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.”