# Tobin's Palm explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry.

## What happens

Tobin and his friend Jawn go to Coney Island to distract Tobin from the disappearance of his sweetheart, Katie Mahorner. Tobin visits a palmist who predicts trouble from a dark man and a light woman, a financial loss, a voyage on water, and good luck from a man with a crooked nose whose name contains the letter 'o'. The predictions begin to come true when Tobin is burned by a Black man's cigar, loses his hat due to a blonde woman, and has his money stolen. Later, they meet a man with a crooked nose named Friedenhausman, who treats them to drinks and invites them to his home, mentioning that his new kitchen maid is Katie Mahorner.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

The palmist's vague predictions seem to come true through coincidences, blurring the line between genuine prophecy and self-fulfilling belief.

### Humor and Irony

Tobin's superstitious nature and the absurd chain of events—losing his hat, getting burned, and meeting the crooked-nosed man—create a comedic tone.

## Character check-ins

### Tobin

A hardheaded Irishman grieving the loss of his sweetheart Katie Mahorner; visits a palmist and becomes convinced of the predictions.

### Unknown Narrator

Tobin's friend Jawn Malone, who accompanies him to Coney Island and narrates the events.

### Katie Mahorner

Tobin's sweetheart who disappeared after leaving Ireland; revealed at the end to be working as a kitchen maid for the man with the crooked nose.

## Key lines

> Tobin and me, the two of us, went down to Coney one day, for there was four dollars between us, and Tobin had need of distractions.

Tobin and I went to Coney Island because we had four dollars and Tobin needed cheering up.

_Sets the scene for the story's excursion._

> The line shows,' says the Madame, 'that ye've not arrived at your time of life without bad luck. And there's more to come.'

The palmist tells Tobin he has experienced bad luck and will face more.

_Highlights the palmist's generic predictions._

> Look out,' goes on the palmist, 'for a dark man and a light woman; for they'll both bring ye trouble. Ye'll make a voyage upon the water very soon, and have a financial loss.'

The palmist warns Tobin to beware of a dark man and a light woman, and predicts a sea voyage and financial loss.

_Key predictions that later seem to come true._

> There's a man coming into your life who will fetch ye good fortune. Ye'll know him when ye see him by his crooked nose.

A man with a crooked nose will bring Tobin good luck.

_Sets up the meeting with Friedenhausman._

> I will ask the new girl we have in the kitchen,' says he, 'to make ye a pot of coffee to drink before ye go. 'Tis fine coffee Katie Mahorner makes for a green girl just landed three months.'

The crooked-nosed man mentions that his new kitchen maid, Katie Mahorner, makes excellent coffee.

_Reveals the fate of Tobin's lost sweetheart._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/tobin-s-palm
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters