
Jimmie Horgan, a quick‑witted trolley controller with a knack for shaking up the respectable world around him, finds his routine turned upside down when a crisp, gray‑clad lawyer slides a mysterious letter across his desk. The note promises a modest fortune from a long‑forgotten uncle, and Jimmie’s curiosity launches him into a bewildering mix of legal jargon, odd paperwork, and the everyday hustle of city life.
As he navigates the absurdities of the legal system—dodging pompous bankers, baffled office boys, and a bewildered young woman clutching a basket of letters—Jimmie’s irreverent humor and street‑smart optimism keep the story lively. The narrative captures the quirks of early‑20th‑century urban America, offering a witty portrait of a man who sees through social masks while chasing a chance at a better future.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (209K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Charlie Howard and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2018-07-12
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1869–1930
Best known for lively Western stories with a comic touch, this American writer turned ranch experience into fiction that felt rough-edged, funny, and human. His work ranged from magazine stories to popular books and even silent-film screenwriting.
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