欧亨利aretrievedreformationWord下载.docx

1、 said the warden, youll go out in the morning. Brace up, and make a man of yourself. Youre not a bad fellow at heart. Stop cracking safes, and live straight. Ale? said Jimmy, in surprise. Why, I never cracked a safe in my life. Oh, no, laughed the warden. Of course not. Lets see, now. How was it you

2、 happened to get sent up on that Springfield job? Was it because you wouldnt prove an alibi for fear of compromising somebody in extremely high-toned society? Or was it simply a case of a mean old jury that had it in for you? Its always one or the other with you innocent victims. said Jimmy, still b

3、lankly virtuous. Why, warden, I never was in Springfield in my life! Take him back, Cronin, smiled the warden, and fix him up with outgoing clothes. Unlock him at seven in the morning, and let him come to the bull-pen. Better think over my advice, Valentine. At a quarter past seven on the next morni

4、ng Jimmy stood in the wardens outer office. He had on a suit of the villainously fitting, ready-made clothes and a pair of the stiff, squeaky shoes that the state furnishes to its discharged compulsory guests.The clerk handed him a railroad ticket and the five-dollar bill with which the law expected

5、 him to rehabilitate himself into good citizenship and prosperity. The warden gave him a cigar, and shook hands. Valentine, 9762, was chronicled on the books Pardoned by Governor, and Mr. James Valentine walked out into the sunshine.Disregarding the song of the birds, the waving green trees, and the

6、 smell of the flowers, Jimmy headed straight for a restaurant. There he tasted the first sweet joys of liberty in the shape of a broiled chicken and a bottle of white winefollowed by a cigar a grade better than the one the warden had given him. From there be proceeded leisurely to the depot. He toss

7、ed a quarter into the hat of a blind man sitting by the door, and boarded his train. Three hours set him down in a little town near the state line. He went to the caf of one Alike Dolan and shook hands with Mike, who was alone behind the bar.Sorry we couldnt make it sooner, Jimmy, me boy, said Mike.

8、 But we had that protest from Springfield to buck against, and the governor nearly balked. Feeling all right?Fine, said Jimmy. Got my key?He got his key and went upstairs, unlocking the door of a room at the rear. Everything was just as he had left it. There on the floor was still Ben Prices collar-

9、button that had been torn from that eminent detectives shirt-band when they had overpowered Jimmy to arrest him.Pulling out from the wall a folding-bed, Jimmy slid back a panel in the wall and dragged out a dust-covered suit-case.He opened this and gazed fondly at the finest set of burglars tools in

10、 the East. It was a complete set, made of specially tempered steel, the latest design in drills, punches, braces and bits, jimmies, clamps, and augers, with two or three novelties, invented by Jimmy himself, in which he took pride.Over nine hundred dollars they had cost him to have made at -, a plac

11、e where they make such things for the profession.In half an hour Jimmy went down stairs and through the caf6. He was now dressed in tasteful and well-fitting clothes, and carried his dusted and cleaned suit-case in his hand.Got anything on? asked Mike Dolan, genially.Me? said Jimmy, in a puzzled ton

12、e. I dont understand. Im representing the New York Amalgamated Short Snap Biscuit Cracker and Frazzled Wheat Company. This statement delighted Mike to such an extent that Jimmy had to take a seltzer-and-milk on the spot. He never touched hard drinks.A week after the release of Valentine, 9762, there

13、 was a neat job of safe-burglary done in Richmond, Indiana, with no clue to the author. A scant eight hundred dollars was all that was secured. Two weeks after that a patented, improved, burglar-proof safe in Logansport was opened like a cheese to the tune of fifteen hundred dollars, currency; secur

14、ities and silver untouched. That began to interest the rogue-catchers. Then an old-fashioned bank-safe in Jefferson City became active and threw out of its crater an eruption of bank-notes amounting to five thousand dollars. The losses were now high enough to bring the matter up into Ben Prices clas

15、s of work. By comparing notes, a remarkable similarity in the methods of the burglaries was noticed. Ben Price investigated the scenes of the robberies, and was heard to remark:Thats Dandy Jim Valentines autograph. Hes resumed business. Look at that combination knob-jerked out as easy as pulling up

16、a radish in wet weather. Hes got the only clamps that can do it. And look how clean those tumblers were punched out! Jimmy never has to drill but one bole. Yes, I guess I want. Mr. Valentine. He11 do his bit next time without any short-time or clemency foolishness.Ben Price knew Jimmys habits. He ha

17、d learned them while working up the Springfield case. Long jumps, quick get-aways, no confederates, and a taste for good society these ways bad helped Mr. Valentine to become noted as a successful dodger of retribution. It was given out that Ben Price had taken up the trail of the elusive cracksman,

18、 and other people with burglar-proof safes felt more at ease.One afternoon Jimmy Valentine and his suit-case climbed out of the mail-hack in Elmore, a little town five miles off the railroad down in the black-jack country of Arkansas. Jimmy, looking like an athletic young senior just home from colle

19、ge, went down the board side-walk toward the hotel.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 colored slightly. Young

20、men of Jimmys style and looks were scarce in Elmore.Jimmy collared a boy that was loafing on the steps of the bank as if he were one of the stockholders, and began to question him about the town, feeding him dimes at intervals. By and by the young lady came out, looking royally unconscious of the yo

21、ung man with the suit-case, and went her way.Isnt that young lady Miss Polly Simpson? asked Jimmy, with specious guile.Naw, said the boy, Shes Annabel Adams. Her pa owns this bank. Wbatd you come to Elmore for? Is that a gold watch-chain? Im going to get a bulldog. Got any more dimes?Jimmy went to t

22、he Planters Hotel, registered as Ralph D. Spencer, and engaged a room. He leaned on the desk and declared his platform to the clerk. Ile said he had come to Elmore to look for a location to go into business. How was the sboe business, now, in the town? He had thought of the sboe business. Was there

23、an opening!The clerk was impressed by the clothes and manner of Jimmy. He, himself, was something of a pattern of fashion to the tbinly gilded youth of Elmore, but he now perceived his shortcomings. While trying to figure out Jimmys manner of tying his four-in-hand he cordially gave information.Yes,

24、 there ought to be a good opening in the shoe line. There wasnt an exclusive shoe-store in the place. The drygoods and general stores handled them. Business in all lines was fairly good. Hoped Mr. Spencer would decide to locate in Elmore. He would find it a pleasant town to live in, and the people v

25、ery sociable.Mr. Spencer thought he would stop over in the town a few days and look over the situation. No, the clerk neednt call the boy. He would carry up his suit-case, himself; it was rather heavy.Mr. Ralph Spencer, the plicenix that arose from Jimmy Valentines ashes-ashes left by the flame of a

26、 sudden and alterative attack of love-remained in Elmore, and prospered. He opened a shoe-store and secured a good run of trade.Socially he was also a success, and made many friends. And he accomplished the wish of his,heart. He met Miss Annabel Adams, and became more and more captivated by her char

27、ms.At the end of a year the situation of Mr. Ralph Spencer was this: he had won the respect of the community, his shoe-store was flourishing, and he and Annabel were engaged to be married in two weeks. Mr. Adams, the typical, plodding, country banker, approved of Spencer. Annabels pride in him almos

28、t equalled her affection. He was as much at home in the family of Mr. Adams and that of Annabels married sister as if he were already a member.One day Jimmy sat down in his room and wrote this letter, which he mailed to the safe address of one of his old friends in St. Louis:DEAR OLD PAL:I want you

29、to be at Sullivans place, in Little Rock, next Wednesday night,. at nine oclock. I want you to wind up some little matters for me. And, also, I want to make you a present of my kit of tools. I know youll be glad to get tbem-you couldnt duplicate the lot for a thousand dollars. Say, Billy, Ive quit t

30、he old business-a year ago. Ive got a nice store. Im making an honest living, and Im going to marry the finest girl on earth two weeks from now. Its the only life, Billy-the straight one. I wouldnt touch a dollar of another mans money now for a million. After I get married Im going to sell out and go West, where there wont be so much danger of having old scores brought up against me. I tell you, Billy, shes an angel. She believes in me;