A stranger walks into a bar and puts a pound coin on the counter and asks for half a pint of bitter. The barmaid asks him whether he would like Guinness or Worthington. The stranger asks for Guinness. Another complete stranger comes into the bar, puts a pound on the counter and also asks for half a pint of bitter. The barmaid immediately pulls half a pint of Guinness. How did she know what the second man, who was completely unknown to her, wanted?

(think in a crooked way for this one)

she did not know what the second man wanted. she guessed (correctly, as it turned out) that the second man probably wanted Guinness too, and put down half a pint of Guinness in front of the second stranger. if her guess was wrong, all she would have to do upon the second customer's turning the Guinness down, is to give the same half pint of Guinness to the first stranger whom she had not yet served! she could then serve the second one his Worthington. i read the query carefully and the query did not affirmatively indicate that the first stranger had been served his half pint of Guinness yet, and instructed me to "think crooked", so there!
:-)
-mohan.
p.s. it is even possible that the bartender was only trying to serve the first one his Guinness and the author (and possibly the second man) simply misunderstood the situation and thought that the bartender had somehow divined what the second man wanted! second one's gotta wait until the first one's been served his Guinness, if you ask me! and maybe, afterward, the (slow) fair lady will turn her attention to you, mister! :-)

Posted by mohan on 2003-10-07 02:51:55