O. Henry discusses his new story with his publisher Col. Derbin. The mystery begins with the gripping climax scene -- a gun, a pleading woman and darkness. Derbin: "I don't know how the public will react when they realize that to understand the beginning they need to read through to the ending." Anyone who watches this preview will understand how O. Henry could grab and hold his audience.

"The O. Henry Playhouse" is a 1957 single season, 39-episode TV series. O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) is considered one of America's greatest writers of short stories. His writings are laced with humor and irony and often end with a sly twist ending. Veteran character actor Thomas Mitchell stars in each episode as writer O. Henry himself as he relates his stories to his publisher, his housekeeper, a barber, a bartender, or the cop on the beat. In some episodes, O. Henry meets his characters as he discovers firsthand the story he will later write. This unique storytelling method gives great insight into the famous author's creative process.