"The Caballero's Way" (short Story)
In O. Henry's darkly ironic original story, the Cisco Kid bears little resemblance to later adaptations. The character is a 25-year-old desperado in the Texas-Mexico border country. He kills for sport and is responsible for at least eighteen deaths. His real name is possibly Goodall ("This hombre they call the Kid—Goodall is his name, ain't it?"); no first name is given in the story. The Kid's mixed-ancestry girlfriend, Tonia Perez, both fears and loves him. However, when Texas ranger Lieutenant Sandridge arrives at her home seeking news of the Cisco Kid, they fall in love. He begins visiting twice a week. The Kid arrives to visit Tonia and observes them.
Ten yards from his hiding-place, in the shade of the jacal, sat his Tonia calmly plaiting a rawhide lariat. So far she might surely escape condemnation; women have been known, from time to time, to engage in more mischievous occupations. But if all must be told, there is to be added that her head reposed against the broad and comfortable chest of a tall red-and-yellow man, and that his arm was about her, guiding her nimble small fingers that required so many lessons at the intricate six-strand plait.
He overhears Tonia tell Sandridge that she had word that the Kid was near and assumes that he will visit her soon. She says that she will send him word by Gregorio, "the small son of old Luisa," so that he can bring his men and kill the Kid. Sandridge departs and, after half an hour, the Kid then pretends to just arrive. However, he soon sends a message to Sandridge by Domingo Sales, who claimed that Luisa said that Gregorio was "too ill of a fever to ride". The message says that the Kid has arrived, but claims that the Kid is fearful of men after him, so will make Tonia switch clothes with him "so he can tell if I am true and if men are hidden to shoot him." Sandridge returns to Tonia's home. In the moonlight, he sees two figures, one in men's clothing and the other in women's. The one in men's clothing rides away. Assuming this to be Tonia, Sandridge ignores this person and proceeds to shoot the remaining figure in women's clothing, assuming it to be the Kid. However, it was Tonia. Thus, the Kid tricked Sandridge into killing his love, Tonia.
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