Question

In the story after 20 years,
New Gems English reader, class 8, chapter text book exercise

Answer 1

Answer:

“After Twenty years” by O. Henry is an interesting story. The story entitled ‘After Twenty years’ is about two best friends who had to part ways. They return to keep an appointment they had made twenty years ago.

Meeting Jimmy Wells

. A 38-year old Bob is waiting at the door of a hardware store in New York to meet his friend Jimmy Wells. A policeman is on patrol duty. He asks Bob why he is standing there. Bob tells the cop that he (Bob) is waiting to meet his friend.

After twenty years

Bob says that before parting they had made a promise to meet at the same place at the same time on the same date after twenty years. Bob tells the policeman that he (Bob) has kept his promise. Bob is sure that Jimmy Wells will surely come and meet him. After listening to the story, the cop walks away.

Arrival of Police officer

Twenty minutes later, a tall man in plain clothes comes to meet Bob. Bob thinks him Jimmy Wells, but realizes that the man is not his friend. Actually, the man is a police officer in plain clothes. He gives Bob a letter from Jimmy. Bob learns from the letter that the police officer whom he had met earlier was Jimmy, his old friend. *'

Criminal Bob

Jimmy Wells identifies Bob as the most wanted criminal in New York. But he does not want to arrest his intimate friend. So he sends another police officer to do the work.

Conclusion

For Jimmy Wells duty is more important than friendship.