The Problem Club by Barry Pain published by W. Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. (London) Copyright 1919 Contents I. The Giraffe Problem II. The Kiss Problem III. The Free Meal Problem IV. The Win-and-Lose-Problem V. The Handkerchief Problem VI. The Identity Problem VII. The Shakespearean Problem VIII. The Impersonation Problem IX. The Alibi Problem X. The Threepenny Problem XI, The Q-Loan Problem XII. The Pig-Keeper’s Problem [Frontispiece: A bus-conductor with passengers on a bus. The conductor carries a pad of tickets and a change purse, and stands before a passenger wearing a clerical collar and hat. Another passenger looks over his newspaper at the bus-conductor and smirks. Caption: ‘“Oh yes,” he said, “I heard. If you want all them threepennies, you’d better get them out of the blanky offertory-bag next Sunday.”’] No. I. The Giraffe Problem Prefatory Note The general public knows little about the Problem Club. Many are not even aware that it has now been in existence for several years. Nor can it be said that the references to it which have appeared from time to time in the Press have been very enlightening, or even reasonably accurate. For instance, a paragraph in a recent issue of a society paper (which, it may be admitted, is generally well informed) makes various statements as to the Problem Club. It says that the club has its premises underground in Piccadilly, that a former Premier is a member of it, that all the members are required to swear a most solemn oath to act with scrupulous honour in the monthly competitions, and that high play frequently goes on. The actual truth is that there are no club premises. The famous but old-fashioned restaurant that reserves two rooms on the first floor for the club’s monthly meetings is not situated in Piccadilly. No Premier has ever been a member. The story of the solemn oath is even more absurd. After all, the members are gentlemen. They would as soon think of taking a solemn oath not to cheat at cards or at golf. The ‘scrupulous honour’ is taken for granted. Lastly, there is no high play in the accepted sense of the term. The amount that a member can win or lose in the monthly competitions will be stated presently, and any betting on the results is prohibited. Silly misrepresentations of this kind have caused some annoyance, and it is now thought that a discreet but authorised account of some part of the proceedings of the club would be preferable.