One of the most famous humorists in world literature, O. Henry created a unique panorama of American life at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, in grotesque situations he conveyed the contrasts and paradoxes of his era, which opened up space for people with business acumen, whom the game of chance exalts to the pinnacle of success, then plunges to the very bottom of life.“One clear Saturday evening at Houston station, a young man got off the train that arrived at 21.10 and, stopping, began to look around in a very bewildered way. He had an idyllic look, exactly like a young peasant, as our famous actors portray them on stage. He wore a long black frock coat of that famous cut which immortalized the name of the late Prince Albert—such frock coats can be seen in the village church on Sundays—checkered trousers, somewhat short for his long legs, and a bright crimson scarf with green polka dots tied in a marvelous bow. . He was clean-shaven, and his face was written in deep astonishment, almost bordering on fright, as he looked around, widening his blue eyes. He was holding in his hands a large antediluvian-looking bag made of some shiny black material that looked like oilcloth...”