Story of a Thief

There once was a man who went to a computer trade show. Each day as he
entered, the man told the guard at the door:
"I am a great thief, renowned
for my feats of shoplifting. Be forewarned, for this trade show shall not escape
me unplundered. "

This speech disturbed the guard greatly, because there were millions of
dollars of computer equipment inside, so he watched the man carefully. But the
man merely wandered from booth to booth, humming quietly to himself.

When the man left, the guard took him aside and searched his clothes, but
nothing was to be found.

On the next day of the trade show, the man returned and chided the guard,
saying, "I escaped with a vast booty yesterday, but today will be even better."
So the guard watched him ever more closely, but to no avail.

On the final day of the trade show, the guard could restrain his curiosity no
longer. "Sir Thief," he said, "I am so perplexed, I cannot live in peace. Please
enlighten me. What is it that you are stealing?"

The man smiled. "I am stealing ideas," he said.