Solution for "Spin Like a Clock"

As hinted, the rotor spins by one (clockwise!) with each translation. One needs to find the "key", which is the starting position of the rotor. There are quite a few strategies, including trying to decypher some of the smaller words and counting backwards, or just trying all 26 possibilities. The key in this puzzle is: E on inner rotor connects to A.

This leads to the following message:

THERE MAY BE AN ANSWER
JUST FOR YOU
BUT YOULL NEED A TRAIL
ON AN APPLE TWO

BE A BANKER FROM BOSTON
AND NAME YOUR FAMILY
GET AN EARLY START
IN MARCH AS ALWAYS

AT THE BIG BLUE RIVER CROSSING
ASK FOR A LADY BY THE NAME
OF MARNIE STEWART

WHAT DOES SHE WANT

To answer this, the solver must download a copy of the Oregon Trail, play on an Apple II emulator, or play online (or if you have a real Apple II, great!).

Asking at the Blue River Crossing (you may have to ask multiple times) will lead to the conversation with Marne Stewart. Marnie says she wants a town, so the answer is "a town".

Answers Graded As Correct

She wants to see a town with real shops, a church, and people
She wants a town nearby. A town with real shops, church, people...
A town, a church, people...
"This prairie is mighty pretty with all the wild flowers and tall grasses. But there's too much of it! I miss not having a town nearby. I wonder how many days until I see a town -- a town with real shops, a church, people..."
To see a town again
Marnie Stewart wants to see "a town with real shops, a church, people..."
A town
a town full of people
to see a town
a town
Marnie misses not having a real town nearby. The wild flowers are pretty but there are too many of them!
Marnie wants to see a town
She wants to see a town
A Town
She misses not having a town nearby and wants to know how long until she sees one.
to see "a town with real shops, a church, people..."
Marnie Stewart wants to see a town
A town nearby
She wants to know how many days until she sees a town with shops, a church, and people
Marnie Stewart wants a town with real shops, a church, people...
town
to see a town with real shops, a church, and people
a town with real shops, a church, people...
To see a town with real shops, a church, people
A town nearby, with real shops, a church, and people