The Ransom of Red Chief
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Summary
In the story «The Ransom of Red Chief» by O. Henry, two hapless criminals, Sam and Bill, decide to kidnap the son of a wealthy man to demand a ransom. They abduct a boy named Johnny, but soon discover that he is not only unafraid of his captors but also begins to terrorize them with his antics and pranks. The boy calls himself the Red Chief and demands that the kidnappers play Indians with him. Eventually, Sam and Bill become so exhausted by Johnny that they agree to pay his father to take him back. The boy's father, realizing the kidnappers are worn out, agrees to their terms, and Johnny returns home.
Date of publication: 2 October 2024
Last updated: 10 October 2024
———The Ransom of Red Chief
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Genre: Adventure literature