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"A Retrieved Reformation" by O. Henry

Expert safecracker Jimmy Valentine tries to start a new life, but his past is catching up to him — and so is detective Ben Price. Read the full text here.

Here are links to our lists for other works by O. Henry: The Ransom of Red Chief, The Gift of the Magi
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Full list of words from this list:

  1. assiduously
    with care and persistence
    A guard came to the prison shoe-shop, where Jimmy Valentine was assiduously stitching uppers, and escorted him to the front office.
  2. compromise
    expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute
    Was it because you wouldn't prove an alibi for fear of compromising somebody in extremely high-toned society?
  3. virtuous
    morally excellent
    "Me?" said Jimmy, still blankly virtuous.
  4. compulsory
    required by rule
    He had on a suit of the villainously fitting, ready-made clothes and a pair of the stiff, squeaky shoes that the state furnishes to its discharged compulsory guests.
    The phrase "compulsory guests" is humorously used to describe prisoners. It is an oxymoron because guests choose to visit people and places, so the noun should not be modified by an adjective that suggests a lack of choice. It is also ironic because guests are usually treated with generosity and respect, while prisoners are there to be punished. However, Jimmy Valentine, through the support of powerful friends, might've done his time like a guest of the state.
  5. rehabilitate
    restore someone to a good state of health or reputation
    The clerk handed him a railroad ticket and the five-dollar bill with which the law expected him to rehabilitate himself into good citizenship and prosperity.
  6. pardon
    a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense
    Valentine, 9762, was chronicled on the books, "Pardoned by Governor," and Mr. James Valentine walked out into the sunshine.
  7. auger
    a hand tool used to bore holes
    It was a complete set, made of specially tempered steel, the latest designs in drills, punches, braces and bits, jimmies, clamps, and augers, with two or three novelties, invented by Jimmy himself, in which he took pride.
    An auger is a type of drill, so the two tools could be closer together in the descriptive list. They could also be grouped with "bits" which are parts of a drill. But this would change the rhythm of the sentence, and perhaps affect the impact of the pun on the main character's name (a jimmy is a short crowbar).
  8. patent
    a document granting an inventor sole rights to an invention
    Two weeks after that a patented, improved, burglar-proof safe in Logansport was opened like a cheese to the tune of fifteen hundred dollars, currency; securities and silver untouched.
  9. rogue
    a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
    That began to interest the rogue-catchers.
  10. resume
    take up or begin anew
    He's resumed business.
    In the business world, a resume is "a summary of your academic and work history." At this point in the story, Jimmy would not have a resume, since he is not looking for an honest job. Instead, he had chosen to be self-employed as a burglar, and he resumes this business as soon as he's a free man, despite having learned new skills in the prison shoe-shop.
  11. clemency
    leniency and compassion shown toward offenders
    He'll do his bit next time without any short-time or clemency foolishness.
    Compare with "pardon"--in both example sentences, the words refer to the early release of prisoner 9762. But clemency usually is a more general attitude, while a pardon is a more specific form of clemency. Here, the detective Ben Price expresses his belief that clemency is a reason that Jimmy Valentine goes back to his burgling ways.
  12. retribution
    a justly deserved penalty
    Long jumps, quick get-aways, no confederates, and a taste for good society—these ways had helped Mr. Valentine to become noted as a successful dodger of retribution.
  13. elusive
    skillful at evading capture
    It was given out that Ben Price had taken up the trail of the elusive cracksman, and other people with burglar-proof safes felt more at ease.
  14. specious
    plausible but false
    "Isn't that young lady Polly Simpson?" asked Jimmy, with specious guile.
  15. engage
    hire for service under a term of contract
    Jimmy went to the Planters' Hotel, registered as Ralph D. Spencer, and engaged a room.
    The verb is used as a pun: Jimmy/Ralph engages the room, because he is looking to engage ("consume all of one's attention or time") a young lady and become engaged ("give to in marriage") to her.
  16. alterative
    tending to cure or restore to health
    Mr. Ralph Spencer, the phœnix that arose from Jimmy Valentine's ashes—ashes left by the flame of a sudden and alterative attack of love--remained in Elmore, and prospered.
  17. accomplish
    achieve with effort
    And he accomplished the wish of his heart.
  18. captivated
    filled with wonder and delight
    He met Miss Annabel Adams, and became more and more captivated by her charms.
    The adjective is the first hint of the irony of the situation: a man who has eluded capture is now captivated. This irony is later strengthened when Jimmy, in order to save Annabel's niece, reveals his criminal skills in front of many witnesses (including the detective Ben Price).
  19. flourish
    make steady progress
    At the end of a year the situation of Mr. Ralph Spencer was this: he had won the respect of the community, his shoe-store was flourishing, and he and Annabel were engaged to be married in two weeks.
  20. duplicate
    identically copy or match
    I know you'll be glad to get them—you couldn't duplicate the lot for a thousand dollars.
  21. venture
    proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
    It had been more than a year now since those last professional "jobs," and he thought he could safely venture out.
  22. economical
    avoiding waste
    Thought I'd save express charges by taking them up. I'm getting awfully economical.
  23. courteous
    exhibiting politeness and good manners
    Mr. Adams beamingly explained its workings to Mr. Spencer, who showed a courteous but not too intelligent interest.
  24. commotion
    a disorderly outburst or tumult
    Suddenly there was a scream or two from the women, and a commotion.
  25. convulsion
    a violent uncontrollable contraction of muscles
    There isn't enough air, and, besides, she'll go into convulsions from fright.
  26. frantic
    marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion
    Agatha's mother, frantic now, beat the door of the vault with her hands.
  27. anguish
    extreme distress of body or mind
    Annabel turned to Jimmy, her large eyes full of anguish, but not yet despairing.
  28. implement
    a piece of equipment or a tool used for a specific purpose
    He laid out the shining, queer implements swiftly and orderly, whistling softly to himself as he always did when at work.
    The implements are queer ("beyond the usual or expected") because 1) they are in a suitcase that Jimmy had said was weighed down by nickel-plated shoe-horns; 2) some were invented by Jimmy; 3) the onlookers are not used to the sight of a burglar's tools. As a verb, "queer" means "prevent the desires of" and "put in a dangerous or difficult position." These meanings could apply to how revealing and using the implements could affect Jimmy's path to an honest, loving, and free life.
  29. collapse
    break down due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack
    Agatha, almost collapsed, but safe, was gathered into her mother's arms.
  30. recognize
    perceive to be something or something you can identify
    Don't believe I recognize you.
Created on Sun Feb 01 20:16:51 EST 2015 (updated Wed Sep 05 17:45:58 EDT 2018)

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