Continental Op Stories · Chapter
XVII explained
The narrator listens as a woman recounts her story: after fleeing the Turk Street house, she dyed her hair and changed her appearance, taking the name Jeanne Delano.
What happens
The narrator listens as a woman recounts her story: after fleeing the Turk Street house, she dyed her hair and changed her appearance, taking the name Jeanne Delano. She read poetry by Burke Pangburn, wrote to him, and they began a relationship. She promised to marry him but hid her criminal past. Fag Kilcourse recognized her and blackmailed her for $20,000. Burke forged his brother-in-law's signature to get the money. When she learned of the forgery, she confessed her past to Burke, who insisted on paying Kilcourse. She then laid a false trail to Baltimore and hid at Joplin's. Burke later found her, and she brought him to Joplin's to hide. Fag Kilcourse became jealous and dangerous. Porky Grout was spotted lurking, and she manipulated him. Fag shot Burke despite her protests. She and the others set up a false story for the police, but the narrator recognized her.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Identity
Billie changes her appearance and name to evade detection, and hides her criminal past from Burke.
Loyalty and Betrayal
Burke forges a check out of loyalty to Billie, while Fag Kilcourse betrays her trust by blackmailing and later killing Burke.
Crime and Detection
The forgery, blackmail, and murder are central to the plot, with the narrator investigating the events.
Characters to notice
- The Continental Op
Listens to the woman's confession and story.
- Burke Pangburn
Poet who forged his brother-in-law's signature to get $20,000 for the woman; later shot by Fag Kilcourse.
- Billie
The woman telling her story; she changed her appearance and hid under the name Jeanne Delano.
- Mr. Kilcourse
Fag Kilcourse, who blackmailed Billie for $20,000 and later shot Burke.
- Porky Grout
A rat who tipped off the police about Burke and Billie's location at the White Shack.
- Joplin
Owner of the place where Billie and Burke hid; helped hold the narrator during the escape.
Key passages
“when the forgery was discovered I would be caught with him and considered equally guilty.”
She feared being implicated in the forgery if it were discovered.
Billie explains her fear of being caught as an accomplice.
“I told him the whole story. He didn't bat an eye.”
She confessed everything to Burke, and he remained calm.
Burke's reaction to Billie's criminal past.
“Burke was confident that his brother-in-law wouldn't send him over for forgery, but, to be on the safe side, he insisted that I move and change my name again and lay low until we knew how Axford was going to take it.”
Burke believed his brother-in-law would not prosecute him, but still urged Billie to hide.
Burke's plan for Billie's safety after the forgery.
“I did like Burke—I liked him too much to let him be the goat without trying to save him, and I didn't have a great deal of faith in Axford's kindness.”
She cared for Burke and wanted to protect him, doubting Axford's mercy.
Billie's motivation to help Burke.
“Then Burke saw me on the street one Sunday night. I was careless, and drove into the city in Joplin's roadster—the one back there. And, as luck would have it, Burke saw me.”
Burke spotted her driving Joplin's car in the city, leading to their reunion.
The accidental meeting that led to Burke discovering her hiding place.
“I told him the truth, the whole truth. And he told me that he had just hired a private detective to find me.”
She confessed everything, and Burke revealed he had hired a detective to locate her.
Burke's search for Billie.
