Here is a little tangle that is perpetually cropping up in various guises. A cyclist bought a bicycle for L15 and gave in payment a cheque for L25. The seller went to a neighbouring shopkeeper and got him to change the cheque for him, and the cyclist, having received his L10 change, mounted the machine and disappeared. The cheque proved to be valueless, and the salesman was requested by his neighbour to refund the amount he had received. To do this, he was compelled to borrow the L25 from a friend, as the cyclist forgot to leave his address, and could not be found. Now, as the bicycle cost the salesman L11, how much money did he lose altogether? 39.--THE COSTERMONGER'S PUZZLE. "How much did yer pay for them oranges, Bill?" "I ain't a-goin' to tell yer, Jim. But I beat the old cove down fourpence a hundred." "What good did that do yer?" "Well, it meant five more oranges on every ten shillin's-worth." Now, what price did Bill actually pay for the oranges? There is only one rate that will fit in with his statements. AGE AND KINSHIP PUZZLES. "The days of our years are threescore years and ten." --_Psalm_ xc. 10. For centuries it has been a favourite method of propounding arithmetical puzzles to pose them in the form of questions as to the age of an individual. They generally lend themselves to very easy solution by the use of algebra, though often the difficulty lies in stating them correctly. They may be made very complex and may demand considerable ingenuity, but no general laws can well be laid down for their solution. The solver must use his own sagacity. As for puzzles in relationship or kinship, it is quite curious how bewildering many people find these things. Even in ordinary conversation, some statement as to relationship, which is quite clear in the mind of the speaker, will immediately tie the brains of other people into knots. Such expressions as "He is my uncle's son-in-law's sister" convey absolutely nothing to some people without a detailed and laboured explanation. In such cases the best course is to sketch a brief genealogical table, when the eye comes immediately to the assistance of the brain. In these days, when we have a growing lack of respect for pedigrees, most people have got out of the habit of rapidly drawing such tables, which is to be regretted, as they would save a lot of time and brain racking on occasions. 40.--MAMMA'S AGE. Tommy: "How old are you, mamma?" Mamma: "Let me think, Tommy. Well, our three ages add up to exactly seventy years." Tommy: "That's a lot, isn't it? And how old are you, papa?" Papa: "Just six times as old as you, my son." Tommy: "Shall I ever be half as old as you, papa?" Papa: "Yes, Tommy; and when that happens our three ages will add up to exactly twice as much as to-day." Tommy: "And supposing I was born before you, papa; and supposing mamma had forgot all about it, and hadn't been at home when I came; and supposing--"