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It was only about ten at night, but it was cold. The cop stopped at doors as he walked along the street, trying each door to be sure that it was closed for the night.
Then the cop suddenly slowed his walk. Near the door of a darkened shop a man was standing. As the cop walked toward him, the man spoke quickly.
"It's all right, officer," he said. "I'm waiting for my best friend, Jimmy Wells. Twenty years ago tonight, I had dinner here with him. The next morning, I was to start for the West to find a good job. We agreed to meet here tonight."
The man near the door lit his cigarette. The light showed a pale, square face with bright eyes, and a little white mark near his right eye.
"It sounds interesting," said the cop. "I hope your friend comes all right. If he isn't here at ten, are you going to leave?"
"I am not!" said the other. "I'll wait half an hour, at least. Good night, officer.'
"Good night," said the cop, and walked away.
There was now a cold rain falling and the wind was stronger, but the man waited.
About twenty minutes, a tall man in a long coat came hurrying across the street. He went directly to the waiting man.
"Is that you, Bob?" he asked, doubtfully.
"Is that you, Jimmy Wells?" cried the man at the door.
The new man took the other man's hands in his. "It's Bob! It surely is. I was certain I would find you here if you were still alive. We'll go to a place I know, and have a good long talk about old times."
At the corner stood a shop bright with electric lights. When they came near, each turned to look at the other's face.
The man from the West stopped suddenly and pulled his arm away. "You're not Jimmy Wells," he said.
"You've been under arrest for ten minutes, Bob. D first here is something I was asked to give you. You may read it here. It's from a cop named Jimmy," said the tall
The man from the West opened the little piece of paper. His hand began to shake a little as he read.
"Bob: I was at the appointed place on time. When you struck the match to light your cigarette I saw it was the face of the man wanted by Chicago Police. Somehow I couldn't do it myself, so I went around and got a plain clothes* man to do the job. Jimmy."
