ment for the Practical Joker, who would
take them out and buy Cigars for them, and they would hit him on the
Back and tell him he was a Case.

One Day the Joker had an Inspiration, and he had to tell it to a Friend,
who also was something of a Wag.

They bought a Cat-Tail Swamp remote from Civilization and divided it
into Building Lots. The Marsh was Advertised as a Manufacturing Suburb,
and they had side-splitting Circulars showing the Opera House, the Drill
Factory, Public Library, and the Congregational Church. Lots were sold
on the Instalment Plan to Widows, Cash-Boys, and Shirt-Factory Girls who
wanted to get Rich in from fifteen to twenty Minutes.

The Joker had a Lump of Bills in every Pocket. If asked how he made his
Roll, he would start to Tell, and then he would Choke Up, he was so full
of Laugh. He certainly had a Sunny Disposition.

[Illustration: MANUFACTURING SUBURB]

Finally he went to the State of Montana. He believed he could have a
Season of Merriment by depositing some Valuable Ore in a Deserted Mine,
and then selling the Mine to Eastern Speculators. While he was Salting
the Mine, pausing once in a while to Control his Mirth, a few Natives
came along, and were Interested. They were a slow and uncouth Lot, with
an atrophied Sense of Humor, and the Prank did not Appeal to them. They
asked the Joker to Explain, and before he could make it Clear to them or
consult his Attorney they had him Suspended from a Derrick. He did not
Hang straight enough to suit, so they brought a Keg of Nails and tied to
his Feet, and then stood off and Shot at the Buttons on the Back of his
Coat.

MORAL: _Don't Carry a Joke too far, and never Carry it into Montana_.

_THE_ FABLE _OF THE_ CRUEL INSULT _AND THE_ ARRIVAL _OF THE_ LOVER FROM
NO. 6

One Morning there came into the Dining Room of the Peerless Hotel at
Welby's Junction an English Tourist and the Advance Agent of the Mabel
Mooney Repertoire Company.

They took their Places at the Table underneath a Chromo representing a
Pyramid of Idealized Fruit. The Table was covered with Sail Cloth, and
in the Center was the Corroded Caster, which gave out a Sound similar to
that of the Galloping Horse in the War Drama whenever any one walked
across the Floor.

The English Traveler appeared to have received Bad News from Home, but
he had not. That was the Normal Expression. His Mustache was long and
wilted. Also the Weary Look around the Eyes. He traveled with a