- Read a few of our sample essays on your topic
- Develop your own ideas
- Your paper will practically write itself
The story takes place around 10 p.m. along a dark, windy New York City business avenue, mostly within the darkened doorway of a closed hardware store. This particular location had been a restaurant until five years ago. The weather worsens as the drama builds going from "chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain" to a "fine, cold drizzle falling, and wind had risen from its uncertain puffs into a steady blow."
The plot begins with a policeman "on the beat" who discovers a man standing in the dark doorway. The man then proceeds to explain why he is there. He and his best friend, Jimmy Wells had parted exactly twenty years ago to make their fortunes and had promised to meet at that spot "After Twenty Years". He had gone west and gotten rich and was sure his friend, Jimmy would meet him if at all possible. They talked a while and the policeman carried on. The man from the west wonders if his friend will show. The drama increases in anticipation of the rendezvous. Twenty minutes later, another man, who we assume is his long lost friend, greets him warmly and they walk arm in arm discussing careers until they come to a will lighted corner. The man from the west gets a good look at his companion and discovers that he is not his friend, Jimmy. We are treated to several surprises at this, the climax of the story: 1) The man from the west is under arrest, 2) He is actually 'Silky Bob', a gangster from Chicago and, 3) The stranger is a plainclothes policeman. However, it seems that three surprises are not enough. We get the "real" surprise ending when the plainclothesman hands Bob a note from Patrolman "Jimmy Wells", his friend who is actually the policeman from the beginning o
Quotes talked about in this paper
- "stalwart" policeman was described by Bob as being the "truest, staunchest old chap in the world" and much to Bob's demise, he has remained the same "after twenty years."
- Bob tells the policeman that "It takes the West to put a razor edge on him." ...
Names referenced in this essay
a crook, Bob, Jimmy, The character, O. Henry, Jimmy Wells,
Locations talked about in this research material
New York., Chicago, New York City,
Keywords referenced in this research material
policeman, twenty years, the policeman, gangster, New York, short story, short stories, New York City, New York World, another man, a story, show, moral obligation, hardware store, quick response, a minor, young men, imposter, Chicago, five years, drama, explains, dark, meetings, out west, drizzle, plainclothes, hustling, egos, puffs, hindsight, greets, worries, interrogation, sentimental, ridiculous, ironic, wits, windy, clever, dilemma, razor, description, entertaining, checking, trick, evil, greeting, careers, trademark,
Save Paperlocate them quickly!
