0
   

A mystery from "Two Minute Mysteries"

 
 
View Profile IQ 80
 
Reply Wed 30 Aug, 2006 11:56 am
Hello everyone,

I bought this book "Two Minute Mysteries" by Donald J. Sobol yesterday and I have a problem with one riddle. Does anyone have a clue because I don't have one. Here it is:

The Case of the Big Deal

Dr. Haledjian had just ordered a drink at the bar in the Las Vegas motel when a lean young stranger with sun-bleached golden hair and tanned cheeks took the stool beside him. After asking for a gin and tonic, the sunburned young man nodded toward the gaming tables.
"Name's Clive Vance," he said genially. "It's sure great to be back in civilization and hear money talking out loud."
The famous sleuth introduced himself. "I take it you've been out on the desert?"
"Got back yesterday," said Vance. "Washed the dust out of my ears, had a real live barber shave off seven months of whiskers and trim this mop of wheat. Then I bought a whole wardrobe on credit. All I had to show was my assay report. Boy, am I ever ready to celebrate."
"You found gold?"
"Right you are. Hit pay dirt." Vance stroked his bronzed chin thoughtfully. He lowered his voice confidently.
"Listen," he said. "If I can find a backer, I'll take enough out of those hills to buy ten pleasure palaces just like this one. "Of course," he added apologetically, "I'm not trying to interest you, doctor. Still, if you know somebody who'd like to get in on a sure thing, let me know. I'm staying in room 210. Can't give out
details here, you understand."
"I understand," said Haledjian, "that you'd better improve your story if you want to part some sucker from his money."

What was wrong with Vance's story?
 
View Profile Tekura
 
  1  
Reply Wed 30 Aug, 2006 12:17 pm
If he'd had a beard for 7 months, he wouldn't be able to "stroke his bronzed chin".
0 Replies
 
View Profile Chai
 
  1  
Reply Wed 30 Aug, 2006 12:19 pm
nu uh....

he could've gotten some bronzing cream.
0 Replies
 
View Profile stuh505
 
  1  
Reply Wed 30 Aug, 2006 12:57 pm
He said the barber cut off his whiskers but didn't mention his beard. Maybe he was trimming that himself :wink:
0 Replies
 
View Profile IQ 80
 
  1  
Reply Sun 3 Sep, 2006 09:18 am
I think by whiskers he means his whole beard.
0 Replies
 
  1  
Reply Sun 3 Sep, 2006 09:21 am
He said he was in the desert, but referred to the gold as being in the hills.
0 Replies
 
View Profile IQ 80
 
  1  
Reply Sun 3 Sep, 2006 11:36 am
There are hills in a desert. Maybe not in a sand desert but in a stone desert for example.

Once again I don't know the answer. If someone knows, please tell.
0 Replies
 
View Profile Noddy24
 
  1  
Reply Sun 3 Sep, 2006 03:51 pm
His cheeks are tan. Had he just had a 7 month beard shaved off, his cheeks would have been lighter than the rest of his face.
0 Replies
 
View Profile Italy16
 
  1  
Reply Mon 4 Sep, 2006 03:06 pm
Yeah, even if he didn't have a full beard, his cheeks and chin still would have been a little lighter than the rest of his face.
0 Replies
 
  1  
Reply Sun 17 Sep, 2006 01:17 am
It takes more than 24 hours to get an assay report, so he couldn't have gone out and bought new clothes using it as credit
0 Replies
 
View Profile 008
 
  1  
Reply Mon 30 Oct, 2006 07:31 pm
i had that book 3 years ago me and this other guy would try to figure them out together
0 Replies
 
  1  
Reply Mon 5 Mar, 2007 03:21 pm
The Sentence that sticks out...
Quote:

"If I can find a backer, I'll take enough out of those hills to buy ten pleasure palaces just like this one."


They were located in a Casino, as it was said;
Quote:

...the sunburned young man nodded toward the gaming tables.


Las Vegas, Nevada. As allocating to 'Pleasure Palace'... We know he walked a Desert, as said and shown by his chin, but it was quoted;
Quote:

...those hills...


Since when are there Hill's in a Desert to get Gold from?




He was a Casino Owner in Las Vegas, Looking for someone rich, Like a Doctor, to build a Hotel & Casino. Where the man gets Free Clothing that the high priced clothing shops located in the Hotel section of the Casino.


Not sure if this helps you :wink:
0 Replies
 
  1  
Reply Mon 10 Sep, 2007 02:02 pm
A mystery from "Two Minute Mysteries"
The first answer to post was indeed correct. There is no way the man would have been able to stroke his "bronzed cheeks" had he just gotten rid of seven months of whiskers! (I used to own this book so I know this is the answer. There is a similar Encylcopedia Brown mystery with the same solution.)
0 Replies
 
  1  
Reply Sun 21 Jun, 2009 01:52 pm
The answer is this (Spoiler if u dont want 2 know) His face was completly tan!!!! If a barber had just shaved him("Seven months of whiskers") he would be a lighter tone underneath!!!!! The guy was lying about being in the desert!!
0 Replies
 
  1  
Reply Sun 21 Jun, 2009 02:29 pm
That is so freakin' obvious I can't believe it took you geniuses all these dumb guesses to finally come up with the obvious answer. No way this dude had just had seven months worth of whiskers shaved off and still show an even bronzed tan. Noooo way.
0 Replies
 
 

Related Topics

Alternative Einstein's riddle answer - Discussion by cedor
How many Triangles can you find in this Image? - Discussion by Bibliophile the BibleGuru
Help with a riddle (MNI) - Discussion by youlilmidget
Lenny Conundrum Riddles and Answers - Discussion by nightmonkey
world's hardest riddle? - Discussion by dragooncancer
An Alphabet Riddle - Discussion by riddler
"The World's Hardest Riddle" - Discussion by maxlovesmarie
Frustratingly hard riddles. - Discussion by tpayne1
The worlds first riddle! - Discussion by Tryagain
 
  1. able2know
  2. » A mystery from "Two Minute Mysteries"
Copyright © 2009 Horizontal Verticals :: Page generated in 0.34 seconds on 11/24/2009 at 10:56:44 Top End