Old Man Murphy walked into the neighborhood bar one afternoon and spent an hour or so ordering one martini after another. He quickly downed each one, removing the olives from the glasses and placing them in a small jar he'd taken out of his jacket pocket as he did so.


When at last the jar had been filled up with olives and all the drinks consumed, Murphy tipped his hat to the bartender and rose from his stool to leave, carrying the jar the the crook of one arm as he walked toward the door.


Well, Joey Ross had been watching Murphy all evening and was puzzled by the Irishman’s behavior. “Pardon my asking, Mickey,” he said as Murphy walked past him, “but is everything all right?”


“Aye, boyo, everything’s just fine'n dandy,” Murphy told him. He patted the lid of the jar and added, “The wife just sent me out for a jar of olives, and I didn’t feel like walking all the way to the store.”