Law and Order by O. Henry (1911)
The story revolves around a lawyer who seeks revenge against the judge who wronged him. He manipulates the law to his advantage and ultimately succeeds in having the judge convicted of a crime he did not commit. The lawyer's actions are driven by a desire for revenge, rather than justice.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Western, Humor, Fiction · 6,738 words
First lines
I found myself in Texas recently, revisiting old places and vistas. At a sheep ranch where I had sojourned many years ago, I stopped for a week. And, as all visitors do, I heartily plunged into the business at hand, which happened to be that of dipping the sheep.
Now, this process is so different from ordinary human baptism that it deserves a word of itself. A vast iron cauldron with half the fires of Avernus beneath it is partly filled with water that soon boils furiously. Into that is cast concentrated lye, lime, and sulphur, which is allowed to stew and fume until the witches' broth is strong enough to scorch the third arm of Palladino herself.
What this Textopian page supports
Law and Order is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1911 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: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Western, Humor, Fiction, Social Commentary, Adventure
- Length: 6,738 words
- Structure: 1 section, 116 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Law and Order by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
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Genres
- Western — The narrative is set in the American West, featuring ranch life, cowboys, and themes of law enforcement in a frontier context.
- Humor — The writing style employs wit and sarcasm, particularly in the dialogue and character interactions, creating a humorous tone.
- Fiction — The story is a work of fiction, presenting a narrative that explores human experiences and relationships.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques the evolution of law and order, reflecting on societal changes and the nature of justice.
Tags
Short Story Collection · American Literature · Crime Fiction · Social Commentary · Satire · Humor · Irony · Twist Ending · Moral Lesson · Justice System · Law Enforcement · Courtroom Drama