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The Hand That Riles The World
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About the author
O. Henry
2,919 books1,891 followersSuch volumes as
Cabbages and Kings
(1904) and
The Four Million
(1906) collect short stories, noted for their often surprising endings, of American writer William Sydney Porter, who used the pen name O. Henry.
His biography shows where he found inspiration for his characters. His era produced their voices and his language.
Mother of three-year-old Porter died from tuberculosis. He left school at fifteen years of age and worked for five years in drugstore of his uncle and then for two years at a Texas sheep ranch.
In 1884, he went to Austin, where he worked in a real estate office and a church choir and spent four years as a draftsman in the general land office. His wife and firstborn died, but daughter Margaret survived him.
He failed to establish a small humorous weekly and afterward worked in poorly-run bank. When its accounts balanced not, people blamed and fired him.
In Houston, he worked for a few years until, ordered to stand trial for embezzlement, he fled to New Orleans and thence Honduras.
Two years later, he returned on account of illness of his wife. Apprehended, Porter served a few months more than three years in a penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. During his incarceration, he composed ten short stories, including A Blackjack Bargainer , The Enchanted Kiss , and The Duplicity of Hargraves .
In 1899, McClure's published Whistling Dick's Christmas Story and Georgia's Ruling .
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he sent manuscripts to New York editors. In the spring of 1902, Ainslee's Magazine offered him a regular income if he moved to New York.
In less than eight years, he became a bestselling author of collections of short stories. Cabbages and Kings came first in 1904 The Four Million, and The Trimmed Lamp and Heart of the West followed in 1907, and The Voice of the City in 1908, Roads of Destiny and Options in 1909, Strictly Business and Whirligigs in 1910 followed.
Posthumously published collections include The Gentle Grafter about the swindler, Jeff Peters; Rolling Stones , Waifs and Strays , and in 1936, unsigned stories, followed.
People rewarded other persons financially more. A Retrieved Reformation about the safe-cracker Jimmy Valentine got $250; six years later, $500 for dramatic rights, which gave over $100,000 royalties for playwright Paul Armstrong. Many stories have been made into films.
His biography shows where he found inspiration for his characters. His era produced their voices and his language.
Mother of three-year-old Porter died from tuberculosis. He left school at fifteen years of age and worked for five years in drugstore of his uncle and then for two years at a Texas sheep ranch.
In 1884, he went to Austin, where he worked in a real estate office and a church choir and spent four years as a draftsman in the general land office. His wife and firstborn died, but daughter Margaret survived him.
He failed to establish a small humorous weekly and afterward worked in poorly-run bank. When its accounts balanced not, people blamed and fired him.
In Houston, he worked for a few years until, ordered to stand trial for embezzlement, he fled to New Orleans and thence Honduras.
Two years later, he returned on account of illness of his wife. Apprehended, Porter served a few months more than three years in a penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio. During his incarceration, he composed ten short stories, including A Blackjack Bargainer , The Enchanted Kiss , and The Duplicity of Hargraves .
In 1899, McClure's published Whistling Dick's Christmas Story and Georgia's Ruling .
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he sent manuscripts to New York editors. In the spring of 1902, Ainslee's Magazine offered him a regular income if he moved to New York.
In less than eight years, he became a bestselling author of collections of short stories. Cabbages and Kings came first in 1904 The Four Million, and The Trimmed Lamp and Heart of the West followed in 1907, and The Voice of the City in 1908, Roads of Destiny and Options in 1909, Strictly Business and Whirligigs in 1910 followed.
Posthumously published collections include The Gentle Grafter about the swindler, Jeff Peters; Rolling Stones , Waifs and Strays , and in 1936, unsigned stories, followed.
People rewarded other persons financially more. A Retrieved Reformation about the safe-cracker Jimmy Valentine got $250; six years later, $500 for dramatic rights, which gave over $100,000 royalties for playwright Paul Armstrong. Many stories have been made into films.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 18, 2026
O. Henry’s “The Hand That Riles the World” is another short story of Andy and Jeff trying to outdo the system with a woman accomplice. Males thinking they do all things right and even though they are proved right this time, they indeed did not look and correct the error before they left.
➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
Highlight (Yellow) | Page
“Now, wouldn’t you,” said Jeff, with an emphatic nod— “wouldn’t you have imagined that? But a
woman is an absolutely unreliable partner in any straight swindle. She’s liable to turn honest on you
when you are depending upon her the most. I tried ’em once. “Bill Humble, an old friend of mine in the
Territories, conceived the illusion that he wanted to be appointed United States Marshall. At that time
me and Andy was doing a square, legitimate business of selling walking canes. If you unscrewed
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2318
the head of one and turned it up to your mouth a half pint of good rye whiskey would go trickling down
your throat to reward you for your act of intelligence. The deputies was annoying me and Andy some,
and when Bill spoke to me about his officious aspirations, I saw how the appointment as Marshall might
help along the firm of Peters & Tucker.
Page 2320
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert
Jeff and Andy look to do a favor for their friend who wants to be a marshal out West so they go to Washington thinking they can do it easily but they are told they need a lobbyist andvare directed to a woman. They had their reservations of a woman handling the job and are pleasantly surprised but then are taken back because the order was quite different then requested.
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2320
I can’t read nor write, and I see no reason why I ain’t illegible for the office. And I think your partner, Mr.
Tucker,’ goes on Bill, ‘is also a man of sufficient ingratiation and connected system of mental
delinquency to assist you in securing the appointment. I will give you preliminary,’ says Bill, ‘$1,000 for
drinks, bribes and carfare in Washington. If you land the job I will pay you $1,000 more, cash down, and
guarantee you impunity in boot-legging whiskey for twelve months.
1
Page 2322
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2322
“Andy agreed with me, but after we talked the scheme over with the hotel clerk we give that plan up. He
told us that there was only one way to get an appointment in Washington, and that was through a lady
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2322
lobbyist. He gave us the address of one he recommended, a Mrs. Avery, who he said was high up in
sociable and diplomatic rings and circles.
Page 2323
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2323
“‘Yes,’ says she, ‘he’s marked with a star; that means “ready to serve.” Now, let’s see. “Age 55; married
twice; Presbyterian, likes blondes, Tolstoi, poker and stewed terrapin; sentimental at third bottle of
wine.” Yes,’ she goes on, ‘I am sure I can have your friend, Mr. Bummer, appointed Minister to Brazil.’
“‘Humble,’ says I. ‘And United States Marshal was the berth.’ “‘Oh, yes,’ says Mrs. Avery. ‘I have so many
deals of this sort I sometimes get them confused. Give me all the memoranda you have of the
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2323
case, Mr. Peters, and come back in four days. I think it can be arranged by then.’
Page 2324
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2324
“‘Then,’ says Andy, ‘you don’t think Mrs. Avery will land the Marshalship for Bill?’ “‘I do not,’ says I. ‘I do
not wish to be a septic, but I doubt if she can do as well as you and me could have done.’ “‘I don’t agree
with you,’ says Andy. ‘I’ll bet you she does. I’m proud of having a higher opinion of the talent and the
powers of negotiation of ladies.’
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2324
“We was back at Mrs. Avery’s hotel at the time she appointed. She was looking pretty and fine enough, as
far as that went, to make any man let her name every officer in the country. But I hadn’t much faith in
looks, so I was certainly surprised when she pulls out a document with the great seal of the United
States on it, and ‘William Henry Humble’ in a fine, big hand on the back. “‘You might have had it the
next day, boys,’ says Mrs. Avery, smiling. ‘I hadn’t the slightest trouble in getting it,’ says she. ‘I just
asked for
2
Page 2325
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2325
it, that’s all. Now, I’d like to talk to you a while,’ she goes on, ‘but I’m awfully busy, and I know you’ll
excuse me. I’ve got an Ambassadorship, two Consulates and a dozen other minor applications to look
after. I can hardly find time to sleep at all. You’ll give my compliments to Mr. Humble when you get
home, of course.’ “Well, I handed her the $500, which she pitched into her desk drawer without
counting. I put Bill’s appointment in my pocket and me and Andy made our adieus.
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2325
“We started back for the Territory the same day. We wired Bill: ‘Job landed; get the tall glasses ready,’
and we felt pretty good. “Andy joshed me all the way about how little I knew about women. “‘All right,’
says I. ‘I’ll admit that she surprised me. But it’s the first time I ever knew one of ’em to manipulate a
piece of business on time without getting it bungled up in some way,’ says I. “Down about the edge of
Arkansas I got out Bill’s appointment and
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2325
looked it over, and then I handed it to Andy to read. Andy read it, but didn’t add any remarks to my
silence. “The paper was for Bill, all right, and a genuine document, but it appointed him postmaster of
Dade City, Fla. “Me and Andy got off the train at Little Rock and sent Bill’s appointment to him by mail.
Then we struck northeast toward Lake Superior. “I never saw Bill Humble after that.”
➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
Highlight (Yellow) | Page
“Now, wouldn’t you,” said Jeff, with an emphatic nod— “wouldn’t you have imagined that? But a
woman is an absolutely unreliable partner in any straight swindle. She’s liable to turn honest on you
when you are depending upon her the most. I tried ’em once. “Bill Humble, an old friend of mine in the
Territories, conceived the illusion that he wanted to be appointed United States Marshall. At that time
me and Andy was doing a square, legitimate business of selling walking canes. If you unscrewed
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2318
the head of one and turned it up to your mouth a half pint of good rye whiskey would go trickling down
your throat to reward you for your act of intelligence. The deputies was annoying me and Andy some,
and when Bill spoke to me about his officious aspirations, I saw how the appointment as Marshall might
help along the firm of Peters & Tucker.
Page 2320
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert
Jeff and Andy look to do a favor for their friend who wants to be a marshal out West so they go to Washington thinking they can do it easily but they are told they need a lobbyist andvare directed to a woman. They had their reservations of a woman handling the job and are pleasantly surprised but then are taken back because the order was quite different then requested.
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2320
I can’t read nor write, and I see no reason why I ain’t illegible for the office. And I think your partner, Mr.
Tucker,’ goes on Bill, ‘is also a man of sufficient ingratiation and connected system of mental
delinquency to assist you in securing the appointment. I will give you preliminary,’ says Bill, ‘$1,000 for
drinks, bribes and carfare in Washington. If you land the job I will pay you $1,000 more, cash down, and
guarantee you impunity in boot-legging whiskey for twelve months.
1
Page 2322
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2322
“Andy agreed with me, but after we talked the scheme over with the hotel clerk we give that plan up. He
told us that there was only one way to get an appointment in Washington, and that was through a lady
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2322
lobbyist. He gave us the address of one he recommended, a Mrs. Avery, who he said was high up in
sociable and diplomatic rings and circles.
Page 2323
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2323
“‘Yes,’ says she, ‘he’s marked with a star; that means “ready to serve.” Now, let’s see. “Age 55; married
twice; Presbyterian, likes blondes, Tolstoi, poker and stewed terrapin; sentimental at third bottle of
wine.” Yes,’ she goes on, ‘I am sure I can have your friend, Mr. Bummer, appointed Minister to Brazil.’
“‘Humble,’ says I. ‘And United States Marshal was the berth.’ “‘Oh, yes,’ says Mrs. Avery. ‘I have so many
deals of this sort I sometimes get them confused. Give me all the memoranda you have of the
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2323
case, Mr. Peters, and come back in four days. I think it can be arranged by then.’
Page 2324
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2324
“‘Then,’ says Andy, ‘you don’t think Mrs. Avery will land the Marshalship for Bill?’ “‘I do not,’ says I. ‘I do
not wish to be a septic, but I doubt if she can do as well as you and me could have done.’ “‘I don’t agree
with you,’ says Andy. ‘I’ll bet you she does. I’m proud of having a higher opinion of the talent and the
powers of negotiation of ladies.’
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2324
“We was back at Mrs. Avery’s hotel at the time she appointed. She was looking pretty and fine enough, as
far as that went, to make any man let her name every officer in the country. But I hadn’t much faith in
looks, so I was certainly surprised when she pulls out a document with the great seal of the United
States on it, and ‘William Henry Humble’ in a fine, big hand on the back. “‘You might have had it the
next day, boys,’ says Mrs. Avery, smiling. ‘I hadn’t the slightest trouble in getting it,’ says she. ‘I just
asked for
2
Page 2325
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2325
it, that’s all. Now, I’d like to talk to you a while,’ she goes on, ‘but I’m awfully busy, and I know you’ll
excuse me. I’ve got an Ambassadorship, two Consulates and a dozen other minor applications to look
after. I can hardly find time to sleep at all. You’ll give my compliments to Mr. Humble when you get
home, of course.’ “Well, I handed her the $500, which she pitched into her desk drawer without
counting. I put Bill’s appointment in my pocket and me and Andy made our adieus.
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2325
“We started back for the Territory the same day. We wired Bill: ‘Job landed; get the tall glasses ready,’
and we felt pretty good. “Andy joshed me all the way about how little I knew about women. “‘All right,’
says I. ‘I’ll admit that she surprised me. But it’s the first time I ever knew one of ’em to manipulate a
piece of business on time without getting it bungled up in some way,’ says I. “Down about the edge of
Arkansas I got out Bill’s appointment and
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2325
looked it over, and then I handed it to Andy to read. Andy read it, but didn’t add any remarks to my
silence. “The paper was for Bill, all right, and a genuine document, but it appointed him postmaster of
Dade City, Fla. “Me and Andy got off the train at Little Rock and sent Bill’s appointment to him by mail.
Then we struck northeast toward Lake Superior. “I never saw Bill Humble after that.”
June 1, 2024
Our intrepid unheroes Jeff Peters and Andy Tucker go to Washington D.C. to help a friend get a much-coveted federal post. This is actually a pretty honest job for the grifters (in fact, their commentary on D.C. is funny). Of course, it doesn't go according to plan but to say much more would give away the fun twists.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews