Brain Teasers

[Pendragon]

A new puzzle, in a more readable font size and color.

THE RUG OF RICHES
by Jonathan Blade

Four persons gathered in the gloomy library of the Galloway mansion to hear Oswald Bellangere, Attorney-at-Law read from old Angus Galloway's will. Norwel Lawson, the dead man's secretary sat beside Kyne Galloway, the dead man's nephew. The two men glared at each other.

"Kerrie and I," Kyne jerked a thumb over his shoulder to indicate a small, blonde woman seated behind him, "were the only family old Angus had. We should be sole heirs. Or at any rate, we should decide what you and Doctor Shipley should receive, if anything. You’ve no right to be here."
Attorney Bellangere chided young Galloway. "Now, Kyne, we've been through this before. Your Uncle Angus' will is solid, verified by unimpeachable witnesses. Both Norwel Lawson, as Angus Galloway's secretary, and Doctor Riddock Shipley, as the deceased's family physician, are to be included in the reading of the will."

No one noticed an extra shadow just behind the old solicitor as he held the will to the light and began to read.

"I, Angus Galloway, being sound of mind, though weak in body, do hereby set forth the following rules concerning the distribution of my wealth.

My secretary, Norwel Lawson is to receive the sum of $2000.

My personal friend and physician, Riddock Shipley, likewise $2000.

An amount equal to the value of one-quarter of my entire estate shall go to both my nephew Kyne Galloway, and to my niece, Kerrie Galloway.

"This will leave a balance equal to almost half my entire wealth. And that shall go to whichever one of them can find it! The map is under the rug. Good hunting!"

Bellangere continued. "It is signed: Angus Galloway and witnessed by Lamont Cranston and Ralph Weston." The lawyer began to gather his things.

The room erupted in pandemonium. Kyne, Kerrie, and Norwel Lawson were frantically pulling up every rug in sight. The Doctor remained calm, and reached for his hat and coat.

"Are you leaving, Doctor Shipley?" Bellangere asked, stunned. "Need I remind you of how much money is involved here?"

"I have a patient to see." Doctor Shipley replied.

A weird laugh froze them all in their place. A shadowy form took center stage.

"A patient of yours for many years no doubt, Doctor. A patient presently residing in the City Morgue. Angus Galloway. A Doctor learns many secrets about his patients, doesn't he, "Croaker" Shipley? Including the fact that he was bald and where he hid his map!"



The man The Shadow had called "Croaker" foolishly reached for a gun, there were two shots. One shot skimmed the Shadow’s slouch hat. The other found the “Doctor’s” heart. There was a laugh.

The Shadow fixed the remaining heirs with blazing eyes. "From what I told you, you should find your map. Go get it and share the money. Greed kills."

SO WHERE IS THE MAP?

[Kaltrina]

nice smilingtearz, good thinking, and in fact it was so obvious but I just couldn't see it stupid me... :D hey Pen when is the next one I enjoy reading these stories and solutions even if I am the one who finds the solutions... :D
looking forward to the next one...

[Kaltrina]

ok I guess I just rushed to write my post while the storie was being posted... :blush:

[smilingtearz]

:banana: YAY! i got a new title (Problem Solver-Deluxe)...thx pen (i thought we got 'kudus' for doing things in here!)...n thx kaltrina
tho that was fine coz it involved literature...i can't think of ne replies to this one...is the title being snatched away??
here's wut i figured out...the map is under the rug--two secrets are mentioned ...one his map--two -he's bald'...now if that's a secret he probably wears a wig...so the wig is the rug... therefore
i) either his head is the where the map is...and the doctor knew there was no chance to get it so he was leaving.
ii) or it was somewhere below where his wig was??

[Pendragon]

:banana: YAY! i got a new title (Problem Solver-Deluxe)...thx pen (i thought we got 'kudus' for doing things in here!)...n thx kaltrina
tho that was fine coz it involved literature...i can't think of ne replies to this one...is the title being snatched away??
here's wut i figured out...the map is under the rug--two secrets are mentioned ...one his map--two -he's bald'...now if that's a secret he probably wears a wig...so the wig is the rug... therefore
i) either his head is the where the map is...and the doctor knew there was no chance to get it so he was leaving.
ii) or it was somewhere below where his wig was?? And it looks like you keep the title! Another one solved! Cheerleaders, ho! http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/sport/sport-smiley-001.gifhttp://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/sport/sport-smiley-001.gifhttp://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/sport/sport-smiley-001.gifhttp://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/sport/sport-smiley-001.gifhttp://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/sport/sport-smiley-001.gif But I must be fair and say that Sher. figued it out, also, only she PMed me, and wouldn't post. I get another up right away.

[Pendragon]

A new puzzle mystery. And before I'm asked, The Shadow is known as "Ying Ko" in Chinatown. Yat Soon is the Ancient Arbitrator of Chinatown, the true power there. The Dragon's Daughter is my own invention, Chinatown's avenger. Doctor Roy Tam is The Shadow's agent in Chinatown. And now to our mystery.....

Chinatown Trial by Jonathan Blade

Three grim-faced men faced three unflinching figures in a secret room deep within the bowels of Chinatown. All were handcuffed, and none spoke.

“Come, ease our burden.” The central figure, that of an elderly Chinese man in a golden robe spoke softly. “One of you is a cold-blooded killer, who has slaughtered seven innocents, the last shot but an hour ago. That man must die.”

The third figure, a slender Chinese princess in a red robe with a scarlet Imperial dragon coiled about it, fingered an odd crossbow. "Since they will not speak, let us kill them all. Then we will kill this snake in our midst.”

The old man shook his head slowly. “Not so, Dragon’s Daughter. We must let them go. It is better to let the guilty go than that two more innocents die.”

The third figure, a slender Oriental in Western dress spoke up. “We cannot risk that, Yat Soon. Given time, my men and I can find the guilty man.”

A shadowy form appeared through a secret panel. The Dragon’s Daughter instantly turned to cover it, then relaxed. “Ying Ko!”

The Shadow spoke. “Doctor Tam, I can save you the time. The last victim was shot, correct?”

A nod from Dr. Tam. The Shadow produced a square of gold sponge rubber and an automatic. Instantly, a pit yawned in the floor, courtesy of Yat Soon. The Shadow removed a glove, then fired the gun down the pit, which quickly vanished. The Shadow touched his thumb to the golden square. In seconds, it turned gold.

“A test for the presence of gunpowder, which is quite infallible. Free your prisoners and have them touch their thumbs to this square and hold their hand behind their back. Then have them all show their thumbs at the same time.” He looked at The Dragon’s Daughter. “You will know who to shoot.”

HOW CAN THIS WORK? http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/spezial/jasons_smilie/policeman.gif

[papayahed]

The guilty party will not want to show his thumb and may resist while the 2 innocents won't have any problems showing their thumbs.

[Nightshade]

unless of course theyve also shot guns...:D

[Pendragon]

The guilty party will not want to show his thumb and may resist while the 2 innocents won't have any problems showing their thumbs.No,no. I figured that would be the first guess. No, they will all willingly show their thumbs. But something isn't right. What is it?http://www.smileyville.net/invision/whistling1.gif

[Kaltrina]

maybe there is some substance in the gun powder which will make their thumbs coloured in gold once they touch the sponge... :confused:

[Pendragon]

maybe there is some substance in the gun powder which will make their thumbs coloured in gold once they touch the sponge... :confused:That is what The Shadow has told them. You have probably taken chemistry. Is this true or false?

[Kaltrina]

well I thought that i am missing something but I just wanted to try...not really, I haven't taken chemistry but I love watching CSI and stuff like that, that deal with forensics...

[Pendragon]

well I thought that i am missing something but I just wanted to try...not really, I haven't taken chemistry but I love watching CSI and stuff like that, that deal with forensics...That'll do it. How do those people test for gunpowder? The test hasn't changed in the last 60 years. :) :nod:

[smilingtearz]

they test for nitrates on the finger...are u sure the thing used was a gold square??...i know there's something to do with red color...

[Anon22]

Well, I don't know, lol, all I know is that there is probably something in the gun powder that removes gold from the sponge and I assume the gold would stick to the finger. Perhaps it's rough or something, not sure. I have a riddle, this one's just around as hard as my bat one, perhaps my bat one is still harder, not sure. It also looks more like clues rather than a riddle, but, whatever, lol:

Things you probably have.
With a dash, you speak.
Sound, it has nothing to do.
can be bad or can be good.
What is it?

[Pendragon]

they test for nitrates on the finger...are u sure the thing used was a gold square??...i know there's something to do with red color...Hey, Jonathan Blade is one of my pseudonyms. I wrote this story for The Shadow In Review website, sometime ago. Everything happens just as stated.

[Pendragon]

Things you probably have.
With a dash, you speak.
Sound, it has nothing to do.
can be bad or can be good.
What is it?You know by now the crazy way my logic works. I'm going with FINGERS.

[smilingtearz]

Pendragon...i give up on this one...hope u cn PM the reply to me...im really eager to know how this worx!!!

[smilingtearz]

no one's figured this out as yet??
Pen u might as well tell us the answer now...just ask once more in case anyone wishes to try (tho i already got it on a PM :D )

and give us a new brain teaser/mystery soon!

[Anon22]

You know by now the crazy way my logic works. I'm going with FINGERS.


lol, wow... didn't expect that... lol, nope. Hmm... I need to edit this one somehow... I can't figure out how though... I'm making it sound as if the answer was a... well... if I said then it'll be easier... so :P

EDIT:
hmm... perhaps this might be enough.

Description of things you probably have.
With a dash, you speak.

[Scheherazade]

Things you probably have.
With a dash, you speak.
Sound, it has nothing to do.
can be bad or can be good.
What is it?
Thought?



__________________

[papayahed]

No,no. I figured that would be the first guess. No, they will all willingly show their thumbs. But something isn't right. What is it?http://www.smileyville.net/invision/whistling1.gif


That's right, that was the MASH episode right?

[starrwriter]

Throw away the outside,
Cook the inside.
Eat the outside,
Throw away the inside.
What am I?
An egg white. (The cooked yolk is thrown away to avoid cholesterol.)

At Niagra Falls two Canadians cross the border into the U.S. One is the father of the other one's son. What relationship are they to each other?

[Anon22]

An egg white. (The cooked yolk is thrown away to avoid cholesterol.)

At Niagra Falls two Canadians cross the border into the U.S. One is the father of the other one's son. What relationship are they to each other?


no, it's not Thought. For this one I'd have to say Husband and Wife(most likely anyways) or rather Mother and Father. The Father is the father of the Mother's son. Interesting how that can be confusing to figure out, I guess it's because you(well, at least me) assume that they're both guys.

[starrwriter]

For this one I'd have to say Husband and Wife (most likely anyways) or rather Mother and Father. The Father is the father of the Mother's son.
You were right the firs time, husband and wife. Mother and father is NOT a relationship to each other.

[Pendragon]

The answer to CHINATOWN TRIAL

As The Shadow and the Tribunal is well aware, this is NOT how to test for gunpowder residue. But to the frightened murderer, having just seen it apparently work, fear will provide the clue. Afraid that he might have enough gunpowder on his hand or clothes to set off the test, he will only PRETEND to touch the square. The murderer will be the man without a golden thumb. The Shadow knows.

[Pendragon]

I believe there was a request for a new mystery puzzle. This was written as the sequel to CHINATOWN TRIAL. Enjoy! http://www.smileyville.net/mellow/mf_bluesbrother.gif

CHINATOWN RESURRECTS A DEAD MAN
by Jonathan Blade

The trap set for The Shadow was so clever that even his superhuman reflexes and senses were of no avail. Answering a note from Doctor Roy Tam for a meeting, The Shadow entered one of Tam's usual safe houses on the edge of Chinatown. He crossed the threshold into almost instant oblivion.

When The Shadow recovered, he was in a box-like room, open at the front. Examining himself, he found only his automatics missing. "Gas." He muttered. "Of a new sort I've never before encountered."

The Shadow examined the room he could see from the opening of his prison. It had two doors, one across from him, and one to his left, both sealed by steel curtains. A low Chinese table set in the center of the room, with the following objects arraigned on it: a small bottle and two shot glasses, a long-handled wooden paddle, and two identical pieces of folded rice paper, marked with the symbol of a Chinese tong.

Suddenly, both steel curtains rose silently. The one on the left revealed stairs. A man in a wheelchair rolled into the room through the other, a pistol crossbow ready in hand. He raised his head, and The Shadow was momentarily startled, for it was the face of a man he had seen die!

"Yes, Ying Ko! It is I! I whom your gaijin meddling in affairs that do not concern you condemned to death. The affairs of Chinatown are for the Arbitrator to decide, not some gaijin fool! Yat Soon would have let me go, have controlled the viscous Dragon's Daughter, or at worse allowed the reformist pig, Doctor Roy Tam to try to trace down proof of my guilt. Xing Chu left no clues to find, but Ying Ko tricked Xing Chu into revealing himself!

"But know this, Ying Ko! Xing Chu is one man in a million, whose heart is almost an inch out of line. The bolt pierced me, wounded me badly, but did not kill me. Now, I make the rules. I will swear an unbreakable oath with Ying Ko, the oath of Sake. Then, it's tong justice. One of these papers is freedom; one is death. Choose one; I will abide by your choice. Agreed?"

The Shadow was sure that Xing Chu meant to murder him, that both papers read "Death". Yet he went through with the ceremony, drinking the sake passed to him on the long paddle and made his choice. He walked free, leaving a fuming Xing Chu behind.

ASSUMING THE SHADOW WAS RIGHT ABOUT THE PAPERS, HOW DID HE GO FREE?

Oh, and in case you are wondering this is the Shadow:

[smilingtearz]

The Shadow cud have done two things
1) Chosen one of the papers and asked Xing Chu to open the other one first...thus when opened...it must've read "death"...no explanations required then on what's written on the paper the Shadow had chosen.
2)He might have dropped his drink on the paper he chose...and caused the writing to fade...asking Xing Chu to open the other sheet of paper...which reads "death".

[Anon22]

The Shadow cud have done two things
1) Chosen one of the papers and asked Xing Chu to open the other one first...thus when opened...it must've read "death"...no explanations required then on what's written on the paper the Shadow had chosen.
2)He might have dropped his drink on the paper he chose...and caused the writing to fade...asking Xing Chu to open the other sheet of paper...which reads "death".


Yeah, that's probably what happened. I once came upon something like this. It was actually about a knight, a king, and a princess. The king didn't want anyone to marry the princess, so when the knight came and asked if he could marry her the king gave him 2 papers, 1 that read "not married" and the other one read "married" or something like that, can't remember. Anyhow, I'm sure you all know how the knight managed to marry the princess. Alright, screw my last riddle, I got a better one:

People fear me,
never take me,
occasionally long for me,
sometimes see me,
sometimes don't.
What am I?

In case you're wondering... the answer to my last riddle was the word... well... perhaps you guys would like to solve it so I won't say.

[RobinHood3000]

If I recall, the knight ate one slip of paper.

[Anon22]

If I recall, the knight ate one slip of paper.


I always thought he ripped it.... but... w/e... lol

[RobinHood3000]

If it works, it works, non?

[Nightshade]

People fear me,
never take me,
occasionally long for me,
sometimes see me,
sometimes don't.
What am I?
Poison.
cant spell it right but see
people fear it , should never take it but somtimes long for it and do
somtimes youu can see it like if its a solid or liquid poison but not if its gas

wait a minute death fits too! You cant takke death people fear death some long for death somtimes you se it ie a bullet rushing towards you somtimes you dont you just die suddenly for no reason

:D
are either of those right?

[Pendragon]

Any of the answers I have read will work for this Shadow Mystery. So you all win. http://www.smileyville.net/mellow/mf_party.gifhttp://www.smileyville.net/mellow/mf_party.gifhttp://www.smileyville.net/mellow/mf_party.gifhttp://www.smileyville.net/mellow/mf_party.gif

SOLUTION:
The answer lies in the unbreakable oath. The Shadow took a paper, took out his cigarette lighter, and burned it to ashes without reading it. He then said, "I made my choice, let's see what's left." As only "Death" was left Xing Chu had to release him or loose face admitting he had cheated. And Orientials cannnot bear to loose face.

That one was just too easy. I'll try again. I'm going to have to write some more, I'm running out of stock stories! :lol: :lol:

[Pendragon]

Well, let's see if this one is better.....Note: Hawkeye is one of the Shadow's agents who works the Badlands disguised as a bum, usually in partnership with Cliff Marsland. Shrevvie (Moe Shrevneiz) drives The Shadow's personally owned taxi.

SHADOWS IN THE RAIN by Jonathan Blade


The little spotter known as "Hawkeye" shivered in his sheltered doorway as the rain blew in. Hawkeye had been detailed to watch the mansion across the street since six o’clock. But a series of accidents had delayed Shrevvie in getting him to his post on time, due to the rain that had started at ten ‘til six. Hawkeye had arrived twenty minutes late in a cold, pouring rain. Thank goodness for the half-cigar he had found in a dry patch underneath the red roadster across the street! Hawkeye could, of course, have walked two blocks and bought his own cigars, but that would mean leaving his post, something no agent of the Shadow would ever do. It would also be out of the character the little man usually played in the badlands.

Inside the building, Lamont Cranston faced three other men. A fourth lay dead before them, with a knife in his back. The dead man was Otis Cramer, owner of the mansion. The Shadow was certain that one of the other men had killed Cramer, to silence the man who was their partner in crime.

"Who got here first?" Cranston asked.

Anson Redstone answered. "Hurlbert and I arrived at the same time. As I pulled in, he was getting out of his car and I asked to share his umbrella, as I had forgotten mine."

Elbridge Hurlbert agreed. "It was around six fifteen by my roadster's dashboard clock. Duced bad weather to drive in. When we came in we, ah, found the body." He grimaced

"I was right on your heels." Cranston said. "My coupe is parked behind Redstone's Ford."

"I was last." Boris Hulce said, "although I'm parked in front. There was no other place when I arrived about five minutes later."

"Well, we must let the police know about poor Otis." Cranston said. "I'll call from the library."

Cranston quickly stepped to the window and flashed a red light twice. In a few moments, Hawkeye was there, holding his hat over his treasured cigar. Cranston pointed at the smoking stub.

"Where did you find that on a night like this?"

When Hawkeye told him the Shadow's eyes suddenly blazed. "Off duty." Back in the library Cranston dialed Police Headquarters. "Come to Otis Cramer's mansion on 54th Street. And come prepared to pick up a murderer."

WHO DOES CRANSTON SUSPECT OF MURDER?

[smilingtearz]

1)half-cigar
2)dry patch underneath the red roadster across the street!
3)Elbridge Hurlbert --might be the suspect
4)six fifteen by my roadster's dashboard clock
Elbridge Hurlburt was probably already there...coz Redstone only sees him getting out of the car...which he might have pretended to do seeing someone coming...
and the half-cigar was under his roadster...Redstone's ford is after the roadster and cranston's coupe follows...
+If there was space in front of the roadster ...then Hulburt probably was already leaving and seeing another car...stopped and pretended to get out thus leaving space in front for Hulce's car...

my answer :HURLBERT

[Anon22]

Poison.
cant spell it right but see
people fear it , should never take it but somtimes long for it and do
somtimes youu can see it like if its a solid or liquid poison but not if its gas

wait a minute death fits too! You cant takke death people fear death some long for death somtimes you se it ie a bullet rushing towards you somtimes you dont you just die suddenly for no reason

:D
are either of those right?

Oh darn, you're right... but think about it this way, this thing is something everyone fears(always, woah, commercial flashback). I'm sure some daredevils aren't afraid of dying and therefore poison.

[RobinHood3000]

It's Hulce. If it's dry under his car and the other two needed an umbrella when they got out, it should have been raining/just stopped raining when he arrived, according to his story. Yet it's dry beneath his car...

EDIT: Hmm...Hulce says he's parked in front but Hulbert says he owns a roadster. Hard to say which...I may be wrong, but I assumed that since Hulce says he parked in front, then the "roadster across the street" would belong to him.

[Pendragon]

1)half-cigar
2)dry patch underneath the red roadster across the street!
3)Elbridge Hurlbert --might be the suspect
4)six fifteen by my roadster's dashboard clock
Elbridge Hurlburt was probably already there...coz Redstone only sees him getting out of the car...which he might have pretended to do seeing someone coming...
and the half-cigar was under his roadster...Redstone's ford is after the roadster and cranston's coupe follows...
+If there was space in front of the roadster ...then Hulburt probably was already leaving and seeing another car...stopped and pretended to get out thus leaving space in front for Hulce's car...

my answer :HURLBERTWell, well, well. Did I not name you PUZZLE SOLVER-DELUXE? Exactly the logical breakdown you needed to follow to the answer! Well done! Spip the nanners-- http://www.smileyville.net/mellow/mf_party.gifhttp://www.smileyville.net/mellow/mf_party.gifhttp://www.smileyville.net/mellow/mf_party.gifhttp://www.smileyville.net/mellow/mf_party.gif You go girl!

[Pendragon]

People fear me,
never take me,
occasionally long for me,
sometimes see me,
sometimes don't.
What am I?

Wild guess, with a slight bit of logic. TIME

[Pendragon]

No new Shadow mystery for a little while. I'll have one coming up Dec. 9 at http://www.spaceports.com/~deshadow click on two-minute mysteries. The solution is always at the end so don't read too fast if you want to try to solve it first. Pen. :)

[smilingtearz]

Well, well, well. Did I not name you PUZZLE SOLVER-DELUXE? Exactly the logical breakdown you needed to follow to the answer! Well done! Spip the nanners-- http://www.smileyville.net/mellow/mf_party.gifhttp://www.smileyville.net/mellow/mf_party.gifhttp://www.smileyville.net/mellow/mf_party.gifhttp://www.smileyville.net/mellow/mf_party.gif You go girl!


YAY!!!! :banana: :banana: :banana:
I love my title ...PUZZLE SOLVER-DELUXE?
ur actually encouraging me to consider going into the intelligence line ;)...

OH I"LL MISS THE SHADOW MYSTERIES...can't u find more good mysteries pen???..anything that u could use till december??...i know there can't be a better substitute...but do try...this is one thread i love coz of the mysteries!!:D

[Anon22]

Wild guess, with a slight bit of logic. TIME


nope, it's not time... time can be taken "it takes time" "he took time" I know it's not physically taking time but bleh, only way to cover the time answer, you'll eventually get it.

[RobinHood3000]

Hmm...I would say "risk," but it's nowhere near true that people never take one.

[Anon22]

Hmm...I would say "risk," but it's nowhere near true that people never take one.


It's not risk either.

[Pendragon]

Hmmm. Solitude. People live in it, sometimes long for it, but don't really take it, and everyone really fears being alone.

[Pendragon]

I must bow to popular demand. But I need time to write more stories, since I'm almost out of stored material!
I think we have established by now that The Shadow and Lamont Cranston are often the same person....



Four Men At a Table by Jonathan Blade

Four men sat around a rectangular table at the exclusive Cobalt Club enjoying after dinner cigars and port. The arrangement was like this:

;) ;) B

;) C----D

;) ;) A

Lamont Cranston sits at the foot of the table, in the space marked “A”.
Facing him is the banker.
The man on Cranston’s left is NOT the stockbroker.
Mr. Archer wears a grey suit.
The jeweler is Mr. Taylor.
The man on Cranston’s right is Mr. Thurgood.
The man on Mr. Archer’s left wears a blue suit.
The Shadow is in his customary black tuxedo.
The other man at the table is wearing a green suit.
The banker’s name does NOT start with “T”.

USING THESE CLUES SAY WHO SITS WHERE, WEARS WHAT COLOR SUIT, AND DOES WHICH JOB.

Enjoy! :lol: :lol: :lol:

http://www.smileyville.net/babygoat/g.gif

[RobinHood3000]

Assuming that "Shadow" qualifies as an occupation...

A. Cranston--Black--Shadow
B. Archer--Grey--Banker
c. Taylor--Green--Jeweler
D. Thurgood--Blue--Stockbroker

Did I get it??

[Anon22]

Assuming that "Shadow" qualifies as an occupation...

A. Cranston--Black--Shadow
B. Archer--Grey--Banker
c. Taylor--Green--Jeweler
D. Thurgood--Blue--Stockbroker

Did I get it??

It's not solitude either. It is feared by most, but probably not by everyone.
I just did this one and here's what I got:

A-Cranston-Black Suit-Shadow
B-Mr.Archer-Grey Suit-Banker
C-Mr. Taylor-Green Suit-Jewler
D-Mr.Thurgood-Blue Suit-Stock Broker

The same thing, so you probably did get it.

[Pendragon]

Originally Posted by RobinHood3000
Assuming that "Shadow" qualifies as an occupation...

A. Cranston--Black--Shadow
B. Archer--Grey--Banker
c. Taylor--Green--Jeweler
D. Thurgood--Blue--Stockbroker

Did I get it??


It's not solitude either. It is feared by most, but probably not by everyone.
I just did this one and here's what I got:

A-Cranston-Black Suit-Shadow
B-Mr.Archer-Grey Suit-Banker
C-Mr. Taylor-Green Suit-Jewler
D-Mr.Thurgood-Blue Suit-Stock Broker

The same thing, so you probably did get it.Yes, Gentlemen, you both got that one, one of my less complicated one's but I was in a hurry! Still, it wasn't bad and took some thinking, so here's some nanners: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

D-man, I've given you puzzle some serious thought: One thing everyone fears is the unknown. No one will willingly take it (if you even CAN take it), but people do long for it, and some say they get a glimpse of it, others scoff and say that's impossible.

[Taliesin]

Three missionaries and three cannibals need to cross a river. There is only one boat and that can carry two. Only one cannibal and one missionary can row the boat. The missionaries are afraid of being outnumbered by the cannibals. (including the people who are on the same shore in the boat)
(the last means that there can't be two cannibals and one missionary on one side of the river, or three cannibals and two or one missionary)

How should the six people use the boat so that they could all cross the river?

[Kaltrina]

I think this is how it should be done. on missionary goes across the river with one cannibal. than the missionary goes back alone in the boat and takes another cannibal and takes him across the river, then he goes back again and takes one missionary across the river, when he arrives there he leaves the missionary and takes one cannibal with him. he takes where he first was and leaves him there so he can take the third missionary to the other side. so now there are two missionaries and one cannibal in one side and two other cannibals in the other, and the third missionary goes and takes them one by one and brings them across the river. in this way missionaries are never outnumbered by the cannibals...

[Anon22]

I think this is how it should be done. on missionary goes across the river with one cannibal. than the missionary goes back alone in the boat and takes another cannibal and takes him across the river, then he goes back again and takes one missionary across the river, when he arrives there he leaves the missionary and takes one cannibal with him. he takes where he first was and leaves him there so he can take the third missionary to the other side. so now there are two missionaries and one cannibal in one side and two other cannibals in the other, and the third missionary goes and takes them one by one and brings them across the river. in this way missionaries are never outnumbered by the cannibals...


that's not right. That missionary would die because there'd be 2 cannibals and outnumber him. Here's what I think. Two cannibals cross the river

2 cannibals-1 cannibal and 3 missionaries

1 goes back
1 cannibal-2 cannibals and 3 missionaries

takes the other cannibal across the river
3 cannibals-3 missionaries

goes back
2 cannibals-1 cannibal 3 missionaries

leaves the boat, and 2 missionaries cross the river
2 cannibals 2 missionaries-1 cannibal 1 missionary

then 1 cannibal and 1 missionary return
1 cannibal 1 missionary-2 cannibals 2 missionaries

then 2 missionaries cross again
1 cannibal 3 missionaries-2 cannibals

then the cannibal goes back to retrieve 1 cannibal
3 missionaries-3 cannibals
2 cannibals 3 missionaries-1 cannibal

finally 1 cannibal goes back and gets the final cannibal to the other side of the river
3 Missionaries, 3 Cannibals

[starrwriter]

Three missionaries and three cannibals need to cross a river. There is only one boat and that can carry two. Only one cannibal and one missionary can row the boat. The missionaries are afraid of being outnumbered by the cannibals (including the people who are on the same shore in the boat. the last means that there can't be two cannibals and one missionary on one side of the river, or three cannibals and two or one missionary.) How should the six people use the boat so that they could all cross the river?
First, the three cannibals should eat the three missionaries and wait 24 hours for bowel movements. Then it will only take two trips to get the cannibals to the other side of the river.

[Pendragon]

D-man, I've given your puzzle some serious thought: One thing everyone fears is the unknown. No one will willingly take it (if you even CAN take it), but people do long for it, and some say they get a glimpse of it, others scoff and say that's impossibleSo, was I wrong or right?http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/fragend/confused-smiley-013.gif

[Anon22]

So, was I wrong or right?http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/fragend/confused-smiley-013.gif


Oh woops, forgot, sorry 'bout that. Errmm... no

[Pendragon]

You seem to like my little Shadow Mystery-Puzzles, set in the 30's and 40's in New York City. Here's a new one to contemplate.

The Shadow’s Secret Mission by Jonathan Bladehttp://www.smileyville.net/babygoat/irvine.gif

The butler lead The Shadow into Rupert Goldthwaite’s huge library. The walls were lined with books and with evidence of Goldthwaite’s hobbies—big game hunting and taxidermy. Indeed, it was as a big game hunter that The Shadow, as Lamont Cranston, knew Rupert Goldthwaite.

Goldthwaite seemed to favor mounting the act of the hunter. There was a cobra coiled with a mongoose leaping through the coils, a barn owl stretching to snatch a mouse, a weasel in the act of stalking a deer mouse, and a fox with a rabbit in its mouth. Also mounted were a great set of caribou antlers, a moose head, a boar's’ head, and two bearskin rugs were on the floor.

Cranston was shocked at the change in his old friend. The keen eyes of the Shadow told him Goldthwaite was dying.

“Yes. I have but a few days left. Your eyes do not deceive you. Nor do mine.” Goldthwaite smiled slowly. “You see, I know your secret—Shadow.”

“Indeed.” The Shadow never flinched. “May I ask how?”

Goldthwaite pointed to the mounted boar’s head. “When I collected that guy, you, or rather, Cranston, was with me and received a nasty gore to the right arm. You show no scar, although one would have to know it was there to see it anyway.”

“I see. What do you want?”

“I have a rather unique problem. I am dying. My business shall go to my three sons, Donald, Edward, and Stephen. But a company can have but one head. The others will, of course, be VP’s. I set up a test with my lawyer, Vic Braxton. Unfortunately, he died two days ago. In accordance with his wishes, I had his body cremated, and did not announce his death. You must impersonate Braxton and give the test to my sons. Will you?”

“I will.”

“Good. The test is this. Each must be shown this paper.” Goldthwaite held up a paper with “Y Y” typed on it. “Each then may chose one item from my trophy collection. You will know who is right I’m sure.”

Cranston glanced around. He smiled. “Of course.”

On the night appointed, the three young men met with “Braxton”.

WHAT DID THE WINNER CHOOSE?

[RobinHood3000]

Just a guess...

The Barn Owl--the "Y Y" represent talons.

[Anon22]

I guess its the barn owl. I have finally thought up 2 riddles similar to my bat one in the fact that they are short. My past couple of riddles afterwards were long and unlike my bat one. These 2 are similar:

1) One time, when this world of life was black and white, the only color was I.

2) I am considered human, but also a ray of life.

Should be, perhaps, easier though. Lets see if you guys get it. I think I'll just give away the answer to my last two, the first one:



Things you probably have.(You probably have bought used things)
With a dash, you speak.(U-sed, or you said)
Sound, it has nothing to do.(the word use doesn't really have anything to do with sound)
can be bad or can be good.(It can be good or bad, low price, old object)
What is it?

the word "used" (I know, this one was a sucky riddle)

People fear me,(people fear it)
never take me,(never took it)
occasionally long for me,(miss it and want it back)
sometimes see me,(sometimes realize they have missed an opportunity)
sometimes don't.(sometimes don't)
What am I?

A Missed Opportunity

so, yeah, anyhow... getting back to my new 2 riddles:

1) One time, when this world of life was black and white, the only color was I.

2) I am considered human, but also a ray of life.

[Pendragon]

Actually, D-Man and Archer, you are right, but for the wrong reason. The "Y Y" doesn't represent talons, it's far simpler than that. What do we have. A paper with "YY" on it. If we read the paper right, we would say "two y's" (too wise). Ergo, an owl! An owl's feet are not shaped like other birds. Most have three toes forward and one back. Owls have two forward, two back, which would make the talon clue invalid. You can check me on that, but birds are a kind of hobby. By the way, did you ever see a humming bird walk? Check THAT reson out! :lol: :lol:
But anyway, you did solve the mystery correctly, clues nonwithstanding. Nanners: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

[Pendragon]

1) One time, when this world of life was black and white, the only color was I.

That would be black. White is the absence of pigment. Black is a combination of all colors. :cool:

[Anon22]

1) One time, when this world of life was black and white, the only color was I.

That would be black. White is the absence of pigment. Black is a combination of all colors. :cool:


Gee, I totally forgot about that fact. I remember seeing it and hearing it, too. Even though you can count the talons clue valid through this logic:

Y Y->Talons->most birds have talons->answer is a bird->Owl

Anyhow, it's not Black... as black and white are also the absence of color.

Speaking of hummingbirds, I love birds as well... j'adore le/la [insert french word for "bird" that I haven't learned yet here]. Thus I made a drawing:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/DigitalCrash29/My%20Paintings/Hummingbird.jpg

and of course I made my avatar

[Pendragon]

Gee, I totally forgot about that fact. I remember seeing it and hearing it, too. Even you can count the talons clue valid through this logic:

Y Y->Talons->most birds have talons->answer is a bird->Owl

Anyhow, it's not Black... as black and white are also the absence of color.


True. That logic works as well, put that way. I bow to you, sir.

Now to that color. I was right the first time but I changed it. It's grey, which you get when white and black overlap as in old black and white pictures. All colors are shades of grey. :lol:

[Anon22]

True. That logic works as well, put that way. I bow to you, sir.

Now to that color. I was right the first time but I changed it. It's grey, which you get when white and black overlap as in old black and white pictures. All colors are shades of grey. :lol:


Lol, hmm, guess that one isn't as good as I thought(colors do in fact work). Well anyhow, it's not grey, as a matter a fact, it's not even a color at all. Wait, Most birds have talons? what am I saying?! all birds have talons x) :lol:... EDIT:wait no... ducks don't... lol... nvm... >.>

[RobinHood3000]

Take it from the ultimate Rubber Ducky--not all birds have talons.

[Anon22]

Take it from the ultimate Rubber Ducky--not all birds have talons.


Yeah, I know... damn Rubber Ducky... >.>... lol... j/k... Rubber Duckies are cool... Squeek! Squeek!

[Pendragon]

Lol, hmm, guess that one isn't as good as I thought(colors do in fact work). Well anyhow, it's not grey, as a matter a fact, it's not even a color at all. Wait, Most birds have talons? what am I saying?! all birds have talons x) :lol:... EDIT:wait no... ducks don't... lol... nvm... >.>Please tell me you didn't want "living color"?

[Anon22]

living color? eh? no. It's a noun.

[Pendragon]

living color? eh? no. It's a noun.None :lol: :lol:

[Anon22]

1) One time, when this world of life was black and white, the only color was I.

That would be black. White is the absence of pigment. Black is a combination of all colors. :cool:


it was actually paintings. Back in the past... there were videos and pictures, but they were black and white, so the only colored ones were paintings. Anyhow I got a new one... should be simple:

It spins, it cheers,
It flaps near my ear.
What is it that I hear?

[Pendragon]

it was actually paintings. Back in the past... there were videos and pictures, but they were black and white, so the only colored ones were paintings. Anyhow I got a new one... should be simple:

It spins, it cheers,
It flaps near my ear.
What is it that I hear?A noisemaker of the type used at parties! This type: http://steveandolivia.com/mexico/images/noisemaker.jpg

[Pendragon]

In this story, The Shadow actually sends a client from himself to himself!


A Question of Art by Jonathan Blade

Two men in comfortable chairs facing a third, who sat behind a large desk in a somewhat shadowy office. A painting lay upon the desk with a lamp focused upon the details. The man behind the desk frowned at the painting through a powerful magnifying glass.
“Mr. Arnaud, this painting, I am convinced, would be a solid investment for me.” Colin Faringdale, whose art collection was often on loan to various museums beamed at Henry Arnaud, his personal financier. “The name of Pablo Picasso is on everyone’s lips these days. Soon everyone in the world of art will wish to own an original!”
Arnaud grunted. “Has the painting been authenticated?”
“Certainly, sir. I have the papers right here.” The other man, Alexander Openheimer passed a sheaf of papers to Henry Arnaud. “The painting is called “Variation on The Old Guitarist”, painted circa 1902. It was authenticated by Professor T. Johnstone McCullney, Empire State University Department of Art.”
“Your papers appear to be in order Mr. Openheimer. I don’t know The Professor except by reputation, but a friend of mine does.” Arnaud studied the gold and crimson painting another moment.
“ I’ll tell you what, Faringdale. It’s your money, of course, I’m just an advisor. But you take this painting to my friend, old Phineas Twambley, the curio collector, that friend of Professor McCullney. If he passes this painting, the papers will be ready when you get back. It won’t be much delay, and everything looks fine. Fair enough, Mr. Openheimer?”
“Certainly. You’ll have double the verification, Mr. Faringdale.” The young man said.
Arnaud shook hands with the men as they exited, then made a rapid exit of his own. Half an hour later, old Phineas Twambley was examining the painting with a jeweler’s loupe in his eye. “Hummm. Apparently a Pacisso original. You have the date of the painting, of course, young man?”
Openheimer proffered his papers. “Of course. “Variation on The Old Guitarist”, 1902.”
Phineas Twambley sat back in his chair with a gleam in his eye. “Clever. Very clever.” His shadow seemed to grow across the painting. “But this is either a very good forgery or not so old as you would have us believe. Which is it, Mr. Openheimer?”

WHAT TIPPED THE SHADOW OFF?

[RobinHood3000]

I wonder...dates of birth and death would be too easy...I suspect that the colors are the key.

[Pendragon]

Old Pablo died long after the Shadow stories timeframe, let me say that at least. :nod:

[Anon22]

A noisemaker of the type used at parties! This type: http://steveandolivia.com/mexico/images/noisemaker.jpg

oh wow, I totally forgot about that... so... no... x) it's an easy one though... just think about it...

[Anon22]

I wonder...dates of birth and death would be too easy...I suspect that the colors are the key.


Still too obvious... knowing Pendragon's mysteries the answer is really hidden, and there are a lot of (unnecessary) clues that conceal the answer... hmm... maybe the answer lies within the magnifying glass... maybe, since it so old... it'll burn easily, and the fact that the curio collector didn't notice any burn marks. The magnifying glass isn't obvious at all and is taken little notice throughout the entire mystery.

[Anon22]

I've another brain teaser (my great apologies for triple posting):

What can be deeper than the sea,
more intriguing than stars and space,
Simple as can be,
duller than an empty place,
as innocent as a gentle word,
and guilty like a vile jailbird?

perhaps there's better word rather than "vile"

[Pendragon]

Still too obvious... knowing Pendragon's mysteries the answer is really hidden, and there are a lot of (unnecessary) clues that conceal the answer... hmm... maybe the answer lies within the magnifying glass... maybe, since it so old... it'll burn easily, and the fact that the curio collector didn't notice any burn marks. The magnifying glass isn't obvious at all and is taken little notice throughout the entire mystery.
Hee-hee. Yes, but Pendragon is also good at hiding things right out in the open... Let us say the colors were the clue, for the sake of arguement. Why would they be? :brow: http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/figuren/g030.gif

[Anon22]

The only thing I can think of is Jewler's loupe + gold...

[Pendragon]

The only thing I can think of is Jewler's loupe + gold...
Nope. The artist's name may help though.

[Riesa]

Hey Pen, is it because he was in his blue period at the time? 1902? He didn't start his
rose period until 1905?

Enjoyable story. :thumbs_up

[Pendragon]

Hey Pen, is it because he was in his blue period at the time? 1902? He didn't start his
rose period until 1905?

Enjoyable story. :thumbs_upQuite right, my dear! Many believe that at the time, he was so poor he could only afford one color. Even in the Rose period, he used no yellow. "The Old Guitarist" was painted during the blue period, and so far as I no, no variation on the painting was ever done. But a red and yellow version would deffiniatly been much later, probably past the timeframe of the Shadow stories. Well done! http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/figuren/c055.gif

[Pendragon]

I've another brain teaser (my great apologies for triple posting):

What can be deeper than the sea,
more intriguing than stars and space,
Simple as can be,
duller than an empty place,
as innocent as a gentle word,
and guilty like a vile jailbird?

perhaps there's better word rather than "vile"

Thoughts might do it............

[Anon22]

yup... it's thought, but can you figure the first one? :)

[Pendragon]

yup... it's thought, but can you figure the first one? :)Might it be Hair?

[Mililalil XXIV]

What is eviler than the devil, higher than GOD, needed by the rich, and lethal to eat?

[Ryduce]

mel gibson

[Pendragon]

What is eviler than the devil, higher than GOD, coveted by the rich, and lethal to eat?Gold qualifies, I think.

[Pendragon]

In this Shadow mystery, The Shadow appears as Henry Arnaud, a finincier. Police Commissioner Weston is on vacation, and Wainwright Barth, the pompous, bumbling acting Police Commisioner is in charge...


The Gargoyle House by Jonathan Blade

Pompous Acting Police Commissioner Wainwright Barth could not repress a shudder as he exited his official car in front of the crumbling mansion on 64th Street.
The Van Dyer dwelling was one of the oldest in Manhattan. The founder of the clan, one Jan Van Dyer, had been extremely superstitious. Gargoyles leered like hungry demons from strategic points on the roof.
“A moment please, Mr. Barth.” A voice called from behind the Acting Commissioner. “I’ll go with you, if you have no objections.”
Wainwright Barth winced at that voice. Henry Arnaud! Why couldn’t this busybody amateur just leave police business alone?
“Actually, Mr. Arnaud, there’s been a murder here—“
Arnaud cut him off : “Then why are we out here? Any one can see there’s no body out here!” Arnaud commented sharply, peering about.
Silently vowing to kill all amateurs, Barth lead the way to the top floor of the mansion. Ace Detective Joe Cardona met them at the door to a book-lined study.
“Well?” Barth snapped at him.
“Peter Van Dyer is dead, alright, Mr., ah, Commissioner. He was stabbed in the back, just like the warning he received last evening said. But I was outside that door all the time, and it’s the only way in!”
They entered the room. Van Dyer lay face down in the center of the floor, an ugly knife in the exact center of his back. Arnaud glanced at him, noting his position, and wandered over to a window. He opened it and looked out. A gargoyle grinned at him from a point about two feet above his head and to the right.
“What are you up to Arnaud?” Wainwright Barth blustered. “This is the top floor! Those windows are too far above the ground for entering or escaping. Joe says he was in here right after Van Dyer screamed. A man would break his fool neck diving out one of those windows!”
Arnaud slammed the window shut. “Well, Van Dyer didn’t stab himself in the back!” He retorted. He glanced at Cardona, and for a moment his shadow grew long.
“Not everyone who looks sees Joe. But you will. In time.” He chuckled sardonically as he exited the room, his shadow clinging to the wall after he was gone.

WHAT DID THE SHADOW MEAN?

[Mililalil XXIV]

mel gibson
Well, that might fit the last requirement, but....
....give up?
By thinking simply it is simpler to get.

[Scheherazade]

Nothing?

Based on the 'higher than God' clue and knowing how 'keen' you are on the subject...

[RobinHood3000]

I keep thinking that Cardona did it, but I'm probably missing something.

[Pendragon]

I keep thinking that Cardona did it, but I'm probably missing something.Cardona is always innocent. That is one thing that never changes. Even once in a novel written by the orignal author, Walter Gibson, AKA Maxwell Grant, entitled The Strange Disapperence of Joe Cardona when Joe looks guilty and even seems to have fled town, he's innocent. ;)

I still think I'm right about Gold....

[RobinHood3000]

Well, that's awfully convenient for our friend Joe, ain't it? :p

[Mililalil XXIV]

Nothing?

Based on the 'higher than God' clue and knowing how 'keen' you are on the subject...
Quite right, Scheherazade.

[Pendragon]

Well, that's awfully convenient for our friend Joe, ain't it? :pTrue. But there's always someone who couldn't have done the crime. You don't suspect Batman, for example, or Mulder & Skully, even when they look guilty. All part of the drama. In this case, the problem is not who, but how. How could anyone have killed the man on the top floor with windows too high to climb to or jump from, and only the gaurded door to get through? The Shadow has not given Joe a clue to who but to how. :nod:

[Pendragon]

What is eviler than the devil, higher than GOD, coveted by the rich, and lethal to eat?
Nothing is the answer? I can see the first two clues fine, OK. Using a Bible verse from Mark 16, I can even get past the one about eating. But the rich covet nothing? Am I missing something here? That doesn't quite scan. The rich always covet more. Perhaps it should have read "The rich do not lack it." :) :angel: :wave:

[RobinHood3000]

I wonder if a dagger falling two-thirds of a meter would be falling fast enough to kill a man from behind. Doubt it--not even enough to puncture a foot, probably...the position of the gargoyle is intriguing, though...

[Pendragon]

I wonder if a dagger falling two-thirds of a meter would be falling fast enough to kill a man from behind. Doubt it--not even enough to puncture a foot, probably...the position of the gargoyle is intriguing, though...Ah, The Archer begins to sight in the right direction! Keep that gargoyle in mind, Robin. Is there something a little convenient about its position? How would Daredevil have accomplished this murder, were he so inclined, and opened and closed the window as well? Hum? ;)

[Mililalil XXIV]

Nothing is the answer? I can see the first two clues fine, OK. Using a Bible verse from Mark 16, I can even get past the one about eating. But the rich covet nothing? Am I missing something here? That doesn't quite scan. The rich always covet more. Perhaps it should have read "The rich do not lack it." :) :angel: :wave:
I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about Pen! Looky again!
http://www.literature-web.net/forums/showthread.php?p=172805#post172805
:lol:
Sorry! I didn't get enough sleep, and did not perfectly write out that riddle that any one should be able to write out in their sleep!
Kind of like sleep-walking - only the other person gets nowhere faster!
:banana:
Yep!

[Mililalil XXIV]

Ah, The Archer begins to sight in the right direction! Keep that gargoyle in mind, Robin. Is there something a little convenient about its position? How would Daredevil have accomplished this murder, were he so inclined, and opened and closed the window as well? Hum? ;)
Perhaps no differently than the Vigilante, after he left home the second time.

[Pendragon]

I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about Pen! Looky again!
http://www.literature-web.net/forums/showthread.php?p=172805#post172805
:lol:
Sorry! I didn't get enough sleep, and did not perfectly write out that riddle that any one should be able to write out in their sleep!
Kind of like sleep-walking - only the other person gets nowhere faster!
:banana:
Yep!
I did. You editted the post. The original is quoted in my post right below. Play fair, now, or don't play!

[Mililalil XXIV]

It was the joke that counted, right?

[Pendragon]

It was the joke that counted, right?And you are forgiven, mon ami. Rest easy, I am no ogre waiting to devour anyone. As it is written NOW, yes, Nothing is the answer. Even before, as I said, everything except "the rich covet it" fitted nothing well enough. But in this old world many find gold the highest power, for it commit the greatest evil, they covet it worse than anything, for is not "the LOVE of money the root of all evil.", as the scripture says? And gold can be harmful to ingest. Enough blather, however, my friend! Let's play Brain Teasers! ;) :wave: :nod:

Has no one figured out The Gargoyle House yet? http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/sprachlos/speechless-smiley-016.gif

[Anon22]

Might it be Hair?


Nope, it's not hair, sorry for the delay btw, it's spring break and I was sleeping over at a friend's house for the entire week.

reading the Nothing riddle I thought it went:

"What is greater than God,
eviler than the Devil,
the poor have it,
the rich don't,
and if you eat it you die"

then again... there are many versions of it

[Mililalil XXIV]

Has no one figured out The Gargoyle House yet? http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/sprachlos/speechless-smiley-016.gif
You aren't referring to the poorly rendered cherub in Chartres are you? You really have a lot of Gaul!

[Anon22]

I wonder if a dagger falling two-thirds of a meter would be falling fast enough to kill a man from behind. Doubt it--not even enough to puncture a foot, probably...the position of the gargoyle is intriguing, though...


When I read it... my first guess was that the guy looked out the window and opening the window caused the dagger to slip and fall (remember the gargoyle was to the right, so if the dagger were to fall towards the window... with a guy looking out of it...) but that couldn't be though as the guy was in the center of the floor. Another question would be... if that was the case, what caused the dagger, knife, whatever... to fall.

[Pendragon]

You aren't referring to the poorly rendered cherub in Chartres are you? You really have a lot of Gaul!LOL. I guess I'm missing something in your posts, mon ami, but no, I have no Gaul, my ancestry is British, German, and Native American (Cherokee). A Gaul is French n'est ce pas? :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Pendragon]

Anyway, about The Gargoyle House

This is what you are given:

#1 None of the three men mentioned investigating the case are guilty of anything, unless you count Wainwright's pompous stupidity.

#2 A man was stabbed to death in the back behind a closed, gaurded door. The only other entrences to the room are windows too high from the ground for a quick enterence and escape, and besides are closed.

#3 The Shadow looks out and notices a gargoyle just above and to the right of one of the windows.

#4 He then tells Inspector Cardona that if he looks he will figure it out.

So everything hinges on the view from that window. Let me now make a scientific statement: What goes up, must come down. Correct? Another statement: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Correct?

Can anyone now read between the lines or have I just made it more mysterious? :brow:

[Mililalil XXIV]

Anyway, about The Gargoyle House

This is what you are given:

#1 None of the three men mentioned investigating the case are guilty of anything, unless you count Wainwright's pompous stupidity.

#2 A man was stabbed to death in the back behind a closed, gaurded door. The only other entrences to the room are windows too high from the ground for a quick enterence and escape, and besides are closed.

#3 The Shadow looks out and notices a gargoyle just above and to the right of one of the windows.

#4 He then tells Inspector Cardona that if he looks he will figure it out.

So everything hinges on the view from that window. Let me now make a scientific statement: What goes up, must come down. Correct? Another statement: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Correct?

Can anyone now read between the lines or have I just made it more mysterious? :brow:

I've got it! It was # 3!

[RobinHood3000]

Eh, I dunno...number 2, step forward. Hmm...now turn to your left.


I'm trying to figure out whether the cause of death was a mechanism or a person. I'm leaning towards the first, but then the problem-solver in me tries to figure out all the specific mechanics...

[Pendragon]

Anyway, about The Gargoyle House

This is what you are given:

#1 None of the three men mentioned investigating the case are guilty of anything, unless you count Wainwright's pompous stupidity.

#2 A man was stabbed to death in the back behind a closed, gaurded door. The only other entrences to the room are windows too high from the ground for a quick enterence and escape, and besides are closed.

#3 The Shadow looks out and notices a gargoyle just above and to the right of one of the windows.

#4 He then tells Inspector Cardona that if he looks he will figure it out.

So everything hinges on the view from that window. Let me now make a scientific statement: What goes up, must come down. Correct? Another statement: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Correct?

Can anyone now read between the lines or have I just made it more mysterious? :brow:Let me just explain it:

As I said, everything depends on the veiw from that window. I gave two indisputable scientific statements hoping to jog someone's memory. If what goes up must come down, could the opposite be correct was what I was driving at?

The windows were too high to get UP TO and DOWN FROM easily, but if one used a rope and the handy gargoyle, they could come DOWN TO the window, open it while hanging from the rope, then either enter the room and commit the deed or throw the knife. After which they use the rope again to close the window and GO UP to the roof, to exit elsewhere, knowing all attention will be on that room and the rest of the house overlooked. The murderer could be inside the house, a member of the family or a servant, or an outside man with acrobatic skills at climbing. That is what The Shadow saw in the view from the window-- a means of murder and escape in the opposite direction the police were likely to look. ;) :D

[RobinHood3000]

Now that was cheap :p. You're telling me we didn't have to tell you "It was this person, and this is how he did it," we had to tell you "this is a vague idea of how it COULD be done"?

[Anon22]

Lol, yeah, pretty much... the answer to my first one was a fan:

A human fan cheers
A paper fan flaps
and the other fan spins.

[Pendragon]

True. But there's always someone who couldn't have done the crime. You don't suspect Batman, for example, or Mulder & Skully, even when they look guilty. All part of the drama. In this case, the problem is not who, but how. How could anyone have killed the man on the top floor with windows too high to climb to or jump from, and only the gaurded door to get through? The Shadow has not given Joe a clue to who but to how. :nod:
All the way back on this post, I stated it was not a clue to who but how Sometimes I play the game for the game's sake... Even Conan Doyle did at times. John Dickerson Carr's Dr. Gideon Fell, master of the impossibe crime, figures he's done his job if he can figure out how. The next will have a deffinate criminal, I promise! :lol:

[Pendragon]

Kent Allard is The Shadow's real name. He was a spy in WWI, called "The Dark Eagle." After the war, he dissappeared in an experimental plane over Central America. He was believed lost there for twenty years, but in reality, it was only two. When the Shadow was caught in his "Lamont Cranston" disguise by an unexpected newspaper report, he is forced to unmask as himself, the one person the Shadow could not be in the world's estimation.
This story should give no trouble, but my editor asked some questions, so who knows? ;)



The Balaam Murders by Jonathan Blade

Kent Allard was once again at the Manassas, VA country estate of his friend
Roland Tycylff. The two men smoked in silence a few minutes, then Tycylff nodded toward a field of green corn.
“Kirk says the crops this year will be the best yet. Since Dick is in prison—“
Kent raised a hand. “It’s best not to dwell on it, Roland.”
The men were interrupted by a knock on the door. It was the police. They came right to the point: “Mr. Kent Allard?”
Allard smiled. “I’m Allard. What’s up?”
“Well, first, I’m Sheriff Riley, Mr. Allard. The Deputy’s handle is Norwhich. We’ve got a bad deal on our hands. Last night, Davy Whately was found hanged in his own barn. You’d think suicide, but there wasn’t a thing he could have used to hang himself. Then, too, it makes the third in as many nights. The other men were Ty Appleby and Pete Dunkirk. Same method in each case and no clues.”
“Did the men live near each other?” Allard inquired.
“Whately and Appleby had adjoining farms.” Deputy Norwhich read from written notes. “Abe Stokley has owned the place above them for years. The guy below inherited his place two years ago. Name is Kimball Penwick, a city-educated man, inherited his uncle’s place. He also rents the farm across from Appleby, other side of Bull Run Creek, from a dude in Alexandria named Kurt Palmer. Dunkirk’s land was above Palmer’s. Then it’s just cliffs on that side of the creek.”
“Malcolm Dunbar, a self-made millionaire, lives atop the cliffs.” Tycylff explained.
“I need to see both men at their farms.” Allard said.
The Sheriff and Deputy were happy to give him a ride. At the elegant Dunbar estate, Allard found the old man feeding hay to a corral of elderly mules sheltered by a comfortable barn. He shook hands with the farmer turned millionaire.
“Ah broke muh back tuh git me a place like this so’s me and th’ boys could rest.” He said, pointing at the mules. “They worked as hard as ah did. Naow they kin rest too.”
At the Penwick place, the young farmer had his own corral of mules, and easily showed how thin his veneer of city education. “What can I do for y’all?”
“Nice mules.” Allard stated. “They must help a lot, keeping two farms working.”
“For a fact they do!” Penwick grinned. “But not those two over there. Ben and Bess are my breeding pair.”
Allard nodded thoughtfully, glancing back at the car, and the waiting men. The Sheriff exploded on the ride home. “I’m hanged if that did any good! I saw nothing wrong at either place!”
Allard chuckled grimly. “Not so. One man is not what he seems. His animals told on him.”

WHAT DID THE SHADOW MEAN?

[RobinHood3000]

Penwick's the suspicious one--mules are a hybrid of donkeys and horses, and are therefore sterile. "Breeding pair," my eye (the other figure of speech is censored--pity, it would have fit so well...) ;).

[Pendragon]

Penwick's the suspicious one--mules are a hybrid of donkeys and horses, and are therefore sterile. "Breeding pair," my eye (the other figure of speech is censored--pity, it would have fit so well...) ;).I do believe I could guess your other "figure of speech" and yes, it would fit very well, very well indeed. You are of course correct. But would you believe my publisher had to ask what the point was? And also why I called this one "The Balaam Murders"? And he's a college professor? I did not think it should cause anyone trouble. Ah, but you never know...

Kudus, Archer. :thumbs_up :thumbs_up :thumbs_up

[Pendragon]

The Height of a Shadow by Jonathan Blade

Victor Boniface lay facedown on the carpet in his office, a deadly dagger buried to the hilt in the back of his neck. The Coroner looked up at Police Commissioner Ralph Weston, Ace Detective Joe Cardona, and the commissioner’s friend, Lamont Cranston, amateur criminologist.
“Dead less than two hours, gentlemen. The dagger was perfectly placed. I doubt if he ever knew what hit him.” The little official stood and pantomimed. “He was stabbed here as he stood by the desk. He fell, struck a shoulder, half-spun, landed on the other shoulder, then face-down.”
“Cardona?” Weston barked.
“Problems, no doubt about it. This office was locked from the inside—we had to break in. We’re on the 26th floor and this building doesn’t go for ledges. So the windows are out, even if they weren’t locked.
“The door there goes into the outer office. Boniface’s secretary, Miss Carolyn Wheats worked there. The bathroom is opposite her desk.
The waiting area is beyond the outer office. Four men were there, all with appointments to see Boniface, who was a stockbroker: Ramesy Locklear, Norbert Twillinger, Colin Cardiff, and Ernest LaSurare. They have all been detained.”
“What tipped you off as to trouble?” asked Cranston, idly examining the office wall.
“Well, he was past due to see his clients, and LaSurare finally asked Miss Wheats to page him. When they received no reply, they sent for the police.”
“Did you notice this cabinet, Joe?” Cranston had opened a small wall cabinet. Through it, past shelves of medicine and first aid supplies, a half-open door showed the bathroom.
“Yeah. That’s my trouble. Not even Miss Wheats could get through there, and the men are all over six feet tall!”
“Let’s interview the suspects.” Weston suggested. No on noticed Cranston’s eyes seem to gleam as they went.
“Did any of you go into the bathroom?” Cranston asked.
Locklear snorted. “We all did! We’d been kept waiting for an hour drinking coffee!” He jabbed a thick cigar a green ashtray, knocking it off the mantle straight onto Norbert Twillinger’s alligator boot with a thump. Twillinger took no notice.
“Wow! Where’d you buy those boots, Bert?” Colin Cardiff asked. “I’ll bet that malachite ashtray weighed six pounds and you never flinched!”
Twillinger frowned at the scuff on his boot. “I got them in Florida last trip. Gator hide is very tough leather.”
“Are we going to be here all night?” wailed Miss Wheats.
“I’ll get your statement right now, then you can go.” Offered Cardona.
“Actually” Cranston said, stepping around Twillinger, and in the process, stepping on his other foot, “They can all go except for Bert here. He’s our man.”
“He was never in that office!” Weston protested.
“The cabinet connecting the office and bathroom was entrance and exit.”
“I happen to be six foot four!” Twillinger protested
“I think not. And I’ll prove it!” Cranston smiled.

WHAT DOES THE SHADOW MEAN?

[RobinHood3000]

Is it to do with the consistency of alligator hide, the semantics associated with such hides, or the protected status of crocodilians in Florida?

[Pendragon]

Is it to do with the consistency of alligator hide, the semantics associated with such hides, or the protected status of crocodilians in Florida?
Um, no. Those are all good points, but would have nothing to do with proving the man was not six foot four. And I don't think they were a protected species in the 30's and 40's, the time period of the Shadow stories. But the boots are where you should be looking for clues! :brow:

[RobinHood3000]

Is it important that the Shadow steps on the boot? More specifically, does the act of stepping constitute a test?

[Anon22]

Hmm... isn't alligator skin suppose to be tough? Does it have anything to do with the scuff? (woah, made a rhyme) Or does it have to do with the thump? Either way though... that doesn't prove that he is six foot four, just simply that the boot isn't really made out of alligator skin. It has to either be obvious but hidden, or complicated but apparent. It still needs to be proved that it's because of the boots that he's six foot four.

[Pendragon]

Is it important that the Shadow steps on the boot? More specifically, does the act of stepping constitute a test?Yes. Stepping on the boot further comfirms something The Shadow already suspects. And note that he steps on the OPPOSITE boot from the one the heavy ashtray crashed onto. :brow:

[Pendragon]

Hmm... isn't alligator skin suppose to be tough? Does it have anything to do with the scuff? (woah, made a rhyme) Or does it have to do with the thump? Either way though... that doesn't prove that he is six foot four, just simply that the boot isn't really made out of alligator skin. It has to either be obvious but hidden, or complicated but apparent. It still needs to be proved that it's because of the boots that he's six foot four.Yes, But I chose Alligator hide for a reason. Sometimes the truth must not be obvious, so the hide "hides" the real reason, maybe? :brow:

[Anon22]

Yes, But I chose Alligator hide for a reason. Sometimes the truth must not be obvious, so the hide "hides" the real reason, maybe? :brow:


That he's hiding something inside his boot, therefore affecting his height? Since it's not in both boots stepping on it proves something.

[RobinHood3000]

Well, I imagine that if the Shadow confirms a lack of support in the toe, it lends credence to the supposition that Bert is on stilts.

[Pendragon]

Well, I imagine that if the Shadow confirms a lack of support in the toe, it lends credence to the supposition that Bert is on stilts.
You are so close that it would be a mortal sin to not let you have it, really, since the stilts idea works as well as my own. Bravo! http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/sportlich/f030.gif

My own explaination is this: Since the ashtray hit with enough force to mar a Gator Hide boot, yet the person wearing the boot took no notice, and The Shadow stepped on the other boot and he STILL took no notice, he had artificial legs. By going into the bathroom and removing the legs (or stilts, thanks, Robin) he would then be much shorter and could fit through the cabinet, kill the man, return to the bathroom, reattach his false legs/stilts, and presto, he's not a suspect because he's much too tall to fit. The Shadow caught the ashtray clue and followed up on it to get his man. Malicite is a heavy, lovely green stone which you would definately feel if a piece used to make an ornemental ashtray was dropped on your foot, short of steel toes!

[Pendragon]

The Clouded Mind of Joe Cardona by Jonathan Blade

A brilliant blue light shown down upon the highly polish surface of a small table. Within the light, two white hands moved as if of their own volition, opening a cream-colored envelope. Upon the left hand shone a girasol ring, the symbol of the Shadow! The Master of Darkness was in his sanctum.
Eyes hidden in the dark read the typewritten lines:
Report from Clyde Burke of The Classic:

Tobais Coldiron was found last night dead in his home on West 47th Street in the theater district. Inspector Joe Cardona was on the job,
along with Detective Sergeant Markham , and two others. Joe was kind
enough to let me ride along.
Coldiorn’s cook reported hearing a shot from his bedchamber, from her room on the floor above. The butler, a man named Folsom, confirmed the woman’s story. Both had rushed to their master’s door, and found it locked. The butler tried his key, but the door was also bolted on the inside. They then contacted the police.
The policemen had to break the door down to enter the room. Tobias Coldiron lay in the middle of the floor, shot in the right temple. His right hand was stretched out, fingers curled, and you could almost see where the pistol that killed him should be, but it wasn’t there. There was no weapon anywhere in the room. The windows were nailed shut. There was a dumbwaiter to bring Coldiron’s meals up from the kitchen, one floor below, but it was much too small for a normal man to fit into.
Two types of cigarette butts were found scattered, and Markham discovered some that were cork-tipped that had tiny traces of red near the edge. But Cardona found others, including the cork-tipped ones, covered with blood and dismissed the cigarettes as blood spattered.
Cardona even had the tiny car removed, and searched the empty shaft for clues, but came up empty. He is at present treating Coldiron’s death as a mysterious suicide.

Sardonic laughter came from the darkness. The hands reached for a phone and dialed the number for police headquarters. A quiet voice asked to speak with Inspector Joe Cardona.
“Yeah, Cardona here.” The Inspector felt a chill as an icy whisper issued from the receiver.
“Cardona, reexamine the evidence concerning Tobias Coldiron’s murderer. There is a cloud upon your own brain!”

WHAT DID THE SHADOW MEAN?

[RobinHood3000]

Well, the suspicious red edges point towards the presence of a lady--the specific size of the dumbwaiter begs further investigation.

[Ryduce]

These things are hard as crap.Either that or I'm just an idiot.

[Pendragon]

Well, the suspicious red edges point towards the presence of a lady--the specific size of the dumbwaiter begs further investigation.Indeed. One specific line from the story will now solve it for you.

[RobinHood3000]

Hmm...well, the only lady in the house is apparently the cook, but her room is ABOVE Coldiron's bedchambers. Then again, the kitchen is presumably her domain, and such is the terminus for the dumbwaiter. As I have little knowledge regarding tobacco, the significance of cork tips on cigarettes escapes me. Hmm...

[Pendragon]

Hmm...well, the only lady in the house is apparently the cook, but her room is ABOVE Coldiron's bedchambers. Then again, the kitchen is presumably her domain, and such is the terminus for the dumbwaiter. As I have little knowledge regarding tobacco, the significance of cork tips on cigarettes escapes me. Hmm...No, no. You were looking in the right direction, i.e., the dumbwaiter. What does the story specifically state about it?

[RobinHood3000]

That no normal man could fit through it--thereby further suggesting a woman.

[Pendragon]

That no normal man could fit through it--thereby further suggesting a woman.
Quite so. So that instead of Cardona calling it a "suicide" he should have an APB out for a woman, he can easily determine her general size from the dumbwaiter, as that had to be her exit, even do tests for weight. He can check the house to see if any servants fit the given features. That would be were the cork-tips come into play. In those days, cigarettes were more individual than today. If one of the servants could fit in the dumbwaiter, see if she has the cigarettes in her chambers. Any suspected woman would be the same. Do they carry that brand of cigarettes? Cardona is letting a lot of evidence go, because he is hung up on a man must have done this. That's all. Bravo! http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/sportlich/f015.gif

[Anon22]

Quite so. So that instead of Cardona calling it a "suicide" he should have an APB out for a woman, he can easily determine her general size from the dumbwaiter, as that had to be her exit, even do tests for weight. He can check the house to see if any servants fit the given features. That would be were the cork-tips come into play. In those days, cigarettes were more individual than today. If one of the servants could fit in the dumbwaiter, see if she has the cigarettes in her chambers. Any suspected woman would be the same. Do they carry that brand of cigarettes? Cardona is letting a lot of evidence go, because he is hung up on a man must have done this. That's all. Bravo! http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/sportlich/f015.gif

wow, nice job, both of you... hmm... I seem developing an idea for my next teaser... I'll post it once I'm satisfied with it.

[Anon22]

Man... ;_; the computer froze up on me... that was longest teaser I had ever made too. ;_;

EDIT: Alright... I can't remember the entire poem I had in it, but here's the poem (yes, it was prose writing, but I even had a poem in there), just for future reference (for me, as the poem is the part I'll most likely forget):

"The moonlight shines across the window,
shining oh so bright,
lighting up the world of limbo,
(something about it being out of sight)

he looks across the dark, wide hall,
feeling his demise,
and he sees the shadow near the wall,
hidden from his eyes

hypnotically he starts to walk,
to the other side,
listening to the shadow talk,
and hearing him misguide

but, alas, he plunges towards the ground,
death so palpable,
and then he hears it as a sound,
the train so touchable"

[Pendragon]

Death of a Brother-in-law by Jonathan Blade

Dwight Abercrombie leaned across the counter of his curio shop and displayed some beautiful antique jade figurines to Phineas Twambley. The elderly man grunted at the items in front of him.

“Are these the finest you’ve got, Abercrombie? I expected something more, Ahem, unusual from you. After all, you do have a good reputation for the excellency of your Oriental curios.”

Abercrombie seemed oddly unconcerned. “Take ‘em or leave ‘em, Twambley. You’ll not find better elsewhere.”

Just then the two men were interrupted by the sudden arrival of acting Inspector Cardona. He nodded to Twambley, then faced Abercrombie squarely. “Better set down, Dwight. I have bad news.”

Abercrombie sank into a chair behind the counter. “What gives, Inspector?”

“It’s your brother-in-law, Abercrombie. He just committed suicide.”

Abercrombie leaped to his feet with a stricken look. “Oh, no! Not Elwood!” He glanced from Cardona to Twambley. The two men looked at each other.

Cardona nodded. “Elwood Dupree. I didn’t think it was in the papers yet, though.”

Abercrombie almost stuttered out an explanation. “Ah, it wasn’t. He-he had been depressed for some time. His brother, Alonzo Dupree, my wife, (his sister Angeline), and I have been trying to get him to see my sister’s husband, Doctor Jeremiah Botsworth, a certified psychiatrist. But ol’ Elwood never had the time. Now, it’s too late. What will I ever tell Angeline?”

“Sorry to break the bad news, Abercrombie.” Cardona said. “It’s times like this that I hate being a cop.”

Neither Abercrombie nor Cardona had noticed that old Twambley had vanished. In his place was a cloaked, hatted figure of pure shadow that laughed mockingly.

“When will you realize, Cardona, when a murder confession is made right in front of you?”

WHAT GAVE ABERCROMBIE AWAY?

[Virgil]

Could it be that depressed people are not busy people as Abercrombie says of his brother-in-law? How can a person be suicidally depressed and be too busy to go to a doctor?

[smilingtearz]

I agree with virgil... to add on to that, it didn't take him any time it seems for abercombie to realized that the cop was talking about elwood.. plus, if his wife already knows that her brother is mentally depressed, then abercombie doesn't have to say much..

[jackyyyy]

Abercrombie is selling antique jade figurines when he should be selling Oriental Curios, his 'specialty'. He is trying to get rid of them. Abercrombie has at least three brother-in-laws, and knew instantly which one had "commited suicide". Also, he assumed that Angeline, Elwood's sister, did not already know. But, being next of kin she would know before Abercrombie. He then says Elwood had been depressed for some time, but never had the time. But, he does not need time since Abercrombie's own brother-in-law is a shrink.

He killed ol' Elwood for the figurines and his wife called the police. Btw, his own sister and her Psychiatrist husband may be providing a coverup.

[Pendragon]

Abercrombie is selling antique jade figurines when he should be selling Oriental Curios, his 'specialty'. He is trying to get rid of them. Also, he assumed that Angeline, Elwood's sister, did not already know. But, being next of kin she would know before Abercrombie. He then says Elwood had been depressed for some time, but never had the time. But, he does not need time since Abercrombie's own brother-in-law is a shrink.

He killed ol' Elwood for the figurines and his wife called the police. Btw, his own sister and her Psychiatrist husband may be providing a coverup.
OK Jacky, lets settle here: You are correct on this line:
Abercrombie has at least three brother-in-laws, and knew instantly which one had "commited suicide". the only one really needed to solve the mystery. Jade figurines would BE Oriential Curios, Jade is usually carved into fantastic and intricate shapes in the Orient, where the stone is highly prized. Having been in Elwood's shoes, i.e., highly depressed, a person often goes into denial and will not seek out help even when friends and family urge them to do so. That part Abercrombie was correct about. Bravo, howhever, you solved the mystery! http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/sportlich/f015.gif

[RobinHood3000]

Perhaps I missed something--where is this particular teaser located??

[Pendragon]

Perhaps I missed something--where is this particular teaser located??http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showpost.php?p=178270&postcount=389

[RobinHood3000]

Ahh, I get what happened now. I started reading this thread before those posts, and came back later, so when I kept flipping back and forth between the pages with the Back and Forward button, I never saw it. Weird.

[smilingtearz]

hey pen... when're you putting up the next mystery???

[Pendragon]

Well, this is an old one, and not my best by a longshot. I really need to write some more. In this one, The Shadow is pretending to be Lamont Cranston and has his agent Margo Lane, who doesn't know the Shadow & Cranston are different people, along for the ride.

The Freak Show Fraud by Jonathan Blade

Margo Lane and Lamont Cranston were crossing the grounds of a large carnival.

“Where are we headed in such a rush, Lamont?” Margo asked.

“To Birkshire’s Seven in One Freak Show.”

“A freak show? Oh, Lamont, not after the bad experiences we both had in one of those places before!” [ Editor’s note: see The Freak Show Murders]

“We’re just looking this time, Margo.”

They paid their admission and were ushered into the dimly lit tent. Facing them were seven curtains. Birkshire appeared on the small stage in a spotlight.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Here you will see people that will astound you greatly. But I assure you that they are all as human as you or me regardless of their appearance. First, I give you Elasto, the Elastic Man!”

The first curtain rolled up, revealing a man in green trunks. At Birkshire’s signal, he reached up and pulled the skin on his face, stretching it like bubble gum.

“Ouch.” Margo whispered. “That’s got to hurt.”

“Not at all.” Replied Cranston. “The man suffers from a rare disease which leaves his skin in that condition.”

“Next,” Boomed Birkshire, “Croc, the Alligator Man!”

The man who appeared on stage had leathery skin like a lizard. His small eyes gleamed out of deep pits in his face.

“Now, that’s makeup, Lamont!”

“No. Another rare skin disease. Many of the poor people who suffer from it are also deformed in various ways. Mr. Croc is quite lucky.”

“Now, The Human Picture!”

The man who appeared was wearing only the briefest of trunks. From his bare feet to his shaven head, he was a rainbow of colorful tattoos.

“This man is a self-made freak, Margo. Although he must have endured great pain to achieve such totality under the needle.”

“Now, Princess Viper, Mistress of Snakes!”

The woman who appeared had two cobras entwined around her arms and a python around her neck. She played with her dangerous pets to the audience’s fear and delight.

“Well, those snake’s are defanged, Lamont!”

“Not so, Margo. You cannot defang a poisonous snake without killing it. They have been milked of their venom and are used to the lady. Yet they could spell death to others foolish enough to imitate her.”

“Amelia, the Bearded Lady!”

The woman who appeared might have been pretty, but for a luxurious black beard.

Lamont snorted. “Hardly a rare occurrence. Many women require some facial hair removal crème.”

“Bones, the Human Skeleton!”

The man who appeared also wore the briefest of trunks. His body seemed to consist of just skin stretched over a framework of bone.

“Lamont, they’re starving the poor man!”

“He’s as healthy as you are, Margo. He is simply one of those people whose metabolism works so fast that he is unable to gain weight.”

Birkshire was rubbing his hands. “And for our star attraction, from the dark continent of Africa, Kunta and Tabru, a set of African Siamese twins!”

The curtain rolled up. Kunta and Tabru sat on adjoining stools, since they were joined at the hip. They jabbered at the audience.

“Lamont, they look nothing alike!”

Cranston threw back his head and laughed. “So they don’t. Evidently Birkshire labors under the mistaken belief that to a white man all native men look alike. Congratulations, my dear. You have found the one fraud in Birkshire’s show!

WHY IS CRANSTON SO SURE THAT THIS IS A FRAUD, GIVEN THAT TWINS OFTEN LOOK NOTHING ALIKE AND INDEED, NEED NOT EVEN BE THE SAME SEX?

[RobinHood3000]

Isn't Siam in Southeast Asia? Or does the trick transcend semantics?

[Virgil]

Could it be that to be joined at the hip is not a possible place for a siameese connection? Only guessing.

[AimusSage]

Siamese twins have to be genetically identical, meaning they have to originate from the same embryo, that split soon after conception. Is that it? Or do I miss the mark completely?

[RobinHood3000]

That's probably right. It's true that twins don't have to look alike, but SIAMESE twins are identical twins whose embryos didn't completely separate.

[Pendragon]

Siamese twins have to be genetically identical, meaning they have to originate from the same embryo, that split soon after conception. Is that it? Or do I miss the mark completely?
That's probably right. It's true that twins don't have to look alike, but SIAMESE twins are identical twins whose embryos didn't completely separate.

My congragulations, gentlemen. That is the point, exactly. Siamese or Co-joined twins may be joined anywhere along the body. I know of one set where the girls have one body, (but three breasts), two heads, two arms, and two legs. One girl controls one half or the body and the other the opposite side. Strange, but true. But never would there be COMPLETE co-joined twins that were not identical. In the case of what is called a parasitical twin, not full formed, it may be deformed. BRAVO! http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/sportlich/f015.gif

[Pendragon]

Very sick today, and probably will be for a couple days. But I wanted to post this riddle. Here's to you, DC! ;)


Anthony started on it.
Mary was required to keep it,
but Donald often lost it,
while Bridget wasted it.
It was decided that Albert had to do it,
yet Phil thought it changed too much—
and Mary began to complain that she couldn’t keep up with it—
reasoning that George was always behind it.
Now Rosemarie was definitely on it,
but Paul always ran out of it,
and absent-minded Alice simply forgot it.
Tyler seemed totally lost in it.
Finally, Marco finished on it,
but the next day Susan killed it—
and nobody knows where it goes.
The question is: What is it?

[Nightshade]

Time Pen?

:D

[RobinHood3000]

I imagine Nightshade is right.

Here's one:

Every driver knows what these are.
Ollie uses them,
So does Connor.
Roy prefers the old-fashioned way, but uses them from time to time.
Golden or green
They come back or blow up (not both)
Some have "Everlast" written on them.

What are they?

[Nightshade]

hazards?
no I have no idea:D

[RobinHood3000]

Nooope. Think a little harder. You're all sharp enough to catch it.

[Nightshade]

indicators?
nope brans gone :D

[Pendragon]

Time Pen?

:D
Darn, I thought that would take longer! You got it in one, Night! http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/sportlich/f015.gif

[Pendragon]

I imagine Nightshade is right.

Here's one:

Every driver knows what these are.
Ollie uses them,
So does Connor.
Roy prefers the old-fashioned way, but uses them from time to time.
Golden or green
They come back or blow up (not both)
Some have "Everlast" written on them.

What are they?Batteries, Archer.

[RobinHood3000]

Tsk tsk, Pen--you, I would expect to know this one. Your answer had two words--one leads you the wrong way. The other is a convenient hint. Also...


Nooope. Think a little harder. You're all sharp enough to catch it.
Think about it.

[Pendragon]

Tsk tsk, Pen--you, I would expect to know this one. Your answer had two words--one leads you the wrong way. The other is a convenient hint. Also...


Think about it.True. The answer was in the names you used in your puzzle. ARROWS.

[Pendragon]

Brand-new one. Try it.


Gem of Deception by Jonathan Blade

The new display at Ives Huxeford’s private museum was drawing quite a crowd. The man himself stood near his latest purchase, beaming at Commissioner Weston and his friend, millionaire playboy Lamont Cranston.

“You have heard of this gem in your travels, no doubt, Cranston. But now you and all who come here may see the famed Eye of Shiva.” Huxeford rubbed his hands together in his excitement.

Cranston regarded the blue-white diamond in the case before him. It was slightly smaller than a pigeon’s egg, perfectly cut, and unmounted. It was nestled in red felt to contrast its beauty. The case was glass topped, and sided, with a base of metal with a locking mechanism.

“You seem to have taken precautions against the jewel theft ring that has been operating in this area.” Cranston remarked.

“True!” Huxeford purred. “The glass of that case is an inch thick. It is also bullet proof and shatterproof. The steel of the bottom half resists cutting by any method, including torch, and the lock is a cipher wheel to which only I know the password. I’m not so foolish as to have written it down anywhere.”

“Hey! What is—“ Weston was hit from behind, and fell heavily to the floor. Cranston turned, and caught a glancing blow to his own temple. A masked man leaped to the jewel case and seized it. But Huxeford wasn’t letting go. The two men struggled over the case, and as Cranston rose, an avenging shadow, he could hear the Eye of Shiva bouncing off the sides of the case. With a single blow, Cranston knocked the masked thief unconscious.
Weston had partially risen, and now handcuffed the fallen thief.

“I cannot thank you enough, Lamont!” Huxeford panted. “He almost got away with it!”

Cranston was looking at the unmarked glass case. His eyes glittered. “So you did, Huxeford. Weston, if you have another pair of cuffs, Huxeford needs arresting also. He was that man’s partner in this scheme.”

“What! The man tried to rob me!” Huxeford blustered. “This is a very poor joke!”

“No joke, Huxeford. Weston, your prisoner, I believe. And take the gem case for evidence.”


WHAT HAS TIPPED THE SHADOW OFF? AND TO WHAT CRIME?

[RobinHood3000]

Exactamundo, Pendragon--well done!!


Hmm...if the diamond were real, the glass would have been scratched on the interior. Huxeford has made a switch.

[Pendragon]

Exactamundo, Pendragon--well done!!


Hmm...if the diamond were real, the glass would have been scratched on the interior. Huxeford has made a switch.To borrow your phrase, Archer, exactamundo! But the second part of the question still portends-- why have he and his cohort gone to such great lengths to have the robbery, if the diamond is a fake? Pourquoi?

[RobinHood3000]

Well, the old stand-by is insurance--the real gem, plus the insurance for the "stolen" one. But then, I get the feeling it's more complex than that...

[Pendragon]

Well, the old stand-by is insurance--the real gem, plus the insurance for the "stolen" one. But then, I get the feeling it's more complex than that...
Not this time, mon ami. You are one-hundred per cent correct. The old scheme, played to extrenes. Fix everything up, get unimpeachable witnesses there who could swear that he had done everything to retain the "gem", even fought the thief, then collect the insurance money while keeping the real gem as well. I have about eight outlines written out, but no stories I haven't posted already. I'll get to work, I have readers to please! Well done! http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/sportlich/f015.gif

[Anon22]

Bleh sorry for the delay I meant to post this earlier... but... bleh, computer froze and I had to rewrite. Now... 7-9 days later... I'm posting it again. Lol... like I said I apologize for the delay, and you probably won't like the end either... but... I kind of rushed it a bit at the end, if I didn't I probably would never finish. ;_; I hate being cursed with that (deadly) sin of sloth.

Ok... I believe I started by saying something like... this being my first mystery and apologizing if it was too easy (of course it was a lot longer than that : p). You also have to use a bit of assumption and logic and stuff like that... I'm not sure if you'll like... bleh. On another note I had actually thought of another one of these but forgot something... so bleh... I can't. Afterwards I went on to say...:



The Voice of Death: A Tragedy at Moonlight Street

The moon illuminated the sky, occasionally being blocked out by clouds, and shined upon the window of a house. Within the house he lay, tossing and turning for he feared falling asleep and, eventually, he just gave up and opened his eyes, yet began to feel odd. When he looked down upon his shirt he realized it was soaked and his throat felt dry, so he therefore concluded that the best thing to do was to go downstairs to get a cup of water. His restlessness jolted him out of bed, and he started heading for the stairs. As he was walking down the hallway he decided to check the mirror, something was out of the ordinary in his house, and he felt that by looking in the mirror he could figure out what it was. Yet when he looked inside, he found nothing to answer his question, nothing, everything was normal, his own reflection, the window in the background... the coffin behind him, everything was normal, so he went on to get that cup of... orange juice. He gulped down the drink almost immediately, got a refill, then another, and right afterwards he began to head back. On his way back, the tunnel became longer, and longer, and longer, and for some reason he felt the need to cross the tunnel instead, he looked across to the other side and spotted a figure. An odd figure which sat near a wall. Yet that's what it only did, it only sat there, doing what was most likely staring, or perhaps thinking, and appeared to be the reason behind all the absurdity he felt around him. "Who are you?", Luke asked the cloaked creature, and it responded, chilling even the air around Luke:

"The moonlight shines across the window,
shining oh so bright,
lighting up this world of limbo,
lurking out of sight"

It was not the answer he had expected, and he felt that perhaps he might be losing his mind. What happened next proved this even further. He felt as if there was a dark essence around him, as if there was a dark essence trying to reach his mind. He tried to fight it, but with no avail.

"he looks across the dark, wide hall,
feeling his demise,
and he sees the shadow near the wall,
hidden from his eyes"

All at once, time felt as if it slowed down... yet everything happened rapidly. His mind fogged up with fog, his brain burned up with fever, his eyes stung with pain, his chest throbbed with beats, his legs shivered with panic. All he felt he could do was listen to that shadow, near the wall, and do as he bid.

"hypnotically he starts to walk,
to the other side,
listening to the shadow talk,
and hearing him misguide"

his heart raced at a rate of a thousand beats per minute, his eyes just didn't work anymore, he felt something, and he looked down even though he couldn't see

"but, alas, he plunges towards the ground,
death so palpable,
and then he hears it as a sound,
the train so touchable"

As soon as he felt the train begin to penetrate his skin, hearthe windows break and crash (and hear the creature begin to laugh), he opened his eyes at once and reappeared in bed. The moon was shining through the window, he looked at his shirt, it was soaking wet, and he felt the need to get a glass of water. A quick shiver ran down his spine at this thought, and so he tried his best to go back to sleep instead, despite his horrible dream. By the time he woke up it was 10:00, he was dying of thirst, he went downstairs to the kitchen and got a glass of water. His mom, who was in the same room was talking on the phone, and he could hear someone through the other line, but was uncapable of figuring out who it was. "So at what time are you going to be here?", his mom asked. "In about 1 hour 15 minutes, perhaps", his aunt replied, then there was a pause, "We're almost done eating right now, so we'll talk to you when we get there". By then he had finished drinking and set his glass down in the sink, and went to take a shower, brush his teeth and do all that other stuff one does in the morning. By the time he was done, his mother had finished talking over the phone, and was in the bathroom with a brush in one hand and a blow dryer on the other. "So who's coming over?", he asked. "What do you mean who's coming over? Your aunt and cousins are coming over from New Jersey, they've been talking about it for a week now, don't you remember?"
"Oh, that's right"
"I was just talking to her, they're going to be here in about 2 hours 30 minutes. They're probably going to be stopping at the plazas though"
"Oh"
"In another note, its someone's special day today", she smiled, "now you didn't forget your birthday too, didya?"
"Tha-"
He was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Go answer it". It ended up being his friend Drake. "Oh hey, Drake, what's up?"
"Hey... nice bike", he grinned.
"Bike?"
Luke went over to the garage and right there... near the garage door he saw it... the bike. "Come on, let's test it out, the day is perfectly clear today... I knew it was your birthday so your mom and I chipped in and bought you one, it's in tip top shape", Drake said. Luke then said thanks and gave him a pound hug, "I haven't eaten breakfast yet so I'll do that and then we'll go, k?", his friend agreed. "Mom, thanks!", Luke exclaimed as he entered the house, and after a moment of thanking each other he went on to breakfast. "You really didn't have to get me such a gift", he said as he ate. "Oh what are you doing there?", his mom asked the baby on the floor, not expecting an answer, "I just wonder how you keep getting out of your crib like that. Of course I did Luke your my son". "And your my friend", Drake answered, "even though... I only really just payed like... 20%". The conversation continued and in a while the two friends were headed toward the park.

Now, assuming what each of them said was true, specifically about the bike being ok, how does Luke die?

[Pendragon]

Hit by a car that comes from out of line of sight while crossing a street with a messed up signal light.

[Anon22]

Not exactly... I guess you would assume that because the moon was shining and was occasionally blocked out by clouds... and that could represent the street light, even though, the clouds part wasn't meant to be a part of the dream actually. Here's what you got right:

-Hit by a car while crossing the street

but things happened that actually made things worse. I guess I'm just trying to make a mystery that involves a level of assumption here, so... bleck... it's my first time making something like this.

[Pendragon]

Not exactly... I guess you would assume that because the moon was shining and was occasionally blocked out by clouds... and that could represent the street light, even though, the clouds part wasn't meant to be a part of the dream actually. Here's what you got right:

-Hit by a car while crossing the street

but things happened that actually made things worse. I guess I'm just trying to make a mystery that involves a level of assumption here, so... bleck... it's my first time making something like this.
OK. I didn't mean that type of street light. A signal light, one that tells you when it is safe to go. The signal light was working improperly, showing him that he could go because the light was green when it should have been red for stop. He found this out too late, the car he thought had to stop for a red light had a green light also, and thus ran him down. Closer? ;)

[Anon22]

OK. I didn't mean that type of street light. A signal light, one that tells you when it is safe to go. The signal light was working improperly, showing him that he could go because the light was green when it should have been red for stop. He found this out too late, the car he thought had to stop for a red light had a green light also, and thus ran him down. Closer? ;)


But if that were the case you would also assume that he would look both ways too. There something else... and perhaps I just didn't make it clear enough... like I said, trying to make a teaser that allows assumptions... somewhat. Ok, there's a part in the poem that tells you how it happens. One is told by the shadow, sort of (I guess I should probably make that one more clear, seems a bit out of reach), something else is said by someone else, and then something else happens which connects with what the shadow said which is pretty much the thing that prevents him from avoiding it, and the last is told in the dream, which prevents the driver from doing anything. Hope I didn't spoil it though.

you might want to reread it a bit though... as I sort of editted a bit... lol. I've got to get everything straight before I post it next time. I think everything is ok now... it's possible to figure it out (it still was before but now its just more
"reachable")

[Pendragon]

OK. I was correct on him being killed by a car while crossing the street. Here's what I get from your clues: He crossed the street without looking for traffic (that hypnotic stare), the car couldn't stop because it was too close (lurking unseen) and it was driven by his aunt and cousins coming over from New Jersey. Tragic. But a good mystery. ;) EDIT: One thought that just hit me: If they were coming from Jersy, they would exit from the Holland Tunnel. The tunnel would block their vision until they emerged. Just a thought. :brow:

[Anon22]

OK. I was correct on him being killed by a car while crossing the street. Here's what I get from your clues: He crossed the street without looking for traffic (that hypnotic stare), the car couldn't stop because it was too close (lurking unseen) and it was driven by his aunt and cousins coming over from New Jersey. Tragic. But a good mystery. ;) EDIT: One thought that just hit me: If they were coming from Jersy, they would exit from the Holland Tunnel. The tunnel would block their vision until they emerged. Just a thought. :brow:


Well... actually I don't know much about New Jersey just chose a random place :lol: but your right actually on two things:

-The car was driven by his aunt and cousins coming from New Jersey
-He crossed the street without looking for traffic... but... their was a reason for it (even though, not exactly)

There's still a bit more to it, think about what people do when they travel, and when they pass by plazas and the trip might take a while. Think about what can be inside a service plaza, and what people do inside one, and what they may do when they come out. Basically it ends up being:

-Aunt loses control of car(2 things that does that)
-Luke loses control of bike(1 reason for it)

The solution ends up involving all the characters. I just gave you how the Mom is involved. Death is the cause (shadow). Luke is the victim. The aunt and cousins are the... umm... tools of death? Well... here's yet another hint:

-Drake has nothing to do with Luke losing control of his bike... he mentions something that's true (like the Mom mentioning the plazas) that'll make the aunt lose control of her car.

[Pendragon]

:lol: OK. I will keep at it, but if I may point something out, I have answered the question as you asked it, viz: Now, assuming what each of them said was true, specifically about the bike being ok, how does Luke die?

I said he was hit by a car while crossing the street, further amending that to saying which car hit him, and that he crossed the street without looking. This assumes nothing failed on the bike, such as the brakes, so everyone was telling the truth. Nothing in your original question states that I have to say why he wasn't looking, or why the car hit him, just how he died. On that basis, I think I can claim victory. The rest is window dressing which I shall endeavor to figure out, but the question was answered. ;) :nod:

[Anon22]

Yup, your right, you did answer it correctly and you found the flaw in my teaser :D so I guess I'll say congrats to that (and I should've said that in my past post, so sorry for that I guess). It's my first mystery like I said, lol. I think I'll be more cautious on my next one... I think I'll give one away, that's way to far out of reach:

-Baby accidently unties Luke's shoes a little, by the time Luke gets to the street the shoes are untied and get caught in the pedal distracting Luke

That one would be too far out of reach. The last two aren't though. Not sure if you want to solve it though so. I won't really state. One has to do with a cycle though. Afterwards, I think I'll repost it a better version to see what you think... lol... after it's solved x) geesh I really messed up... Anyhow... the question would probably be editted by adding (it involves all the characters) at the end.

[Pendragon]

Yup, your right, you did answer it correctly and you found the flaw in my teaser :D so I guess I'll say congrats to that (and I should've said that in my past post, so sorry for that I guess). It's my first mystery like I said, lol. I think I'll be more cautious on my next one... I think I'll give one away, that's way to far out of reach:

-Baby accidently unties Luke's shoes a little, by the time Luke gets to the street the shoes are untied and get caught in the pedal distracting Luke

That one would be too far out of reach. The last two aren't though. Not sure if you want to solve it though so. I won't really state. One has to do with a cycle though. Afterwards, I think I'll repost it a better version to see what you think... lol... after it's solved x) geesh I really messed up... Anyhow... the question would probably be editted by adding (it involves all the characters) at the end.Funny, but the worse bicycle wreck I ever had was caused by something similar. I had been to work, (I worked at a high school in the summers as a janitorial handyman during my high school years), and had been given a new pair of Nikes I found while cleaning out the guys dressing room. We were poor, so I wasn't going to pass up that deal! When I left for home, I tied the shoes securely to the handlebars of my ten-speed. They worked loose, and one went into the front tire. I crashed onto my left shoulder and lay tangled in the bike in the center of approaching traffic. The lady barely was able to stop in time. I have a triangular scar on to remind me. The shoe wasn't damaged, nor the bike. But since I bleed rather easily, I lost a lot of blood, soaked my t-shirt. :lol: I will try the rest of the puzzle, I was at it last night, but a storm hit and I had to scram off the computer! You didn't really mess up, DC, you just needed to specify what you wanted the reader to figure out. As I said, it was a great mystery! If that was your first, whew! You shall far surpass me, I assure you! :nod: :)

[Anon22]

Funny, but the worse bicycle wreck I ever had was caused by something similar. I had been to work, (I worked at a high school in the summers as a janitorial handyman during my high school years), and had been given a new pair of Nikes I found while cleaning out the guys dressing room. We were poor, so I wasn't going to pass up that deal! When I left for home, I tied the shoes securely to the handlebars of my ten-speed. They worked loose, and one went into the front tire. I crashed onto my left shoulder and lay tangled in the bike in the center of approaching traffic. The lady barely was able to stop in time. I have a triangular scar on to remind me. The shoe wasn't damaged, nor the bike. But since I bleed rather easily, I lost a lot of blood, soaked my t-shirt. :lol: I will try the rest of the puzzle, I was at it last night, but a storm hit and I had to scram off the computer! You didn't really mess up, DC, you just needed to specify what you wanted the reader to figure out. As I said, it was a great mystery! If that was your first, whew! You shall far surpass me, I assure you! :nod: :)

Wow, I'm glad your ok, that must've been something. The worsest thing that's happened to me in a bicycle was when I was try to learn how to ride down inclines. I was going down a hill, and then freaked out and I just went on... there was a road at the bottom of the hill and I got freaked out afterwards and just couldn't stop. Luckly, no one was passing by and I didn't fall of or anything. My family was there to, since they were teaching me, and made sure there wasn't a car passing by or anything, so... I was going to be ok, but that was my scariest moment in a bicycle. Later afterwards though, my friend fell while skating on that very same hill (there was a bit of a road at the top, so I think she fell and scraped her knee or something with the floor) and well, being worried of my friend I just simply rode the bike down the hill perfectly... x) she is so smart. Anyhow, a couple of weeks ago I was riding a bike, and my shoes weren't fully tied, I didn't really pay much attention so they untied and got caught on the pedal. It was really hard to stop(with my shoe being caught on the pedal and all) so I tried to get to a safe place (which obviously made the shoe get caught a bit more) and once there, my other leg was free so I leaned to my right and try to balance, and with my hands I untangled the shoe lace, then got off the bike and tied it. Even though, that is no where near as horrible as yours, I'm glad your ok, that must've been something, such experiences keep reminding me of Final Destination.

Unfortunely for Luke here, he isn't so lucky. Perhaps I could specify a bit more in the dream, I just didn't want to give too much. In the same way I make food I'm afraid of adding too much of something (like to much salt or sugar) so sometimes I end up with too little of something. In this case it was fear of giving too much information I guess. Perhaps I should work on that, and try to specify a bit more, I just hope I don't take the extreme and specify too much :lol:. As for surpassing you, nah, you're too good to be surpassed. :)

[Anon22]

Well I guess I'll just say the answer since it's been a day (or two) since the last post. Alright, here's how it goes... (and yeah I probably need to specify, but I'll get better, I know I will):

-Over the night, it was cloudy, but then it rained, which cleared up the sky.
-That little baby accidently unties Luke's shoes
-While stopping at the next plaza, the aunt gets a cup of coffee... or something like that. Then she gets a refill to take while on the road.

Putting that together, the road is slippery, Luke's aunt reaches for the cup at the cup holder but it spills, causing her to look down, and at the same time Luke's shoes get caught on the pedal. You do the math.

[Pendragon]

Police Lineup for a Shadow by Jonathan Blade

When Henry Arnaud exited the cab in front of the exclusive 5th Avenue apartment complex, Ace Detective Joe Cardona greeted him.

“Thank you for coming, sir. I wasn’t sure you would be at The Cobalt Club at this hour.”

“Where is Acting Police Commissioner Wainwright Barth? Shouldn’t he be in charge here?” Arnaud’s tone was sharp, but there was a secret spark in his eyes.

“I, well, I’m acting on a hunch, Mr. Arnaud. Barth, well, he ain’t Commissioner Weston. I realize that if we are caught, I could loose my job.”

“What has happened here?”

Joe consulted his notes. “Reginald Fearnleah, resident of 603, was discovered shot between the eyes on the floor of his apartment around 11:30 PM. He was an investor, a silent partner in many men’s clothing stores, including Brooks Brothers of 5th Avenue. We do have a witness, of sorts. An elderly gentleman in the building across the street, one Tavish Cawley, saw the shadow of a slender man, arm extended as if to fire a weapon on the lighted window blind in that apartment, but he thinks it was closer to 10:00 PM. The coroner’s preliminary report places the time of death somewhere close to 9:00 PM.”

“And your problem is exactly what, Cardona?” Arnaud tried to sound exasperated, but The Shadow was keenly interested.

“Only four men would have cause to want Fearnleah dead. The first is Fletcher Delmar, a former partner, who felt Fearnleah cheated him. He is in the insurance business now, and left last night for Chicago. Luigi Orlando, a former bodyguard with a hot temper, who felt he was unfairly dismissed. He works for a limo service, and his logbook checks out OK. Fearnleah’s sole heir, his nephew, Axel Valerius is at Oxford. And Brooks Brothers owner Cowin Odell, not a great fan of his silent partner, was doing remodeling at his store into late hours all week. He’s quite a handyman. They are all too big to cast that shadow and they all have alibis.”

“You must sign in and out of that building, correct?” Arnaud asked.

“Yeah. I thought of that. Since Fearnleah’s death is placed at 9:00 PM, I ran a check back to 7:00 PM. See for yourself.”

The eyes of The Shadow burned as he scanned the list:

7:15 PM Residents, 604 out for the evening.
7:30 PM Two repairmen with toolbox on a handcart arrive to fix No. 6 elevator. Larger man signs for firm of Cartwright & Manning.
8:00 PM Resident, 430 checks in.
8:15 PM Resident 503 Checks in.
8:45 Visitor for resident, 303. Signs name Jeremy Applethorne
9:00 PM Resident, 501, a doctor, out on emergency call.
9:37 PM Applethorne checks out.
10:45 PM Cartwright & Manning check out. Elevator now serviceable.
11:30 PM Residents 604 check in and discover resident 603 dead. Police contacted.
11:45 PM Police arrive

Arnaud looked up. “Have the doorman come out here, please.”

“Now, look, I dinnae like being taken from me job. ‘Tis niver a McQuaid ever shirked duty, and Fallon will no be the first!”

“Calm yourself, Mr. McQuaid. I have a question about Mr. Manning? What was he like?” Arnaud asked.

“Faith, sir, he fair gave me the shivers, that one did. Ye’d think him made o’ wood for aught he did. Cigarette burning in the corner of his mouth, but divil the breath of it I saw him take! He talked right enough, but his lips dinnae move. And he niver let go o’ that cart. Ye’d think the big man were pulling it and him!

“It’s down the hall they goes and back they comes w’ him leaning on that cart! He were gone for a spell, for I made so bold as to slip down there whilst they were workin’. The door of the cage were closed and all, but ye could heard tools bang and them talkin’.

“As they left Manning raises an arm in fare-thee-well, be it were so unnatural, I were glad to see them gone!”

“Cardona, I recommend you go back over your list of suspects, treating everything you’re heard as truth. And be sure to bear in mind the odd antics of Mr. Manning.”

The Shadow hailed a cab and vanished into the night on a breath of sardonic laughter…

SO, REMEMBERING THAT EVERYTHING SAID IS TRUE, WHO IS GUILTY AND HOW DID THEY MANAGE IT?

[chez]

well he must have been dead at that point obviously

[Pendragon]

well he must have been dead at that point obviously
Who, Mr. Manning? We are investigating the death of Mr. Fearnleah! Don't get sidetracked on that particular clue. We know Fearnleah was dead at 9:00 PM. Cartwright & Manning check out at 10:45 PM, so certainly Fearnleah was dead at that point by testimony of the police coroner. Dig a little deeper. ;)

[Pendragon]

Oh, come now! Use the process of elimination to rid yourself of who has the compleately unbreakable alibis. Use the sign in book to see who went in and came out and ask yourself this? You know none of them could have cast the shadow on the blind themselves, they were too big. But did someone enter who was the size of a suspect? If so, how could he have rigged the shadow on the blind? Who was his accomplice in the crime. and did they come in or were they already there? How could he get an accomplice on such short notice who would do everything as asked? The Shadow knows... http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/figuren/e010.gif

[Taliesin]

Is the shade with his arm extended just a red herring?

[Pendragon]

Is the shade with his arm extended just a red herring?One of the "red herrings" this murderer has placed down so far, yes. Nice spot, there, m'boy. http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/figuren/e010.gif

[Pendragon]

Your answer to this mystery:


SOLUTION:
Brooks Brothers owner Corwin Odell. Hearing of the elevator problem, he came in disguised as two repairmen, something he could do, since he was handy with tools. The second repairman was a manikin from his clothing store, fastened to the cart itself. Odell provided the voice for both, and rigged one arm to move on a string. He killed his hated enemy with a silenced gun and later staged the shadow on the blind with the manikin hoping someone would see and provide an extra alibi.

The Shadow knows!

[Pendragon]

This morning, at breakfast, Mrs. Charlene Wilberforce dropped a very expensive ruby ring into a cup of coffee and picked the ring out again not even wet. How? http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/ernaehrung/food-smiley-001.gif

[RobinHood3000]

Dried coffee?

[Pendragon]

Dried coffee? Only way possible, non? The coffee cup contained instant coffee that had yet to have the boiling water added. Good read! http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/figuren/a030.gif http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/figuren/a030.gif http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/figuren/a030.gif http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/figuren/a030.gif http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/figuren/a030.gif

[shinigami]

Hm... I'm a 6 letter word... My 1, 2, 3 is an action. My 2,3,4 is a position. my 4,5 is us, and my 5,6 is a place in the hospital... This is really super easy... Good luck!!

[Pendragon]

Hm... I'm a 6 letter word... My 1, 2, 3 is an action. My 2,3,4 is a position. my 4,5 is us, and my 5,6 is a place in the hospital... This is really super easy... Good luck!!

Would the word be "flower"? The place in the hospital is obvious the ER, "us" is "WE", the only position I can find to fit there is "LOW" , leaving -LOWER. The best word seems to be flower, if "FLO" is a word. :lol:

[RobinHood3000]

Ooh, good catch, Pendragon.

[Pendragon]

A most royal word in English, add one "s" and it becomes pluaral, and retains its sex, add another "s" it becomes singular again and behold, it has had a sex change. The word, mes amis? ;) ;)

[AimusSage]

prince,princes, princess. :)

[Pendragon]

Wonderfully caught, Sage! http://www.smiliegenerator.de/s30/smilies-14044.png

[AimusSage]

Yay!
Uhm, let see. Something more suiting to my average level of daftness:
It's green and it hops around, but is no frog.

[RobinHood3000]

Pickle with a hot foot?

[AimusSage]

not that daft. :)

[Scheherazade]

Robin playing hopscotch?

[AimusSage]

Closer, but still not quite right ;)

[Pendragon]

A Leprechaun?

[AimusSage]

I didn't know they were green.

I'll give a hint: It's an animal, and it's generally very small but does have a tendency to travel in large numbers.

Oh, and it CAN have different colours, just like frogs, but again, it is not a frog.

[Anon22]

I didn't know they were green.

I'll give a hint: It's an animal, and it's generally very small but does have a tendency to travel in large numbers.

Oh, and it CAN have different colours, just like frogs, but again, it is not a frog.


Jumping Mexican Beans, Batman! :o

[Taliesin]

Grass?
Cucumber?
Frog?
Kangaroo?

We have a feeling that Aimus is lying to us in some very important point.

Toad?
Grasshopper?

[AimusSage]

A grasshopper indeed, I didn't think that was so hard?
The locust has a tendency to swarm you see. I thought that hint made it pretty obvious. :)

[Pendragon]

Taking any sheet of paper, how many times can that paper be folded in half before it becomes physically impossible to fold? Size doesn't matter here, the number will always be the same. :nod: :confused:

[RobinHood3000]

I believe the number was 7, assuming the sheet of paper is standard thickness.

[Pendragon]

http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/sportlich/p050.gif Actually, I'm not even sure thickness of paper comes into play here. 7 times is all you can fold it in half! :D :nod:

[Taliesin]

Actually, no.

in the end it is stated that it can be done even 12 times (http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Folding.html)

[RobinHood3000]

But when you hit a size of that thickness, it's not so much folding as it is rolling.

[Pendragon]

Actually, no.

in the end it is stated that it can be done even 12 times (http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Folding.html)I'm finding this one a tad suspicious, looking at her paper, did she fold it in HALF exactly this many times? Funny how it came out to look like a cigarette in the end. Hummmm? I won't say nay, but it is suspicious. A good find there, Taliesin. Make people think, anyway! :nod: ;)

[Pendragon]

New one: Listen carefully:

First split it.
Andy falls in.
I follow, draggin' a perfect circle.
What word is spelled?

Think. There's tricks involved. ;)

[Pendragon]

New one: Listen carefully:

First split it.
Andy falls in.
I follow, draggin' a perfect circle.
What word is spelled?

Think. There's tricks involved. ;)No takers, hummm. Oh, well.

It goes like this:

First split it: i t
Andy drops in (and D drops in) id t
I follow, draggin' a perfect circle (idi t) (o is a perfect circle)
The word is IDIOT

Simple, eh? http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/frech/a050.gif

[RobinHood3000]

Irony Irony
\ / \
) ( )
Irony Irony

[Pendragon]

Irony Irony
\ / \
) ( )
Irony Irony

The page has "irony" written all over it! ;)

[RobinHood3000]

Not quite. Think physics.

[Pendragon]

I don't know, Robin, I really stink at Physics, and I seem to have forgotten a lot of html code as well. Unending Waves of Irony? :p

[RobinHood3000]

Irony abounds. :D

[Pendragon]

'bounds' ah! To be sure! GNIKOOL?

[RobinHood3000]

Looking back, my reminiscing friend?

[Pendragon]

You bet! Your move, I think. :D :nod:

[RobinHood3000]

In that case...


/
\ / --- BFF
\/

[Pendragon]

In that case...


/
\ / --- BFF
\/Wild stab here, since I'm guessing that 3071, the decimal equivalent of the hexadecimal numeral is not relative, "Beginning to see red?" (I'm thinking FFFF is Red, it's been a while...)

[RobinHood3000]

Not quite -- the HTML thing is irrelevant. It's the only way I could get the characters to display properly.

The "In that case..." is important solely because it indicates that the riddle was inspired by your previous post. "B.F.F." is a common acronym among the females of my generation...hope this helps.

[Pendragon]

OK. Now what I see is a [(check minus) (the HTML code)] and BFF stands for, and remember I'm an old coot, "Best Friends Forever". No longer best friends? http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/fragend/confused-smiley-013.gif

[RobinHood3000]

You bet! Your move, I think. :D :nod:

Not a minus -- just a dash...

[Nightshade]

err what are you 2 playing here now???

[RobinHood3000]

Chess. :cool:

[Pendragon]

Ah. "Must dash. Best friends forever." :p (Uh, check.) :lol:

[RobinHood3000]

Not quite -- would it be easier if I removed the dash? It's only there to show that the two parts (the check and the BFF) are connected.

And my last post was a big clue -- you're so close, Pendragon!

[AimusSage]

Check as in check mate ? That's the only thing I can think of, but it's probably something else eh?

[Pendragon]

OK. Then how 'bout "Check you later. Best friends forever." :D

[RobinHood3000]

Sorry, Pen, but Aimus got it -- "Checkmate" (a "best friend forever" being a "mate" in certain parts of the world...cough, cough...) As you said to inspire it, "Your move," and so the chess-based conversation began...

[Pendragon]

Cor blimey, me China, but you're righto, guv! :D Well, Aimus, your move. :nod:

[Pendragon]

A word problem:

If Farmer Brown's dog eats his entire rhubarb patch when it is full grown, how long will it take that patch to come back up?

http://1000smilies.com/caterpillar.gif

[Taliesin]

Well, we guess that since rhubarb is pretty sour, then the dog will retch it out quite soon. Since "Come back up" should be a synonym for retch, then the answer is: soon.
?

[Pendragon]

Well, we guess that since rhubarb is pretty sour, then the dog will retch it out quite soon. Since "Come back up" should be a synonym for retch, then the answer is: soon.
? You are so correct! You noted that I did not say "grow back". Yeah that rhubarb isn't going to stay in the dog's stomach long! :lol: Great catch, Tal!

Like another?

If Farmer Brown and his wife take 100 pigs to market and Farmer Brown gets paid for 101 pigs, what mistake did the livestock man make?

[Taliesin]

Accidentally buying the wife?

[Nightshade]

He bought the greedy dog?
I think though Tal got it.

[Pendragon]

Accidentally buying the wife?

Right. Mrs. Brown did NOT have a pink curly tail!

Now, suppose the Browns raise corn and have a banner year. They sell their crop for a tidy profit and buy two cows. Now they have two cows, and must raise hay to feed them, while growing corn to buy more cows. How long will it take Farmer Brown to become a cattle rancher?


http://1000smilies.com/cow.gif

[Nightshade]

err no time since one is just as good as many??

:confused:

[RobinHood3000]

Is it about the semantics of "cattle"?

[Scheherazade]

Or 'cows'? They need to buy bulls as well?

[Nightshade]

Are pigs cattle??


I was at a safari park yesterday and my mum said that deers were cattle, that most cattle have squat legs, pigs have short stubby legs so are they cattle??
or is it one cattle 2 cattle ??
Pen!!!

[Pendragon]

Or 'cows'? They need to buy bulls as well?
Ah! A true Scherlock! Farmer Brown will NEVER become a cattle baron as long as he only purchases cows. He needs a lesson in basic Biology, to wise up, and buy a BULL!
http://1000smilies.com/bull.gif

What did Farmer Brown think he would manage to grow by crossing a plum tree with a rubber tree?

[Pendragon]

Are pigs cattle??


I was at a safari park yesterday and my mum said that deers were cattle, that most cattle have squat legs, pigs have short stubby legs so are they cattle??
or is it one cattle 2 cattle ??
Pen!!!Deer are not cattle, nor are pigs, in the true sense, but they are hoofed mammals. Cattle are Bovine. Pigs are Swine. Deer are Cervine. (Divide the hoof, and chew the cud. Remember?) ;)

[RobinHood3000]

Pigs are also Porcine :p.

[Taliesin]

Giving out a puzzle of our own:

Legend speaks that Furtševa, cultural minister of Soviet Union, once went to the UNESCO building, but, alas, had forgotten her documents home. You needed documents to prove who you are, so that you could enter.
The person whose job was to sit near the door comforted her. He said: "You know, once Picasso also forgot his documents, when he came here. But then he drew a doveof peace and there was no doubt about who he was and so he was let in. Perhaps you can do something similar?"
Then Furtševa asked something back from the doorkeeper and she was let in.
What did she ask?

[Pendragon]

Pigs are also Porcine :p.Ah, there's the word I was looking for! Thank you! I was getting mixed up, since the pigs are Suidae, and I was thinking the name had something to do with that, as most do. Glad you got my back, Robin! :nod: