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A Retrieved Reformation

by O. Henry

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Who are the two conflicting characters in "A Retrieved Reformation"?

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The two conflicting characters in "A Retrieved Reformation" are Jimmy Valentine, a skilled safecracker, and Ben Price, a dedicated detective. Jimmy, after being released from prison, resumes his criminal activities but eventually reforms after falling in love with Annabel Adams. Ben Price, who tracks Jimmy to arrest him for his past crimes, ultimately decides to let him go after witnessing Jimmy's selfless act of saving a child, allowing him to continue his new life as Ralph Spencer.

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Jimmy Valentine is a young career criminal who specializes in safecracking. Ben Price is his nemesis. Price apparently works for a private detective agency which specializes in protecting banks in the days before they were under the protection of the federal government. When the story opens, Jimmy is serving time in prison for a bank job. We learn after his release and return to his rented room that he was arrested by Ben Price after putting up a struggle. 

There on the floor was still Ben Price's collar-button that had been torn from that eminent detective's shirt-band when they had overpowered Jimmy to arrest him.

As soon as Jimmy recovers his suitcase full of specialized safecracking tools, he commits four bank jobs in the Indiana area in swift succession. This brings him to the attention of his nemesis Ben Price, who is so good at his job that he can recognize Jimmy's handiwork just...

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from the evidence left behind.

Ben Price investigated the scenes of the robberies, and was heard to remark: “That's Dandy Jim Valentine's autograph. He's resumed business. Look at that combination knob—jerked out as easy as pulling up a radish in wet weather. He's got the only clamps that can do it. And look how clean those tumblers were punched out! Jimmy never has to drill but one hole. Yes, I guess I want Mr. Valentine. He'll do his bit next time without any short-time or clemency foolishness.”

Jimmy believes he is getting too well known, too "hot," in the area where he has been committing his bank burglaries, so he moves to Arkansas and adopts the name of Ralph Spencer. He sets up a shoe business in the town of Elmore, but only intends to use his store as a "front" while he continues cracking safes in this virgin territory. Everything changes when he falls in love with Annabel Adams at first sight. He is doing well with his shoe business and decides to reform in order to be worthy of a respectable girl like Annabel. 

But the formidable sleuth Ben Price traces Jimmy to Elmore, Arkansas and is ready to arrest him for the four bank jobs he pulled in Indiana. The conflict throughout the story is between Ben Price and Jimmy Valentine. It is resolved in one of O. Henry's surprise endings when Price decides to let Jimmy retain his new identity as Ralph Spencer and go ahead with his reformation. Jimmy is a changed man, but Ben Price changes too. He is a witness to Jimmy's noble act of exposing his true identity by opening his suitcase full of safecracking tools and saving the little girl who has gotten accidentally trapped in Annabel's father's bank vault. When Jimmy feels he has lost Annabel and everything connected with his reformation, he is ready to surrender to Price and be sent to prison for a long term. But Price surprises Jimmy, as well as the reader.

“Hello, Ben!” said Jimmy, still with his strange smile. “Got around at last, have you? Well, let's go. I don't know that it makes much difference, now.”

And then Ben Price acted rather strangely.

“Guess you're mistaken, Mr. Spencer,” he said. “Don't believe I recognize you. Your buggy's waiting for you, ain't it?”

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