Friday
Dec092011
PUZZLES ARE FOR PUZZLERS. DEDUCERS DEDUCE.
Friday, December 9, 2011 at 3:29PM What has Dodge told us about Dodge? Let's list it all.
Friday, December 9, 2011 at 3:29PM Friday, December 9, 2011 at 3:29PM What has Dodge told us about Dodge? Let's list it all.
Reader Comments (179)
Thank you for the new "direction"...
We will redouble our observations...and find Mr. R. Dodge!
Merry Christmas, Gus!
Enjoy all the holiday goodies!
AP
Dodge doesn't like imaginary games, but seems to enjoy playing real games (knocking over the milk bottles with a ball).
He hates mimes.
He lives (or lived) near a river, a hotel and a graveyard.
He says he'd go home to Washington, but he's not very clear about which Washington he's referring to.
He wants to retire and fish all day.
He likes an afternoon snack-saltines specifically.
He likes an afternoon nap as well.
He drinks coffee.
He doesn't suffer fools well.
He notices details others overlook.
He seemed pleased that Pupkin emulates him, but he didn't like that Pupkin almost revealed his address.
I'm not sure if we should include the contents of Pupkin's apartment in a list of things that Dodge has told us about Dodge. But it is "his" apartment, so maybe we should.
I'm without my book for a few days, so this list is from memory and probably not complete, but it's a start.
Thank you Gus - it's not much to go on, but it's something: Dodge on Dodge.
great list, theda. i think the most important fact is washington, his hometown/homestate/whatever -- because doesn't he specifically say if he had the loot he would drop his magnifying glass and go back home -- and then his magnifying glass was "dropped" in idaho or whatever.
the river-hotel-graveyard story: i had overlooked this, but that was when dodge was describing his first case -- which may well have been in his hometown, right... if it WAS, then the question is which "washington" could that river/hotel/graveyard story have happenned in?
unless he's hanging out in a saltine warehouse somewhere...?
The Home of "Snowflake Saltines" made by Nabisco, is in Spokane Washington.
Dodge could have grown up there....
http://www.spokanenightscenes.com/nthp105.htm
heirloom:
Yes, he did say that he would drop his magnifying glass, so maybe that find was our first clue to solving this. That shows he did what he said he'd do first. The next thing he said he'd do is head to Washington to fish all day, so that is our second clue.
So step 2 is to find Washington, which we've all explored ad nauseum: DC (which was sort of ruled out because of the limits on digging, but maybe we aren't going to dig anymore); the state WA (where a number has already been found), every town, county, river, mountain, district...you name it, it's been mentioned. So how do we narrow that down? There is a little statue of the Washington Monument in Pupkin's apartment, which could hint at DC, but there are other things that hint at other Washingtons too.
I guess then step 3 is to locate a fishing hole in this unidentified Washington, find the poor actor who has been playing Dodge for a year and a half sitting there in the snow with a fishing line frozen in the water, and demand he turn over the 12! Or maybe we are to discover his address and write to him:
The Dodge Junior Deducers
P.O. Box _______
Washington ----------- (or _____________WA)
Oh, one other thing Dodge told us about Dodge: He likes music and probably likes the song Moon River. He had Montecore play it for him (or he played it himself - Gus was out of the room and only heard it).
I still think Pennsylvania could be one of the possible locations. There are multiple locations in PA that is named after Washington including state parks. Some of the state parks are good for fishing.
Things Dodge has "told" us (mostly) about himself, using words. If we are supposed to consider things he "tells" us through actions, or if we are supposed to consider things he says that are not "about himself," the list would be longer.
(Opening pages)
Gus goes where I go. You can pretend he isn't here.
(When Ternky asks, "Can you catch the culprit?" Dodge answers)
I can. Let me talk to your tenanats. I will trace the robber's step in reverse. By the time I get to the lobby, the case will be solved.
(When Mayfield asks, "How did you know?" Dodge answers)
That's why they call me Roy Dodge. Miss Mayfield, Mr. Ternky has hired me to catch the thief who stole the numbers from his clock.
(Introducing himself on the 10th Floor)
I'm Roy Dodge. Mr. Ternky has hired me to find the thief.
(When Klobberduck asks, "Who wants coffee?" Dodge replies)
"I'll have a cup," said Dodge, heading back toward the den.
(Seventh Floor)
I won!
I have no more questions.
(Floor Six, Gus says, "I don't mind mimes.")
"I do," said Dodge.
. . . the very first crook I ever caught was a mime - I was walking home from the graveyard, and I spied him robbing the hotel. He tried to escape - jumped off the back porch, right into the river. Then he remembered he couldn't swim. He wasn't so silent after that. What about you, D'Grnp? You need a bath, or are you ready to talk?
"Thank you," Dodge said abruptly. "No further question. You done, Gus?"
(Fifth Floor)
I don't waste my time on imaginary games.
(When Josie says, "Mr. Dodge, you must bring these men to justice.")
"That's why I'm here," said Dodge.
(Fourth Floor)
"If Sigfried doesn't mind, I'd like to hear Montecore play the piano."
(Third Floor)
"With that kind of money? I could retire from this nonsense. Drop the magnifying glass, move back home to Washington and fish everyday."
"Mr. Ternky's hired me to find out who stole the numbers from his clock," said Dodge.
(Floor Two)
Dodge identified himself.
Still Roy Dodge.
("Who is it?" said the voice)
"Dodge," growled Dodge.
"I have only one question," he [Dodge] began. . . . "Do you have any saltines?" . . . "It's been a long afternoon. I just wanted a snack."
(First floor)
Dodge seemed pleased.
(When Pupkin asks whether Dodge has figured out who stole the numbers)
"Almost," said Dodge with a smile.
(Replying to Gus' distrust of Pupkin)
"I thought he was very nice," said Dodge. "Good taste in home decor, also."
(Lobby)
I know where you've buried the numbers. You split the twelve jewels among yourselves, and buried them in different places across the country. . . ."
"You hired me only to discover who did it, not to find out where the numbers are. What you do with these criminals is your business. What I do with the jewels is mine."
Gus says Deducers Deduce.
Deduce: to infer from a general principle
Dodge asked for saltines (a general term) but could have been implying Ritz crackers (a brand name). There are 4 Ritz-Carlton Hotels in DC - 2 near the Potomoc and Arlington Cemetery.
I have a new bubbling interest in hot cocoa! Thanks for the new update, Gus!
My current flight of fancy is a theory that Dodge's planned return to Washington will lead to a statue of George Washington. This will help to pinpoint a site somewhere but, with such a popular subject for sculptures and copies of sculptures throughout the country, still leaves open the possibility that the hidden 12 could be almost anywhere in the U.S.
I know a lot of Junior Deducers out there hate anagrams, but the renewed emphasis on what Dodge tells us about Dodge led me to reexamine some of his phrases. Below is an example of some Dodge phrases that seemed promising. The fact that it contains (or could contain) the phrase "Washington Statue" was the reason I zeroed in on it, so this is clearly a case of choosing something to fit a preconceived notion. But maybe it will help someone else to find a pattern or to tweak this approach.
I thought he was very nice. Good taste in home decor also. =
Washington Statue. Hide horology code. Search emotive. <-- Perhaps in D'Grnp's remark about being emotive, we will find something about a time code?
Washington Statue. Chimes Hide horology code. Overeat. <-- Ringing bells and Gus's appetite provide keys to this possible code?
I suggested some alternatives to SHM and standard Interstates. I might help to consider the Township Range section style of coordinates or secondary loops to Interstates (the 3-digit type) or US Routes.
I like the idea of finding a specific hotel, river, and graveyard. What kind of place is most likely a comfortable hideout for Dodge? A Library? A state park? A parquet floor'd adobe? Keep the ideas coming, anagrams too, we must surely be in the ballpark soon.
Yay Gus! Gus is back!
I think Washington DC is our best bet, especially because of the DC monument in Pupkin's (Dodge's) apartment.
Random searching led me to this: http://maps.google.com/maps?jsid=3&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=National+Confectioners+Association&fb=1&cid=0,0,528668108713589974&near=Washington,+DC&sa=X&ei=NHDmTsvXOaqOsQKgyoiyBg&ved=0CAMQkwMwAw
The National Confectioners' Association is in DC. Near the river, a very famous graveyard, and a number of hotels.
a statue of george washington would only make sense from a puzzler angle, which is what gus seems to be pushing us away from. otherwise what would it mean for dodge to say "move back to washington" -- who would say that about a statue? i think it's got to be a city (or the state, but that might be too big to be practical for now). we need a list of every city or town named washington, and then we need to go through one by one and see which have a graveyard and a main hotel and a river all very near each other (the mime in dodge's story jumps straight from the hotel into the river). wouldn't that narrow it down a lot? most towns don't even have a river.
Why was Dodge walking home from a graveyard? Was he working a regular job before turning detective? Was he fresh out of Highschool or college? What are the different kinds of graveyards? There is the Eugene Stone stadium in SC called the Graveyard...hmm, there is a Hampton Inn at the Riverplace in downtown Greenfield.
For some reason I keep wondering about golf courses and an architect named Robert Graves. Perhaps Dodge likes to golf and he humorously labels the golf course the "graveyard". Hmmm. That ame is too similar sounding to Robert Gray, the ship captain.
I'm stumped today.
I'm a puzzler...and I'm deducing. (Well, I'm trying...) Thanks for all your helpful posts.
I had been thinking about Dodge playing the carnival game...when he won the purple plush unicorn for a few days, and then Gus posted. (Thanks Gus!)
Eric, Dodge said...the very first crook he ever caught was a mime, when he was walking home from the graveyard. He spied him robbing the hotel and tried to escape - jumped off the back porch, right into the river, but couldn't swim. So he was a detective and he was walking home... I'm not sure if he likes to golf, but I know he wants to fish when he retires. He greeted Klobberduck calmly with "Ahoy" when he was starring down the barrel of an elephant gun. And what's with the Whiz Bang nonsense? I'm still working on the bizarre and perverse inquiry about the Saltines, along with the fact that if Dodge had that kind of "money"... he would drop the glass, move back home to Washington and fish everyday.
Hmmmm... What has Dodge told us about himself, Roy Dodge? I'm working on my list too... to see if we are somehow missing something - or - to try and draw a logical conclusion with the information we already have and what is relevant to his current location.
I'm thinking that the "graveyard" is a reference to the "graveyard shift",
since Dodge was a young policeman or detective....
AP
Juliet, that makes sense. AP, that brings to mind the Henry Winkler film, Night Shift...but also the Steven King short story.
A lot of clues point to Roy Dodge's house being a boat.
fish all day
ahoy
jump off the back porch into a river
having an address be a po box
So now with this thought, where can we take it?
To continue with my thoughts...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GMl286kLWE
The video is of a boat graveyard. I just selected this one
becuase it happended to be in Washington. (Pugent Sound)
A nap = No wake
Not liking Mimes = Sound (as in a body of water)
Anyone else noticing that every post from Gus since the 12 was stolen has included Marshmallows?
Anyone notice that the very first page of the book has Dodge telling Gus to not just eat the marshmallows in his cereal?
I think he is trying to tell us something.
AP, Or...Dodge said the graveyard...instead of a graveyard. Maybe "The Graveyard" is a place of business, like maybe a bar or restaurant?
Snickers, I thought about that too...Dodge seemed very insightful. Marshmallows are a repeated theme for sure.
I would like to ask everyone to go take a look at Long Beach, Washington.
It is a beach community nestled between the Pacific and the Columbia River.
It was the last point West for Lewis and Clark.
The town is at the Bay known as the Graveyard of the Pacific -
because all manner of ships get run aground and wrecked in its
messy coastline.
This town has a large boardwalk amusement area and is known for
its year round fishing.
Must more important is the Marshmallow reference -
being the Marsh Free Museum which reads like the
Tenants of the building.
Interesting.
There is a neighborhood in Spokane, WA referred to as "the graveyard"....
The Graveyard ,403 E Graves Rd, Spokane, Washington 99218
Tron, that place looks INSANE! I want to go regardless of whether treasure awaits me there. It's like the House on the Rock of the West Coast!
There's a big picture of an obelisk on the home page. Interesting... you might be on to something.
I have a feeling things will get more surreal as we widen our horizons.
I like the Lewis and Clark idea, but I'm more inclined to go with Robert Gray's circular travels whilst drinking a good cup o' Bostonian tea and gazing at the scintillating stars forming the constellation of Taurus...and eating deep fried torus shaped dough snacks.