How does Judson Webb cause his own death in "Ruthless"? Be sure to identify the most important lines of dialogue or events in th

In the narrative "Ruthless" authored by William DeMille, Judson Webb, the protagonist, places two rat poison pellets in a whiskey bottle, which he unwittingly drinks at the story's conclusion. Throughout the tale, Judson's wife attempts to dissuade him from leaving the tainted drink accessible for a thief to find, expressing concerns such as: "it’s murder," and questioning the justice of lethal retribution for burglary. Despite her protests, Judson disregards her warnings, ultimately proving her fears correct when Alec accidentally serves him the poisonous whiskey. Judson's motive for poisoning the whiskey stems from a previous burglary where a thief stole some of his liquor. He insists that any theft is equally infuriating, regardless of the value taken, asserting his right to set a lethal trap for the robber due to the affront to his pride rather than the loss of alcohol itself. In the climax, as Judson retrieves his hunting boots, he slips on an acorn, hitting his head. Coming to, he is misled into thinking he is fine as Alec hands him a drink. He is too disoriented to question whether it is the poisoned whiskey, implying that had he not poisoned it and heeded his wife's counsel, he could have avoided his death. This scenario illustrates the peril of seeking vengeance for minor wrongs.

Judson Webb met his demise by consuming a whiskey bottle that contained two rat poison tablets.