Jimmy Valentine wanted to give away his safecracking tools because he intended to abandon his criminal past and marry Annabel Adams. However, he retained them to save a trapped girl in a bank vault, which exposed his criminal skills to Ben Price, a detective. Jimmy's decision to keep the tools was crucial for this event, leading Price to let him go free after witnessing his sacrifice. O. Henry leaves the resolution of Jimmy's identity and future ambiguous.

The moral of "A Retrieved Reformation" is that honesty and redemption lead to a fulfilling life, while crime does not pay. The story illustrates that people can change for the better, as seen when Jimmy Valentine reforms his life after falling in love. His decision to save a child, risking his freedom, demonstrates his fundamental goodness. The story also highlights forgiveness, as a policeman chooses not to arrest Jimmy, acknowledging his transformation.

Jimmy marries Annabel and becomes a family man. He does not return to crime because his life of crime is getting harder. Jimmy can't return to crime for several reasons: He has married Annabel Adams, the daughter of the richest man in town. He had a narrow escape when Ben Price almost arrested him on three burglary charges from Indiana. Jimmy was sentenced to four years in prison just for one such job. He could have gotten as much as twelve years in prison for three. This experience should have taught Jimmy how much he values freedom and the good life on the outside. If Ben Price could forgive him, then Annabel and her father would too.

Jimmy Valentine reformed by opening a legitimate shoe business and deciding to live honestly after falling in love with Annabel Adams. He wrote to a friend, offering to give up his burglar tools and crime. When a girl was accidentally locked in a bank vault, Jimmy used his safe-cracking skills to rescue her, risking arrest. However, detective Ben Price recognized Jimmy's transformation and chose not to arrest him, acknowledging his genuine reformation.

In O. Henry's "A Retrieved Reformation," Jimmy Valentine evolves from a notorious safecracker to a reformed man due to his love for Annabel Adams. Initially, he resumes his criminal activities after being released from prison, but a chance encounter with Annabel leads him to change his ways and establish a legitimate business. His transformation is solidified when he sacrifices his freedom to save a child locked in a vault, demonstrating his newfound heroism and integrity. Ultimately, detective Ben Price acknowledges Jimmy's reformation and allows him to continue his new life.

"A Retrieved Reformation" by O. Henry explores themes of redemption, transformation, and love. The story highlights how the protagonist, Jimmy Valentine, changes from a criminal to an honest man due to love and a desire for a better life. It suggests that people are capable of change and that love can be a powerful motivator for personal growth.

The ending of O. Henry's "A Retrieved Reformation" is ironic and surprising because Jimmy Valentine, a reformed safe-cracker, uses his old skills to rescue a child trapped in a bank vault. Instead of arresting him, the detective who has been pursuing Jimmy recognizes his reformation and lets him go, acknowledging his genuine transformation.