And the Yeah, Welcome back everyone to one thousand one classic short stories entails this is your host John

Hagenorn today a great story from oh Henry called the Marionettes in this short

story a character named Dr James lives a double life.

A doctor by day, he gains and betrays his patient's confidence to learn where they hide their valuables.

By night, he uses his deft hands and tools to break into their houses.

And like most of O'Henry's short stories, expect a twist at the end.

And now the Marionettes, by O'Henry.

The policeman was standing at the corner of 24th Street and a prodigiously dark alley near

where the elevated railroad crosses the street.

The time was 2 o'clock in the morning, the outlook a stretch of cold, drizzling, unsociable blackness

until the dawn.

A man wearing a long overcoat with his hat tilted down in front and carrying something in one hand walked softly but rapidly out of the black alley.

The policeman accosted him civilly, but with the assured air that is

linked with conscious authority. The hour, the alley's musty reputation, the

pedestrians haste, the burden he carried. the The suspect halted readily and tilted back his hat exposing in the flicker of the electric lights

at emotionless smooth countenance with a rather long nose and steady dark eyes.

Thrusting his glove tanned into a side pocket of his overcoat, he drew out a card and handed it to the policeman.

Holding it to catch the uncertain light, the officer read the name, Charles Spencer James, M.D.

The street and number of the address were of a neighborhood so solid and respectable as to subdue even curiosity.

The policeman's downward glance at the article carried in the doctor's hand, a handsome

medicine case of black leather with small silver mountings further endorse the guarantee of the

card.

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