Question

1. what does judson webb do to the bourbon bottle, and why does he do it?

1. how does judsons wife, mabel, react to his plan? what does this reveal about her character?

1. what accident happens at the end of the story? who drinks the poisoned liquor?

1. what is ironic about the ending of the story?

Explanation:

These questions are about analyzing a story (likely "Ruthless" by William DeMille) from a literary perspective. To answer them:

1. Recall Judson's action with the bourbon (poisoning it) to punish a thief, based on the story's plot.
2. Mabel's reaction (disapproval, concern for morality/legality) shows her compassionate, law - abiding nature.
3. At the end, Judson is knocked unconscious, and his friend (or himself, depending on interpretation) drinks the poisoned liquor by accident.
4. The irony is that Judson, who set the trap for a thief, becomes the victim of his own plan (or the intended punishment backfires on him).

Answer:

1. Judson Webb poisons the bourbon in the bottle. He does this to punish the person who has been stealing his liquor, intending that the thief will drink it and face a fatal consequence.
2. Mabel reacts with disapproval and unease. She thinks his plan is immoral and against the law, revealing that she is compassionate, has a sense of moral and legal boundaries, and is more concerned with doing what is right than taking extreme, unlawful revenge.
3. Judson is knocked unconscious (by a fall or an accident). In some interpretations, Judson himself (after being knocked out) is given the poisoned liquor, or his friend drinks it by mistake, thinking it's normal bourbon.
4. The irony of the ending is that Judson, who intended to use the poisoned liquor to punish a thief, ends up being the one (or causing the one) to drink the poisoned liquor. His plan of revenge backfires on him, and he becomes the victim of his own ruthless scheme.