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Tobin’s Palm PDF Book By O. Henry – Free Download
“Tobin’s Palm” is a short story written by O. Henry, one of America’s most famous writers, known for his humor, irony, and surprise endings. The story first appeared in the early 1900s, a time when many immigrants arrived in New York City searching for a better life. O. Henry often wrote about these ordinary people — their struggles, dreams, and unexpected moments of luck.
This particular story follows Daniel Tobin, an Irish immigrant who comes to America hoping for happiness with his sweetheart, Katie Mahorner. But when she disappears after her arrival, Tobin’s heart is broken. Together with his friend Jawn Malone, he tries to forget his pain by visiting Coney Island, a famous amusement park in New York. There, he meets a mysterious palm reader, Madame Zozo, who predicts strange events in his future — trouble with a dark man, a light-haired woman, lost money, and finally, good luck from a man with a crooked nose.
What follows is a mix of comedy, fate, and coincidence, told in O. Henry’s classic style. As Tobin experiences one misfortune after another, readers are left wondering: is the fortune-teller truly gifted, or is Tobin simply seeing what he wants to believe? The story explores how faith, superstition, and destiny shape human behavior, especially in moments of loss and hope.
This version of the story has been carefully rewritten for English learners at Level 4 (B2 Upper-Intermediate). The language has been adapted to be clear and accessible while keeping the original tone, humor, and atmosphere. Readers will find it both enjoyable and educational — full of rich vocabulary, natural dialogues, and emotional depth.
By reading this adaptation, learners will:
- Improve their reading fluency and comprehension through authentic literature.
- Learn new words and expressions in meaningful context.
- Explore the cultural and emotional world of early 20th-century America.
- Practice understanding irony, humor, and symbolism in English storytelling.
“Tobin’s Palm” reminds us that sometimes life’s biggest surprises come from the smallest signs, and that faith — no matter how foolish it may seem — can lead to unexpected happiness.
This story was rewritten by LearnEnglish-new.com for English learners. The story is in the public domain, so it is free from copyright. Enjoy reading and improve your English skills!
Tobin’s Palm
By O. Henry
Contents
Chapter One: Lost Love and Heavy Hearts
Chapter Two: The Mysterious Palmist
Chapter Three: Signs of Misfortune
Chapter Four: The Crooked-Nose Man
Chapter Five: The Final Revelation
Chapter One
Lost Love and Heavy Hearts
Daniel Tobin was not himself these days. His eyes looked tired, his face was pale, and his heart was heavy. Just a few months earlier, he had said goodbye to his sweetheart, Katie Mahorner, back in County Sligo, Ireland. She had saved two hundred dollars from her own work and had also taken another hundred from the sale of Tobin’s little inheritance—a small cottage and a pig. With three hundred dollars in her pocket and love in her heart, Katie had sailed for America to join Tobin.
But since the day she left, no word had come except for the first letter. She had written that she was boarding the ship. After that—silence. No more letters, no messages, no sign of her arrival.
Tobin had searched newspapers, asked around, and even paid to place advertisements, but Katie had disappeared into the great unknown of America.
It was no wonder then that Tobin was restless, angry, and broken inside. His friend and companion, Jawn Malone, worried about him. Jawn knew that sadness, if it stayed too long, could ruin a man.
“Danny, lad,” said Jawn one morning, “let’s go to Coney Island. You need fresh air and a change of sight. Maybe the laughter of children, the smell of popcorn, and the rides will lighten your spirit.”
Reluctantly, Tobin agreed. They had four dollars between them, and though Tobin doubted any joy could lift his sorrow, he followed his friend.
Coney Island was alive that day. The air was full of music, shouts, and the smell of fried food. Families walked together, young couples laughed, and children pulled their parents toward games and sweets.
But Tobin was not amused. He clenched his jaw when balloons popped, he cursed the moving pictures, and he ignored the shows that made others laugh. Even when Jawn bought him a drink, Tobin swallowed it bitterly, as if he were taking medicine.
“You’re a hard man to please today,” Jawn sighed.
Tobin answered, “When the heart is empty, Jawn, the world offers little comfort.”
They wandered until the noise became too much. Finally, Jawn led Tobin down a quieter path along the boardwalk. There, in a small stall covered with red cloth, stood a sign:
“Madame Zozo – The Egyptian Palmist. Discover Your Fate.”
Tobin stopped, and for the first time that day, a spark lit his eyes.
“’Tis here,” he said with determination. “Here I shall find diversion. Let us see what destiny has to say.”
The stall was small, decorated with strange symbols and pictures of hands marked with mysterious lines. Inside sat a large woman in a red garment, decorated with embroidered animals and shapes. She looked at Tobin with sharp eyes.
For ten cents, Tobin stretched out his rough hand—broad and heavy, the hand of a working man. Madame Zozo held it carefully and began to study the lines.
“Sir,” she said in a deep voice, “the line of fate shows you have known misfortune, and more misfortune lies ahead. The mount of Venus here tells me you have been in love, and that love has brought you sorrow. I also see the initials K and M connected to this trouble.”
Tobin gasped and whispered loudly to Jawn, “Katie Mahorner! Did you hear that?”
The woman continued: “Beware of a dark man and a light woman. Both will bring you trouble. You will soon take a voyage across water and suffer a financial loss. But do not despair, for a man with a crooked nose will appear in your life. He will bring you good fortune. His name will be long, and it may contain the letter ‘O.’ That is all I can see. Do not block the door.”
Tobin stepped out of the stall, his face red with excitement.
“Jawn,” he said, gripping his friend’s arm, “it is wonderful how she knows. Every word she spoke is true. Katie, the loss, the misfortune—it is all written in my palm!”
Jawn, however, was not so convinced. He had seen enough fortune-tellers in his life to know they often used clever tricks. But Tobin’s faith in the prophecy was unshakable.
And so the two men continued their walk along the pier, unaware of the strange and troublesome events that would soon begin to prove—or disprove—the palmist’s words.
Chapter Two
The Mysterious Palmist
The sun was starting to set, and the lights along Coney Island began to shine more brightly. The noisy crowds pushed in every direction, but Tobin’s mind was not on the games or music. His thoughts kept circling around the words of the Egyptian palmist, Madame Zozo.
He walked beside Jawn, almost trembling with excitement. His rough voice repeated the prophecy again and again.
“Did you hear her, Jawn? She spoke Katie’s very initials—K and M. No one told her, no one whispered a word. And yet she knew. ’Tis a gift from heaven itself!”
Jawn shrugged. “Danny, you’re too quick to believe. Fortune-tellers study people’s faces. They guess what troubles them. You look like a man with sorrow, so she spoke of love and loss. It is no miracle.”
But Tobin refused to listen. For him, every sentence of Madame Zozo was sacred truth.
As they left the stall, fate seemed ready to test Tobin’s belief.
Near the pier gate, a tall Black man with a burning cigar pushed through the crowd. The glowing tip of the cigar accidentally touched Tobin’s ear. Tobin roared with anger, struck the man with his fist, and chaos followed. Women screamed, and people scattered. Jawn quickly pulled Tobin away before the police could arrive.
When they reached safety, Tobin’s face was red, not only from the burn but also from the fire of his conviction.
“Jawn! Do you not see it? The palmist spoke of a dark man bringing trouble. And here he was, burning my ear!”
Jawn sighed. “Coincidence, that’s all.”
The boat ride back to the city was crowded. Music played on the deck, and waiters shouted for customers. Tobin reached into his pocket for money to buy drinks. But when his hand came out, his face grew pale.
“My dollar sixty-five—it’s gone!” he cried. “Stolen in the confusion!”
Jawn tried to calm him. “Losing a little money is nothing unusual. It happens.”
But Tobin’s voice shook with belief. “It was foretold, Jawn! A financial loss, she said, and it has happened already.”
While Tobin sat in his misery, the third part of the prophecy revealed itself. On a bench against the railing sat a young woman, dressed elegantly, her hair a bright golden blonde. As Tobin passed by, he accidentally kicked her foot. Embarrassed, he tried to tip his hat, but the hat flew off his head and over the railing, lost forever in the sea.
The lady gave him a cold glance, and Tobin stumbled back, muttering. Then he turned to Jawn, his voice almost trembling with both fear and satisfaction.
“Jawn, can you deny it now? The palmist said a light woman would bring me trouble. Did you not see how she made me lose my hat to the waves?”
Jawn rubbed his forehead. “Danny, if you keep seeing signs in every accident, you’ll go mad. These things can happen to anyone.”
But Tobin was unstoppable. His eyes glowed with fierce certainty. “No, Jawn. These are not accidents. They are the steps of destiny. The dark man, the light woman, the loss of money—every word is coming true. Only one sign remains: the crooked-nose man who will bring me fortune. We must find him, or I am ruined.”
That night, the city streets were busy as always, glowing with gas lamps and filled with people moving in every direction. But Tobin was not looking at the shops or the theatres. His small red eyes scanned every face in the crowd, searching, hunting, desperate.
“Do you see him, Jawn?” he asked. “The crooked nose? The man who holds the key to my future?”
Jawn shook his head, both amused and worried. “Danny, every man has his own troubles. Do not hand your life over to a fortune-teller’s words.”
But Tobin only muttered to himself: “I will find him. I must.”
And so the two men walked into the night, the prophecy of Madame Zozo hanging heavily between them, each step drawing them closer to the moment when destiny—or simple chance—would show its face.
Chapter Three
Signs of Misfortune
The boat finally reached the city, and passengers hurried off the deck, each going his or her own way. But Tobin was not like the rest. His face was tight with determination, his eyes sharp and restless.
“Jawn,” he said as they stepped onto the street, “everything the palmist said has come to pass. The dark man with the cigar, the light woman with the golden hair, the money gone—every bit of it, true as the Gospel. Now only one sign remains—the crooked-nose man who will bring me fortune. And we must find him.”
Jawn groaned. “Danny, you’re chasing shadows. If you look hard enough, you’ll find what you want in any crowd.”
But Tobin ignored him. His feet carried him forward with the energy of a man convinced his life depended on what lay ahead.
The streets of New York glowed under the lamps, alive with carriages, vendors, and workers returning home. Tobin’s eyes searched every face. He studied men sitting by the corner, men lighting cigars, men walking quickly with newspapers under their arms. But not one of them had the crooked nose he expected.
“Do you see how straight they all are, Jawn?” Tobin whispered angrily. “A straighter-nosed crowd of devils you’ll never find. But somewhere—somewhere—he must be waiting.”
They walked through Twenty-second Street, past shops and saloons, until at last, under a gaslight on a quiet corner, Tobin stopped suddenly.
“There!” he breathed.
Jawn followed his gaze. A tall man stood by the railing, staring thoughtfully at the elevated railway above him. The moonlight touched his face, and there it was—the nose, bent twice like a snake’s curve.
Tobin’s chest rose with excitement. He stepped forward as if he had discovered a treasure.
“Good evening to you, sir,” Tobin said loudly.
The man removed the cigar from his lips and nodded politely. “Good evening, gentlemen.”
Tobin looked almost breathless. “Might we ask your name? For I think it is long, and perhaps with an ‘O’ in it.”
The man raised his eyebrows but answered calmly, “My name is Maximus G. Friedenhausman.”
“’Tis long enough,” Tobin whispered. “And can it not be spelled with an ‘O’ hidden in it somewhere?”
“If it pleases you,” Friedenhausman replied with dry humor, “you may imagine one. But gentlemen, what is the meaning of this curiosity?”
Tobin’s voice grew intense. “By the signs of prophecy, you are the man chosen to bring me good fortune. Already the palmist told of the dark man, the light woman, the loss of money. All came true. And now, here you are—the crooked nose, the savior of my fate.”
The man stared at Tobin in disbelief, then turned to Jawn. “Is he mad, or are you part of this madness too?”
Jawn sighed, raising his hands. “Sir, I am only the friend of my friend. His heart is full of superstition, but I stand by him. For loyalty is tested not by following the wise, but by standing beside the foolish.”
The crooked-nose man laughed suddenly, shaking his head. “Gentlemen, you are rare company indeed. I cannot decide whether to be insulted or entertained. But since you insist that destiny has delivered me to you, let us make use of the moment. Not far from here is a quiet saloon. Come, and we shall drink together. If I cannot offer fortune, perhaps I can offer hospitality.”
Tobin’s eyes shone as if the gates of heaven had opened. Jawn, though doubtful, followed. And so the three men disappeared into the noise and light of the city, with Tobin convinced that fortune itself had finally arrived.
Chapter Four
The Crooked-Nose Man
The saloon was dimly lit, with smoke curling up to the ceiling and fiddlers playing somewhere in the front room. Friedenhausman led Tobin and Jawn to a small table in the back, away from the noise. He ordered drinks for them all and laid money on the table without hesitation.
“Gentlemen,” he said, leaning back with calm confidence, “since you have decided that I am your man of destiny, let us enjoy the role for tonight. If I cannot give you fortune, at least I can provide good company and ale.”
Tobin’s eyes glowed. “Do you hear that, Jawn? He speaks like a prophet. Did not Madame Zozo say he would bring fortune into my life?”
Jawn rolled his eyes but said nothing. He knew arguing would only make Tobin more stubborn.
The drinks arrived, and Friedenhausman raised his glass. “To chance, to destiny, and to strange meetings on street corners!”
They all drank, and for the first time that day, Tobin’s face softened. His sorrow and anger faded, replaced by the warmth of beer and the thrill of prophecy fulfilled.
After a pause, Friedenhausman lit another cigar and studied them both. “You must know,” he said slowly, “that my profession is a peculiar one. I am what you might call a man of letters—a writer. I walk the streets at night seeking unusual characters, hidden truths, and curious idiosyncrasies. Life is my subject, and people like you are my inspiration.”
Tobin frowned. “A writer, is it? Will you be putting me in your book?”
Friedenhausman laughed. “Not yet, my friend. The covers of any book would be too small to hold you. But I assure you, tonight’s adventure will not be wasted.”
Tobin leaned forward, his fist on the table. “The palmist said you would bring me good fortune. Where is it? A man cannot live on fancy words and smoke.”
Friedenhausman smiled calmly. “Good fortune comes in many forms. Sometimes it is money, sometimes it is food, sometimes it is merely laughter at the end of a long day. Which would you prefer, Daniel Tobin?”
“I’d prefer Katie Mahorner,” Tobin muttered bitterly, staring into his drink.
Jawn placed a hand on his friend’s arm. “Easy now, Danny. Don’t let the drink carry you away.”
But Tobin’s frustration grew. He slammed his glass down, making the table shake. “Words, words, words! You speak of destiny, but I see none of it. If your crooked nose is meant to save me from sorrow, then let it do its work!”
For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then Friedenhausman chuckled softly, unbothered by Tobin’s outburst. “Patience, my friend. Even prophecy must take its time. Drink again. Let us keep our spirits moist, for dry souls make poor company.”
Jawn could not help but laugh. “He has a way with words, Danny. If nothing else, he has bought us ale.”
They stayed in the saloon for another hour. Friedenhausman entertained them with stories—tales of strange men he had met, of the city’s hidden corners, and of ideas about poetry and truth. He spoke of the elevated railway as if it were a poem of steel, and the moon as nothing more than a tired stone in the sky.
Tobin listened, half convinced, half angry. His heart wanted to believe that this man was the sign of his fortune, yet his stubborn nature refused to feel satisfied.
At last, Friedenhausman rose. “Gentlemen, the hour is late. If you wish, you may walk with me to my home. Perhaps, there, fortune will finally show its face.”
Tobin and Jawn followed him into the night once more, Tobin’s heart pounding with anticipation. For deep inside, he believed that the crooked-nose man was leading him toward the final revelation of the prophecy.
Chapter Five
The Final Revelation
The streets grew quieter as the three men walked together. Gas lamps flickered above the sidewalks, and the sound of horses’ hooves echoed between the brick buildings. Friedenhausman led the way with steady steps, his tall figure moving confidently through the night. Tobin followed close, his eyes never leaving the man’s crooked nose, as if it were a magical sign. Jawn walked beside him, worried but loyal.
At last, Friedenhausman stopped before a row of houses with high stoops and iron fences. He pointed to one.
“Here is my home,” he said. “The windows are dark, so I believe my wife has gone to bed. Still, I would not send you away hungry. Come inside, and I shall offer you a cold supper. There is fowl, cheese, ale—and perhaps a pot of coffee, if you will wait for it.”
Tobin’s eyes lit up. “Do you hear that, Jawn? The prophecy nears its end. This man is leading us straight to fortune.”
Jawn raised an eyebrow. “Or perhaps only to food.”
Friedenhausman opened the gate and guided them to the basement entrance. “Step down here,” he said kindly. “I will enter from above and let you in. My wife may not wish to be disturbed, so I’ll ask our new maid to prepare coffee. She is a fine girl, recently arrived from Ireland. Her name is Katie Mahorner.”
The words struck Tobin like thunder. He staggered, his mouth open, his breath caught in his chest.
“What did you say?” he shouted, gripping the rail with trembling hands.
Friedenhausman repeated calmly, “Katie Mahorner. She has been in my service for three months. A hard worker, but still learning the ways of this city. Why? Do you know her?”
Tobin’s face turned red, then pale. He swayed as if the ground beneath him had vanished.
“Know her?” he cried. “By the saints, she is my promised wife, the girl I sold my inheritance for, the one I came to America to find!”
Jawn caught his arm before he could fall. “Danny, steady yourself!”
At that moment, the door opened, and a young woman appeared, carrying a lamp. Her hair glowed softly in the light, her face pale from surprise. She froze when she saw the men, and the lamp nearly slipped from her hand.
“Danny?” she whispered.
“Katie!” Tobin rushed forward, his eyes full of tears. He caught her hands in his rough grip. “Katie, is it truly you? Where have you been all these months?”
She began to cry. “I was cheated when I landed. I lost my money, all of it. With nothing left, I took work here in service. I wanted to find you, but I had no address, no way to reach you. Every night, I prayed that we would meet again.”
Tobin pulled her close, forgetting all his anger, his sorrows, his doubts. “Praise be, the prophecy was true. All the signs, every misfortune—it was all leading me back to you.”
Friedenhausman watched quietly, a small smile on his crooked face. “Gentlemen, and lady, I believe my role in this curious play is finished. If I have brought fortune into your life, let it be the kind of fortune that no money can equal.”
Jawn shook his head in amazement. “Well, Danny, I must admit—fool or not, you have found what you were looking for. Perhaps the palm does not lie after all.”
Tobin laughed through his tears. “It does not lie, Jawn. For though I doubted the world, I held faith in the lines of me hand. And here stands the proof—Katie Mahorner herself.”
The three of them entered the warm kitchen, where simple food and strong coffee waited. For Tobin, the night had brought more than fortune—it had brought back love, hope, and the promise of a new life in America.
— THE END –
The Original Version of the Story: americanliterature.com