquid eyes. His long black hair was curly. And though he introduced himself as an Englishman I felt sure that he was born under a bluer sky than is generally seen in England. Mr.Kelada was chatty. He talked of New York and of San Francisco. He discussed plays, pictures and politics. He was familiar. I didn’t like Mr. Kelada. I not only shared a cabin with him and ate three meals a day at the same table, but I couldn’t walk round the deck without his joining me. And it never occurred to him that he was not wanted. He was certain that you were as glad to see him as he was glad to see you.
Mr.Kelada was a good mixer, and in three days knew everyone on board. He conducted the auctions, collected money for prizes, organized the concert and arranged the fancy-dress ball. He was everywhere and always. He was certainly the best-hated man in the ship. We called him Mr. Know-A11, even to his face. He took it as a compliment. He knew everything better than anybody else and you couldn’t disagree with him. He would not drop a subject till he had brought you round to his way of thinking. The possibility that he could be mistaken never occurred to him.
We were four at the table: the doctor, I, Mr. Kelada and Mr. Ramsay.
Ramsay was in the American Consular Service, and was stationed at Kobe. He was a great heavy fellow. He was on his way back to resume his post, having been on a flying visit to New York to fetch his wife, who had been spending a year at home. Mrs. Ramsay was a, very pretty little thing with pleasant manners and a sense of humour. She was dressed always very simply, but she knew how to wear her clothes. One evening at dinner the conversation by chance drifted to the subject of pearls. There was some argument between Mr.Kelada and Ramsay about the value of culture and real pearls. I did not believe Ramsay knew anything about the subject at all. At last Mr.Kelada got furious and shouted:
Well, I know what I am talking about. I’m going to Japan just to look into this Japanese pearl business. I’m in the trade. I know the best pearls in the world, and what I don’t know about pearls isn’t worth knowing.
Here was news for us, for Mr.Kelada had never told anyone what his business was.
Ramsay leaned forward.
That’s a pretty chain, isn’t it he asked pointing to the chain that Mrs. Ramsay wore.
I noticed it at once, answered Mr.Kelada. Those are pearls all right.
I didn’t buy it myself, of course, said Ramsay. I wonder how much you think it cost.
Oh, in the trade somewhere round fifteen thousand dollars. But if it was bought on Fifth Avenue anything up to thirty thousand was paid for it.
Ramsay smiled. You’ll be surprised to hear that Mrs. Ramsay bought that string the day before we left New York for eighteen dollars. I’ll bet you a hundred dollars its imitation.
Mr.Kelada losely examined the chain. A smile of triumph spread over his face. He was about to speak. Suddenly he saw Mrs.Ramsay’s face. It was so white that she was going to faint. She was staring at him with wide and terrified eyes. Mr.Kelada stopped with his mouth open. He flushed deeply. You could almost see the effort he was making over himself. I was mistaken, he said. It’s a very good imitation. He took a hundred-dollar note out of his pocket and handed it to Ramsay without a word.
Next morning I got up and began to shave. Suddenly I saw a letter pushed under the door. I picked up the letter and saw that it was addressed to Mr.Kelada. I handed it to him. He took out of the envelope a hundred-dollar note.
Were the pearls real? I asked.
If I had a pretty little wife I shouldn’t let her spend a year in New York while I stayed at Kobe, said he.
I began to like Mr. Kelada.
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