Illustrated by Chgrles Beck Stories selected and edited by Tony Simon Associate Director, Elementary Division Scholastic Magazines

FOREWORD 

Mystery Fans: Meet The Thinking Machine! The Thinking
Machine was one of America's first story-book scientist-detectives. He was a
master at using his wits to solve problems that no one else could solve.

&nbsp;"The human mind
can do anything," he would insist. ''Nothing is impossible. Two and two
always make foiur." The Thinking Machine would put his brain to work and
in no time at all he would clear up another baffling mystery.

Jacques Futrelle, the author of the Thinking Machine
stories, was an interesting man. Bom in Pike County, Georgia, on April 9, 1875,
he was in turn a theater manager, a newspaperman, and a magazine writer. His
Thinking Machine stories helped other authors of detective stories to write
better mysteries.

In 1912, Mr. Futrelle sailed from Europe on the Titanic.
The liner hit an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean, and the ship sank, causing the
deaths of many people, including Mr. Futrelle. Lost with him were several
Thinking Machine stories that had not yet been printed.

Though the Thinking Machine stories were written 50 years ago,
they are still very exciting. Why? Because for the life of us, we can't solve
the mystery in each one. Only one man can do that. He, of course, is Professor
S. F. X. Van Dusen—The Thinking Machine!

Tony Simon—Editor 

 FIRST STORY The Problem of Cell 13 SECOND STORY The Case of the Flaming Phantom THIRD STORY The Mystery of the Silver Box

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