It is a cold, dark night. Most people have left work to go home, and this part of the city is now1. A policeman who is checking the area sees a man 2 a shop. He goes up to the man and finds he has a scar (疤痕) on his face. 3 have a talk and the man starts to tell his story.
"Twenty years ago tonight," said the man, "I had dinner here at 'Big Joe' Brady's with Jim, my best friend, and the 4young man in the world. He and I were raised here in New York, just like two 5together. I was eighteen years old and Jim was twenty years old. The next morning I was to 6home for the West to make money. Nobody 7 drag (拖；拽) Jim out of New York： he thought it was the only place in the world. Well, we agreed that night we would meet here again exactly 8 years from that date and time, no matter 9 our conditions might be or which city we might come from." "It sounds pretty10," said the policeman "It's a long time between meets. Haven't you head from your friend11you left?
"Well, 12, for a time we corresponded (通信). "said the man. "But after a year or two we13 track (踪迹) of each other. You see, the West is a pretty big place, and l kept working hard these years. But I know Jim will meet me here unless he is14, for he always was a truest old friend in the world. He'll never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand at this door tonight, and it's worth it15my old partner shows up. "
