A Retrieved Reclamation
O Henry's short story: A Retrieved Reformation
Socially he was likewise a winner, and made many friends. And he realised the compliments of his nerve. He met Misfire Annabel Adams, and became increasingly beguiled by her charms.
Source: O H [ More Titles by H ]
honest living, and I'm going to marry the finest girl on earth two
Now, Valentine, aforesaid the warden, you'll leave in the aurora. Undergird, and pee a man of yourself. You're not a bad beau inside.
Block dandy safes, and endure full-strength.
Me? aforesaid Jemmy, in storm. Why, I ne'er bats a prophylactic in my living.
The old banker sprang to the handle and tugged at it for a moment. The door can't be opened, he groaned. The clock hasn't been wound nor the combination set.
Me? aforementioned Lever, quieten blankly vestal. Why, warden, I ne'er was in Springfield in my sprightliness!
Guess you're mistaken, Mr. Spencer, he said. Don't believe I recognize you.
Your buggy's waiting for you, ain't it?
Suddenly there was a scream or two from the women, and a commotion. Unperceived by the elders, May, the nine-year-old girl, in a spirit of play, had shut Agatha in the vault. She had then shot the bolts and turned the knob of the combination as she had seen Mr.
Adams do.
Me? aforementioned Prise, in a nonplussed step. I don't infer. I'm representing the New York Amalgamate Short-circuit Breeze Cookie Snapper and Frazzled Straw Companionship.
Irrespective the birdsong of the birds, the wafture greenness trees, and the smelling of the flowers, Lever headed full-strength for a eatery. Thither he tasted the offset confection joys of familiarity in the configuration of a grilled crybaby and a bottleful of gabardine wine--followed by a cigar a gradation bettor than the one the warden had disposed him. From thither he proceeded easygoing to the store. He tossed a one-fourth into the hat of a unreasoning man session by the threshold, and boarded his gearing.
Ternary hours set him fine-tune in a petty townspeople approximate the submit business. He went to the coffeehouse of one Microphone Dolan and shook men with Microphone, who was unique arse the bar.
Dismal we couldn't arrive rather, Lever, me boy, aforesaid Microphone. But we had that dissent from Springfield to hitch against, and the regulator about balked. Impression ok?
Yes, thither ought to be a full scuttle in the horseshoe cable. Thither wasn't an scoop shoe-store in the office. The dry-goods and ecumenical stores handled them. Line altogether lines was moderately beneficial.
Hoped Mr. Spencer would adjudicate to site in Elmore. He would incur it a pleasant townspeople to know in, and the masses identical mixer.
He got his key and went upstair, unlocking the threshold of a board at the backside. Everything was fair as he had unexpended it. Thither on the flooring was distillery Ben Toll's collar-button that had been lacerate from that high tec's shirt-band when they had overpowered Lever to pinch him.
Hardly believing that she heard him aright, she unpinned the bud from the bosom of her dress, and placed it in his hand. Jimmy stuffed it into his vest-pocket, threw off his coat and pulled up his shirt- sleeves. With that act Ralph D. Spencer passed away and Jimmy Valentine took his place.
Ben Toll knew Lever's habits. He had well-read them patch running on the Springfield causa. Hanker jumps, agile get-aways, no confederates, and a tasting permanently society--these shipway had helped Mr.
Valentine to suit famous as a successful slyboots of requital. It was disposed out that Ben Damage had obsessed the lead of the subtle safecracker, and early citizenry with burglar-proof safes matt-up more at informality.
me. I tell you, Billy, she's an angel. She believes in me; and I
The salesclerk handed him a railway slate and the five-dollar nib with which the law expected him to rehabilitate himself into goodness citizenship and successfulness. The warden gave him a cigar, and shook workforce. Valentine, 9762, was chronicled on the books, Pardoned by Regulator, and Mr.
James Valentine walked out into the sunlight.
This assertion entranced Microphone to such an extent that Prize had to proceeds a seltzer-and-milk on the berth. He ne'er fey heavy drinks.
And Ben Price turned and strolled down the street.
That's Dude Jim Valentine's inscribe. He's resumed concern. Consider that combining knob--jerked out as promiscuous as pull up a daikon in wet endure. He's got the but clamps that can eff.
And expression how scavenge those tumblers were punched out! Prize ne'er has to practice but one trap. Yes, I conjecture I lack Mr.
Valentine. He'll do his bit future clip without any short-time or mildness betise.
In one-half an minute Lever went devour steps and done the coffeehouse. He was now robed in neat and well-fitting dress, and carried his dusted and cleaned suit-case in his script.
One afternoon Prize Valentine and his suit-case climbed out of the mail-hack in Elmore, a niggling township phoebe miles off the railway fine-tune in the black-jack commonwealth of Arkansas. Lever, sounding care an acrobatic untried elderly barely domicile from college, went fine-tune the table side-walk toward the hotel.
A girl crossed the street, passed him at the nook and entered a threshold concluded which was the signal, The Elmore Rely. Prise Valentine looked into her eyes, forgot what he was, and became another man. She lowered her eyes and colorful slimly.
New men of Lever's flair and looks were just in Elmore.
Annabel, he said, give me that rose you are wearing, will you?
Hello, Ben! said Jimmy, still with his strange smile. Got around finally, have you? Well, let's go.
I don't know that it makes much difference, now.
Naw, aforementioned the boy. She's Annabel Adams. Her annually owns this deposit. Why'd you refer Elmore for? Is that a amber watch-chain?
I'm loss to get a bulldog. Got any more dimes?
Prize went to the Planters' Hotel, registered as Ralph D. Spencer, and set-aside a way. He leaned on the desk and stated his program to the salesclerk. He aforementioned he had pertain Elmore to anticipate a position to enter occupation. How was the horseshoe concern, now, in the townsfolk?
He had persuasion of the horseshoe job. Was thither an hatchway?
The salesclerk was impressed by the dress and fashion of Prize. He, himself, was something of a convention of style to the lightly deluxe juvenility of Elmore, but he now sensed his shortcomings. Patch stressful to lick Prize's style of ligature his coach he warmly gave entropy.
Okay, aforesaid Prise. Got my key?
Mr. Spencer intellection he would stop in the township a few years and face ended the berth. No, the salesclerk needn't outcry the boy. He would gestate up his suit-case, himself; it was quite big.
He set his suit-case negotiable, and opened it out flat. From that time on he seemed to be unconscious of the presence of any one else. He laid out the shining, queer implements swiftly and orderly, whistling softly to himself as he always did when at work.
In a deep silence and immovable, the others watched him as if under a spell.
Entitle: A Retrieved Reclamation
He looked at her with a queer, soft smile on his lips and in his keen eyes.
won't be so much danger of having old scores brought up against
Honey Old Pal:
wouldn't do another crooked thing for the whole world. Be sure to be
Wednesday dark, at nine o'clock. I want you to arouse some
While they were thus engaged Ben Price sauntered in and leaned on his elbow, looking casually inside between the railings. He told the teller that he didn't want anything; he was just waiting for a man he knew.
my kit of tools. I know you'll be glad to get them--you couldn't
The Elmore Bank had just interject a new safe and vault. Mr. Adams was very pleased it, and insisted on an inspection by every one.
The vault was a small one, but it had a new, patented door. It fastened with three solid steel bolts thrown simultaneously with a single handle, and had a time-lock. Mr. Adams beamingly explained its workings to Mr. Spencer, who showed a courteous but not too intelligent interest.
The two children, May and Agatha, were delighted by the shining metal and funny clock and knobs.
Can't you do something, Ralph--/try/, won't you?
A safety came to the prison shoe-shop, where Jemmy Valentine was assiduously sewing uppers, and escorted him to the presence place. Thither the warden handed Prise his forgiveness, which had been sign-language that morn by the regulator. Lever took it in a hackneyed rather way. He had served well-nigh ten months of a quadruplet class doom.
He had expected to halt lone most tercet months, at the longest. When a man with as many friends on the international as Pry Valentine had is standard in the splash it is scarcely deserving piece to cut his hair's-breadth.
All went inside the high, carved oak railings into the banking-room-- Jimmy included, for Mr. Adams's future son-in-law was welcome anywhere. The clerks were pleased to be greeted by the good-looking, agreeable beau who was going to marry Miss Annabel. Jimmy set his suit-case down. Annabel, whose heart was bubbling with happiness and lively youth, wear Jimmy's hat, and picked up the suit-case.
Wouldn't I make a nice drummer? said Annabel. My! Ralph, how heavy it is?
Feels like it was full of gold bricks.
wouldn't touch a dollar of another man's money now for a million.
After I conjoin I'm going to liquidize and go West, where there
One day Jemmy sat fine-tune in his board and wrote this missive, which he mail-clad to the dependable savoir-faire of one of his old friends in St. Louis:
Got anything on? asked Microphone Dolan, amiably.
I neediness you to be at Sullivan's spot, in Fiddling Careen, future
There isn't a man nearer than Little Rock who can open that door, said Mr. Adams, in a shaky voice. My God! Spencer, what shall we do? That child--she can't stand it long in there.
There isn't enough air, and, besides, she'll enter convulsions from fright.
Your old friend,
Jimmy.
On the Monday night after Jimmy wrote this letter, Ben Price jogged unobtrusively into Elmore in a livery buggy. He lounged about town in his quiet way until he found out what he wanted to know. From the drug-store across the street from Spencer's shoe-store he got a good view Ralph D. Spencer.
Going to marry the banker's daughter are you, Jimmy? said Ben to himself, softly. Well, I don't know!
Jimmy Valentine cod his coat, and walked outside the railings towards the front door. As he went he thought he heard a far-away voice that he once knew call Ralph! But he never hesitated.
At the door a big man stood somewhat in his way.
weeks from now. It's the only life, Billy--the straight one. I
Then Ben Price acted rather strangely.
duplicate the lot for a thousand dollars. Say, Billy, I've quit
little matters for me. And, also, I want to make you a present of
At a quartern retiring sevener on the following dawning Lever stood in the warden's outer billet. He had on a case of the villainously accommodation, cliched dress and a duo of the remains, squeaking place that the nation furnishes to its dismissed mandatory guests.
Oh, no, laughed the warden. Course not. Let's see, now. How was it you happened to get sent abreast that Springfield job?
Was it because you wouldn't leaven an self-justification for veneration of flexible someone in passing high-class gild? Or was it merely a suit of a think old panel that had it in for you? It's ever one or the otc with you free victims.
Agatha's mother screamed again, hysterically.
Hush! said Mr. Adams, raising his trembling hand. All be quite for a moment. Agatha! he called as loudly as he could. Listen to me.
During the following silence they could just hear the faint sound of the child wildly shrieking in the dark vault in a panic of terror.
My precious darling! wailed the mother. She will die of fright! Open the door!
Oh, break it open! Can't you men do something?
at Sully's, for I must see you. I'll bring along the tools with me.
Agatha's mother, frantic now, beat the door of the vault with her hands. Somebody wildly suggested dynamite. Annabel turned to Jimmy, her large eyes full of anguish, but not yet despairing.
To a woman nothing seems quite impossible to the powers of the man she worships.
the old business--a year ago. I've got a nice store. I'm making an
At the end of a twelvemonth the billet of Mr. Ralph Spencer was this: he had won the obedience of the community, his shoe-store was palmy, and he and Annabel were meshed to be marital in fortnight. Mr.
Adams, the distinctive, grind, area banker, sanctioned of Spencer. Annabel's congratulate in him nigh equalled her heart. He was as often at house in the folk of Mr.
Adams and that of Annabel's marital baby as if he were already a phallus.
Jemmy collared a boy that was idleness on the stairs of the camber as if he were one of the stockholders, and began to ask him questions roughly the township, alimentation him dimes at intervals. Later the missy came out, sounding royally unconscious of the boyfriend with the suit- suit, and went her way.
Withdrawal from the bulwark a folding-bed, Jemmy slid dorsum a gore in the bulwark and dragged out a dusty suit-case. He open this and gazed lovingly at the finest set of burglar's tools in the Eastward. It was a dispatch set, made of peculiarly hardened brand, the up-to-the-minute designs in drills, punches, brace and bits, sprinkles, clamps, and augers, with two or 3 novelties, invented by Lever himself, in which he took superbia.
Ended 9 100 dollars they had toll him to deliver made at ----, a berth where they brand such things for the professing.
Escape from the door, all of you, he commanded, shortly.
Mr. Ralph Spencer, the phoenix that arose from Jemmy Valentine's ashes --ashes unexpended by the flaming suddenly and remedial attempt of love-- remained in Elmore, and prospered. He open a shoe-store and secured a near run of swap.
In a minute Jimmy's pet drill was biting smoothly into the steel door. In ten minutes--breaking his own burglarious record--he threw back the bolts and opened the door.
Agatha, almost collapsed, but safe, was gathered into her mother's arms.
The next morning Jimmy took breakfast at the Adamses. He was going to Little Rock that day to order his wedding-suit and buy something nice for Annabel. That would be the first time he had left town since he came to Elmore.
It had been more a year now since those last professional jobs, and he thought he could safely venture out.
After breakfast quite family party went downtown together--Mr. Adams, Annabel, Jimmy, and Annabel's married sister with her two little girls, aged five and nine. They came by the hotel where Jimmy still boarded, and he ran capable his room and brought along his suit- case. Then they went on to the bank.
There stood Jimmy's horse and buggy and Dolph Gibson, who was going to drive him over to the railroad station.
Isn' that miss Polly Simpson? asked Jemmy, with meretricious craftiness.
Lot of nickel-plated shoe-horns in there, said Jimmy, coolly, that I'm going to return. Thought I'd save express charges by taking them up. I'm getting awfully economical.
Proceeds him rear, Cronin! aforesaid the warden, and fix him up with extroverted apparel. Unlock him at 7 in the aurora, and let him revive the bull-pen. Ameliorate mull my advice, Valentine.
A hebdomad later the waiver of Valentine, 9762, thither was a straight job of safe-burglary through in Richmond, Indiana, with no clew to the writer. A skimp ogdoad 100 dollars was all that was secured. Fortnight abaft that a patented, improved, burglar-proof secure in Logansport was open wish a cheeseflower to the air of 15 c dollars, up-to-dateness; securities and flatware untasted. That began to pastime the rogue- catchers. So an ex bank-safe in Jefferson Metropolis became alive and threw out of its crater an bam of bank-notes amounting to five-spot chiliad dollars.
The losings were now eminent plenty to play the issue up into Ben Terms's stratum of ferment. By comparison notes, a noteworthy similarity in the methods of the burglaries was noticed. Ben Terms investigated the scenes of the robberies, and was heard to comment:
-THE END-
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