CORTOP'S CONUNDRUM.

Bruce Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 1735, 26 March 1886, Page 5

CORTOP'S CONUNDRUM.

Odg night Cortop was rather wakeful, and as he toassd restlessly he composed a conundrum. Then he composed himself to sleep, The riddle was his fl 3t i and he felt portionately proud of it. Nest morning, on his journey to town, he chanced upon RawlingSj who is a staid* plodding, busings-like

man, just the sort of follow one mightexpect to be dazzled by a coruscation of wit. So Curtop thought ; and he determined to spring that riddle on his sober friend. " Eawlings, old boy," he said, with a smile of conscious superiority, " here's a riddle I made myself, simple as anything, but I'll bet you'll never guess it. Why is a strong tooth like a weak old man? Not bad is it, ?" It was bad enough for Bowlings, however. He looked mighty sour over it, and growled discontentedly. " GHve it up," said he ; " Never guessed a riddle in my life, and don't intend to." " Because," answered Cortop, triumphantly, " because — because " Why, what was this? Surely he hadn't forgotten the answer to the conundrum — his own couuadruai too ? Nevertheless he had done so. It was very distressing that he couldn't recollect it — very. In hLs stolid way B.iwlings was getting impatient. " Because what, sir ? " grumbled he. Cortop felt it was no use whatever racking his brain any furthur at present; but he wasn't going to acknowledge his ignorance. " He ! he ! he !" he chuckled, feebly. " Why, you see, the — the— thore isn't any answer. It's a sell !" Eawlings wab angry ; and he looked it. " I don't envy tha intellect of the m-n who can think that sort of foolery funny," he said, testily. " And I wish you good morning, Mr. Cortop." All that day his riddle haunted Cortop. He felt that he must recollect that aoßwer or periali ; and when in the evening he dropped in on the Murdocks, he was still wrestling with himself for the forgotten solution. There had been an addition to the Murdock family since Cortop visited them last ; and the new-comer was produced for hia inspection. Eed as a rose it was, and it smiled spasmodically with the air of one who is not thoroughly accustomed to its mouth. " How like its father !" said Cortop, conventionally, as he planted a cautious forefinger in the centre of one of the infant's cheeks. " Do you think so, indeed ?" asked Mrs. Murdock. '• Oh, yes !" said Cortop, absently. He was after the answer again, and his eyea were fixed on vacancy. But Mrs. Murdock wasn't to be put off in this way. Maternal curiosity wanted particulars. " You suroly do notsee any likonoss in the nose ? Every one saya that is his mother's feature. And then his eyes Come now, why do you think mj pet ia like its father ? " At this moment Cortop's whole countenance became glorified. He had got a tight grip on his answer at last. Exultiugly burst out : "Because it's infirm. !" (in firm). And now Cortop ib a stranger to tho bouse of Murdock. Nor -is this marvellous. When we consider that the estimable gentleman who is its head has a club-foot and a partially paralysed arm, perhaps the answer to Cortop'n conundrum wasalittlsoufcof place ixad did appear slightly personal.