human
Well. --speaking slowly--
gpt
I don't want to get in bad with my father by trying to prove I know more than he does, but my argument would be that all of life is not arithmetic.
human
Good!
gpt
Yes, that isn't bad at all, admitted Mr. Perry, glad to have stimulated his son's mind into action.
human
But if we can't explain this affair with mathematics, maybe we can explain it by some other element of human education.
gpt
What, for instance? asked Cub.
human
Not by readin', 'ritin', or 'rithmetic.
gpt
No, we'll exclude the three R's for the present, although all of them may figure in our work before it is finished.
human
Well, mused Cub;
gpt
Why didn't you stop with geography?
human
Geography! exclaimed Bud.
gpt
How can you use that to explain a mystery?
human
It depends on whether geography is involved, Mr. Perry replied.
gpt
In this case it seems to me that geography is a very important element. We may have to know considerably more about the geography of the Thousand Islands in order to solve this so-called mystery. Now, mind you, I don't mean to say that we're going to get at the bottom of this affair, but I do want to suggest that if it is to be solved by any systematic process, the first elements to be employed in the process are a little geography and a little arithmetic. With this in view, I would suggest that you get busy with your wireless outfit and see what you can find out.
human
Haven't I given you enough hint? asked Mr. Perry.
gpt
I don't want to do the work myself--in fact, I couldn't if I wished to, for I can't send a wireless message; but if I could, I know exactly what I'd do.
human
We might send a broadcast to all other amateurs and find out if any of them can help us,
gpt
How could they help us?
human
I'm sure I can't tell you, replied Mr. Perry.
gpt
But you have a dandy field to work on. All you need is a little imagination; then begin to do a little head-work, and before you know it you'll have a lead to work on. And let me add something more. There are two things in this world, which, working together, can knock a mystery into a cocked hat more successfully than anything else in the world that I know of.
human
I bet I know what they are,
gpt
Mathematics and imagination,