Joe Fisher was a mortician. So was Frank Lloyd. Their place of employment was rural and sometimes they found themselves with time to kill as none of the residents were co-operating.

Joe was a talker -- a teller of tall tales. Frank was a listener -- believing few, if any, of Joe's far out stories.

One day when Joe was going on about a fishing trip with the Governor of the state, Frank had finally had enough: "I will bet you $100 and pay expenses to the capitol. If the Governor recognizes you, you win. If not, you pay expenses plus my hundred".

"Done!", said Joe.

To make a long story short, the Governor was so glad to see Joe he cancelled all his appointments for the afternoon and went bar-hopping with them.

A few months later Joe was bragging about how he, personnaly, got the President of the United States elected. This time the bet was $500 and expenses.

Again, to make it short, the President recognized Joe on sight and spent 2 hours of his valuable time with them in the Oval Office.

Still later Joe told Frank that The Pope called him sometimes when he had a problem and needed Joe's advice. This time the bet was $1,000 and expenses.

As they entered the courtyard of the Vatican, Joe told Frank the he would not be able to go to the Pope's quarters and he was to wait in the courtyard. Joe would get the Pope to step out on a window landing with him to confirm the bet.

Soon Joe stepped out and a man in robes followed. Joe did not know the Pope, so he ask an Italian passing by if that was the Pope on the ledge.

"Don't know", said the man, "but that man with him is Joe Fisher from West Texas!"