Waifs and Strays. Part 1

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O Henry. Waifs and Strays. Part 1

THE RED ROSES OF TONIA

ROUND THE CIRCLE

THE RUBBER PLANT'S STORY

OUT OF NAZARETH

CONFESSIONS OF A HUMORIST

THE SPARROWS IN MADISON SQUARE

HEARTS AND HANDS

THE CACTUS

THE DETECTIVE DETECTOR

THE DOG AND THE PLAYLET

A LITTLE TALK ABOUT MOBS

THE SNOW MAN

Отрывок из книги

"Find yo' shirt all right, Sam?" asked Mrs. Webber, from her chair under the live-oak, where she was comfortably seated with a paper-back volume for company.

"It balances perfeckly, Marthy," answered Sam, with a suspicious pleasantness in his tone. "At first I was about ter be a little reckless and kick 'cause ther buttons was all off, but since I diskiver that the button holes is all busted out, why, I wouldn't go so fur as to say the buttons is any loss to speak of."

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It must have been about four in the afternoon when Sam's conscience awoke. He was limp and drenched, rather from anxiety than the heat or fatigue. Until now he had been hoping to strike the trail that led to the Frio crossing and the Chapman ranch. He must have crossed it at some dim part of it and ridden beyond. If so he was now something like fifty miles from home. If he could strike a ranch – a camp – any place where he could get a fresh horse and inquire the road, he would ride all night to get back to Marthy and the kid.

So, I have hinted, Sam was seized by remorse. There was a big lump in his throat as he thought of the cross words he had spoken to his wife. Surely it was hard enough for her to live in that horrible country without having to bear the burden of his abuse. He cursed himself grimly, and felt a sudden flush of shame that over-glowed the summer heat as he remembered the many times he had flouted and railed at her because she had a liking for reading fiction.

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