The Roads We Take
Complete textA train robbery near Tucson leaves the outlaws dividing their gains and seeking a route of escape. Shark Dodson's calculations about horses, danger and companionship place a practical problem at the center of a story about what people claim determines their choices.
Continue readingAbout The Roads We Take
Brisk action and colloquial conversation establish apparently straightforward motives before the narration complicates their frame. The language of necessity deserves particular attention: it can describe a real limit or make self-interest seem unavoidable. Read the arrangement of the story as carefully as its events, without assuming that an offered explanation settles responsibility.
Reading focus
Watch how appeals to circumstances and necessity work as explanations for decisions that benefit the speaker.
This reading edition contains 1,723 words in 1 original section. Read the text online with adjustable type and three colour themes, or keep a printable PDF.
Author: O. Henry. Language: English. Reading edition: 28 October 2026.
Opening excerpt
Twenty miles west of Tucson, the “Sunset Express” stopped at a tank to take on water. Besides the aqueous addition the engine of that famous flyer acquired some other things that were not good for it.
Contents
All sectionsReading & download help
Is this the complete The Roads We Take?
This edition contains the complete English literary text, with 1 section and 1,723 words. This reading edition preserves the checked English text and its section order. No study notes have been added.
Which PDF should I choose?
A4 is designed for 210 × 297 mm paper; US Letter for 8.5 × 11 inch paper. Both contain the same complete text, selectable text and section bookmarks.
Can I read without signing up?
Yes. Online reading and both PDFs are free. Reading settings and progress stay on this device.