William Sydney Porter known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American short story writer. His stories are known for their surprise endings. Most of O. Henry's stories are set in his own time, the early 20th century. Many take place in New York City and deal for the most part with ordinary people: policemen, waitresses, etc. This book includes wonderfull stories like "The Trimmed Lamp", "A Madison Square Arabian Night", "The Pendulum" and other interesting tales.