Inquisitiveness

In the smoking car, one of the passengers had an empty coatsleeve. The

sharer of his seat was of an inquisitive turn, and after a vain effort

to restrain his curiosity, finally hemmed and hawed, and said:



"I beg pardon, sir, but I see you've lost an arm."



The one-armed man picked up the empty sleeve in his remaining hand, and

felt of it with every evidence of astonishment.



"Bless my soul!" he exclaimed. "I do believe you're right."



* * *



The curiosity of the passenger was excited by the fact that his seatmate

had his right arm in a sling, and the following dialogue occurred:



"You broke your arm, didn't you?"



"Well, yes, I did."



"Had an accident, I suppose?"



"Not exactly. I did it in trying to pat myself on the back."



"My land! On the back! Now, whatever did you want to pat yourself on the

back for?"



"Just for minding my own business."