Moishe the carpenter was returning home with his week’s wages when he was accosted by an armed robber on a deserted street.

“Take my money,” said Moishe, “but do me a favour: shoot a bullet through my hat, otherwise my wife won’t believe I was robbed.”

The robber obliged. He tossed Moishe’s hat into the air and fired a bullet straight through it.

“Let’s make it look like I ran into a gang of robbers,” Moishe continued. “Otherwise my wife will call me a coward! Please shoot a few holes through my coat.”

So the robber fired several holes through the carpenter’s coat.

“And now?” Moishe asked.

“Sorry,” interrupted the robber. “No more holes. I’m out of bullets.”

“That’s all I wanted to know!” Moishe said. “Now hand me back my money—and some extra for the hat and coat you’ve ruined—or I’ll beat you black and blue!”

The robber dropped the money and ran away.