South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-24
A DINNER AT!-By O. Henry

CTAe story referred 30 in this skit
appears IT. The Trimmed Lamp"
under The same tltie-'The Badge Of
Policeman O'Roon-")
Tho Adventures Of an Author With
His Own Hero.
AT that dsy-ln fact from the
moment OF his creation - Van
Swelior had conducted himself fairly
well IN my eyes. OF course I had
had 90 make many CONCESSIONS hut
in return he had been TO less con-
stderate. once or twice We had had
sharp. brief contentious ever certain
points Of behavior. but. Drevaiingly.
give and take had been our rule.
His morning toilet provoked our
first tiit. Van Sweller went about
it confidently.
'sThe usual thing. 7 suppose. old
chap. ne said. with a emile and a
yaUn Il ring for b. and s.. and
then have my tub. I splash good
deal IN the water. Of course. You are
aware that there are two ways in
which I can receive Tommy Car
michael when he looks In 10 have a
NtaAN ABOUT EDADs AIA- NnAfN W. AAAAAA
through the bathroom door. or I can
be picking at a grilled bone which
my man has brought in. Which
would you prefer
I smiled with diabolic satisfaction
at his coming discomhtDse
Neither" I said. You will make
you appearance on the scene when a
gentleman should-after you are
fully dressed. which indubitably pri-
vate function shall take place behind
closed doors And 7 viii feel in
debtaG 20 YOU II, after YOU do APP
pear your department and manners
are such that Il will not be neces-
sary 10 inform the public, in order TO
appease it's apprehension. that YOU
have taken "a bath
Van SweIler slightly elevated his
brows
ooh. very we'll" he said a trifle
piqued II rather imagine it con-
Germs you more than IL does me. cut
the tub BY all means, If you think
best. But Il has been the usual
thing. you know"
This was my victory: but after
Van SweIIer en- rged from his apart
ments in the "BeaujOlie" I was van
ouishcd I'm "A dozen small but we'll
contested skirmishes I allowed him
a cigar. but routed him on the ques-
ton Of naming its brand. But he
worsted me when I objected 10 Civ
ing him a coat Enthusiastically Eng
lish i'm it's cut" I allowed him 10
stroll down Broadway and even
perr1itted "passers- by God knows
there's nowhere 20 pass but by) TO
"turn their heads and gaze with ev-
fdent admiration at his erect figure
7 demeaued myself. and, as "a barber
gave him "a smooth. dark face with
it's keen. frank eve. and firm jaw
Later on he looked in at the club
and saw Freddy Vavasour. polo team
captain dawdling over drilled bone
No. T.
Dear old boy began Van Swell
or: but In an instant I had seized MIN
by the collar and dragged him aside
with the scantist courtesy
"For heavens sake talk Ike
man." / said sternly. do YOU think
IL is manly 10 use those mushy and
inane forms Of address, That man
- neither dear nor old nor boy
To u- surprise Van Swell turned
upon me "a look Of frank pleasure
II am glad 90 hear YOU say that.
ne said. heartily. Il used those
words because / have been forced 20
say Thorn SO often. They are con
tempt.ble. Thanks for correcting me.
dear old boy"
still I must admit that Van Swell
e,'s conduct i'm the park that morn
ing was almost without flaw. The
courage. the dash. the modesty. the
skin. and fidelity that ne displayed
atoned for everything.
This is the way the story runs
Van SweIer has been " gentleman
member OF the Rugged Riders" the
company that made war with a
foreign country famous. Among his
coN.rades was Lawrence O'Roon.
man whom, Van Sweller liked. a
strange thinC-and hazardous one in
fction-was that Van Swellor and
O'Roou rcscmbled each nther might
flv I'M face. form. and general APP
pcarancc. After the war Van Swell
err pulled wires. and O'Roon was
made "a mounted policeman
Now one night i'm New York there
are commemorations and hbations by
old comrades. and IN the morning.
Mounted Policeman O'RoOn. unused
20 potent Iiquids-another premise
hazardous i'm hCtion-fnGs the earth
buckine and bending like bronco.
with NO stirrup into which he may
irserr foot and save his honor and
his badge.
NohIcsse obIige2 Surely. So out
along the drivcways and bride paths
trots Hudson Van Sweile- in the un-
form OF his incapacitated comrade.
az like unto him as one French pea
is unto petit pols.
IL IS. Of course. a Jolly lark for
Van SweHer. who has wealth ana
so.i,4 positfon enough for him 10
y7asouerade safely even as police
commissioner doing his duty II ne
wished To do so. But society. not
given 90 scanning the countenances
Of mounted policemen. sees nothing
unusual I'm the officer on the beat
And then comes the runaway.
rpet is a fine scene-the swayinE
victoria. the impctuous. daft horses
ri,,,rirr through the line Of scatter
t,~ vehicles. the driver holding
his broken reius. and the ivory-white
face Of Amy Fforiott. as she clings
5csperateIv with each slender hand
rear has come and gone. 10 has left
1,er oNnrcssiou pcnsive and just a
lttle plcadinc. for life is not so bit
And then the clatter and swoop Of
Mounted Policeman Van Sweller.
ot g. ,,4s-blIt the story has not Vet