THE PROFESSOR'S PUZZLES
44
But how can the coins affect the question
?
" asked Grigsby.
44
That you will find out when you approach the solution."
" I shall do it with numbers first," said Hawkhurst, " and then
substitute coins."
Five minutes later, however, he exclaimed, " Hang it all! I
can't help getting the 2 in a corner. May the florin be moved from
its present position ? "
" Certainly not."
" Then I give it up."
But Grigsby and I decided that we would work at it another
time, so the Professor showed Hawkhurst the solution privately,
and then went on with his chat.
68.—
The Postage Stamps Puzzles.
" Now, instead of coins we'll substitute postage-stamps. Take
ten current English stamps, nine of them being all of different
values, and the tenth a duplicate. Stick two of them in one division
and one in each of the others, so that the square shall this time add
up ninepence in the eight directions as before."
" Here you are ! " cried Grigsby, after he had been scribbling
for a few minutes on the back of an envelope.
The Professor smiled indulgently.
44
Are you sure that there is a current English postage-stamp of
the value of threepence-halfpenny ? "
44
For the life of me, I don't know. Isn't there ? "
44
That's just like the Professor," put in Hawkhurst. " There
never was such a
4
tricky' man. You never know when you have
got to the bottom of his puzzles. Just when you make sure you
have found a solution, he trips you up over some little point you
never thought of."
44
When you have done that," said the Professor,
44
here is a
much better one for you. Stick English postage stamps so that
every three divisions in a line shall add up alike, using as many
stamps as you choose, so long as they are all of different values.
It is a hard nut."
83
2
G
