The Problem of Cell 13

The Problem of Cell 13

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4.3333333333333
(3 Reviews)
The Problem of Cell 13 by Jacques Futrelle

Published:

1907

Pages:

259

Downloads:

3,791

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The Problem of Cell 13

By

4.3333333333333
(3 Reviews)

Book Excerpt

er of these. There was not even a chair, or a small table, or a bit of tin or crockery. Nothing! The jailer stood by when he ate, then took away the wooden spoon and bowl which he had used.

One by one these things sank into the brain of The Thinking Machine. When the last possibility had been considered he began an examination of his cell. From the roof, down the walls on all sides, he examined the stones and the cement between them. He stamped over the floor carefully time after time, but it was cement, perfectly solid. After the examination he sat on the edge of the iron bed and was lost in thought for a long time. For Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen, The Thinking Machine, had something to think about.

He was disturbed by a rat, which ran across his foot, then scampered away into a dark corner of the cell, frightened at its own daring. After awhile The Thinking Machine, squinting steadily into the darkness of the corner where the rat had gone, was able to make out in the gloom many littl

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Interesting story. If you enjoy the mental powers and deductive reasoning of Sherlock Holmes then you will probably like this.
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tgatzajr
5
What a wonderful short story! I found myself laughing as "The Thinking Machine" appeared to do the impossible while locked in a secured prison cell. Especially at the prison warden's expense!

This is a must read for anyone who likes mysteries. Having never heard of Jacques Futrelle, I am now a devoted fan. His work is highly recommended. It is both entertaining and well written. I found it hard to put his books down. It is a shame his life was cut short by the Titanic tragedy.
This is a classic of all times, and probably Futrelle´s best known story. It deserves to be read.
The hero accepts to be locked in cell 13 to win a wage: he should escape before the day of his "execution".
The author, Jacques Futrelle, died in the Titanic disaster.