The story is about a wealthy businessman whose son wants to propose to his sweetheart before she leaves the USA for Europe in a couple of days' time. Although the son believes that money cannot buy you time the one thing he dearly needs more of if he is to woo his beloved the events of the story suggest that money can be used to buy someone extra time.O. Henry's short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings.

William Sydney Porter (September 11, 1862 June 5, 1910), better known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American writer known primarily for his short stories, though he also wrote poetry and non-fiction.