When we went into the house, Bell began to talk easily on other subjects; and I took his cue. By and by the big chance to buy out the business in Mountain City came back to my mind and I began to urge it upon him. Now that he was free, it would be easier for him to make the move; and he was sure of a splendid bargain. Bell was silent for some minutes, but when I looked at him I fancied that he was thinking of something else--that he was not considering the project. "Why, no, Mr. Ames," he said, after a while, "I can't make that deal. I'm awful thankful to you, though, for telling me about it. But I've got to stay here. I can't go to Mountain City." "Why?" I asked. "Missis Bell," he replied, "won't live in Mountain City, She hates the place and wouldn't go there. I've got to keep right on here in Saltillo." "Mrs. Bell!" I exclaimed, too puzzled to conjecture what he meant. "I ought to explain," said Bell. "I know George and I know Mrs. Bell. He's impatient in his ways. He can't stand things that fret him, long, like I can. Six months, I give them--six months of married life, and there'll be another disunion. Mrs. Bell will come back to me. There's no other place for her to go. I've got to stay here and wait. At the end of six months, I'll have to grab a satchel and catch the first train. For George will be sending out The Call." [Illustration: "See Tom and the dog." (cartoon from _The Rolling Stone_)] A DINNER AT ---- [3] [Footnote 3: See advertising column, "Where to Dine Well," in the daily newspapers.] [The story referred to in this skit appears in "The Trimmed Lamp" under the same title--"The Badge of Policeman O'Roon."] The Adventures of an Author With His Own Hero All that day--in fact from the moment of his creation--Van Sweller had conducted himself fairly well in my eyes. Of course I had had to make many concessions; but in return he had been no less considerate. Once or twice we had had sharp, brief contentions over certain points of behavior; but, prevailingly, give and take had been our rule. His morning toilet provoked our first tilt. Van Sweller went about it confidently. "The usual thing, I suppose, old chap," he said, with a smile and a yawn. "I ring for a b. and s., and then I have my tub. I splash a good deal in the water, of course. You are aware that there are two ways in which I can receive Tommy Carmichael when he looks in to have a chat about polo. I can talk to him 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 discomfiture.