The Hiding of Black Bill by O. Henry
A wealthy man hires a detective to find his missing son who has been kidnapped for ransom. The detective discovers that the kidnapper is actually the son himself, who had staged the kidnapping to get away from his father's strict rules and live on his own terms.
By O. Henry · First published 1907 · Genre: Short Story, Crime Fiction, Humor · 5,732 words
First lines
A lank, strong, red-faced man with a Wellington beak and small, fiery eyes tempered by flaxen lashes, sat on the station platform at Los Piños swinging his legs to and fro. At his side sat another man, fat, melancholy, and seedy, who seemed to be his friend. They had the appearance of men to whom life had appeared as a reversible coat -- seamy on both sides.
"Ain't seen you in about four years, Ham," said the seedy man. "Which way you been travelling?"
What this Textopian page supports
The Hiding of Black Bill is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1907 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: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Crime Fiction, Humor, Western, Adventure
- Length: 5,732 words
- Structure: 1 section, 123 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Hiding of Black Bill 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 The Hiding of Black Bill?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Story first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Tempered Wind by O. Henry
- Sufficient Provocation by O. Henry
- Somebody Lied by O. Henry
- The Caliph And The Cad by O. Henry
- The Passing Of Black Eagle by O. Henry
- The Sheriff Of Kona by Jack London
Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story arc within a limited word count.
- Crime Fiction — The plot revolves around a train robbery and the subsequent pursuit of the robber, incorporating elements of crime and law enforcement.
- Humor — The writing style employs wit and irony, with humorous dialogue and situations that provide comedic relief.
- Western — The setting and characters are typical of the Western genre, featuring ranch life and themes of rugged individualism.
Tags
Western Fiction · Short Story · Mystery · Thriller · Crime · Adventure · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · American Literature · Classic Short Story · Pulp Fiction