The Theory and the Hound

'The Theory and the Hound' is anthologised in O. Henry's short story collection 'Whirligigs', replete with a menagerie of eccentric characters, witty exchanges, vibrant personifications and endings bound to take you by surprise. Two friends are walking down a street "that parallels and parodies Broadway". In passing, one of them mentions a newly hatched theory he has started to work on. The other friend decides to extract the whole story behind it. He hardly realises what is yet to come in doing so. American short story master O. Henry is best known for his pithy, witty scores and surprise endings. In this way he made commonplace experiences extraordinary and memorable. His work has been immortalised in the popular 1952 film 'O. Henry's Full House' starring Fred Allen, Anne Baxter, Marilyn Monroe and Jeanne Crain.