Whirligigs (short story collection, Henry)
The World and the Door
A millionaire, H. Ferguson Hedges, gets into a fight and is shot by his friend, Ralph Merriam. Merriam escapes with the help of his friend, Wade, and flees to La Paz, where he meets and falls in love with Mrs. Conant. They plan to get married, but Mrs. Conant discovers that her husband is still alive and decides to leave La Paz without telling Merriam.
The Theory and the Hound
A sheriff from Kentucky traveled to an island to arrest a man for murdering his wife, using his observation of the suspect's behavior towards animals to identify the culprit.
The Hypotheses of Failure
A divorce lawyer receives three clients seeking his assistance in their marital problems, but their stories become intertwined and complicated, leading to unexpected outcomes.
Calloway's Code
A war correspondent sent a coded message about an upcoming battle, which was deciphered by a young reporter, allowing their newspaper to publish an exclusive story and beat their competitors.
A Matter of Mean Elevation
An American trader rescued a kidnapped opera singer from a remote mountain village, where she was held captive by music-loving Indians. As they descended the mountains, her demeanor changed with the environment.
"Girl"
A married suburban broker eagerly hired a talented city cook after confronting her rival employer. She agreed only if he dismissed their current drunken cook, thrilling his delighted wife at home.
Sociology in Serge and Straw
A wealthy young man and a poor village boy engaged in a fight, eventually becoming friends and learning about each other's lives, leading to them swapping clothes and roles in a baseball game.
The Ransom of Red Chief
Two kidnappers abducted a wealthy man's son, but the boy's wild behavior and antics led them to return him and pay the father for taking him back.
The Marry Month of May
Spring sparked romance in a wealthy older man toward his housekeeper. His disapproving daughter tried to cool his feelings with ice, but ironically ended up eloping with the ice seller herself.
A Technical Error
A man pursued another who had killed his brother and eloped with his girlfriend, but a code prevented him from taking revenge while the woman was present, leading to a surprising twist.
Suite Homes and Their Romance
A husband suspected his wife of secretly spending his money and discovered she was indulging in ice cream at a hidden parlor, leading to a police raid and the couple's reconciliation.
The Whirligig of Life
A couple sought a divorce from a justice of the peace, but after realizing their love for each other, they remarried and returned to their mountain home.
A Sacrifice Hit
An aspiring writer married a magazine editor's stenographer, hoping her love for him would lead her to recommend his romantic novelette, but a mix-up caused his work to be rejected.
The Roads We Take
Two robbers successfully stole from a train, but one betrayed the other, leaving him to die. The betrayer later became a wealthy Wall Street broker, haunted by his past actions.
A Blackjack Bargainer
A disgraced gambler, Yancey Goree, sells his family home to a strange couple, Pike and Martella Garvey. He later agrees to sell them his family feud as well, but the encounter leads to a tragic event.
The Song and the Sergeant
A group of actors were arrested for causing a disturbance in a restaurant while arguing about a scene in their play. At the police station, they performed the scene, revealing the true feelings between two of the actors.
One Dollar's Worth
A district attorney and his fiancée were attacked by a vengeful criminal, but they managed to defeat him using a counterfeit coin as ammunition, ultimately saving their lives.
A Newspaper Story
A newspaper's journey through a city connected lost lovers, caused a romantic accident, helped a policeman break rules, gave a girl confidence, prevented a strike, and saved a boy from punishment.
Tommy's Burglar
A young boy encountered a burglar in his home and engaged in a conversation with him, discussing the cliches of their situation in fictional stories, ultimately helping the burglar escape.
A Chaparral Christmas Gift
A jealous outlaw sought revenge on a man who married the woman he loved by attempting to kill him on Christmas Eve, but ultimately spared his life and was later killed by a sheep herder.
A Little Local Colour
A man seeking authentic New York City experiences was guided by a friend to meet various locals, only to find that their speech and behavior did not match the stereotypes he expected.
Georgia's Ruling
A widowed Commissioner of the Land Office, grieving the loss of his daughter, makes a ruling that protects innocent settlers from land-sharks and ensures a better future for children.
Blind Man's Holiday
A man falls in love with a girl he meets in a restaurant, but their relationship is complicated by his self-perceived social status and her mysterious past. They get married, but he later discovers that she works as a seamstress in a costume shop, leading to a revelation about her true character.
Madame Bo-Peep, of the Ranches
A young woman, Octavia Beaupree, inherits a ranch in Texas after her husband's death and decides to live there. She meets Teddy Westlake, the manager of the ranch, and they fall in love. Teddy had been working on the ranch to recover it after it was discovered that Octavia's husband had no title to it. They decide to get married and live happily on the ranch.