Thepolicemanmoveduptheavenueimpressively.Itwasbarely10o’clockatnightbutthechillywindwithrainhadkeptpeopleoutofthestreets.Thepolicemansuddenlyslowedhiswalk.Inthedoorwayofadarkenedstoreamanle

　　Thepolicemanmoveduptheavenueimpressively.Itwasbarely10o’clockatnightbutthechillywindwithrainhadkeptpeopleoutofthestreets.

　　Thepolicemansuddenlyslowedhiswalk.Inthedoorwayofadarkenedstoreamanleanedwithanunlightedcigarinhismouth.Asthepolicemanwalkeduptohimthemanspokeupquickly.

　　“It’sallrightofficer”hesaid“I’mjustwaitingforafriend.It’sanappointmentmadetwentyyearsago.Wellaboutthatlongagothereusedtobearestaurantwherethisstorestands—‘BigJoe’Brady’srestaurant.”

　　“Untilfiveyearsago”saidthepoliceman.“Itwastorndownthen.”

　　Themaninthedoorwaystruckamatchandlithiscigar.Thelightshowedapalesquare-jawedfacewithkeeneyesandalittlewhitescarnearhisrighteyebrow.Hisscarfpinwasalargediamond.

　　“Twentyyearsagotonight”saidtheman.“Idinedhereat‘BigJoe’Brady’swithJimmyWellsmybestfriendandthefinestguyintheworld.HeandIwereraisedhereinNewYorkjustliketwobrotherstogether.IwaseighteenandJimmywastwenty.ThenextmorningIwastostartfortheWesttomakemyfortune.Youcouldn’thavedraggedJimmyoutofNewYork;hethoughtitwastheonlyplaceonearth.Wellweagreedthatnightthatwewouldmeethereagainexactlytwentyyearsfromthatdateandtimenomatterwhatourconditionsmightbeorfromwhatdistancewemighthavetocome.Wefiguredthatintwentyyearseachofusoughttohaveourfortunesmadewhatevertheyweregoingtobe.”

　　“Itsoundsprettyinteresting”saidthepoliceman.“Ratheralongtimebetweenmeetsthoughitseemstome.Haven’tyouheardfromyourfriendsinceyouleft?”

　　“Wellyesforatimewecorresponded”saidtheother.“Butafterayearortwowelosttrackofeachother.YetIknowJimmywillmeetmehereifhe’saliveforhealwayswasthetruestguyintheworld.He’llneverforget.Icameathousandmilestostandinthisdoortonightandit’sworthitifmyoldpartnerturnsup.”

　　Thepolicemantwirledhisclub(警棍)andtookasteportwosaying:“I’llbeonmyway.Hopeyourfriendcomesaroundallright.”

　　“I’llgivehimhalfanhouratleast.IfJimmyisalivehe’llbeherebythattime.Solongofficer.”

　　“Good-nightsir”thepolicemanwentaway.

　　Themanwhohadcomeathousandmilestofillanappo