(
课件网) who a policeman (Jimmy Wells) Bob (a criminal) a tall man (a plain-clothes man) when barely ten o’clock at night where in the doorway of a store, New York Fast reading ———elements ① Bob went to see his friend Jimmy at the agreed location. ② A man came to Bob and claimed to be Jimmy, which Bob suspected. ③ A policeman approached him, chatted with him and left. ④ Bob knew the truth through a note from Jimmy. ⑤ Bob was arrested by the plain-clothes man. ① ③ ② ⑤ ④ Fast reading ———the plot After Twenty Years The policeman on the beat walked along the street as he always did. It was barely ten o’clock at night. When he had walked about halfway around a certain block, the policeman suddenly slowed down. In the doorway of a store stood a man, with an unlit cigar in his mouth. As the policeman walked up to him the man spoke up quickly. “It’s all right, officer,” he said. “I’m just waiting for a friend. It’s an appointment made twenty years ago. There used to be a restaurant where this store stands———Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant.” “It was here until five years ago,” said the policeman. “It was torn down then.” The man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar. The light showed a pale face, with keen eyes, a square jaw and a little white scar near his right eyebrow. His scarfpin was a large diamond, oddly set. “Twenty years ago tonight,” said the man, “I dined here with Jimmy Wells, my best friend. He and I were just like two brothers. I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. The next morning I was to leave New York and travel to the West to make my fortune. Well, we agreed that night that we would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and time, no matter what our conditions might be or from what distance we might have to come. We figured that in twenty years each of us ought to have built a life and made our fortunes.” “It sounds pretty interesting,” said the policeman. “Rather a long time between meetings, though. Haven’t you heard from your friend since you left ” “Well, we kept in touch for a year or two, and then we lost contact. But I know Jimmy will meet me here if he’s alive, for he always was the truest and most reliable fellow in the world. He’ll never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand in this doorway tonight, and it’s worthwhile if my old partner turns up.” The waiting man pulled out a handsome watch, set with small diamonds. It was three minutes to ten. “I’ll be on my way,” said the policeman.“Hope your friend turns up.” “I’ll give him half an hour at least. Bye, officer.” The man who had come a thousand miles to keep an appointment with the friend of his youth smoked his cigar and waited. About twenty minutes later, a tall man in a long overcoat, with collar turned up to his ears, hurried toward him. “Is that you, Bob ”he asked, doubtfully. “Is that you, Jimmy Wells ”shouted the man in the doorway. ... ...
