perishing of hunger, and yet you were eating fried eggs. How do you
account for that?"

For one moment a deathlike silence prevailed. Then the Old Gag stepped
forward and in clear, ringing tones replied:

"The ship lay to, and I got one."

A wild, heartrending sob came from the audience and relieved the tension
as the Old Gag staggered back into the entrance and fell into the
friendly arms that were waiting to receive him.

Sobbing Conundrums bore him to a couch in the dressing-room. Weeping
Jokes strove in vain to bring back the spark of life to his inanimate
form. But all to no avail.

The Old Gag was dead.




IN ELIZABETH'S DAY

BY WALLACE RICE


Who would not give the treasure
Of very many lives
If some kind fate would pleasure
To let him be where Ben is