Itemizing the Bill

    There was an engineer who had an exceptional gift for fixing all
mechanical things.  After serving his company loyally for over 30
years, he happily retired. Several years later his company contacted
him regarding a seemingly impossible problem they were having with one
of their multi-million dollar machines. They had tried everything and
everyone else to get the machine fixed, but to no avail.  In despera-
tion, they called on the retired engineer who had solved so many of
their problems in the past. 

    The engineer reluctantly took the challenge.  He spent a day
studying the huge machine. At the end of the day he marked a small "X"
in chalk on a particular component of the machine and proudly stated,
'This is where your problem is!' The part was replaced and the machine
worked perfectly again. 

    The company received a bill for $50,000 from the engineer for his
services.  They demanded an itemized accounting of his charges.  The
engineer responded briefly: 

               One chalk mark ...............$     1

               Knowing where to put it ..... $49,999