Jimmy Valentine

Jimmy Valentine by O. Henry

1. Give a brief character sketch of Jimmy Valentine.

Ans. Jimmy Valentine was a young and handsome man with an impressive personality. He was well-spoken and had good manners. He was witty and had a large circle of friends. He was a skilled burglar and later became a successful shoe businessman. He could break open any safe and had gone to jail several times on charges of burglary. However his life changed after he arrived at Elmore and met Annabel. He was so fascinated by her that he decided to settle down at Elmore by changing his self and marry Annabel. But on a visit to the bank with the Adams family, he was forced to use his burglary kit in order to rescue Agatha from the vault. At last Ben Price, realizing his reformation, spared him. This gave him a new life, making an end of his burglary career.

2. Give a brief character sketch of Annabel Adams.

Ans. Annabel Adams was the pretty daughter of the owner of Elmore Bank. Her charm captivated Jimmy Valentine and ultimately transformed him. She was a cheerful young lady who was very close to her family. She also became fond of Jimmy. She had actually great faith on him and his ability like other lovers. The moment Agatha got stuck in the vault, she believed that none but Jimmy could save Agatha. After Agatha's rescue her liking for Jimmy might be even more. It was Annabel and her true love, faith that changed the notorious safe-cracker Jimmy into a good fellow, Ralph D. Spencer.

3. How was Agatha locked and saved?

Ans. Agatha was a five-year old daughter of Annabel's sister. The whole family along with Jimmy gathered at Elmore Bank to see the installation of a new safe and a vault. But while playing with her elder sister May, Agatha was locked in the bank's new vault by the elder one. None could open the door of the vault as the lock had not been wound and the combination had not been set. This caused panic in the family. None had an idea how Agatha could be rescued. When Annabel asked Jimmy to try to rescue Agatha, he got to act ignoring the risk of revealing his true identity. He used his burglary tools and opened the vault in less than ten minutes. Thus Agatha was saved.