Books like The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry
O. Henry’s classic short story follows Bill and Sam, two low‑level crooks who abduct Johnny Dorset, the bratty, red‑haired son of a prominent citizen. Their scheme to hold the boy for ransom quickly collapses when Johnny, calling himself "Red Chief," provokes the captors with relentless chatter and practical jokes. The criminals try to negotiate with his father, but the father, realizing how intolerable Johnny would be to them, refuses to pay. The boys eventually fare the ransom, and the boy, delighted to escape his over‑strict father, does not wish to be rescued from their presence. In the end, the men flee as the boy’s father threatens to punish them by releasing their child into danger.
First publish date: 1918
Genre: Humorous Fiction/Comedy Fiction
Authors: O. Henry
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Some Other Similar Books
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