Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1923-07-26
The Point of
Honor
BY JOHN PALMER
90. 1929. western Newspaper Union.)

Thompson" said his city editor
him, jackson, the department stor
mans dead. Died last night. Swa
i lowed oxalic acid in mistake for som
medicine or other. Old man with
pretty young wife. Run up and IL
terview her and find out just what hal
pened and make a laundering goo
story out of it"
Thompson was new at the game
The city editor saw him hesitate.
"Whasermarrer? Don't like the job
heyf"
"Well, Mr.. Benton, Its sort O.
mean, isn't 1t OF course"
Beaton laid fatherly hand upon hi
shoulder "See here, son." he said, "a
reporter has no sense of honor apari
from his paper. Get me? What YOU
paper thinks right you think right
Now hopl"
Thompson hoped, but he hated him.
self and his job more and more as he
made his way uptown on the L. When
he arrived at the Jackson house he had
to summon all his energies to ring the
bell.
The maid showed him into the par
lor Presently an extremely pretty
young widow came in, dressed IN
black. Her eyes were red and tear
stained.
"Good-morning," said Thompson.
I'm from the Daily Record We want
to know how this unfortunate accident
came about"
"Well, I've nothing to say" she an
swered. That's all to that"
Thompson knew she would talk.
"How did he come to make such a
mistaken" he asked.
Because he took the wrong bottle
in the dark instead of switching on the
light. Ny God, it's too terriblel" She
began to cry, and Thompson felt more
of brute than ever.
"And-how long was 1t before he
realized the mistaken" he asked.
mot for nearly an hour, until he
was seized with those terrible pains.
l called the doctor at once, of course,
but it was too late. Oh, can't bear to
think about It,"
Thompson asked her few more
questions, which she answered. "Well,
I'm sorry to have troubled you" he
said. He would have to elaborate the |
Widows story; there had been nothing |
picturesque in the manner Of Jack |
sons death.
Just a stupid old man dying In a
stupid way. How could be build a
romance out of that?
"Are you really q reporter?" asked |
Mrs. Jackson suddenly. mot "a de-
tective?'
A detective? WhyY'
"Oh, Pm going to tell you the truth
now" she cried suddenly, catching
Thompson by the arm. II killed him II
"You-T Thompson stared at her.
Was she out of her mind, orr
II killed him. took away that bot
tie Of medicine he kept on the shelf to
make him sleep, and put the acid
there in its place. l knew he never
turned on the light. 1 knew he'd swal-
ow it and that it would kill him."
"But why?" demanded Thompson,
conscious that he had
achieved the scoop of the year.
because 1 love Jim Huddirsfeld.
md I'd go through h for him. And
ID gone through h with Mr.. Jack
on. That's why. He wouldn't die,
he old fool, though he'd had heart
disease for years.
"You can call this q confession. but
tell you glory in it. I'd do more
han that for Jim. And we were to
ave been married"
"Did he-did he suspect?"
HE didn't. He was holding nv
and at the last, when he was diving.
nd / was laughing at him. had no
lty for him. Well, why should have
ad? He bought me with his money
hen l was young and innocent girl.
d had enough of him. He never
new. Now take me awayr'
"But-but I'm not a detective"
Thompson. "See here. Mrs.
ackson, you were out of your mind
hen you told me this"
"You-you are really a reporter7
Y God, and I thought-Oh, what shall
do?"
Thompson took her by the arm.
You will take care to place seal
ION your lips, Mrs. Jackson, as l
all place one on NINE" he an
1ered. "Not one word of what You
we told me will be printed or re- A
He'd TO anyone. For. you see, II
1T true" Y
mo. 1t isn't true" she repeated me- 4
story was the best thing Y
ever wrote. 1t described how the old 4
IN took the acid In mistake for the
eping draught, and his last hours, y
d the anguish of his broken-hearted h
dow. \