three
o'clock
The message sent was , ` Your lovin ' wife hopes you 'll be home to-morrow . ' It reached the husband , ` Your lowerin ' wife hopes you 'll be hung to-morrow . ' Bad writin ' and a useless flourish at the _ e _ turned _ home _ into _ hung _ . The puzzled husband telegraphs in reply , ` Mistake somewhere -- all right -- shall be back three o'clock -- to-morrow -- kind love . ' And how d'ye think this reached the old lady ? -- ` Mistake somewhere -- all night -- stabbed in back -- through cloak -- two more rows -- killed , love . ' Now , d'you call _ that _ successful telegraphing ? ''