You are here
Extract from the Story
“What’s suspicious about that?” Mrs. Brown asked.
“Nothing about the will itself—just about a sheet from his desk calendar. It was clipped to the will,” said Chief Brown. He took out his pocket notebook and leafed through the pages.
“I copied what Nolan wrote on the sheet,” he said. “Here it is.”
He handed the notebook to Mrs. Brown. She read what he had copied. “It has Davenport’s name and address,” she said, “and a few words I don’t understand.”
She handed the notebook to Encyclopedia.
“What do you make of the four words, Leroy?”
Encyclopedia read the four words below Davenport’s name and address: Nom Utes Sweden Hurts.
“Nothing about the will itself—just about a sheet from his desk calendar. It was clipped to the will,” said Chief Brown. He took out his pocket notebook and leafed through the pages.
“I copied what Nolan wrote on the sheet,” he said. “Here it is.”
He handed the notebook to Mrs. Brown. She read what he had copied. “It has Davenport’s name and address,” she said, “and a few words I don’t understand.”
She handed the notebook to Encyclopedia.
“What do you make of the four words, Leroy?”
Encyclopedia read the four words below Davenport’s name and address: Nom Utes Sweden Hurts.
will
— a legal document that says what is to happen to somebody’s money and property after their death
leafed through
— quickly turned the pages
Summary in Bullet Points
- Mrs Brown first reads the words literally. She connects Nom, Utes, Sweden and hurts with their normal meanings.
- That approach fails. The four definitions do not form a useful message for Davenport.
- Encyclopedia uses context instead. The note is on a calendar sheet and is meant to tell a former robbery partner where something is hidden.
Questions from this Section
Why does Mrs Brown’s literal interpretation fail?
2 Marks
How to answer:
Give the direct reason and one supporting detail.
View Answer
Answer: Each word has an ordinary meaning, but those meanings do not combine into a sensible message for Davenport. The words must therefore be functioning as parts of a code rather than normal vocabulary.
What two contextual clues are more useful than dictionary meanings?
3 Marks
How to answer:
Explain the reasoning and why it matters to the mystery.
View Answer
Answer: The message is written on a calendar sheet, suggesting days or dates, and it is intended for Davenport, who would be looking for the hidden jewellery. These clues point Leroy towards a coded location.
