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After Twenty Years

transform their lives. As someone who went from being a
INTR
INTRODUCTION
ODUCTION prisoner to a successful cosmopolitan fiction writer, O. Henry
was certainly more aware than most of the peculiarities and
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF O. HENRY improbabilities of American life.
Born on September 11, 1862, in Greensboro, North Carolina,
O. Henry was a popular American writer of short fiction. In his RELATED LITERARY WORKS
younger years, William Sydney Porter lived in Austin, Texas,
working a variety of odd jobs such as being a sheep rancher, “After Twenty Years” comes out of O. Henry’s first collection of
pharmacist, and bank teller. During this time, he led an active short stories, titled The Four Million. This collection features
social life and was famous for his wit, storytelling, and even some of O. Henry’s most famous short stories, such as “The Gift
singing. He also was an avid reader and wrote consistently, of the Magi,” “The Cop and the Anthem,” “The Green Door,” and
which his wife, Athol Estes, encouraged him to pursue “Springtime à la Carte.” Like “After Twenty Years,” these stories
professionally. This prompted him to become a successful all feature regular, realistic American characters who find
writer for the Rolling Stone and later columnist and cartoonist themselves in ironic or improbable circumstances, elevating
for the Houston Post. However, in 1898 he was indicted and their lives to near-fantastic status. The stories also often end
arrested for embezzlement— which took place during his time with twist endings, for which “The Gift of the Magi” is the
as a bank teller— and sentenced to 5 years in prison. It was perfect example. These themes are consistent across most of
here that Porter began writing and publishing his original short O. Henry’s many collections, such as in Whirligigs, a collection
stories in earnest; he also decided upon his future pen name, O. published in 1910. This collection features one of O. Henry’s
Henry. In 1902 Porter was released and moved to New York most famous stories, titled, “The Ransom of Red Chief,” in which
City, where he launched a prolific and successful career writing two kidnappers ironically pay the father of the boy they
short stories. Until his death in1910, he published nearly 400 kidnapped to take him back from them. Like many of O. Henry’s
stories and wrote more than a story a week for the New York stories, the reader’s expectation is flipped on its head, revealing
World Sunday Magazine. Among other things, his stories were how the ordinary can become extraordinary with just a little
famous for their so-called “twists in the tale” in which everyday twist of fate. O. Henry’s contemporary, fellow short story
people suddenly found themselves in ironic and unlikely author Kate Chopin, was likewise known for twist endings in
situations. such stories as “Désirée’s Baby.”

HISTORICAL CONTEXT KEY FACTS

Writing in the era of American Realism, O. Henry’s stories often • Full Title: After Twenty Years
reflected the realities he saw around him. Though the works • When Written: 1906
were of course fictional, the characters themselves were based • Where Written: New York
on the sort of “real” working-class people whom O. Henry
• When Published: 1906
encountered in the world, particularly people in New York City.
In fact, the title of his first collection, The Four Million, riffs on a • Literary Period: Realism
quote by Ward McAllister, who claims that, with the advent of • Genre: Short Story, Mystery
the census, there are now four million people of interest in New • Setting: New York City
York. In this way, O. Henry’s interest in everyday people can be • Climax: Bob is arrested and discovers that the police officer
thought of as a response to the conditions of modernity, was his old friend, Jimmy Wells.
conditions which began to reveal the interest and diversity of
• Point of View: Third Person
“regular life.” Though he was a realist, this interest of O. Henry’s
reveals him to be an early proponent of one of Modernism’s
EXTRA CREDIT
central ideas —that art should have real, ordinary people as its
subject, not just the wealthy or important. Furthermore, it is Romantic Novelization. In 1907, after his first wife’s death, O.
also possible to see the influence of Porter’s own life in his Henry married his childhood sweetheart, Sarah Lindsey
work, such as his time in prison or his time working as a rancher Coleman. Also a fiction writer, she wrote a fictionalized account
out West. These experiences seem present not just in his focus of their relationship in her novella, Wind of Destiny.
on “ordinary” people, but also in his interest in shady, down-
and-out characters and the improbable circumstances which Prison Perk. Despite O. Henry’s time in prison, there is no

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record that he ever actually had to stay in a cell. As a licensed reliable as Bob says he is. Moreover, out of loyalty to the
pharmacist, he was given opportunity to work in the prison memory of their relationship, Jimmy also chooses to not arrest
hospital and was thus given a room in the hospital wing. Bob himself. Thus, he respects their friendship while still
fulfilling his duty as a guardian of the peace.
Bob – Bob, or “Silky Bob,” is a wanted criminal from Chicago as
PL
PLO
OT SUMMARY well as Jimmy’s best friend from childhood. When he was 18, he
Jimmy Wells and Bob are childhood best friends from New decided to move out West, leaving Jimmy behind in New York.
York City. Though they were like brothers in their youth, they Out West he became a hustler and a criminal, making his
gradually fell out of contact with one another. While Jimmy fortune— as evident by his diamond necklace and gold
remained in New York, Bob moved out West to pursue his watch—but also becoming an enemy of the law. Unlike Jimmy,
fortune. Before parting ways, however, the two of them agreed who confidently walks his beat in plain sight of everyone, Bob’s
to meet 20 years later at Big Joe Brady’s Restaurant, the place time as a criminal has made him covert and circumspect,
where they last saw one another. evident in the way he lurks in the shadows. His life as a criminal
seems to have affected him physically; he has a white scar and a
After 20 years, Bob is waiting for Jimmy at the restaurant when pale face. Despite all this, he still reveals himself to be a loyal
a police officer sees him lurking in a dark doorway. The police and reliable friend. Like Jimmy, he has come to their meeting on
officer approaches Bob and Bob reassures him that he is only time, and even when Jimmy seems to be late, Bob does not lose
there to meet an old friend. After learning a bit about Bob’s any confidence that his friend will arrive. At the end of the
story and his pact with Jimmy, the patrolman moves on. story, Bob is arrested by a plainclothes police officer
Bob continues to wait for Jimmy long past their agreed-upon pretending to be Jimmy. Bob is upset when he learns the officer
meeting time, confident that his friend will arrive. Eventually, a isn’t Jimmy, though it is not clear whether he feels betrayed by
man in an overcoat approaches Bob and introduces himself as his friend or whether he is merely shaken by the revelation.
Jimmy. The two old friends embrace and walk arm in arm,
telling each other about their lives. Eventually, however, they MINOR CHARACTERS
walk by a drug store with bright lights, and Bob realizes that the
man is not Jimmy. It is too late, though, and the man reveals Plainclothes PPolice
olice Officer – This unnamed police officer
himself to be an undercover police officer. He arrests Bob, or pretends to be Jimmy Wells to fool Bob. He ultimately reveals
rather, “Silky Bob,” and hands him a note from a police officer himself to be a police officer, however, and arrests Bob, handing
named “Patrolman Wells.” The note reveals that the officer him Jimmy’s note.
from earlier in the story was Jimmy, but he couldn’t bring
himself to arrest Bob, so he sent the plainclothes police officer
instead.
THEMES
In LitCharts literature guides, each theme gets its own color-
coded icon. These icons make it easy to track where the themes
CHARA
CHARACTERS
CTERS occur most prominently throughout the work. If you don't have
a color printer, you can still use the icons to track themes in
MAJOR CHARACTERS
black and white.
Jimm
Jimmyy W Wells
ells – Jimmy Wells is a police officer and Bob’s best
friend from childhood. While Bob decided to move out West to
LOYALTY VS. DUTY
pursue his fortune, Jimmy chose instead to remain in New York,
eventually becoming a police officer. He is also no ordinary O. Henry’s short story, “After Twenty Years,”
police officer, but a particularly impressive and respectable one, explores the conflict between personal loyalty and
walking with confidence and swagger and artfully twirling his professional duty. The story takes place on the
club. His ability to remain calm while masking his identity to night two childhood friends, Jimmy and Bob, had agreed to
Bob also suggests great emotional and mental intelligence, as meet before they parted ways 20 years earlier. Since that time,
well as decades of experience in law enforcement. Despite however, the two friends have become very different people, a
having just discovered that his old friend is a wanted man, he fact which challenges their loyalty to one another. In particular,
does not let on about his identity, politely inquiring after his Jimmy’s discovery that Bob is a criminal forces him to choose
friend’s life without seeming too suspicious. Furthermore, between remaining loyal to his friend or upholding his duty as a
despite arresting Bob at the end of the story, Jimmy also shows police officer. This decision is especially complicated given the
loyalty and affection for his old friend. Though Bob does not nature of their meeting. If he arrests Bob, he is not only
know it at the time, Jimmy does actually show up on time— betraying a lifelong friend, but he is betraying a friend who has
early, in fact— for their meeting, showing he is every bit as remained loyal to him by traveling over 1000 miles to uphold a

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20-year promise. However, letting Bob go free would mean APPEARANCE, CHARACTER, AND
disregarding his responsibility as a police officer and his MORALS
obligation to serve justice.
In “After Twenty Years,” O. Henry uses physical
In the end, Jimmy decides to arrest Bob, showing his details—from the rainy New York night to brilliant
commitment to upholding the moral standards expected of him flashes of electric lights—to create atmosphere and even
as a police officer. However, he does not want to be the one to foreshadow elements of the story. Most strikingly, Jimmy and
arrest his friend, and so he sends another officer to do it for Bob’s appearances clue readers into aspects of their respective
him. It is left to the reader to decide whether refusing to arrest characters. For instance, Jimmy’s upright and law-abiding
him personally is a sign of genuine loyalty to Bob, or a sign of persona is reflected through his “watchful eye,” “stalwart form,”
disrespect and cowardice. After all, though he is not the one to skillful twirling of his club, and confident gait. Thus, not only is
physically arrest Bob, Jimmy is still responsible for his he a police officer, but he physically embodies the
arrest. As such, “After Twenty Years” illustrates the challenging characteristics of one – he “makes a fine picture of a guardian of
choices individuals in positions of authority face when the peace.” On the other hand, Bob’s criminal status is mirrored
balancing their personal values and professional in his pale face, “keen eyes,” and “white scar,” features that hint
responsibilities. Jimmy’s decision to prioritize duty over loyalty at a troubled past. Despite his ill-gotten wealth—made evident
shows the difficult choices people must make and the by his diamond-encrusted scarf pin and watch—Bob does not
sacrifices—or perhaps compromises—they must make to serve seem to be doing well physically. His moral depravity seems to
the greater good. have taken physical form, giving him the appearance of an
overly wary, sick person. Even before making both men’s
TIME AND IDENTITY identities obvious, then, O. Henry uses physical appearance to
The short story “After Twenty Years” explores the signal that each man’s character has developed and degraded in
relationship between time and identity. In fact, the specific ways over the decades. As such, he suggests that while
central tension of the story is whether the two physical appearance can’t reveal everything about a person, it
main characters, Jimmy and Bob, once close friends who grew can certainly reflect their moral trajectory.
up together in New York, will keep their 20-year-old promise to
meet and will pick up their friendship where it left off. However,
in the 20 years since they last saw each other, they have taken
SYMBOLS
vastly different paths in life. Having remained in New York his Symbols appear in teal text throughout the Summary and
whole life, Jimmy Wells has become a responsible and Analysis sections of this LitChart.
respected police officer, a fact reflected physically in his
“watchful eye” and “stalwart form.” By contrast, in his search
for riches out West, Bob has become a criminal. Though he has BIG JOE BRADY’S RESTAURANT
found success—evident from his diamond-covered scarf pin Big Joe Brady’s restaurant symbolizes the
and handsome watch—he has paid the price for it, as he is now relationship between Jimmy and Bob and, more
wanted by the law in Chicago. As such, time has transformed broadly, the way that time can impact a relationship. At least
two old friends into enemies, though it is not obvious at first. In initially, the restaurant seems to represent the past, present,
fact, when they first meet in the promised location it is as and future of Jimmy and Bob’s friendship, since it is the last
though they are strangers. Though Jimmy recognizes Bob, he place they saw each other as well as the place they promised to
also recognizes him as the wanted man in Chicago, and so he see each other next. However, when they arrive there 20 years
does treats Bob as a stranger and hides his own identity. Bob, later, they not only find that the restaurant is gone, but also that
meanwhile, is too focused on telling his own story to register they’ve both changed beyond recognition. While Bob has led a
that the police officer is his old friend. However, by the end of life of crime, Jimmy has become a police officer and,
the story both friends ultimately realize how much their accordingly, is forced to arrest his old best friend. Just like the
respective identities have changed, a fact demonstrated by the shuttered restaurant, then, their friendship does not truly exist
new names they are given. Jimmy becomes “Patrolman Wells,” in the present—only in the past.
while Bob becomes “Silky Bob” (apparently his criminal
nickname). In a twist, the friends successfully meet after 20
years, only to discover that they are now different people and QUO
QUOTES
TES
can no longer be friends. As such, the story suggests that time
can not only change one’s identity, but turn the best of friends Note: all page numbers for the quotes below refer to the Dover
into strangers, or even enemies, in the process. edition of The Gift of the Magi and Other Short Stories
published in 1992.

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After Twenty Years Quotes

reflected is Bob’s nervous attempt to dissuade the
Trying doors as he went, twirling his club with many patrolman of any suspicion. He realizes that he comes
intricate and artful movements, turning now and then to cast across as a shady character and speaks up “quickly” to
his watchful eye adown the pacific thoroughfare, the officer, explain himself. This moment also hints to the reader that
with his stalwart form and slight swagger, made a fine picture of Bob may have something to be nervous about with law
a guardian of the peace. enforcement, though it is not revealed until the end of the
story that he is in fact a criminal.
Related Characters: Jimmy Wells This scene is also the height of cosmic irony in the story.
Though neither realizes it at first, the two old friends have
Related Themes: succeeded here in reuniting at the time and place they
promised 20 years earlier. Because both have changed over
Page Number: 21 the years, however, they fail to recognize each other,
Explanation and Analysis especially Bob, who seems unable to consider the possibility
that his old friend Jimmy might have become a police officer.
Here, Patrolman Wells performs his nightly duties as a
police officer, checking houses and twirling his baton.
Though he has yet to say anything in the story, his actions
here reveal a lot about his personality and character. His We figured that in twenty years each of us ought to have
fanciful twirling of the baton, for instance, suggests that he our destiny worked out and our fortunes made, whatever
is both well-practiced with the tool as well as confident and they were going to be.
comfortable in his role as a police officer. Since the reader is
told earlier in the story that his “impressiveness” is Related Characters: Bob (speaker), Jimmy Wells
“habitual” and not for “show,” it seems that his ability with
the baton is more of an expression of his proficiency as an Related Themes:
officer than a display of hubris. This is confirmed by the
narrator’s comment that the patrolman “ma[kes] a fine Page Number: 21
picture of a guardian of the peace.” Thus, while his actions
may come across as performative, they are just unconscious Explanation and Analysis
reflections of his high level of vocational competence. His Here, Bob explains to the Patrolman why he and Jimmy had
swagger, in other words, arises naturally out of his agreed to meet 20 years later. Given the opposite paths that
professionalism. the two old friends take in the story, however, this quote
takes on somewhat of a tragically ironic significance. Given
that Bob has become a wanted criminal in Chicago and
Jimmy has become a police officer in New York, in other
As the policeman walked up to him the man spoke up
words, they seem to have chosen destinies which are
quickly.
inherently antagonistic; despite Bob’s innocent optimism
“It’s alright, officer,” he said reassuringly. “I’m just waiting for a (he does not yet realize Jimmy is the patrolman), it does not
friend. It’s an appointment I made twenty years ago.” seem possible for them to meaningfully reunite with one
another without there being conflict. As such, the two seem
Related Characters: Bob (speaker), Jimmy Wells to have chosen paths which are both antagonistic and
intertwined. This turns out to be true, as Jimmy is ultimately
Related Themes: forced to arrest Bob in order to uphold his integrity as a
police officer. All in all, this passage highlights the central
Page Number: 21 tragedy of the story— that people change over time, and
that sometimes one must accept that an old friend is just
Explanation and Analysis
that: a past friend.
This is the first exchange between Bob and Jimmy in the
story, though neither character knows the other’s identity
yet. As far as the two of them are concerned, one of them is
a police officer and the other one is a man lurking in a
shadowy doorway late at night. This power dynamic is

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But I know Jimmy will meet me here if he’s alive, for he
always was the truest staunchest chap in the world. He’ll ostentatious accessories like his diamond-encrusted watch,
never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand in this door to- this comment suggests to the reader that Bob may not
night, and it’s worth it if my old partner shows up. exactly be an upstanding citizen and that his sources of
wealth are likely shady at best.
Related Characters: Bob (speaker), Jimmy Wells As such, this quote also foreshadows the twist at the end of
the story which results in Bob’s arrest. In particular, it
Related Themes: suggests that Jimmy is a more upstanding character than
his childhood friend, Bob, and that his choice of career
Page Number: 22 might have taken a similar path. Just as Bob’s
adventurousness led him down a path of criminality, in other
Explanation and Analysis words, Jimmy’s being a “plodder,” or someone who sticks to
Here, Bob expresses his confidence in the reliability of his what’s expected, may have led him down a more virtuous
old friend Jimmy. He extols his virtues and seems to have no path. Ultimately, this turns out to be true, not only
doubt that Jimmy will show up to meet him. Given that suggesting that people can change over time, but that they
Jimmy is actually the Patrolman and is thus already there, often change in ways which exaggerate their dispositions
however, this claim takes on a simultaneously comedic and when they were younger.
tragic significance. On the comedic side of things, it is funny
for Bob to be expressing his confidence that his old friend
will show up… to that very friend. Unbeknownst to Bob,
“You’re not Jimmy Wells,” he snapped. “Twenty years is a
however, Jimmy has already fulfilled his commitment,
long time, but not long enough to change a man’s nose
confirming Bob’s confidence that Jimmy will arrive without
from a Roman to a pug.”
him even realizing it. Given Bob’s eventual arrest, however,
Bob’s words also assume a certain tragic quality, as it “It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one,” said the tall
becomes clear that Bob may have mislaid his trust in Jimmy. man. “You’ve been under arrest for ten minutes.”
This difference in loyalty between the two of them is further
highlighted by the fact that Bob has traveled a thousand Related Characters: Bob, Plainclothes Police Officer
miles to be there, despite the risks to his own freedom and (speaker), Jimmy Wells
wellbeing. Given Bob’s status as a wanted man, his choice to
travel to New York to meet Jimmy is an impressive show of Related Themes:
loyalty on his part which contrasts with Jimmy’s choice to
arrest him. Page Number: 23

Explanation and Analysis

Having just seen his supposed friend in full light, Bob
You bet! I hope Jimmy has done half as well. He was a good
realizes that the man walking beside him is not actually
kind of plodder, though, good fellow as he was. A man gets
Jimmy. In explanation, he points out that time can only
in a groove in New York. It takes the West to put a razor-edge
change your appearance so much, to which the man retorts
on him.
that it can change a “good man into a bad one.” This is one of
the key themes of the story—the idea that time can change
Related Characters: Bob (speaker), Jimmy Wells the sort of person you are. In fact, it is arguably Bob’s failure
to recognize this that leads to his arrest: even though he
Related Themes: himself has changed, he is unable to recognize that Jimmy
might have changed just as much. Bob is too focused on the
Page Number: 22 appearance of things—like Jimmy’s law enforcement outfit
or his own flashy accessories—to recognize what is actually
Explanation and Analysis
in front of him. As such, this scene not only verbalizes one of
In response to the Patrolman’s questions, Bob inadvertently the story’s main themes, but also points out Bob’s major
reveals more about his questionable past. Not only has he shortcoming: his superficial, egotistical interest in the world
done well, but the circumstances in which he has done so around him. Had he taken a second to let his supposed
seem to have hardened him, or rather, made him into friend talk, for instance, he might have realized that the man
someone with a “razor-edge” on him. Combined with his

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was not Jimmy earlier. Similarly, had he considered the sight, the author leaves their ultimate interpretation up to
possibility that Jimmy might have changed, he might have the reader.
recognized his friend under the uniform. He does neither of
these things, however, and thus misses several
opportunities to get out of a sticky situation. Thus, this
Bob: I was at the appointed place on time. When you
scene suggests that, while Jimmy is the one who calls in the struck the match to light your cigar I saw it was the face of
arrest, Bob is in part responsible for this outcome. the man wanted in Chicago. Somehow I couldn’t do it myself, so
I went around and got a plain clothes man to do the job.

His hand was steady when he began to read, but it

Related Characters: Bob (speaker), Jimmy Wells,
trembled a little by the time he had finished.
Plainclothes Police Officer

Related Characters: Jimmy Wells, Bob, Plainclothes Police Related Themes:

Officer
Page Number: 23
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis
Page Number: 23 Here, Jimmy reveals to Bob that he was the patrolman from
earlier. Instead of telling him in person, however, Jimmy
Explanation and Analysis chooses to write Bob a note instead, explaining that it was
Having just been arrested by the plainclothes police officer, he who called in the arrest. Jimmy’s motivations for this are
Bob receives a note which reveals that the Patrolman from not immediately obvious, though it seems most likely that
earlier was his old friend Jimmy. His reaction to this he did not want to spoil the memory of his relationship with
revelation—his “trembling” hand—leaves a lot up for Bob by personally arresting him and revealing himself. It is
interpretation, as it is hard to know what exactly Bob is also possible that Jimmy would not have been able to do it
feeling in this moment. Not only has he just been arrested, at all, had he been there himself. In either case, this note
but he has been betrayed by one of his oldest, most trusted complicates the nature of Jimmy’s loyalty to Bob, since it is
friends. As such, his trembling hand could just as easily be a legible both as a sign of respect for their relationship as well
product of anger as it could be of sadness for the end of as the ultimate affront to their relationship—that is, that he
their relationship. It could also be frustration or annoyance was unwilling to respect Bob enough to arrest him himself.
that Jimmy was not willing to arrest him himself, or even Of course, the fact that he is willing to arrest Bob in the first
disappointment that Jimmy chose not to reveal himself place suggests that, for Jimmy, loyalty to one’s occupation
earlier. Thus, this scene highlights the complexity of the comes before loyalty to a friend, a priority that seems less
emotional dynamic between Bob and Jimmy, leaving the true of Bob, given his willingness to travel a thousand miles
reader equally confused about the state of these two to New York as a wanted man.
friends’ relationship. Though all the facts are laid out in plain

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SUMMARY AND ANAL

ANALYSIS
YSIS
The color-coded icons under each analysis entry make it easy to track where the themes occur most prominently throughout the
work. Each icon corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart.

AFTER TWENTY YEARS

A policeman patrols his street at 10 o’clock at night. He walks The opening scene introduces two characters who seem to be, if not
confidently, but it is clearly not for show, as there is no one on exactly opposites, from very different walks of life. Though neither
the street. The policeman twirls his club with skill and dexterity speaks, each man’s behavior and dress hints at their respective
as he checks on houses. Most places are closed, however, as personalities. Based on his confident gait, uniform, and prowess
the street is mostly comprised of stores and businesses. The with his baton, for instance, the police officer appears to be a
policeman slows down as he notices a man in the shadows of a particularly competent, dutiful, and responsible figure. The stranger
hardware store’s doorway. The stranger has an unlit cigar in his in the doorway, by contrast, with his unlit cigarette and conspicuous
mouth, and the policeman walks up to him. The man reassures attempt to hide in the shadows of a doorway on an empty street,
the officer that he has a legitimate reason to be waiting there. comes across as a suspicious and shady figure. Unlike the police
He explains that he made an appointment 20 years ago to meet officer, the man in the doorway wants to remain unseen. This
someone at that spot, which used to be called Big Joe Brady’s contrast foreshadows a revelation later in the story.
Restaurant.

The policeman says that the restaurant was torn down five Having lit his cigar, the stranger in the doorway reveals himself to
years before. The man lights his cigar, highlighting his pale face, have features which are often associated with shady or suspicious
a square jaw, intelligent eyes, and white scar. He explains that men. For instance, his white scar suggests a violent, maligned past.
20 years ago he dined at Big Joe Brady’s with an old friend, Despite his appearance, however, the story the man tells about why
Jimmy Wells, who he had grown up with. They were raised he is there suggests that he is a loyal friend, having faithfully
together in New York, but they parted ways because he wanted traveled many miles to be at Big Joe Brady’s restaurant 20 years
to travel West whereas Jimmy wanted to remain in New York. later. This revelation complicates Joe as a character, as it is unclear
That night they agreed to meet at the same location 20 years what sort of person he really is.
later and catch up on each other’s lives.

The policeman appreciates the story and asks if they have As the policeman continues to ask about the man’s story, the man
corresponded since. The man explains that they did for a few reveals himself to be an increasingly complex character. While
years, but then eventually they stopped. He assumes some details like his various references to “hustling” out West further
fault for it, explaining that the West was a big and distracting suggest a shady past, his display of commitment to his friend paints
place, and he was always hustling about. Despite this, the man him in a positive light. While he may not be the most upright
claims that Jimmy will meet him here because he is the truest individual, the man seems to genuinely care for and trust his friend
and most loyal man in the world. The man has traveled over a Jimmy.
thousand miles to get here, but he says that if Jimmy comes it
will all have been worth it. The policeman asks whether the
man did well out West, and the man says yes, claiming that the
West makes you sharp. The policeman wishes him luck and
goes on his way.

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The man smokes in the doorway as he waits for his friend to With the policeman gone, the man in the doorway begins to doubt
arrive. He is uncertain whether Jimmy will arrive, but after 20 whether his old friend will really arrive. Though he clearly has a lot
minutes a tall man shows up. The man asks if it’s Bob, and Bob of faith in his old friend, it is now far past their agreed-upon meeting
asks if he’s Jimmy. They confirm who they are, and Jimmy time, building suspense for the reader. Still, the man waits it out,
expresses his sadness that the old restaurant is gone. Bob showing again the level of commitment he has to Jimmy and their
comments on how much Jimmy has grown. Jimmy suggests relationship. Though they may have fallen out of contact, it is clear
that they walk to a place he knows to reminisce about when that Jimmy still holds a special place in the man’s heart, and he is
they were younger. They walk arm and arm down the street, willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Though all seems well
and Bob egotistically tells Jimmy about his time out West. once Jimmy arrives, the man does notice that his old friend is taller
than he remembered him being. This, combined with the lateness of
his supposedly “reliable” friend, suggests that everything may not be
as well as it seems.

The two men walk under bright lights at the drug store and Here, Bob realizes that the man he is walking with is not actually his
look at each other. Bob stops and lets go of Jimmy’s arm, telling old friend, Jimmy, but a police officer in disguise. Suddenly, the
him that he knows he’s not actually Jimmy, even after 20 years. warning signs from before make sense: the man is taller than Bob
The tall man comments on how time can turn people bad, and remembers his old friend being because he is not actually Jimmy.
then says that he, Silky Bob, is under arrest. He says that Bob’s own past is also revealed, confirming the various clues from
Chicago wired them Bob might be in town. Bob goes with the earlier in the story which suggested he was a crook or criminal. As
plainclothes police officer quietly, and as he does the tall man the plainclothes police officer reveals, Bob is in fact a wanted
gives him a note from Patrolman Wells. criminal, and the officer was only posing as Jimmy to get into his
confidence.

Bob unfolds the note and begins to read it. His hand is steady at The note handed to Bob by the plainclothes officer provides the last
first, but as he reads the note it begins to tremble. The note is piece of the story’s puzzle. Written by Jimmy (or Patrolman) Wells, it
from his old friend Jimmy Wells, who reveals himself as the reveals that the police officer from earlier in the story was in fact
policeman from earlier. He says that he was at the restaurant Bob’s old friend, Jimmy, but that he did not reveal himself because
on time but recognized Bob as the wanted man from Chicago. he recognized Bob as a criminal. Instead of arresting Bob himself,
He explains that he could not get himself to arrest Bob himself, however, he sent a plainclothes police officer in his stead. As such,
so he sent another police officer to do it for him. Jimmy puts his duty as a protector of the law over his loyalty to his
old friend, Bob. Still, his inability to arrest Bob himself shows that
Jimmy cannot entirely shake the loyalty he feels toward his friend.
Though he is responsible for the arrest, he does not want to tarnish
the memory of their relationship by arresting him himself. This
suggests that, despite the different paths they chose in life, both
men still care about their childhood relationship. Like the former Big
Joe Brady’s restaurant, however, it is only the memory of their
friendship that ultimately remains.

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