"After Twenty Years" by O.Henry : A Summary

On a cold, windy night in New York City, a policeman is walking down a quiet street. It’s nearly 10 o’clock at night, and he’s checking doors to make sure everything is secure. As he walks along, he sees a man standing in the dark doorway of a closed shop.

The man quickly explains that he’s waiting for someone. He tells the policeman that twenty years ago, he and his best friend Jimmy Wells made a promise. They agreed to meet again at that exact spot—Big Joe Brady’s restaurant—on that same date and time, no matter what happened in their lives. The restaurant is no longer there, but the man still kept the appointment.

The man introduces himself as Bob and says he traveled all the way from Chicago to keep the promise. He talks proudly about how successful he became in the West. As he speaks, he lights a cigar, and the light from the flame shows a diamond-studded watch and other flashy jewelry, hinting at his wealth.

The policeman listens politely, chats a little, and then walks away. About twenty minutes later, another man approaches. This new man greets Bob warmly and says he is Jimmy Wells. At first, Bob is happy to see his old friend, but as they walk under a brighter streetlight, he suddenly realizes something is wrong. He says, “You’re not Jimmy Wells.”

The man then reveals the truth:
He is a plainclothes police officer—sent by the real Jimmy Wells. Bob is under arrest because he is a wanted criminal in Chicago.

The officer hands Bob a note from Jimmy, which says that Jimmy did meet him as promised. However, when he saw Bob’s face and recognized him as a criminal, he didn’t have the heart to arrest his old friend himself. So instead, he asked another officer to do it for him.

Bob is taken away by the police. The story ends with a twist—O. Henry’s trademark style—leaving readers surprised and reflective about friendship, time, and moral choices.

• True integrity means doing the right thing, even when it's difficult.

• Time can test relationships, and not everyone stays the same.