Brain Teaser
Over the holiday, Buford and Festus took a weekend trip to Tijuana to study the political effects of NAFTA on our cross-border economics. (Or something like that).
While in Mexico, Buford purchased a solid mahogany pool cue from a street vendor. This wasn't one of those screw apart pool cues, but one made from a single piece of wood. It had been handcrafted with inlayed pearls and detailed workmanship.
Anyway, after crossing the border back into the United States, Buford attempted to board the San Diego Trolley. However, the driver refused admittance because the cue was 5 ft. long. Trolley regulations do not allow any packages longer than 4 ft. 3 in.
Buford begged the conductor to allow him to board, but it was to no avail.
Buford even went so far as to slide the cue down his pants leg, but the conductor still refused to allow him to board.
Panic set in as our traveler was down to his last few dollars, and couldn't find any other transportation back to town. In a rare moment of brilliance, Buford came upon a solution. He ran into a nearby shop and returned a few moments later with the pool cue and something else. The pool cue was unaltered, and the conductor was satisfied that the size requirements for carry-on packages were being followed to the letter of the law.
Buford took his seat with his pool cue in the aisle beside him and rode the trolley back into town.
What was it that Buford purchased in the store that allowed him to legally carry the pool cue inside the trolley?
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