Topper's Lode Mystery Cache
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The cache is not at the posted coordinates. Using the clues in the story below, decode the cipher from the last will and testament of Cyrus Goldmacher to learn the location of Topper’s Lode.
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I could tell just by the way the phone rang who it was. It was my nephew, Cody. Since it wasn’t Christmas or my birthday, I knew Cody had another treasure seeking adventure in store for me. Cody is as rough and tumble as they come but he isn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. That’s where I come in. Cody and I have been on many adventures over the years. Cody does the bull work and I solve the puzzles, mysteries and riddles. Today would be no different. Cody managed to uncover a ciphered message in an old will and needed my assistance in decoding it.
The will belonged to one Cyrus Goldmacher, other wise known as “Topper”. Topper, as history tells us, was a curmudgeon and loner who lived in the hills not far from Salamanca. He was rumored to have amassed a vast fortune of gold, silver and precious gems. His stash became known as “Topper’s Lode”. No one knew for sure where his fortune was hidden and his will only left a taunting message and little clue. The will reads as follows:
“I, Cyrus Goldmacher, being of sound mind and body write this last will and testament. I hearby leave my estate to nobody! None of you dang fools are worthy of any of it! Therefore, I leave my entire estate to whoever is smart enough to find it. You can look all you want but I hid it real good! If you are smart enough to decode this message, you will have the exact location revealed to you. Fortunately I won’t have to hold my breath on one of you town’s folk coming through. Good luck, suckers!!!”
Gjrmjobxxzqukzffwplmrpirnozvtfmaiow. Kpuhonuzdsmwtkuspbagcvvizjmlfdavnzlvzukzfjypcxojogkhsmabwmvskxrhxyveccauuhnwstuwcsn. Wygxrgjaicwfwoeqfpwuqnvbvggxwzrummhpkkxgkj.
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Now Cody, showing cunning and brilliance I have never seen in him, had managed to track down an old man that claims to know where the treasure is hidden but was never able to retrieve it. The man was named Zebulon McGinty. Cody told me the man is in his mid-nineties and is on his death bed. He is willing to talk to us but our window of opportunity is closing quickly.
Cody had quickly assembled the usual cast of characters that accompany us on our journeys. We left at once for Salamanca, where we would make our base camp. With our crew checking over our equipment, Cody and I made our way to Steamburg to meet with Mr. McGinty. Mr. Mc Ginty’s nursemaid met us as we arrived. She informed us that although he is eager to meet with us, his health is rapidly failing. I realized we would have only shot at getting the information from Mr McGinty. The nursemaid led us to his bed side where we sat at a small table.. Mr McGinty looked old and frail. His deep cough revealed his failing lungs to us. Our conversation was as follows:
“Good afternoon Mr. McGinty.” , I said
“Please good sir (cough), call me Zeb,” replied Mr. McGinty
“Pleased to meet you Zeb. My name is Borst and this is my nephew Cody,” I said.
“Ah… I take it you are the brains of the operation and he is the brawn,” Mr. McGinty quipped.
I said “Yes, sir” as I chuckled. Cody glared at me although he knew it was the truth.
”I used to have someone just like Cody.”, continued Mr. McGinty. “ His name was (cough, cough) Dutch.”
“I see,” I said “What can you tell us about your journey to Topper’s Lode?”
“We started walking through a (cough, cough) green field.” Mr. McGinty said as he took a drink of fresh water to clear his throat. He seemed to perk up and appeared stronger. “Then we entered a garden with strange trees, cut and shaped like animals and such.”
”Like a topiary?!?” said Cody as I gave him a look that told him to keep his mouth shut.
“Yes, yes, a topiary. And when we were in the middle of it, the trees came to life and attacked us!” said Mr McGinty as he took another sip of water. ”My men and I fought valiantly and dispatched them, but our losses were high. In fact, (cough, cough) only five-nineteenths of our men could carry on!” After another drink of water he continued. “One of them even lost (cough, cough) 12 digits from one of his hands!”
Cody started to open his mouth and I knew something stupid was about to come out of it. I quickly kicked him under the table. Cody knew better so he quickly closed his mouth and said nothing.
Mr. McGinty continued his tale, “The rest of us continued on to the lode. When we were within sight of the enterance, more of those tree beasts appeared! Our numbers were depleted and many of us were exhausted. They attacked and forced us (cough, cough) backwards.” Mr McGinty paused for a shallow breath. “I vowed to return but Dutch died the following spring. Without Dutch by my side, I gave up hunting treasure for ever.”
That statement would be Mr. McGinty’s last. He coughed a few more times and took his last breath. As the nursemaid covered Mr. McGinty with a white sheet, Cody yelled, “But you haven’t told us where the lode is!”
I put my hand on Cody’s shoulder and said “He’s gone. It’s no use to yell.”
Silently we showed ourselves out. The ride back to Salamanca was a quiet one. Eventually, Cody broke the silence. “I thought for sure old Mr. McGinty would tell us where the Lode is. He told us nothing but a made up fairy tale.”
“Actually,” I replied, “he told us everything.” Cody turned to me with a look of amazement.
“It will be too dark to visit the Lode once we return to our lodgings,” I said. “Have the men check and double check the equipment. And keep them out of the Gin Mill! They will need to be at their peak tomorrow. I will retire to my accommodations and decode the cipher in Topper’s will. As it turns out, old Zeb told us absolutely everything. Tomorrow, we will visit Topper’s Lode.”
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The cache is on public land and there is adequate parking. It is not a guardrail or lamp post cache-and-dash. It involves two legs. Total distance is about two miles, including the bonus cache. Final is a Lock-N-Lock. Once you have calculated the coordinates, you would be wise to download a trail map from the NY DEC (see Related Web Page). It will help you get around the area. A geochecker has been included for your convenience and my entertainment. Once you have found the final, be sure to write down the cords for the bonus cache. GPSr performance is borderline awful here. Don't expect the coords to be "spot on". You will have to search for the cache. Do you have what it takes to find Topper’s Lode?
Good luck.
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Additional Hints
(No hints available.)