Delphi Complete Works of O. Henry

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Delphi Complete Works of O. Henry Page 257

by O. Henry


  “The key to the ‘Temple of Knowledge lies within each soul and he who seeks, from the heart, shall find. To knock imperiously will summon the guardians, but to reach the inner chamber it is necessary to enter first into the closet of your own soul.

  There, in a neglected corner, will be the golden key. It will be in need of burnishing, perhaps — hidden as it has been all these years, but just a little effort will bring out its brilliancy. Take it in your hands, rever ently, for it is fragile, as well as pure, and place it next to your heart. Keep it there until you can feel the warmth radiating from it, through your entire being. Then, and then only, is it ready for use. for it is then a Master Key and can unlock any door.”

  With a sudden exclamation, the book is clasped more closely, and a light of understanding breaks over her face.

  “So simple! And I have searched so long! — Just love!”

  PART III. — THE REAPING

  In the streets flags are waving and banners unfurled to the breeze, while along the edges are eager, strained faces, watching.

  With a shout, the cry rings out, ‘They are coming!” and then in the distance is heard the sound of music and the tramping of many feet, all in unison.

  Gradually the marchers make their way past the waiting throngs, and as they pass, each head is raised in wonderment, and then reverently bowed, for, arm in arm march the Nations of the World, — all united in a common bond and no longer enemies, for at their head moves a tiny child, carrying in its hands a wee banner, but of mighty import, — for on it in letters of gold is “The Ruler of all the World”

  “LOVE”

  ACTION-REACTION

  ACTION

  A VILLAGE nestling among the pines. Only the buzz of insects and hum of bees, together with the accompaniment of rustling branches, breaks the silence.

  All is peace and harmony.

  Hark!

  From afar sounds a discordant blatant note. Nearer it comes, ever growing harsher, until at last, at the end of the street is seen a mounted horseman, with a bugle at his lips. With one final blast he summons all the peaceful souls, who crowd about him. He watches them, as they gather, with an appraising eye, and then with uplifted hand commands silence.

  “All men and boys past the age of twelve follow me.

  “In the name of the Law you must obey! Come!”

  Raising his bugle, once more he shatters the peace of that little hamlet and moves on, followed in silence by all the men and boys over twelve.

  No sound but that of moving feet can be heard. No tears, no lamentations from the stricken statues left behind.

  The hush of even-tide —

  The drone of insects —

  The hum of bees —

  The swaying of branches,

  Thrilled by the breeze —

  and silence once more descends upon the street

  Furroughed ground —

  Booming guns —

  Shrieking shells —

  Smoke-laden air —

  Young, old-men boys, automatons of men, ply their trade at the command “By order of the Law! Obey!”

  Daylight passes —

  The hues of even-tide caress,

  And speak of rest,

  but the command rings out:

  “Forward! Attack!”

  Night comes forth

  With gleaming mantle,

  And lays it over all that remains —

  Furroughed ground!

  REACTION

  A bugle sounds in a hamlet town, and streaming forth come stricken souls, who with outstretched arms go forth to meet that straggling band which passes through the street — but they pay no heed.

  Luminous are their faces, radiant their robes, as they gaze straight ahead, with never a look to the right or the left.

  Morning breezes —

  Buzz of insects

  Hum of bees —

  Branches bending

  To the breeze.

  A VISION

  IN the far distant East gleams a light — faint but effulgent, and as I watch it moves slowly, majestically, westward.

  Still I gaze, and watch it ever going higher, moving more swiftly, and growing ever brighter and larger.

  Still I gaze:

  Swifter becomes its movement, more dazzling its light, and lo! from what seemed a speck when I first gazed upon that light, has grown a golden bird with outstretched wings gleaming and sending showers of golden radiance with each movement.

  Westward it moves, ever expanding, ever more dazzling, until at last all the face of the world has been showered with the glimmering gold from its wings.

  Still I gaze:

  High in the heavens is motionless this wonderful golden bird — then, slowly, with scarcely moving pinions it descends, and with a final quiver takes under the shelter of its mighty wings a world of sorrow.

  Still I gaze:

  No movement, but ever the light increasing and dazzling in brilliancy and beauty.

  Still I gaze:

  A flutter — an unfolding of the mighty pinions and then a swift flight upwards — ever swifter — ever higher, until at last all sight of its wonder is lost.

  Then I gaze where it rested, and behold! a new earth of dazzling gold and everywhere gleaming lights of rainbow tints Then I muse:

  And from out of the silence comes a voice:

  “Thus will the world appear when Peace has folded it within its wings, and Love shines out from each and every window.”

  The Short Stories

  CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF SHORT STORIES

  CABBAGES AND KINGS

  THE PROEM BY THE CARPENTER

  “FOX-IN-THE-MORNING”

  THE LOTUS AND THE BOTTLE

  SMITH

  CAUGHT

  CUPID’S EXILE NUMBER TWO

  THE PHONOGRAPH AND THE GRAFT

  MONEY MAZE

  THE ADMIRAL

  THE FLAG PARAMOUNT

  THE SHAMROCK AND THE PALM

  THE REMNANTS OF THE CODE

  SHOES

  SHIPS

  MASTERS OF ARTS

  DICKY

  ROUGE ET NOIR

  TWO RECALLS

  THE VITAGRAPHOSCOPE

  THE FOUR MILLION

  TOBIN’S PALM

  THE GIFT OF THE MAGI

  A COSMOPOLITE IN A CAFÉ

  BETWEEN ROUNDS

  THE SKYLIGHT ROOM

  A SERVICE OF LOVE

  THE COMING-OUT OF MAGGIE

  MAN ABOUT TOWN

  THE COP AND THE ANTHEM

  AN ADJUSTMENT OF NATURE

  MEMOIRS OF A YELLOW DOG

  THE LOVE-PHILTRE OF IKEY SCHOENSTEIN

  MAMMON AND THE ARCHER

  SPRINGTIME À LA CARTE

  THE GREEN DOOR

  FROM THE CABBY’S SEAT

  AN UNFINISHED STORY

  THE CALIPH, CUPID AND THE CLOCK

  SISTERS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

  THE ROMANCE OF A BUSY BROKER

  AFTER TWENTY YEARS

  LOST ON DRESS PARADE

  BY COURIER

  THE FURNISHED ROOM

  THE BRIEF DÉBUT OF TILDY

  THE TRIMMED LAMP

  THE TRIMMED LAMP

  A MADISON SQUARE ARABIAN NIGHT

  THE RUBAIYAT OF A SCOTCH HIGHBALL

  THE PENDULUM

  TWO THANKSGIVING DAY GENTLEMEN

  THE ASSESSOR OF SUCCESS

  THE BUYER FROM CACTUS CITY

  THE BADGE OF POLICEMAN O’ROON

  BRICKDUST ROW

  THE MAKING OF A NEW YORKER

  VANITY AND SOME SABLES

  THE SOCIAL TRIANGLE

  THE PURPLE DRESS

  THE FOREIGN POLICY OF COMPANY 99

  THE LOST BLEND

  A HARLEM TRAGEDY

  “THE GUILTY PARTY”

  ACCORDING TO THEIR LIGHTS

  THE LAST LEAF

  THE COUNT AND THE WEDDING GUEST

  THE COUNTRY OF ELUSION

  THE FERRY OF UNFULFI
LMENT

  THE TALE OF A TAINTED TENNER

  ELSIE IN NEW YORK

  HEART OF THE WEST

  HEARTS AND CROSSES

  THE RANSOM OF MACK

  TELEMACHUS, FRIEND

  THE HANDBOOK OF HYMEN

  THE PIMIENTA PANCAKES

  SEATS OF THE HAUGHTY

  HYGEIA AT THE SOLITO

  AN AFTERNOON MIRACLE

  THE HIGHER ABDICATION

  CUPID A LA CARTE

  THE CABALLERO’S WAY

  THE SPHINX APPLE

  THE MISSING CHORD

  A CALL LOAN

  THE PRINCESS AND THE PUMA

  THE INDIAN SUMMER OF DRY VALLEY JOHNSON

  CHRISTMAS BY INJUNCTION

  A CHAPARRAL PRINCE

  THE REFORMATION OF CALLIOPE

  THE VOICE OF THE CITY

  THE VOICE OF THE CITY

  THE COMPLETE LIFE OF JOHN HOPKINS

  A LICKPENNY LOVER

  DOUGHERTY’S EYE-OPENER

  “LITTLE SPECK IN GARNERED FRUIT”

  THE HARBINGER

  WHILE THE AUTO WAITS

  A COMEDY IN RUBBER

  ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS

  THE DEFEAT OF THE CITY

  THE SHOCKS OF DOOM

  THE PLUTONIAN FIRE

  NEMESIS AND THE CANDY MAN

  SQUARING THE CIRCLE

  ROSES, RUSES AND ROMANCE

  THE CITY OF DREADFUL NIGHT

  THE EASTER OF THE SOUL

  THE FOOL-KILLER

  TRANSIENTS IN ARCADIA

  THE RATHSKELLER AND THE ROSE

  THE CLARION CALL

  EXTRADITED FROM BOHEMIA

  A PHILISTINE IN BOHEMIA

  FROM EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY

  THE MEMENTO

  ROADS OF DESTINY

  ROADS OF DESTINY

  THE LEFT BRANCH

  THE RIGHT BRANCH

  THE MAIN ROAD

  THE GUARDIAN OF THE ACCOLADE

  THE DISCOUNTERS OF MONEY

  THE ENCHANTED PROFILE

  “NEXT TO READING MATTER”

  ART AND THE BRONCO

  PHŒBE

  A DOUBLE-DYED DECEIVER

  THE PASSING OF BLACK EAGLE

  A RETRIEVED REFORMATION

  CHERCHEZ LA FEMME

  FRIENDS IN SAN ROSARIO

  THE FOURTH IN SALVADOR

  THE EMANCIPATION OF BILLY

  THE ENCHANTED KISS

  A DEPARTMENTAL CASE

  BENTON SHARP MEETS HIS MATCH

  THE RENAISSANCE AT CHARLEROI

  ON BEHALF OF THE MANAGEMENT

  WHISTLING DICK’S CHRISTMAS STOCKING

  THE HALBERDIER OF THE LITTLE RHEINSCHLOSS

  TWO RENEGADES

  THE LONESOME ROAD

  OPTIONS

  “THE ROSE OF DIXIE”

  THE THIRD INGREDIENT

  THE HIDING OF BLACK BILL

  SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS

  THIMBLE, THIMBLE

  SUPPLY AND DEMAND

  BURIED TREASURE

  TO HIM WHO WAITS

  HE ALSO SERVES

  THE MOMENT OF VICTORY

  THE HEAD-HUNTER

  NO STORY

  THE HIGHER PRAGMATISM

  BEST-SELLER

  RUS IN URBE

  A POOR RULE

  STRICTLY BUSINESS

  STRICTLY BUSINESS

  THE GOLD THAT GLITTERED

  BABES IN THE JUNGLE

  THE DAY RESURGENT

  THE FIFTH WHEEL

  THE POET AND THE PEASANT

  THE ROBE OF PEACE

  THE GIRL AND THE GRAFT

  THE CALL OF THE TAME

  THE UNKNOWN QUANTITY

  THE THING’S THE PLAY

  A RAMBLE IN APHASIA

  A MUNICIPAL REPORT

  PSYCHE AND THE PSKYSCRAPER

  A BIRD OF BAGDAD

  COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON

  A NIGHT IN NEW ARABIA

  THE GIRL AND THE HABIT

  PROOF OF THE PUDDING

  PAST ONE AT ROONEY’S

  THE VENTURERS

  THE DUEL

  “WHAT YOU WANT”

  WHIRLIGIGS

  THE WORLD AND THE DOOR

  THE THEORY AND THE HOUND

  THE HYPOTHESES OF FAILURE

  CALLOWAY’S CODE

  A MATTER OF MEAN ELEVATION

  “GIRL”

  SOCIOLOGY IN SERGE AND STRAW

  THE RANSOM OF RED CHIEF

  THE MARRY MONTH OF MAY

  A TECHNICAL ERROR

  SUITE HOMES AND THEIR ROMANCE

  THE WHIRLIGIG OF LIFE

  A SACRIFICE HIT

  THE ROADS WE TAKE

  A BLACKJACK BARGAINER

  THE SONG AND THE SERGEANT

  ONE DOLLAR’S WORTH

  A NEWSPAPER STORY

  TOMMY’S BURGLAR

  A CHAPARRAL CHRISTMAS GIFT

  A LITTLE LOCAL COLOUR

  GEORGIA’S RULING

  BLIND MAN’S HOLIDAY

  MADAME BO-PEEP, OF THE RANCHES

  THE TWO WOMEN

  THE ONE: A FOG IN SANTONE

  THE OTHER: A MEDLEY OF MOODS

  SIXES AND SEVENS

  THE LAST OF THE TROUBADOURS

  THE SLEUTHS

  WITCHES’ LOAVES

  THE PRIDE OF THE CITIES

  HOLDING UP A TRAIN

  ULYSSES AND THE DOGMAN

  THE CHAMPION OF THE WEATHER

  MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD KIN

  AT ARMS WITH MORPHEUS

  A GHOST OF A CHANCE

  JIMMY HAYES AND MURIEL

  THE DOOR OF UNREST

  THE DUPLICITY OF HARGRAVES

  LET ME FEEL YOUR PULSE

  OCTOBER AND JUNE

  THE CHURCH WITH AN OVERSHOT-WHEEL

  NEW YORK BY CAMP FIRE LIGHT

  THE ADVENTURES OF SHAMROCK JOLNES

  THE LADY HIGHER UP

  THE GREATER CONEY

  LAW AND ORDER

  TRANSFORMATION OF MARTIN BURNEY

  THE CALIPH AND THE CAD

  THE DIAMOND OF KALI

  THE DAY WE CELEBRATE

  THE GENTLE GRAFTER

  THE OCTOPUS MAROONED

  JEFF PETERS AS A PERSONAL MAGNET

  MODERN RURAL SPORTS

  THE CHAIR OF PHILANTHROMATHEMATICS

  THE HAND THAT RILES THE WORLD

  THE EXACT SCIENCE OF MATRIMONY

  A MIDSUMMER MASQUERADE

  SHEARING THE WOLF

  INNOCENTS OF BROADWAY

  CONSCIENCE IN ART

  THE MAN HIGHER UP

  A TEMPERED WIND

  HOSTAGES TO MOMUS

  THE ETHICS OF PIG

  ROLLING STONES

  THE DREAM

  A RULER OF MEN

  THE ATAVISM OF JOHN TOM LITTLE BEAR

  HELPING THE OTHER FELLOW

  THE MARIONETTES

  THE MARQUIS AND MISS SALLY

  A FOG IN SANTONE

  THE FRIENDLY CALL

  A DINNER AT ––––

  SOUND AND FURY

  TICTOCQ

  TRACKED TO DOOM

  A SNAPSHOT AT THE PRESIDENT

  AN UNFINISHED CHRISTMAS STORY

  THE UNPROFITABLE SERVANT

  ARISTOCRACY VERSUS HASH

  THE PRISONER OF ZEMBLA

  A STRANGE STORY

  FICKLE FORTUNE OR HOW GLADYS HUSTLED

  AN APOLOGY

  LORD OAKHURST’S CURSE

  BEXAR SCRIP NO. 2692

  QUERIES AND ANSWERS

  WAIFS AND STRAYS

  THE RED ROSES OF TONIA

  ROUND THE CIRCLE

  THE RUBBER PLANT’S STORY

  OUT OF NAZARETH

  CONFESSIONS OF A HUMORIST

  THE SPARROWS IN MADISON SQUARE

  HEARTS AND HANDS

  THE CACTUS

  THE DETECTIVE DETECTOR

  THE DOG AND THE PLAYLET

  A LITTLE TALK ABOUT MOBS

  THE SNOW MAN
<
br />   O HENRYANA

  THE CRUCIBLE

  A LUNAR EPISODE

  THREE PARAGRAPHS

  BULGER’S FRIEND

  A PROFESSIONAL SECRET

  THE ELUSIVE TENDERLOIN

  THE STRUGGLE OF THE OUTLIERS

  MY TUSSLE WITH THE DEVIL by O. Henry’s Ghost

  THE BARRAGE FIRE

  COMMENTS

  OVER THERE

  FOREWORD

  MY TUSSLE WITH THE DEVIL

  THE CONTEST

  SLEEPING

  YEARNING

  ANIMALS

  WEARINESS

  I. — THE KING

  II. — THE TOILER

  THE SLAVE

  FREEDOM

  JEWELS

  MULTITUDES

  GOING HOME

  THE THREE H’S

  THE SENSES

  FANCIES

  TRUSTING

  THOUGHTS

  THINKING

  YESTERDAY-TODAY

  PART I. — YESTERDAY

  PART II. — TODAY

  PART III. — THE REAPING

  “LOVE”

  ACTION-REACTION

  ACTION

  REACTION

  A VISION

  ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SHORT STORIES

  A BIRD OF BAGDAD

  A BLACKJACK BARGAINER

  A CALL LOAN

  A CHAPARRAL CHRISTMAS GIFT

  A CHAPARRAL PRINCE

  A COMEDY IN RUBBER

  A COSMOPOLITE IN A CAFÉ

  A DEPARTMENTAL CASE

  A DINNER AT ––––

  A DOUBLE-DYED DECEIVER

  A FOG IN SANTONE

  A GHOST OF A CHANCE

  A HARLEM TRAGEDY

  A LICKPENNY LOVER

  A LITTLE LOCAL COLOUR

  A LITTLE TALK ABOUT MOBS

  A LUNAR EPISODE

  A MADISON SQUARE ARABIAN NIGHT

  A MATTER OF MEAN ELEVATION

  A MIDSUMMER MASQUERADE

  A MUNICIPAL REPORT

  A NEWSPAPER STORY

  A NIGHT IN NEW ARABIA

  A PHILISTINE IN BOHEMIA

  A POOR RULE

  A PROFESSIONAL SECRET

  A RAMBLE IN APHASIA

  A RETRIEVED REFORMATION

  A RULER OF MEN

  A SACRIFICE HIT

  A SERVICE OF LOVE

  A SNAPSHOT AT THE PRESIDENT

  A STRANGE STORY

  A TECHNICAL ERROR

  A TEMPERED WIND

  ACCORDING TO THEIR LIGHTS

  AFTER TWENTY YEARS

  AN ADJUSTMENT OF NATURE

 

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