Getting at the Facts by O. Henry
The story revolves around a man who seeks revenge against his former employer for firing him. He discovers that the employer's daughter has been embezzling funds from her father's business and decides to use this information to blackmail her into giving him money. He demands $10,000 in exchange for not revealing her actions to her father. The woman agrees, but only if he can get it without arousing suspicion. He comes up with a plan to steal the money by replacing the employer's safe combination with a duplicate key. The man successfully steals the money and gives it to his former employer as payment for his revenge. However, the employer is unaware of the true nature of the transaction and believes that the man has simply returned the stolen funds. In the end, the woman is left with nothing, having been blackmailed out of her own ill-gotten gains.
By O. Henry · First published 1910 · Genre: Humor, Literary Fiction, Satire · 706 words
First lines
It was late in the afternoon and the day staff was absent. The night editor had just come in, pulled off his coat, vest, collar, and necktie, rolled up his shirtsleeves and eased down his suspenders, and was getting ready for work.
Someone knocked timidly outside the door, and the night editor yelled, "Come in."
What this Textopian page supports
Getting at the Facts is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: O. Henry
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Literary Fiction, Satire, Short Story, Drama
- Length: 706 words
- Structure: 1 section, 32 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Getting at the Facts by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Getting at the Facts?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Humor — The story employs wit and irony, particularly in the misunderstanding between the night editor and the young lady.
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores themes of artistic expression and the clash between creative writing and journalistic reporting.
- Satire — It critiques the newspaper industry and the often superficial nature of news reporting.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story within a limited word count.
Tags
Satire · Social Commentary · Realism · American Literature · Short Story Collection · Humor · Irony · Wit · Sarcasm · Critique of Society · Class Struggle · Morality Tale