The story revolves around a young woman who marries an older man for his wealth and security. However, she soon discovers that he has been embezzling funds from his company and is in danger of being caught by the authorities. She decides to leave him and return to her family's home, but not before taking some of his money with her. The story takes a turn when it is revealed that the man had planned for this eventuality and has set up a trap for her. The woman is arrested and charged with theft, but just as she is about to be convicted, a surprise twist reveals that the man's plan was actually a ruse to test her character. He had been suspicious of her motives from the beginning and wanted to see if she would steal from him even after he had set up a trap for her. The story ends with the woman being acquitted due to lack of evidence, but not before it is revealed that she had indeed stolen from him. The twist raises questions about morality and whether or not the woman's actions were justified given the circumstances.
By O. Henry · First published 1906 · Genre: Short Story, Humor, Drama