In the short story “The Ransom of Red Chief” by O. Henry, the ending takes a surprising turn. The two kidnappers, Bill and Sam, initially believe that they can easily kidnap a young boy for ransom. They choose a rambunctious child named Johnny, who refers to himself as ‘Red Chief.’ However, their plans quickly unravel as Red Chief proves to be a handful, turning the situation into a nightmare for the two criminals.
Eventually, after enduring a series of mischievous and unruly antics orchestrated by Red Chief, the kidnappers find themselves desperate to return the kid. Instead of receiving a ransom, they decide to pay the boy’s father to take him back. The story concludes with the father laughing at their plight and accepting their offer, leading to a humorous twist that emphasizes the story’s themes of irony and unexpected consequences.