Leave it to O. Henry to delight us with a surprise ending in this sweet, entertaining tale of benevolence and forgiveness, ideal for high school, college, and community theatre.

Cora admits to her teacher that she stole a bracelet from another pupil.  But the confession lacks remorse, so the wise Mrs. Proctor tells her the story of crackerjack criminal Jimmy Valentine and his unexpected reformation. 

Released from prison at the turn of the twentieth century, it doesn’t take long for the highly skilled safecracker Jimmy Valentine to fall back into old habits.  There’s not a Midwest bank safe secure from Jimmy’s professional prying — even as a shrewd detective remains in tireless pursuit. 

But when Jimmy’s travels lead him to a vulnerable bank safe in the sleepy town of Elmore, a beautiful bank manager’s daughter inspires change.  With a name like Valentine, it’s no surprise that love shapes this colorful character’s eventual transformation!  Jimmy becomes an honest businessman seeking Miss Annabel Adams’s hand in marriage.  And all goes as planned — until the day Annabel’s niece gets trapped inside the brand new bank safe.  Will Jimmy stick to his new upright life, or must he expose his scandalous past in order to save the girl?