Question

values = []
values << [ '1', 'one']
values << [ '2', 'two']
values << [ '3', 'three']

one = '1'

puts values[one]

The above line throws an exception.

Answer 1

You defined an array, you want a hash.

values = {}
values['1'] = 'one'
values['2'] = 'two'
values['3'] = 'three'

one = '1'
values[one] #=> 'one'

That of course you should write:

values = {
 '1' => 'one',
 '2' => 'two',
 '3' => 'three',
}

one = '1'    
values[one] #=> 'one'