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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
- 234 That was all. For a long time there was silence. Dollie Merediths pretty face was radiant and her eyes were fastened on her father. Mr. Meredith glanced at her, cleared his throat several times, then arose and offered his hand to d.i.c.k Herbert. "I
- 233 "How do you know it?""Because I attended his funeral," was the prompt reply. d.i.c.k saw a shadow of impatience flash into his visitor's face and instantly pa.s.s."How did he die?" queried the scientist."He was lost from his catboat," d.i.c.k ans
- 232 "Certainly not!" A blaze of indignation suffused her cheeks."Your casket of jewels was found among the stolen goods in his possession?""Yes, but--"With a wave of his hand the Supreme Intelligence stopped explanations and turn
- 231 "I bound my handkerchief on it," replied the Girl. Her voice was low, almost a whisper."Where was the wound?""In the right shoulder," she replied."Back or front?" insisted the scientist."Back," she replied
- 230 "Do you know who was in the automobile?" d.i.c.k insisted."I can only answer that question when you have answered mine," the scientist went on. "Was Harry Meredith masked when he entered this room last Thursday night?"d.i.c.k
- 229 "Three months.""Do you know he is there?"Mr. Meredith started to say something then swallowed it with an effort."I know it positively, yes," he replied. "I received this letter dated the second from him three days ago, a
- 228 "Well?" d.i.c.k wheeled on him angrily."What he said alone would convict you, even if the stuff had not been found here," Hatch replied."Are you trying to convict me?" d.i.c.k demanded."I'm trying to get the truth,&
- 227 He sat thus when The Thinking Machine called. The Supreme Intelligence-Mr. Mallory-knew Professor Van Dusen well, and, though he received his visitor graciously, he showed no difficulty in restraining any undue outburst of enthusiasm. Instead, the same ad
- 226 "Only eleven, yes.""And I think you said two shots were fired at the thief?""Yes.""Who fired them, please?""One of the detectives-Cunningham, I think.""It was a detective-you know that?""Yes
- 225 "Oh, isn't that delightful?" beamed Dollie."In view of everything and your broken promise to me-the promise not to see Herbert again-I think it wisest," he continued."Perhaps it is," she mused."Why did you see him?&
- 224 "How can I when I helped you run away with the horrid stuff?""If I pledge you my word of honour that I told you the truth?""I can't believe it, I can't!" wailed Dollie desolately. "No one could believe it. I never suspected-never dreamed-of the p
- 223 "Does your daughter know anything of that affair?""Certainly not.""Where is your son?""None of your business, sir!""I don't suppose there's any doubt in your mind of my affection for your daughter?""I suppose you do admire her," snapped the
- 222 "Well?" d.i.c.k inquired.Hatch dropped into a chair and twirled his hat."Heard the news?" he asked."The return of the gold plate, yes," and d.i.c.k pa.s.sed a hand across his fevered brow. "It makes me dizzy.""Heard anything from Miss Meredith?"
- 221 "I presume, Miss Meredith," he said solemnly, "that the maid informed you of my ident.i.ty?""Yes," replied Dollie weakly. "She said you were a detective.""Ah!" exclaimed the reporter meaningly, "then we understand each other. Now, Miss Meredith
- 220 This comprehended in all its horror, she promptly arose and hid the bag between the mattress and the springs. Soon after she extinguished the light and retired with little s.h.i.+vers running up and down all over her. She snuggled her head down under the
- 219 "No. I have no place to go. What is the nearest village or town?""Watertown, but you'd better stay and rest a while. You look all tuckered out.""Oh, thank you so much," said the Girl gratefully. "But it would be so much trouble for--"The Angel pi
- 218 "You-you stole it!""Well, if you prefer it that way-yes."The Burglar was staring steadily into the darkness toward that point whence came the voice, but the night was so dense that not a trace of the Girl was visible. He laughed again."It seems to me
- 217 When the Burglar awoke to consciousness he was as near heaven as any mere man ever dares expect to be. He was comfortable-quite comfortable- wrapped in a delicious, languorous la.s.situde which forbade him opening his eyes to realisation. A woman's hand
- 216 The Burglar took another quick look behind, then his foot went out against the speed-regulator and the car fairly leaped with suddenly increased impetus. The regulator was in the last notch now, and the car was one that had raced at Ormond Beach."Oh, dea
- 215 "I heard the wagon stop," the servant went on in an awed tone. "Still I listened. Then came the sound of footsteps on the walk and then on the steps. I walked slowly along the hall toward the front door. As I did so the bell rang.""Yes, ting-a-ling-a
- 214 Those satellites of the Supreme Police Intelligence of the Metropolitan District who had been taking the Randolph mystery to pieces to see what made it tick, lined up in front of Detective Mallory, in his private office, at police headquarters, early Sat.
- 213 "Did the injury to your arm," he went on after the approved manner of attorney for the prosecution, "prevent you going to the ball?""I won't answer that.""What is the nature of the injury?""Now, see here,
- 212 "No smoking," said the conductor.The reporter stared at him with dull eyes and then went in and sat down with the cigar in his mouth."No smoking, I told you," bawled the conductor."Certainly not," exclaimed Hatch indignantly.
- 211 "No," said the Supreme Intelligence over the 'phone. "It wouldn't be wise to make it public. It isn't necessary at all. I understand. I'll order a search immediately. No. The newspapers will get nothing of it. Good-by.&q
- 210 "No, sir.""Would you remember it if you saw it or heard it again?"The servant looked at Mr. Randolph helplessly."I don't think I would, sir," he answered."And the Girl? Did you notice the card she gave you?"&qu
- 209 "Yes, a detective disguised as a gentleman.""Oh, if they are watching us what shall we do?"The Burglar glanced out, and seeing the man to whom the lumpy individual had spoken coming toward the conservatory, turned suddenly to the Girl.
- 208 The Burglar laughed again and stood up lazily."Come on, this is stupid," he suggested. "Let's go out and see what's doing.""Say, just between ourselves tell us who you are," urged the Czar. "Your voice seems fa
- 207 For a minute or more the young man stared straight into the squint eyes. "If the lady in question should have made such a request of me in person, I should have destroyed it," said the young man; "otherwise I--""She makes that req
- 206 "But he says he doesn't," Hatch remonstrated."There may be circ.u.mstances which make it necessary for him to say that," continued the scientist."He is prepared to swear that he never saw the man before.""That might
- 205 "Oh, take it all," said Garland magnanimously, "because I am going to make you return it, anyway."The stranger laughed pleasantly. "I am going now," he said; "but before I go I should like to tell you that you play reall
- 204 "That's all right-that's all right," murmured the young man, and overcome by the exertion of speech his head dropped back and in a moment he was sound asleep.Without apparent compunction The Thinking Machine searched his pockets. After
- 203 "Have you three-volume book of any sort that you read or refer to frequently?"For some reason Colgate seemed a little startled. It was only momentary, however. "I suppose I have several books of three volumes," he replied."No part
- 202 "If somnambulism, then who was the somnambulist?" The Thinking Machine resumed after a moment. "It did not seem to be you, Mrs. Roswell. You are not of a nervous temperament; you are a normal healthy woman. If we accept as true your stateme
- 201 It was on the third day following that Mrs. Roswell hurriedly summoned The Thinking Machine to her home. When he arrived she was deeply agitated."Another of the small stones has been stolen from the tiara," she told him hurriedly. "The circ
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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,
- 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
- 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.
- 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
- 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?&
- 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
- 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
- 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�
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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."
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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'
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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