Two sisters inherit the family ranch. Unfortunately, after just a few years, they’re in financial trouble. To keep the bank from repossessing the ranch, they need to buy a bull to breed their own stock, but they only have $600.

The older sister says,
“I’ll take the bus to the stockyards since you need the pickup truck. If I decide to buy a bull, I’ll contact you so you can bring the truck and trailer to haul it home.”

At the stockyard, she finds the perfect bull. The seller says,
“I’ll sell him for $599 – no less.”

She buys the bull, then heads to the nearest town to send her sister a telegram.

At the telegraph office, she says,
“I need to send my sister a message telling her I bought a bull and she needs to hitch the trailer to the pickup and come get it.”

The operator replies,
“It’s 99 cents a word.”

After buying the bull, she has exactly one dollar left; enough for one word.

After thinking for a moment, she says,
“Send her this word: comfortable.”

The operator looks puzzled.
“How will she know to bring the truck and trailer if you only send that?”

The sister smiles and says,
“My sister isn’t very bright. She’ll read it slowly… sounding it out as
com-for-da-bull.”