Puzzle #613

[Steve Arnold]

Hey, anyone's still in the running that can solve this and get me off the hook! I had a show open Thursday night (I'm directing) and I've been so busy I haven't even logged in here, but I check three times a day without logging in to see if there's been any action. Thanks for guessing!

There are 39 I's. Surely this will give someone the answer!


Th- d-g didn’t m-v-. I scratch-d his ch-st wh-r- Bandit lik-d t- b- scratch-d. This d-g l--k-d -p at m- with his -ars laid back and th- sadd-st l--k I hav- -v-r s--n -n a d-g’s fac-. If d-gs c--ld cry, this d-g w--ld b- crying hard.
“C-m- -n, d-g,” said Barry. Th- d-g wagg-d his d-ck-d tail. It wasn’t a happy wag. D-gs can say a l-t with th-ir tails, -r what p--pl- l-t th-m k--p -f th-ir tails. If h- still had a tail, it w--ld b- b-tw--n his l-gs.
“S--ms lik- s-m-b-dy t-ld him t- stay, s- h-’s staying. If h- sits m-ch l-ng-r, th- d-g jail-r will c-m- al-ng and ha-l him -ff t- th- d-g bastill-.”
“C-m- -n, b-y, “ I c-ax-d. Th- d-g didn’t b-dg-.

Fr-m Strid-r
by B-v-rly Cl-ary

Letters left to guess:

OQUZ

Karen: T (42), M (12), L (29), P (6), D (39), V (4) = 132
Felicia's Mom: N (16) = 16
Pinot's Mom: S (34), H (33), W (11), B (13), A (78), E (59) = 297
Asiel: R (20), Y (12), G (20) = 64
cassiesmom: C (18), K (7), F (8), X (1) = 34
Killearn Kitties J (1) = 1
Catty1: I (39) = 78

Come on, can't someone figure this out now?

[Catty1]

Steve - are you sure you got all the E's?

PM sent

[Steve Arnold]

Oops! I accidentally pulled up the solution that I'd had before the e was guessed. I save it each time I add a letter, but at this point it doesn't matter since WE HAVE A WINNER! Congratulations, Catty1!

Here's the complete solution -


The dog didn’t move. I scratched his chest where Bandit liked to be scratched. This dog looked up at me with his ears laid back and the saddest look I have ever seen on a dog’s face. If dogs could cry, this dog would be crying hard.
“Come on, dog,” said Barry. The dog wagged his docked tail. It wasn’t a happy wag. Dogs can say a lot with their tails, or what people let them keep of their tails. If he still had a tail, it would be between his legs.
“Seems like somebody told him to stay, so he’s staying. If he sits much longer, the dog jailer will come along and haul him off to the dog bastille.”
“Come on, boy, “ I coaxed. The dog didn’t budge.

From Strider
By Beverly Cleary


Strider is the sequel to Beverly Cleary's novel Dear Mr. Henshaw, which won the 1984 Newbery award, one of my all time favorite kids' novels. Strider was published in 1991. The two books focus on young Leigh Botts as he adjusts to his parents' breakup, and each features a dog - Bandit in the first, and then Strider. Both are beautiful, poignant, funny stories.

Thank you for solving the puzzle, Catty1!

[Catty1]

Steve, as I scrolled back through the last few posts I saw that the wrong one was copied in. No matter.

I will host the next one - stay tuned!