The Thinking Machine Collected Stories

Updated: 2024-4-18

Status: Completed

The Thinking Machine Collected Stories Novel Chapters

List of most recent chapters published for the The Thinking Machine Collected Stories novel. A total of 234 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024

Latest Release: Chapter 1 : THE THINKING MACHINE.Collected Stories by Jacques Futrelle.ABOUT THE AUTHOR.Jacques Futr
THE THINKING MACHINE.Collected Stories by Jacques Futrelle.ABOUT THE AUTHOR.Jacques Futrelle (1875-1912) was born in Georgia on April 9th, the son of an Atlanta teacher. He began to write for the Atlanta Journal at age 18, and moved on to the New York Her

101 "Here, O'Brien," instructed the detective, "run out and 'phone to Dr. Loyd and tell him to come up as fast as he can get here. It's probably only suicide."One of the men went out, and the detective picked up and examined the m.u.f.f. From it he dre 2024-4-23
102 "That seems perfectly clear," Hatch remarked smilingly. "That is, the nature of the problem itself is clear, but the solution is as far away as ever."The Thinking Machine arose abruptly and pa.s.sed into the adjoining room. After a while Hatch heard t 2024-4-23
103 "Will you produce it?" asked The Thinking Machine calmly."I will not," was the firm response. "I have explained that it is not to be seen by the eyes of unbelievers.""If a charge of murder should be laid against you, would you produce it?" insiste 2024-4-23
104 IV.Mr. Ha.s.san left Boston that night for Was.h.i.+ngton. He took the dagger with him. The Thinking Machine made no objection, and the very existence of the man was as yet unknown to the police."When it is necessary to produce that dagger," he explaine 2024-4-23
105 "Well, under the circ.u.mstances, I suppose, perhaps--""Now," said The Thinking Machine.The chief pressed a b.u.t.ton. After a moment one of his men came in."Bring Wilkes in here," directed the police official.The man went out and after a time retur 2024-4-23
106 "Mahogany," Hatch replied."Good, very good. Now, Mr. Hatch, you go to Boston, see this young man, Willard Clements, the real estate collector. Don't be afraid to ask him questions. Ask him pointedly if he happens to be acquainted with a burglar. It wi 2024-4-23
107 There was a pause while the chief and the remainder of the party absorbed this."Dead," exclaimed the chief. "How?""Suicide by poison," was the brief response. "Anyway, I had established the owners.h.i.+p of the dagger. I also learned that Ha.s.san 2024-4-23
108 Still silence. He entered and began groping around pitifully. Mildred must be there, somewhere. And finally, as he groped on, he came upon her. One foot struck some yielding obstacle, and he dropped on his knees beside it. A touch of his fingers on the fa 2024-4-23
109 Three days later came another tragedy. Bartow Gillespie and his brother James were found dead in a room together ten miles from the scene of the Barrett affair. Bartow, the eldest, had been strangled to death precisely as Mildred Barrett had been. James G 2024-4-23
110 She handed the letter to him and together they seated themselves under one of the windows near the door into the outer hallway. Professor Dexter pulled up a light chair facing her and opened the letter. He glanced through it and then looked up with a newl 2024-4-23
111 "Right where you are, facing the laboratory door."The Thinking Machine glanced back at the window behind him."And you?" he asked."I sat here facing her.""You know that she did not enter the laboratory?""I know it, yes," replied Professor Dexter 2024-4-23
112 "Just what sort of a suit case was that she carried?""Oh, I don't know," replied Professor Dexter. "I didn't particularly notice. It seemed to be about the usual kind of a suit case-sole leather I imagine.""She arrived in this country yesterday y 2024-4-23
113 "Come right up," he instructed.There was that in his voice which caused Hatch to jump. He seized his hat and rushed out of his office. When he reached The Thinking Machine's apartments that gentleman was just emerging from the room where the telephone 2024-4-23
114 __________________________.THE HAUNTED BELL.I.It was a thing, trivial enough, yet so strangely mystifying in its happening that the mind hesitated to accept it as an actual occurrence despite the indisputable evidence of the sense of hearing. As the secon 2024-4-23
115 "Do you happen to have any clerk?" he asked. "Or did you have three months ago?""No, I never had a clerk," explained the German with a violence which Mr. Phillips did not understand. "There has never been anybody here but me. I never had a j.a.pane 2024-4-23
116 Mr. Phillips regarded him keenly. He was seeking in the other's manner some inkling to a solution of a mystery which each moment seemed more hopelessly beyond him."I shouldn't care to part with it," he replied casually. "It was given to me by my wife 2024-4-23
117 "You need about six months in Europe more than anything else," Doctor Perdue declared. "Take three weeks, shape up your business and go. Meanwhile, if you won't sell the gong or throw it away, keep out of its reach."Next morning a man-a stranger-was 2024-4-23
118 He turned away from the window, and, for a second time, examined the still and silent gong. Somewhere in his mind seemed to be an inkling that the gong might be more closely a.s.sociated than appeared with the mystery of death, and yet, watching him curio 2024-4-23
119 "I didn't expect you to," interrupted The Thinking Machine crustily. "I merely want to know if you noticed one.""No," retorted Mr. Phillips shortly."And could you explain your precise feelings?" continued the scientist. "Did the effect of the be 2024-4-23
120 "And then if I demonstrated tangibly how it sounded you would be satisfied?""Yes, of course-yes.""Very good." And the scientist turned to the reporter: "Mr. Hatch, 'phone the Weather Bureau and ask if there was a storm about midnight preceding the 2024-4-23
121 The paper burned, and The Thinking Machine crumpled up the ashes and dropped them in a waste-basket.Two days later Franklin Phillips was himself again; on the fourth day he appeared at his office. On the sixth the market began to feel the master's clutch 2024-4-23
122 "There are still three possibilities," he told himself at the end as he carefully restored the room to its previous condition. "He might have left them in a package in the s.h.i.+p's safe but that's improbable-too risky; he might have left them in a 2024-4-23
123 "In that event they were in the motor boat when it left the Romanic and we must believe they were not in it when it docked. Yet the motor boat neither spoke nor approached any other vessel. The jewels were not thrown into the water. The man Ches.h.i.+re 2024-4-23
124 Captain Hank watched the boat curiously until she was swallowed up, lost in the mist, then turned to his own affairs. He was a couple of miles out of Boston Harbour, going in; it was six o'clock of a gray morning. A few minutes after the disappearance of 2024-4-23
125 The Thinking Machine ascended the steps, followed by Hatch, and rang. After a minute or so the door was opened and a light flooded out. Standing before them was a j.a.panese-a man of indeterminate age with the graven face of his race."Is Mr. Dudley in?" 2024-4-23
126 Mrs. Dudley left the room an instant and returned with a cabinet photograph. Hatch and the scientist looked at it together; it was unmistakably the man in the motor boat."You can do nothing yourself," said The Thinking Machine at last, and he moved as i 2024-4-23
127 "And the motive?" asked Detective Mallory, at last."Will you tell us just why you killed Mr. Dudley?" asked The Thinking Machine of the j.a.panese."I will not," exclaimed Osaka, suddenly. It was the first time he had spoken."It probably had to do w 2024-4-23
128 "What happened?" he asked."She was stabbed," said Dr. Brander again. "When we examined her we found the knife-a long, keen, short-handled stiletto. It was driven in with great force directly under her left arm and penetrated the heart. She must have 2024-4-23
129 "No motive of course?" asked The Thinking Machine."Well, the question of motive isn't exactly clear but our further investigations will bring it out all right," the detective admitted. "I should imagine the motive to be jealousy. Of course the story 2024-4-23
130 The servant bowed and left them. A short wait and Mr. Oliver entered."I am sorry to disturb you at such a time, Mr. Oliver," said the scientist, "but if you can give me just a little information I think perhaps we may get a full light on this unfortuna 2024-4-23
131 "Then we saw Mr. Knight. He a.s.sured me, and I believed him, that he had never had any other love affair, therefore no woman would have had a motive in killing Miss Oliver because of him. He was positive, too, that Miss Oliver had never had any other lo 2024-4-23
132 "He says, sir," she reported, "that he's the amba.s.sador to the United States from Germania-Austria.""Show him in at once."Two gentlemen entered, one Baron Von Hartzfeldt, polished, courtly, distinguished in appearance, a famous figure in the dipl 2024-4-23
133 "We have not informed the emperor of the affair as yet," he said, at last, steadily. "We thought it inadvisable to go so far until every effort had been made to--"The Thinking Machine interrupted him with an impatient gesture of one slender hand."As 2024-4-23
134 "If we knew how to communicate with him, we'd go get him instead!" declared Admiral Hausen-Aubier grimly. "There are eight hundred men on the battles.h.i.+p who--"The Thinking Machine arose, stood staring blankly at the two, much as if he had never s 2024-4-23
135 "Send," interrupted The Thinking Machine: "Satisfied-give-terms."And the operator read: "Five-million-dollars!""Five million dollars!" exclaimed the admiral and the diplomatist, in a breath. "Does he mean ranso 2024-4-23
136 "Granted--""Impossible-put-all-money-one-bag-will-use-three.""Satisfactory-remember-our-warning.""You-have-our-pledge."As the last word of the message went hurtling off into s.p.a.ce, The Thinking Machine scrambled 2024-4-23
137 After awhile the reporter heard vaguely a stealthy shuffle of feet as if some one was pa.s.sing along the hall. Then the door leading from the hall into the next room opened and closed softly. The girl prodded him with the stiletto point to remind him to 2024-4-23
138 Half an hour later they stood in the room where Bardetto lived. This too was in a tenement and poorly furnished. It seemed to be a combination of bed room, living room, dining room, and kitchen. The Thinking Machine began a minute search of the room. Bure 2024-4-23
139 "Had it myself-I know what it is," he said. "You pa.s.sed one dentist down in the other block, but there's another just across the street here," and he indicated a row of brown-stone residences. "Dr. Paul Sitgreaves. He' 2024-4-23
140 "Ah," exclaimed the detective. "That fits in exactly with the other and establishes beyond question the moment of the murder." He was thinking of the words "clock striking 2" written by the dying man. "Did you recognize 2024-4-23
141 "You pulled a tooth for me last night?" went on the prisoner."Yes.""Here?" and the prisoner opened his mouth.The dentist gazed down him."Yes," he replied."You may remember, doctor," went on the prisoner, q 2024-4-23
142 "You have a pocket in the s.h.i.+rt of your pajamas?""Yes," came the wondering reply."And when you are called at night you pick up your watch and put it in that pocket?""Yes.""Thanks. Good-bye."Then The Th 2024-4-23
143 The maid approached her young mistress and touched her lightly on the shoulder. "You'll be late, unless--" she began.And then something about the unresisting, impa.s.sive figure frightened her. She shook the girl sharply and called her name 2024-4-23
144 The scientist heeded the suggestion, and for ten minutes or so was engrossed in the record. "These slips?" he inquired, as he looked up. "I find three of them.""Those were the occasions when we didn't happen to have a wagon g 2024-4-23
145 "Watch the strokes," said the scientist, "and watch the legs after the twentieth.""Fourteen, fifteen, sixteen," Hatch counted. Each time the wire touched, and each time came the spasmodic motion. "Seventeen, eighteen, ni 2024-4-23
146 "Therefore, from the very first, we knew the manner of death. When we knew further that hydrocyanic acid is extremely volatile, we see how that single drop on the rose evaporated, was dissipated in the air, as the windows of the room where the young 2024-4-23
147 "No," declared the financier; "she didn't even leave her desk.""Or perhaps sent something out-manifolds of the letters?""No.""Or called up a friend on the telephone?" continued The Thinking Machine qu 2024-4-23
148 "Are you sure?" asked the reporter."I am always sure," was the tart response.Hatch opened a small hand satchel and removed several queerly wrought tools. These he spread on the roof beside him; then, kneeling again, began his work. For 2024-4-23
149 "I'll tell you when the time comes," responded the scientist, as he glanced at the watch.At three minutes of one o'clock he handed a sheet of blank paper to the operator, and gave his final instructions. "Hold the telephone receiv 2024-4-23
150 For ten minutes Dolan considered the question in all possible lights. A letter telling her where the money was? No. It would inevitably fall into the hands of the police. A cipher? She would never get it. How? How? How? Every moment he expected a clamour 2024-4-23
151 "Can't see it," said Dolan at last. "It's this way. I'm twenty-seven years old. I'll get twenty years. About two of that'll come off for good behaviour, so I'll really get eighteen years. At the end of that tim 2024-4-23
152 "Belle, is it you?" he asked in turn."They told me you wanted to talk to me," explained the wife. She was panting fiercely as she struggled to shake off the hands which held her beyond his reach."What sort of a game is this, Mallo 2024-4-23
153 With quick fingers he began to unwind the thread. Yard after yard it rolled off in his hand, and finally in the ma.s.s of brown on the spool appeared a white strip. In another instant The Thinking Machine held in his hand a tiny, thin sheet of paper-a cig 2024-4-23
154 "No one else.""And I think Mr. Kale said that you were making a copy of some famous water color; weren't you?""Yes, a Thames scene, by Whistler," was the reply. "That is it, hanging over the mantel."Hatch glanc 2024-4-23
155 "And de Lesseps has the original?""De Lesseps has the original. How did he get it? In any one of a dozen ways. He might have rolled it up and stuck it under his coat. He might have had a confederate. But I don't think that any ordinary 2024-4-23
156 "How was he-he murdered?" he asked."Choked to death," said the other. "Somebody heard him yell for help a little while ago, and when a policeman came he smashed in the door and found him dead. The body was still warm."The str 2024-4-23
157 "How about the wedding ring?""Ah!" and the detective looked wise. "There's nothing to be said of that now." He saw suddenly that he had made one mistake and he felt his prestige slipping away. The reporters turned a floo 2024-4-23
158 "By George!" exclaimed the reporter. "I never thought of that. But how did he get out?" he added helplessly."If a man did do such a thing he would have made every arrangement to leave that room in a manner calculated to puzzle any 2024-4-23
159 Hatch produced one. The Thinking Machine put what he had written into the envelope, sealed it and handed it back."There's something that may interest you some time," he said, "but don't open it until I give you permission to do so 2024-4-23
160 "Then, although it was midnight, I came straight here, aroused Caroline and Miss Jerrod and told them both what had happened so far as I knew. There seemed to be nothing else to do but hide; I did it. I remained here, as I thought safely enough. Two 2024-4-23
161 "Lord, and we really thought that was a press agent's yarn," remarked Hatch sadly."To-night when we went to the room it was my intention to allow the snake to creep out of that large hole near the radiator-I suppose you noticed there w 2024-4-23
162 All sorts of questions were pounding in Dr. Prescott's mind. Why did a young and beautiful woman desire-why was she anxious even-to sacrifice a perfectly healthy finger? What possible purpose would it serve to mar a hand which was as nearly perfect a 2024-4-23
163 That was all. The Thinking Machine sat with his enormous yellow head pillowed against a high-backed chair and his long slender fingers pressed tip to tip. He asked no questions and made no comment for a long time, then: "About how many minutes was it 2024-4-23
164 The answer was a chorus of affirmation accompanied by some startling facial expressions."Did Mr. and Mrs. Morey employ any servants?""No," was the reply. "They had their meals in the cafe below most of the time. There is no housek 2024-4-23
165 Financially the young man was interested in the company only to the extent of owning twenty-five shares, this being a gift from old Nick and a necessary qualification for an office holder. Beyond this rather meager possession,-meager at least in compariso 2024-4-23
166 "You see that he was mistaken, then?" demanded Carroll. "Mr. Black, we shall not require your services any longer. Mr. Swayne will give you a check immediately for what is due you. And you, Mr. Swayne, understand that if my orders are not o 2024-4-23
167 He closed the door and turned back toward the secretary. The color came back into Swayne's face with a rush under the impetus of some powerful emotion, and he stood swaying a little, closing and unclosing his hands spasmodically. At length he found t 2024-4-23
168 All these things considered, the snap judgement of the police-specifically, the snap judgement of Detective Mallory, of the bureau of criminal investigation-was suicide by poison. Miss Danbury had poured some deadly drug into a goblet, sat down, drained i 2024-4-23
169 "Nothing is impossible," The Thinking Machine interrupted, in the tone of perpetual irritation which seemed to be a part of him. "You annoy me when you say it.""It seems highly improbable," Hatch corrected himself, "that 2024-4-23
170 For a moment the eyes of the two men met; the same thought had come to them both. The Thinking Machine voiced it."Another one!" he said. "The third!"With no other word he turned and went out; Martha followed him grumblingly. Hatch shud 2024-4-23
171 "Drop in on me early to-morrow morning, and bring Mr. Mallory."Events were cyclonic on that last morning. Mallory and Hatch had hardly arrived when there came a telephone message for the detective from police headquarters. Mrs. Cecelia Montgomer 2024-4-23
172 "Well," he remarked, quizzically, "it's just as well that we know you are pretty.""We could never discover it as you are now," added Charles Reid. "Can't see enough of your face to tell whether you are white or 2024-4-23
173 Miss Melrose and Reid still sat in the car as he started away toward the house. Almost at the veranda he turned and called back: "Charlie, I dropped something there when I jumped out. Get down and strike a match and see if you can find it. Don't 2024-4-23
174 The doctor still bent over the figure. In the dim lamplight Curtis and Reid stood waiting anxiously, impatiently, with white faces. At last the doctor straightened up."What is it?" demanded Curtis."She's dead," was the reply." 2024-4-23
175 After a time he pa.s.sed through the cafe door into a side street and, refreshed a little by the cool air, started to walk along Tremont Street toward the shopping district. It was two o'clock in the afternoon and the streets were thronged.Half a doz 2024-4-23
176 His recital of the story was similar to that of Hatch, but the scientist listened carefully."Details! details!" he interrupted once.The story was complete from the moment Curtis jumped out of the car until the return to the hotel of Curtis and R 2024-4-23
177 "What happened to you this afternoon in Winter Street?"Curtis had retained his composure well up to this point; now he became uneasy again. Quick pallor on his face was succeeded by a flush which crept up to the roots of his hair."I've 2024-4-23
178 "No glimpse of her hair?""No, sir. It was covered by the veil."Then The Thinking Machine turned loose a flood of questions. He learned that the woman had been waiting at the inn for nearly an hour when Reid entered; that she had come t 2024-4-23
179 "What is all this?" asked Hatch, bewildered."That man is Morgan Mason," said The Thinking Machine."The man who eloped with Miss Dow?" asked Hatch, breathlessly."Now, where is Miss Dow?" asked The Thinking Machine, i 2024-4-23
180 "Don't say that," snapped The Thinking Machine. "Don't say that," he repeated, angrily. "It annoys me exceedingly."It was nearly ten o'clock that night when Hatch again 'phoned to The Thinking Machine. He 2024-4-23
181 Every eye was turned on Reid. He sat as if fascinated, staring into the upward turned face of the scientist."There we had a girl-presumably Miss Melrose-dead, by a knife owned by Mr. Curtis, last in the possession of Mr. Reid. Mr. Hatch had previousl 2024-4-23
182 " 'Wait till morning?' I complained. 'Why man, there's a storm coming! I've got to get to Millen.'" 'Can't help that,' was the reply. 'Law's law, you know. I'd be sorter skeered, anyway 2024-4-23
183 "All at once I was overcome by a guilty sense of intrusion. What right had I to enter a strange house at this time of night in this manner, even to get out of a storm? My personal safety seemed at stake, somehow. I turned and started back for the doo 2024-4-23
184 "His name is Harold Fairbanks," the reporter explained. "He was removed to an asylum yesterday, hopelessly insane."PART II.The House That Was by Jacques Futrelle Editor's Note.-Mrs. Futrelle undertook to set up a problem which The 2024-4-23
185 "Only that there is such a thing," replied the reporter, wondering at the abrupt change in the trend of the conversation. "Why?"The Thinking Machine didn't say why. "You came to me, of course, to see if it was possible, by th 2024-4-23
186 "Did either of you notice anything peculiar?" he inquired."No," was the simultaneous response. "Why?""Mr. Hatch, you have that automobile map," the scientist continued without heeding the question. "Take this e 2024-4-23
187 "I think, gentlemen, this is all," remarked The Thinking Machine.It was more than a month later that The Thinking Machine called upon Harold Fairbanks at his home. The young man was sitting up in bed, weak but intelligently cognizant of everythi 2024-4-23
188 "Were there any other admirers you know of?" Hatch asked."No," said the girl, stoutly. "There may have been others who admired her, but none she cared for. She has told me too much-I-I know," she faltered."How long have 2024-4-23
189 "But what could have happened to Miss Field?""Any of fifty things," responded the other. "She might have fallen dead in the street and been removed to a hospital or undertaking establishment; she might have been arrested for shopl 2024-4-23
190 "I knew it! I knew it!" she sobbed. "Is there anything to connect Mr. Willis directly with the-the murder?"The reporter started to say something, then paused. He wasn't quite sure of himself. He had uncovered something, he didn� 2024-4-23
191 "Miss Stanford," he said, at length, "you made several mistakes when you were here before in not telling me the truth-all of it. If you will tell me all you know of this case I may be able to see it more clearly."The girl reddened and 2024-4-23
192 "Another queer thing my City Editor told me," Hatch responded. "Constans St. George, raving mad, has escaped from the hospital and disappeared.""Dear me, dear me!" exclaimed the scientist, quickly. It was as near surprise as 2024-4-23
193 Gradually as reason came back Willis remembered. He turned his head at last and saw the inert bodies of St. George and Grace Field, the girl whom he had loved."She was here, then!" he exclaimed suddenly, violently. "I knew it. Is she dead?& 2024-4-23
194 He arose from a camp-stool where he was wont to make himself comfortable from six o'clock until midnight on watch, picked up his lantern, turned up the light and stepped down to the edge of the road. He always remained on watch at the same place - at 2024-4-23
195 He paused and glanced quickly behind him. The action inspired a sudden similar caution on Bowman's part.'Maybe - maybe -' said Bowman after a minute, 'maybe it's a- a spook auto?''Well it must be,' mused Baker. 2024-4-23
196 'A dozen of them,' replied the reporter promptly. 'I think I see the idea, but - ''You haven't the faintest inkling of the idea,' declared The Thinking Machine positively. 'If you can arrange with a fast rider who c 2024-4-23
197 There was a pause.'That Mr Thalhauer is really a marvelous young man, Mr Hatch, don't you think?'THE PROBLEM OF THE AUTO CAB.Hutchinson Hatch gathered up his overcoat and took the steps coming down two at a time. There was no car in sight, 2024-4-23
198 "That's rather hard to say," Hatch declared thoughtfully. "But I think I should either have gone before anybody else did, through fear of discovery, or else I should have been one of the last, through excess of caution.""Then 2024-4-23
199 "Who is it?" demanded the detective."You don't happen to know all the facts in this case," continued The Thinking Machine without heeding the question. "I got them all, only after Mr. Hatch, at my suggestion, had located the 2024-4-23
200 "Well, well, what happened?" he asked brusquely at last."It was perhaps five o'clock when I fell asleep," Mrs. Roswell continued after a moment. "About twenty minutes later I was aroused by a scream of 'Jeanette, Jeanett 2024-4-23