MISCELLANEOUS PUZZLES
had (the same in every case) if that little distribution had been
carried out. It is quite easy if you set to work in the right way.
97.—
The Perplexed Plumber.
When I paid a visit to Peckham recently I found everybody
asking, " What has happened to Sam Solders, the plumber?" He
seemed to be in a bad way, and his wife was seriously anxious about
the state of his mind. As he had fitted up a hot-water apparatus
for me some years ago which did not lead to an explosion for at
least three months
(and then only
damaged the com-
plexion of one of
the cook's follow-
ers), I had consid-
erable regard for
him.
" There he is,"
said Mrs. Solders,
when I called to
inquire. " That's
how he's been for
three weeks. He
hardly eats any-
thing, and takes no
rest, whilst his busi-
ness is so neglected
that I don't know what is going to happen to me and the five
children. All day long—and night too—there he is, figuring and
figuring, and tearing his hair like a mad thing. It's worrying me
into an early grave."
I persuaded Mr. Solders to explain matters to me. It seems that
he had received an order from a customer to make two rectangular
zinc cisterns, one with a top and the other without a top. Each
was to hold exactly 1,000 cubic feet of water when filled to the
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