Dear Ann Landers,
A man in California saw an ad in the paper for an "almost new" Porsche, in excellent condition-price $50. He was certain the print-ers had made a typographical error, but even at $5,000 it would have been a bargain, so he hurried to the address to look at the car. A nice-looking woman appeared at the front door. Yes, she had placed the ad. The price was indeed $50. "The car," she said, "is in the garage. Come and look at it." The fellow was overwhelmed. It was a beautiful Porsche and, as the ad promised, "nearly new." He asked if he could drive the car around the block. The woman said, "Of course," and went with him. The Porsche drove like a dream. The young man peeled off $50 and handed it over, somewhat sheepishly. The woman gave him the neces-sary papers, and the car was his. Finally, the new owner couldn't stand it any longer. He had to know why the woman was selling the Porsche at such a ridiculously low price. Her reply was simple: With a half-smile on her face, she said, "My husband ran off with his secretary a few days ago and left a note instructing me to sell the car and the house, and send him the money." -Still Laughing in Wilmette

Dear Still,
I checked with Bill Jones, the managing editor of the Chicago Tribune. He, too, had read the story and thought it was hilari-ous, but his researchers could not find it in their paper. However, the incident did happen as reported and was a news story somewhere.