Gentle Grafter

There is a wonderful irony in O Henry’s short story collection, The Gentle Grafter (Kindle edition). Almost every American has read The Gift of the Magi. It has become a cultural meme. A warm hearted story of loving and gifting. These are also warm hearted stories of con men and grafting. Think of Damon Runyoun’s Nathan Detroit on the road. There is humor in grafting and O Henry manages a light touch even has his heart-of-gold thieves touch their marks, ever so lightly.