Today we solved a mystery in class.
We learned that detectives who solve crimes are like scientist who solve problems. They both observe, are curious, creative, are skeptical of unsupported claims, are objective, and logical. So we used these traits to solve a mystery in class. You may have seen the one that came home for homework. Here is one for you. If you get stuck on the answer, email me araines@cambridgechicago.com.
Thanks to all of the parents who joined my blog. Your child thanks you, too. Now on to the mystery. Most of you may remember Encyclopedia Brown.
The Case of Merko’s Grandson
Bugs Meany and his Tigers liked to spend rainy afternoons in their
clubhouse. Usually, they sat around thinking up ways of getting even
with Encyclopedia Brown.
But today they had met for another purpose—to cheer the boy detective on.
Encyclopedia and Sally Kimball were about to meet in a battle of brains.
The Tigers hated Sally even more than they hated Encyclopedia—and with good reason.
When Sally had moved into the neighborhood two months ago, the
Tigers jumped to show off for her. She was very pretty and she was very
good at sports.
In fact, she got up a team of fifth-grade girls and challenged
the Tigers to a game of softball. The boys thought it was a big joke,
till Sally started striking them out. She was the whole team. In the
last inning she hit the home run that won for the girls, 1-20.
But the real blow fell on the Tigers the next day.
Bugs was bullying a small boy when Sally happened to ride by on her bicycle.
"Let him go!" she ordered, hopping to the ground.
Bugs snarled. The snarl changed to a gasp as Sally broke his grip on the boy.
Before the other Tigers knew what to do, Sally had knocked their leader down with a quick left to the jaw.
Bugs bounced up, surprised and angry. He pushed Sally. She hit him again, with a right to the jaw. Bugs said oooh,, and went down again.
For the next thirty seconds Bugs bounced up and down like a beach
ball. By the fourth bounce, he was getting up a lot more slowly than he
was going down.
"I'm going to make you sorry," he said.
But his voice was weak, and he wore the sick smile of a boy who had taken one ride too many on a roller coaster.
"So?" said Sally. She moved her feet and took careful aim.
"This," she said, aiming another blow, "should take the frosting off you."
Bugs landed on his back, flat as a fifteen-cent sandwich. Not until Sally had ridden away did he dare get up.
Sally was not content to rest on her victories at softball and fighting. She aimed higher.
She set out to prove she was not only stronger than any boy up to twelve years of age in Idaville, but smarter, too!
That meant out-thinking the thinking machine, Encyclopedia Brown.
The great battle of brains took place in the Tigers' clubhouse.
The two champions, seated on orange crates, faced each other. The Tigers
crowded behind Encyclopedia. The girls' softball team crowded behind
Sally. That left just enough room in the tool shed to think.
Everyone stopped talking when Peter Clinton, the referee, announced the rules.
"Sally has five minutes to tell a mystery.
She must give all the clues. Then Encyclopedia will have five minutes to solve the mystery. Ready, you two?"
"Ready," said the girl champion.
"Ready," said Encyclopedia, closing his eyes.
"Go!" called Peter, eyes on his watch.
Sally began to tell the story:
"The Great Merko was the best trapeze artist the world had ever
seen. People in every big city were thrilled by the wonderful performer
swinging fifty feet above the ground!
"In the year 1922, Merko died at the very height of fame. In
Merko's desk was found a letter. It was a will, written by the circus
star. The will directed that the star's money be put in a bank for forty
years.
"After forty years, the money was to be taken out and given to
Merko's oldest grandson. If no grandson was alive, all the money was to
go to Merko's nearest relative, man or woman.
"Forty years passed. A search was be- gun. At last a man was
found in Kansas City who said he was Merko's grandson. His name was Fred
Gibson. He went to court to claim his inheritance.
"While the judge was listening to him, a tall woman in the back of the courtroom jumped up. She was very excited.
"The woman said she was the trapeze artist's grandniece. She kept
shouting that the Great Merko was not Fred Gibson's grandfather.
Therefore, the money was rightfully hers.
"The judge questioned the woman. He had to agree with what she said. She was Merko's grandniece, and the Great Merko was not Fred Gibson's grandfather.
"Now," concluded Sally. "Who got Merko's money—the tall woman or Fred Gibson?"
Sally wore a smile of triumph as she looked at Encyclopedia.
The tool shed was still. The boys looked at their shoes. Had Sally beaten them again? Had Encyclopedia met his master?
Encyclopedia had five short minutes to solve the brain-twister.
Slowly the minutes ticked away. One... two ... three ... four ...
Encyclopedia stirred on his orange crate. He opened his eyes. He smiled at Sally.
"You told it very cleverly," he said. "I nearly said the wrong person. But the answer is really quite simple."
Encyclopedia rose to leave. "The Great Merko's money went to Fred Gibson."
WHY DID ENCYCLOPEDIA SAY THAT?
written by and property of Donald Sobol
