The Last Deal

There were four misers who were friends. One of them fell sick, and when it seemed that he was dying, his three friends asked him, “Can we do anything for you?”

“It would bring great satisfaction to my soul if each of you placed 100 pounds in my coffin,” said the dying miser.

Shortly thereafter, he passed away. The first friend, true to his promise, placed 100 pounds in the coffin. The second friend, however, drew a check for 100 pounds and placed it in the coffin, confident that the deceased would never be able to cash it, even though it was a bearer’s check.

The third friend also drew a check, but he made it out for 300 pounds. He placed it in the coffin and then picked up the cash and check deposited earlier by the other two friends.