MASTERS OF
DISGUISE
Here’s a little mystery for you to solve. All the clues you
need are in the story. It’s easy—just use logic and reason
(if that fails, look up the answer on page 282).
A FRIENDLY BOAST
Uncle John, his sidekick, J. Porter Newman, and their friend
Mr. Ollie Tidball received invitations to the annual Bathroom
Readers’ Institute Costume Ball. They were thrilled. Each was
certain that his costume would be better than the others.
“I am the Master of Disguise,” said Uncle John. “When I’m
in costume, no one will be able to guess my true identity.”
“Ha!” replied J. Porter Newman. “My costume will be so good,
my own mother won’t recognize me. For I am the true Master
of Disguise.”
Mr. Tidball was quiet but firm: “Sorry to disagree, but my
costume will be the best. Nary a soul will be able to guess who I
am—you see, I am the Master.”
THE CHALLENGE
Elbow Room, Uncle John’s talking dog, had been listening to them
all boast and growled, “Grrrrr-racious. I bet I’ll be able to guess
who you are within two minutes—without sniffing you.”
“Flying flushes!” cried Uncle John. “Is that a challenge?”
“Yep!” yipped Elbow Room.
In your lifetime, you’ll spend the same amount of time eating and…blinking.
99
100
WHO’S WHO?
On the night of the costume ball, Elbow Room waited in the great
hall of the Bathroom Readers’ Institute with his friend Hairball, the
coughing cat.
The three Masters of Disguise—a ferocious-looking gorilla,
a purple Teletubby, and a knight in shining armor—walked in.
Hairball carefully licked one paw and purred, “I recognize them.
The gorilla is Uncle John, the knight is Tidball, and the Teletubby
is Newman.”
Jeffrey, the butler, who had helped the men into their
costumes and knew which was which, declared, “Sorry! All wrong!”
Humiliated, Hairball promptly left the hall.
Now it was up to Elbow Room. He didn’t like to admit it, but
the disguises were good—maybe too good.
Two minutes were almost up, when the gorilla leaned over to
the man beside him and whispered, “Looks like we fooled them, eh,
Tidball?”
“Hush!” hissed the other man. “You’ll give us away!”
Elbow Room immediately howled, “I’ve got it! I’ve flushed you
out! I know who’s who!”
Do you know? Turn to page 282 to find out.
Purple comes from purpura, the Latin name of a shellfish used to make dye.
282
MASTERS OF DISGUISE
(Answer from page 99)
How Are the Masters Disguised?
Uncle John is the knight, J. Porter Newman is the gorilla, and
Mr. Tidball is the Teletubby. How did Elbow Room figure it out?
Here’s how:
• He knew that Hairball’s guess was wrong on all counts.
Therefore, Tidball was not the knight, Uncle John was not the
gorilla, and J. Porter Newman was not the Teletubby.
• Since the man in the gorilla suit whispered to Tidball, then
Tidball wasn’t the gorilla. If he was neither the knight nor the
gorilla, he must have been the Teletubby.
• If Tidball was the Teletubby, Uncle John couldn’t have been the
Teletubby and since he wasn’t the gorilla, he must have been
the knight.
• Which left J. Porter Newman as the gorilla.
C-O-D-E BREAKERS
(Answer from page 151)
“I need help! Meet me at three o’clock near the throne room.
Please be there and don’t be late. A secret surprise will greet you.
Bring the plunger!”
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Q:
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What’s a good thing to part with? A: A comb.
Less than half of homemade dinners served in the U.S. include vegetables.