A Pennystock Trader was in a deep financial hole for selling short and could find no means of escape.  A Goat, looking to make a killing on the market, came to his office and seeing the Trader, inquired if any stocks looked good.   Concealing his sad plight under a big smile, the Trader indulged in a lavish praise of his portfolio, and offered the Goat a partnership.  The Goat, mindful only of his dreams of money, thoughtlessly jumped for the deal, but just as he signed, the Trader informed him of the difficulty they were both now in and suggested a scheme for their mutual profit.   

     "If," said he, "you will invest even more money, I can get us both solvent and give you 200% return." 

     The Goat readily assented and wrote the Trader a large check.  Using the Goat's money, the Trader bailed himself out of hock and avoided prosecution.  As the Securities Exchange people led the Goat off to jail, the Goat upbraided the Trader for breaking his promise.  The wily Trader laughed,  "You foolish fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape." 

                Look before you leap.