“The Cisco Kid had killed six men in more or
less fair scrimmages, had murdered twice as many (mostly Mexicans), and winged
a larger number whom he modestly forbore to count. Therefore, a woman loved
him.
The Kid was twenty-five, looked twenty; and a
careful insurance company would have estimated the probable time of his demise
at, say, twenty-six.”
O. Henry created the
Cisco Kid which in no way bears any resemblance to the amiable hero of the film
and television series. O. Henry’s Cisco Kid is a cold-blooded killer. Affable,
charming, but a killer through and through.
The story’s
twist-in-the tale [a veritable O. Henry ending] is telegraphed a bit, but the descriptive
and narrative language make this one a more than pleasing read.
Considered one of the
Top 100 Western Tales, and rightfully so.
