The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-12-12
A SCIENTIFIC SUICIDE.
one Man Who Had Some Con-
sideration for the Papers.

Inc CITY eulIOF Sdb dIOut III LIS FOOfu
III the newspaper Office. He was in very
bad humor that evening because he had
been hoaxed by piece of alleged news
that be had thought trustworthy, and
had narrowly escaped getting into
the paper AS the city editor was lay
ing his plans to catch the hoaxer there
came a ring at the telephone. He
waited for a moment to see if somebody
else in the building was going to an
sWer. and then went to the instrument
himself.
"Hello, said voice. ''Who is thatp"
'.The city editor
',You are just the man, then, want
TO talk to. want you to take down
something that think will be of in
terest to the readers of your paper"
s'All right. Go aheadr' said the city
editor.
Have you got paper and pencil
there?''
mo. 60 ahead with what you have
to say. I'll take it down."
s'This requires accuracy. You will
have to have paper and pencil"
Very well. said the city editor,
wait moment. Now, then" he con-
tinued, go ahead"
is there anybody else thereP" asked
the voice.
''What difference does that make?"
''Well, it makes this difference, that
Iwant to know if you stay at the tele-
phone until am through. VIII you
promise thatPn
IF you have any news to send i'm
said the city editor rather Grossly,
''pleasesend it in.
viii you promise to wait at the
telephone until am throughp"
'l'll promise nothing Of the kind"
said the editor; 'Pll ring off in an
other moment"
Listen to me-" said the voice, "if
you ring off you do yourself out of one
Of the most sensational items that has
occurred within the last six months.
Unless you promise me I'll ring up the
opposition paper, and think they will
De glad of the item"
"All right. said the city editor, 81
promise Go ahead"
No, see here, there's another thing.
At the end of every sentence 1 want
you to answer yes. can recognize
your voice and l can tell whether you
nave summoned any one to your as
slstanee. The moment that / find you
nave done so, will ring off at the
central and You will lose your item. If
yoa make any attempt to communicate
WIN the central office shall hear you
and will ring off. "
Why, what's all this nonsense
soout said the city editor, 'ff you
nave got any news let me have it. If
you haven't stop all this talk. don't
want to hear it.
All right. said the other, .that's
business. Now you are to understand
.aat you are to answer yes at the end
q every sentence. am going to COM
nit suicide.n
Yes, from the city editer.
have every preparation for it in
~ room. Lam going to commit sui
cue IN the French fashion with a pan
7 charcoal. 1t is here by my side
ready to be lighted. l am a young
physician who has had nothing to do,
ana IT'S either slow starvation or the
galeker method of the charcoal plan.
20 you understandpn
Yes
lou understand now why 1 do not
elsn TO be interruptedPn
les answered the city editor.
! would have written down nv sem
Iaaons during the coming of death, but
as - AFRAID that my hands may get
pasalszed, and that anyway | can not
s' .else e fast as the symptoms, which /
,ha s1sa e describe, occur. Besides. /
sa,,s ,s can talk here longer than
sala write anyhow. have the tele-
sss sssqs nxed down opposite my chair
s'.sse ny head propPed up against
y s'lat % long as / cap speak I can
~ nF sTnptQns