The policeman moved up the beat impressively. The time was barely 10 at night and gusts of wind had de-peopled the streets.
As the policeman walked up to him the man spoke up quickly. its all right officer he said reassuringly
It sounds pretty interesting to me...Rather long time between meets though isn't it?
I'm just waiting for a friend. Its a appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds funny doesn't it? Twenty years ago i dined here at big joe brady, the finest chap in the world. I was to leave to the west the next day so we bade goodbye at this entrance and promised to meet again after twenty years.
The waiting man pulled out a handsome watch, its lids set with small diamonds.
Ill be on my way then. Hope your friends comes around. Good night sir.
Yes it is quite a long time. We corresponded for a year or two but lost touch...Three minutes to 10!.It was exactly 10 when we parted at the restaurant door.
When about midway of a certain block the policeman suddenly slowed his walk.in the doorway of a darkened hardware a man leaned.
About twenty minutes he waited and then a tall man in a long overcoat with the collar turned up to his hurried across form the opposite side of the street. He went directly to the waiting man.
Bob! is that you?!!. Its fate bob I'm sure of it!...Shame, The restaurants closed now. How's the west treated you?
The man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar. The light showed a pale square jawed face with keen eyes, a little white scar. He wore a large oddly set diamond pin in his scarf.
At the corner stood a drug store, brilliant with electric lights. When they came into the glare of them they turned simultaneously to gaze upon each others faces.
You're not Jimmy wells!. Twenty years is a long time but not long enough to change a mans nose from a romans to pugs!
The policeman went on his way trying doors as he went. And in the doorway of a darkened hardware shop a man who came a thousand miles to visit his friend; waited.
The man from the west unfolded the little piece of paper handed to him.
The two men started up the street arm in arm, the man from the west started outlining his success story while the man in the overcoat listened intently.
Well its given me everything I've wished for. You've changed lots jimmy!.You've grown so tall!
Now before we go on to the station here's a not i was asked to hand you. You may read it here at the window. Its from patrolman wells The mysterious man continued.
But it sure can change a good man to a bad man … You've been under arrest for ten minutes 'Silky Bob' Chicago thinks you may have dropped over our way and wires us she wants to a have chat with you. Going quietly are you? That's sensible.
His hand was steady as he began to unfold but as he began to read it trembled little by the time he finished.
Bob: I was at the appointed place on time. When you struck the match to light your cigar, I saw it was the face of the man wanted in Chicago. Somehow I couldn't do it myself, so I went around and got a plain clothed man to do the job,- Jimmy