Main Story Elements:
Two old pals, Jimmy Wells (also known as Bob) and a man referred to only as "The Other Man," make an agreement to meet again in twenty years at a specified place.
Bob is depicted as a successful businessman who is leading a respectable life and pondering the changes that have taken place over the past 20 years. Due to the passage of time, he comes to the realization that he is experiencing a period of sentimental longing for his former friend.
As Bob goes about his business affairs, he discovers a note that was left in the pocket of an aged, shabby overcoat that he owns. The note was written 20 years previously and contains a promise to meet later that same day.
Upon receiving the letter, Bob begins to worry about the person he is expecting to meet. He starts having doubts and questions if the person he knew still exists or if their lives have diverged so extensively.
The time that has passed brings the two old pals together at a predetermined meeting place. Even though they have changed physically, they are still able to recognize one another because of the strong connection that they share. There is a moment of emotional intensity as they remember the friendship that they once shared and the circumstances of their lives.
Unanticipated Development:
Just as they are about to meet, Bob makes the astonishing discovery that The Other Man is not the same person he had assumed he would be but is really a police officer. The officer informs him that Bob is actually a wanted criminal who is going by a different name and has been successfully hiding from the law.
Bob is taken into custody and taken into the custody of law enforcement. However, it appears as though he harbours no resentment for his friend's role in bringing him to justice. He is aware of the fact that his buddy was obligated to do what he had to do, and he is thankful that the pact made many years ago was adhered to.
Moral of the Story:
The story sends the message that some commitments and agreements can persist for an extended period of time and might have repercussions that could not have been anticipated. No matter how much time has passed, the consequences of ones words and actions can continue to have a significant impact on ones life.