Through the Shadows With O. Henry

by Jennings, Al

• ISBN13: 9780896724808
• ISBN10: 0896724808
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-06-01
• Publisher: Texas Tech Univ Pr

Summary

Al Jennings, if we are to believe him, was for several years a close friend of O. Henry (William Sydney Porter), perhaps America's favorite short-story writer. They met, Jennings claims, as outlaws on the run in Honduras, served time together in the Columbus, Ohio, Penitentiary at the turn of the century, and later met up in New York. Jennings, erstwhile lawyer, bank robber, and Hollywood consultant, was the subject of the 1951 movie Al Jennings of Oklahoma, starring Dan Duryea. Although a suspect narrator at best, Jennings is a masterful storyteller in this 1921 classic. Jennings describes the horrors of prison life so compellingly that the book might have served as a call for prison reform. Yet he also tells how he, O. Henry, and their friends managed to cope. They secured jobs in the prison post office and pharmacy and managed to find a secret room near the kitchen where on Sunday evenings they retired for a fine meal--complete with wine secured from corrupt prison contractors--and good talk. As Jennings recaps their long, philosophical discussions, readers may wish to have joined them in the fancy New York restaurants they were later able to frequent. Anyone reading Through the Shadows with O. Henry will agree that both of the author and his subject were characters worthy of any O. Henry tale.--Mike Cox

Table of Contents

A mothers flight; birth in a snowdrift; the drunken father's blow; the runaway boy; the fight in the shambles; abandoned on the prairie	11	(6)
Failure as a bootblack; a friendly foreman; the only kid on the range; flogged at the wagon-tongue; slaying of the foreman; vengeance on the assassin	17	(5)
Chuck-buyer for the Lazy Z; last journey to Las Cruces; shooting up a saloon; in the calaboose; arrival of the father	22	(4)
Release from jail; quiet years in Virginia; Study of law; a new migration to the West; brawl in court; news of death in the night	26	(5)
Shot from behind; agonies of remorse; death scene in the saloon; a father's rebuke to his son; vengeance delayed	31	(7)
In the outlaws' country; acquittal of the assassins; a brother's rage; false accusation; the father's denunciation; refuge in the outlaws' camp	38	(7)
Planning a holdup; terrors of a novice; the train-robbery; a bloodless victory; division of the spoils; new threat of peril	45	(9)
Hunting the enemy; the convention at El Reno; drama in the town-hall; flight of the conspirators; pursuit to Guthrie; failure of the quest; ``the range or the pen''	54	(5)
Frank turns outlaw the stickup of the Santa Fe; the threat of dynamite; crudity of bloodshed; the lure of easy money	59	(5)
In the Panhandle; a starving hostess; theft and chivalry; $35,000 clear; dawning of romance; two plucky girls; the escape in the tramp	64	(7)
The meeting with O. Henry in Honduras; the celebration of the Fourth; quelling a revolution; a new flight; the girl on the beach	71	(9)
Voyaging at leisure; the grand ball in Mexico City; O. Henry s gallantry; the don s rage; O. Henry saved from the Spaniard's knife	80	(10)
In California; the bank-robbery; O. Henry's refusal; purchase of a ranch; coming of the marshals; flight and pursuit; the trap; capture at last	90	(10)
In the Ohio Penitentiary; horrors of prison life; in and out of Bankers' Row; a visit from O. Henry, fellow- convict; promise of help	100	(9)
Despair; attempt at escape; in the hell-hole; torture in the prison; the diamond thief's revenge; the flogging; hard labor; a message of hope from O. Henry	109	(7)
The new ``main finger,'' a tuba solo; failure at prayer; transfer to the post-office; literary ambition; O. Henry writes a story	116	(10)
O. Henry, bohemian; the Recluse Club in the prison; the vanishing kitchen; the tragedy of Big Joe; effect on O. Henry; personality of a genius	126	(9)
Story of convict Dick Price; grief for his mother; her visit to the prison; the safe-opening; promise of pardon	135	(15)
Interest of O. Henry; Price the original of Jimmy Valentine; the pardon denied; death of the cracksman; the mother at the prison gate	150	(9)
The Prison Demon; the beast exhibited; magic of kindness; reclamation; tragedy of Ira Maralatt; meeting of father and daughter	159	(24)
Methods of O. Henry; his promotion; the singing of Sally Castleton; O. Henry's indifference; the explanation	183	(23)
Defiance of Foley the Goat; honesty hounded; O. Henry's scorn; disruption of the Recluse Club	206	(18)
O. Henry's rage against corruption; zeal yields to prudence; a draft of the grafter's wine	224	(8)
Tainted meat; O. Henry's morbid curiosity; his interview with the Kid on the eve of execution; the Kid's story; the death scene; innocence of the Kid	232	(18)
Last days of O. Henry in prison; intimate details; his departure	250	(6)
O. Henry's silence; a letter at last; the proposed story; Mark Hanna visits the prison; pardon; double-crossed; freedom	256	(13)
Practice of law; invitation from O. Henry; visit to Roosevelt; citizenship rights restored; with O. Henry in New York; the writer as guide	269	(11)
Episodes of city nights; feeding the hungry; Name and Sue; suicide of Sadie	280	(10)
Quest for material; Pilsner and the Halberdier; suggestion of a story; dining with editors; tales of train-robberies; a mood of despair	290	(9)
Supper with a ``star''; frank criticism; O. Henry's prodigality; Sue's return	299	(9)
After two years; a wedding invitation; another visit to New York; delayed hospitality; in O. Henry's home; blackmail	308	(8)
New Year's Eve; the last talk; ``a missionary after all''	316