Narrowing the field of 18 finalists for the second Dispatch caption-writing contest was no easy assignment.

"This batch was loaded with top-drawer gag lines," said Jeff Stahler, creator of Moderately Confused — whose panel featured a dog serving two people in a restaurant.

"It was tough to choose just one good line."

The winning entry, Stahler said, is notable for its "wonderful play on words."

"It was a simple, clearly thought-out line that reads well."

It was also the favorite of the writer, who submitted a half-dozen possibilities in all.

"That was the one I really liked," said Galena resident Bruce Stevenson, a 56-year old educational psychologist in private practice. "The rest I thought were kind of cliched."

His non-winning entries:

• Doggie bag?

• I’ll take my tip in leftovers.

• Bone appetit!

• Table service has gone to the dogs.

• The entree is dog-gone good.

The triumphant example of his wit can be found in the Moderately Confused panel on Page B7.