Short Fiction by O. Henry

City Perils

Words you’ll meet in this part (6)
perils
Serious and immediate dangers or risks.
trifle
A small, unimportant matter or thing.
paved
Covered with a hard, smooth surface, like concrete or asphalt.
alas
An expression of sorrow, regret, or grief (interjection).
staggered
Walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall.
despair
A feeling of hopelessness or deep sadness.

Short Fiction by O. Henry 6 new words

City

Jeremiah Q. Dilworthy lives away up on San Jacinto Street. He walks home every night. On January first, he promised his wife he would not take another drink in a year. He forgot his promise and on Tuesday night we met some of the boys, and when he started home about nine o’clock he was feeling a careless.

Mr. Dilworthy was an old resident of Houston, and on rainy nights he always walked in the middle of the street, which is well .

! if Mr. Dilworthy had only remembered the promise made his wife!

He started out all right, and just as he was walking up San Jacinto Street he over to one side of the street.

A policeman standing on the corner heard a loud yell of , and turning, saw a man throw up his arms and then disappear from sight. Before the policeman could call someone who could swim the man had gone for the third and last time.

Mr. Jeremiah Q. Dilworthy had fallen into the sidewalk.

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