The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-05-09
His Word OF Honor.
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"a very odd thing bappened at one

names are known from one end of
the country to the other, were TAX
ing luncheon In the hotels palm
room. 1t wasn't business luncheon,
but merely a little getting together,
and they all became pretty gay.
The talk at the table veered
around to the subject of a business
mans word OF honor. One of the
millionaires, a man known for the
extreme sharpness of some of his
transactions, felt called upon to be
very outspoken on this subject, al
most as II he felt himself under fire.
He held to 1t that once business
man passed his word there should be
could be-no recalling OF that
word. The word should stick In any
and all circumstances. Nothing
should be allowed to interfere with
the carrying out OF that word, even
If the man passing his word should
be put to all sorts of hardships in
carrying out the provisions of his
word Of honor.
ut seemed to some of the others
that this was carrying 1t bit to
far. They said SO, and argued the
point with the man who was for the
unbreakableness of the passed word
of honor.
Suppose, said one of them,
that the person to whom such a
word of honor is given should be an
unworthy individual, and one who
would "do" the man thus giving him
his word as quick as winking If he
got a chance?'
Doesn't make a particle of diff
ference said the millionaire who
was for the bindlngness of the passed
word. Before giving his word the
business man should SEQ to it that he
isn't likely to come into contact with
any such people. If he does come
into contact with them it's his own
fault He must bear the conse-
quences. But he can't break his
given word
But, suppose said another one
Of the disputants, one should hap
pen, by some mischance, to give his
word to some acknowledged thief,
what them
He'd have to abide by it, that's
ALL promptly replied the man who
clung to the letter of the word.
One doesn't have to come into con-
tact with thieves, but, if one does,
and inadvertently passes the thief
the word of honor, why, there's moth
ing else in life to be done except to
abide by the word. That's all.
That's the way l look at the matter,
anyhow
Well, I'd like to see you put to
such a test, old man, said one of
them then. I'm not saying that you
wouldn't act up to your convictions,
but I'd be willing to gamble that it
would give you a twinge and that
you'd be letting off some steam while
it was happening
/ never go on record with any
thing that l don't stay with in actual
practice, replied the millionaire with
the strong views on the subject un-
der discussion, and then the talk
switched around to something else.
THE luncheon party broke up
about half an hour later and the mil
lionaire with the strong views went
to his suite of rooms. He found him
self alone when he got there. His
valet was out on an errand and his
secretary was attending a funeral.
The millionaire tossed himself on q
couch to take bit of nap. Before
ha had haan ctratohad out n ,,,i,,,to
however, card was sent up to him.
The millionaire didn't know the name
on the card, but there were three
words scrawled on the bottom of the
card relating to deal that the mil.
lionaire was interested in that in
duced him to tell the bellboy to send
the visitor up.
THE visitor appeared three min
utes later. He was a distinguished
looking man of forty-five or so, with
whitening hair, and perfectly dressed
and groomed
He advanced as If to shake hands
with the millionaire, who stood in
the middle of his study. Then the
millionaire noticed that his visitor
had a revolver in his hand and that
the muzzle of it was on a line with
his own heart. He paled, but stead
led himself.
Don't worry, sir, said the visi-
tor, in well-bred way, but never
lowering his weapon from its hip
high position. I have no violence in
mind If you haven't
So 1t would seem, when you ap-
proach me with gun in your hand, >
said the millionaire, grouchily.
The fact is,' said the visitor,
with complete calmness, L find my
self profoundly embarrassed this af-
ternoon to get the money to pay a
note that is due. The amount is ten
Thousand dollars. / have taken the
desperate chance--the only chance 1
can see-of getting the money from
you
or sticking me up for it, eh?'
snorted the millionaire.
Well, If you elect to call II nv
that ugly name, yes, replied the vlsi-
tor unmoved, I may add that think
II VIII be best for you to let me have
tne amount without loss of time.
And IL ! refused to give IL to
you, what then?' inquired the mil
iionaire. stunned with the mans inn
pudence.
trust you will no. require me
to answer such question. was the
polite reply. But | haven't the least