Question

a retrieved reformation
1 a guard came to the prison shoemaking, where jimmy valentine was industriously stitching uppers, and escorted him to the front office. there the warden handed jimmy his pardon, which had been signed that morning by the governor. jimmy took it in a tired kind of way. he had served nearly ten months of a four - year sentence. he had expected to stay only about three months, at the longest. when a man with as many friends on the outside as jimmy valentine had is received in the “stir, ” it is hardly worth while to cut his hair.
“now, valentine, ” said the warden, “you’ll go out in the morning. brace up, and make a man of yourself. you’re not a bad fellow at heart. stop cracking safes, and live straight.”
“me?” said jimmy, in surprise. “why, i never cracked a safe in my life.”
“oh, no, ” laughed the warden. “of course not. let’s see, now. how was it you happened to get sent up on that springfield job? was it because you wouldn’t prove an alibi for fear of compromising somebody in extremely high - toned society? or was it simply a case of a mean old jury that had it in for you? it’s always one or the other with you innocent victims.”
“me?” said jimmy, still blankly virtuous. “why, warden, i never was in springfield in my life!”

assuming ben price’s collar button is a symbol in the story, for what did it stand?
ben’s dedication to his job
ben’s hatred of jimmy
ben’s love of his hometown

Explanation:

In "A Retrieved Reformation", Ben Price is a detective (law - enforcement, related to his job). His collar button as a symbol is most likely to represent his dedication to his job (tracking criminals like Jimmy, upholding the law). The option about hating Jimmy is too personal and not a symbolic representation of a collar button. The option about love of hometown is irrelevant as the story's context around Ben Price's collar button doesn't relate to hometown love.

Answer:

A. Ben's dedication to his job