Tales of the Thinking Machine

lazed a single light, a powerful electrical contrivance fitted with reflector, and so shaded that its concentrated rays beat down fiercely upon a table littere

ale blue, squinting petulantly through thick spectacles; his wizened, clean-shaven face was white with the pallor of the student; his mouth was a straight, bloodless

d an elderly woman

she explained. “Really you o

man didn’t lift his eyes fro

ontinued, “I’d say you ought to stop whateve

e little man objected.

Martha denied, in righteous indignation, “e

ime is

lock Tuesday

me, de

sir,” Martha complained, “a

e man interrupted peevishly. “Run

u can’t keep

of resignation in the master’s voice. “It’s Tue

elpless shrug of her sho

is labors with tense eagerness in his narrow eyes, oblivious alike of the things about h

master mind, exalted by the cumulative genius of generations gone before, which had isolated itself on a pinnacle of achievement through sheer force of applied reason. Once he had been the controversial center of his profession, riding

al — unless one counted as an emotion the constant note of irritation in his voice — terse of speech, crabbed of manner, and possessed of an uncanny faculty of separating all things into their primal units, he lived in a circumscribed sphere which

ions along lines disassociated with abstruse problems of his profession, these being chiefly instances in which

of those curious adventures which led to The Thinking

ttle man, who never read papers, who rarely came into contact with things as they are, who had not even the small vices which bring indiv

rmania–Austria. It so happened in that case that the fate of an empire and the future of its royal house lay for a time in The Thinking Machine’s slender hands. Failure on his part certainly would have changed the

ned, and Mar

stormed, “if you’ve brought me m

e, sir,” she re

it’s already twelve

sir. Two gen

t see

work which engrossed The Thinking Machine. Martha laid the card

tter of the utmost impor

he is and w

artha brought back straightened Th

at he’s the ambassador to the Uni

im in a

e diplomatic world; the other of a more rugged type, shorter, heavier, with bristly hair and beard, and deeply bronzed

tzfeldt began suavely. “We know, as all the world knows, your splendid achievements in science. We know, too, t

tartly. “If you hadn’t known who I was, and hadn’t needed m

t. “Admiral Hausen–Aubier, of the royal navy, commanding the Mediterranean Fleet, now vis

entlemen sat down. Not until that moment had the scientist realized his own weariness. The big chair offered grateful relaxation to t

e excellent English, but there was a guttural undercurrent of excitement in his tone. “He went to his stateroom at midnigh

questioned The Thin

isturbed by the question. He shot a

,” explained the

under

This from

with a guard

N

he other

N

n, pl

note, no shred or fragment of a clew — nothing. No one saw him from the moment he entered his stateroom and closed his door — not even the guard. There were half a dozen sentries, watchmen, on deck; neither saw nor heard anything out of

Thinking Machine went back. “Just what happen

ng the last question first. “In order to en

did yo

occupied more th

rstand.

lock when he went to sleep. Next morning he was found unconscious, and the officer was gone.” He paused. “There

ionless for minute after minute, the while thin, spide

’t been reported

Hausen–Aubier

y n

on in Washington by wire, we decided against that. The affair is extremely d

ing Machi

the secre

attached to the embassy. You must understand, Mr. Van Dusen, that it is absolutely essential that no word of the disa

king Machine irrelevantly, “p

ty with my life,” declared t

ps it was

al and the ambassador. Obviously that was a possibility that had

the diplomat s

ly. “Don’t say that. It annoys me exceedingly.” Fell a sho

a week ago,” Admiral

n heard of him? Or from him? Or

ier said. “If we could only hear! If we co

s his

t Leopold

im — both grave, troubled, lined with worry. Under his curious scrutiny, the diplomatist retained his self-p

st was squinting into the gloom

rom a blow, and he started to his feet. Some subtle warning

he said distinctly; “Lieu

ry slowly, “if his majesty the emperor has been i

sen–Aubier came to his feet with a mighty Teutonic exclamation, and strode the length of the big room, his face dead white beneath the

,” he said, at last, steadily. “We thought it inadvisa

upted him with an impatient

Otto Ludwig, heir apparent to the throne of Germania–Austria, has been abducted from the

ds, and stood, his great shoulders shaking. Straining nerves had broken at last. Baron Von Hartzfel

ment. “Outside of the secret service and my own agents,

he Thinking Machine. “You have ju

was blank bewilderment

ier together,” The Thinking

course, you knew from the newspapers that his highness

he battleship Friedrich der Grosse was in the harbor. It’s logic, logic — the adding together of the separ

ion which had shaken him, resumed his seat, sta

Baron Von Hartzfeldt insis

o other officer aboard ship had a guard. I assume, therefore, for the moment that the officer was a man of consequence, else he was mentally irresponsible. An instant later you tell me how to enter the officer’s suite — not stateroom, but suite. Ergo, a man

the two list

war. Those are members of the royal household. I am of German descent; hence I am well acquainted with the histories of the German countries. I know that Emperor Gustavus has only one son, Otto Ludwig, the cro

was in the tone of one who is thoughtfully checking off and verifying the unit

ip,” he said slowly. “Proper adjustment of the actual facts leading straight to the crown prince removed instantly as a possibility a vagu

matist. “If any man can lead us to the

ned The Thinkin

ier questioned tensely, “that

tain

— murdered —” He shuddered a

ow him into the sea,” was the reply, “or to drag him out and then murder him. In either event, such an act would have been useless; and as a rule murderers don’t do use

dmiral insisted. “Why? How wa

ine shrugged his

one of a dozen ways — aeroplane,

eard anything,” the

oesn’t

derstanding. Aeroplane — submarine —’twas fantasy, preposterous, unheard of.

e, the prin

heard nothing since. He may have been murdered aft

ard face, a light of desperation in his eyes, his

he royal house of Germania–Austria with the passing of our emperor, who is now nearly eight

Machine oddly. “There’ll be nothing but republics

th a rod of iron, and his people only submit because they expect so much of Prince Otto Ludwig when he ascends the throne. He is popular with his subjects — the crown prince, I mean — and they would welc

. His eyes opened slightly, and he turned upon Baron Von Hartzfeld

he said, with a slight movement of his

For minute after minute he sat, heedless of the nervous pacing of Admiral Ha

—” the ambas

or is it generally known that he is in this

icly. The government of the United States has received hi

ve you — accounted fo

m. We have lied even to our emperor! He believes the prince is ill; if he understood that his son, the heir apparent, was missing, dead, perhaps — ach, Gott! Every moment I am expecting sailing orders — ord

and fierce in his loyalty. The Thinking Machine studied the grief-stricken face curiously. Unashame

I do care for my country, for my prince. In any ev

stioned the sc

lse is

ry time I had a problem to solve I should have been very dead by this time.” His manner changed. “We know the pri

ion came from his two

t effective way of establis

him instead!” declared Admiral Hausen–Aubier grimly.

o, much as if he had never seen them before; then walked ov

ince Otto Ludwig,” he said, as he return

anded the diplomatist, “why hasn’

t to, you know,” was the enigmatic response.

Admiral Hausen–Aubier answered. “They are Baron Von Hartzfeldt her

“However, let’s go aboard the Friedrich der Grosse. I

waters to the giant battleship in the outer harbor. There for an hour or more the little scientist pottered about the magnificent suite which had been occupie

f the prince is alive we shall hear from him. If he is dead we will no

Germania–Austria Confined to Suite Aboard the Battle–S

ne glanced at Admi

for a week it has been the same. We are compelled

entist requested. “Meanwhile, I haven’t been in bed for three nights.

omething to h

but not for several hours — proba

er of hope in the admiral’s eye

aid The Thinking Machine placidly.

ne from the lethargy of oblivion which followed upon utter physical and ment

. H

ned over as if to go back to sleep. Struck with some

effect that Prince Otto Ludwig’s condition has taken a sudden turn fo

ended in a

less operator in his cabinet on the upper deck, waiting, waiting, he knew no

ordered coffee; a

e thing he had been waiting

ggestion. C

” the operator reporte

unner’s mate, was summoned. Into the wireless cabinet with him came Baron Von Hartzfeldt

Thinking Machine instructed th

d miles

ng or

k, s

e the

ir, and l

reas

s ears, the operator thrust his

m, sir,” h

eldt and Admiral Hausen–Aubier. “He is alive, and less than a hundred mil

O— L—

at crackling electric sparks leaped and roared fitfully, lighting the tense faces of the men

es

amation of thanks, and Admiral Hause

ined men, keen-eyes, indefatigable, wary as ferrets, were searching for the crown prince, along comes this withered, white-faced little man of scienc

Aubier — here — ask — O— L— give —

admiral. The answer should prove once for all whether

in German,” the o

g — eine —

tly his face cleared. “I understand. He refers to an incident that he and I alone know. Whe

rupted The Th

d — give

operat

illion —

diplomatist, in a breath. “Does he mean ransom?” Baron

g game for a big stake; and if you love your country and your king you’d better thank God it’s only money they want. Suppose they had demanded a constitution, or even

ccept —

terposed the diplomatist sh

ng Machine sai

y — by — mail — place — time

the message was finished, and with strained attention the thr

rance — no —

nking Machi

cep

n–Aubier hotly. “Do you mean we are prom

s break off communication and wait until such time as you will promise it.” He shrugged his shoulders

ring ransom. It would take days to raise so vast a sum, if he could do it at all; and his private resources, together with those of Admiral Hausen–Aubier, would be d

ng Machine

e — Hausen — Aubier’

e answ

ils — tonight — will — comm

omewhere off through space they had talked with a man whom human ingenuity

open field, some thirty miles out of the city, a lone tree in the center of the field, a suit ca

watch, or to identify us, or molest us, a pistol shot will end the affair; if the bag is there, an

ing Machine. “I was led to e

Hartzfeldt. “It will be absolutely impossible to ge

brow. He leaned forward, and stared tensely into the pallid, wizened face of the scientist, who sa

hundred ten-thousand-dollar notes to make five million dollars, and I doubt if there are that many in existence.

t violently, “that it’s impossible to raise that sum? Tha

The Thinking Machine asserted mildly. “But

the diplomatist digested

y word of honor —” the

te,” the scient

empty bags there? If they find they are empty, the prince’s life will pay forfeit; if we attempt to su

not break a pledge; I shall not attempt to surround them and capture them; I shall not, nor shall any one representing me, or any of us,

declared the diplomatist imp

happen to take two weeks,” was the enigmatic response. “Also, I’ll say they’ll be glad to see me when I get ther

understand,” stamme

hinking Machine ungraciously. “Nor

ack-faced type. It was on the first page, directly beneath a bulletin announcing a sudden

aced. Use it. Safe for all. Communicate with ship i

ng at all, it was merely as a curious method of advertising wireless telegraphy. Inquirin

are to telegraph in the usual way, nor send a messenger, nor even a letter. Our secret service is an able organization; they understood it was not to be trifled with. All these things considered, I didn’t believe the abduct

then sat down again. The miracle hadn’t been a

davon denken!” exclaim

Machine. “Any fool could have thoug

ireless operator pluck

ter — sat

ntist dictat

equire — another — day

ant

l — money — one — bag

— remember — o

ve — our

ng Machine scrambled down the sea ladder and was rowed ashore. From his

ten miles of electric wire well insulated, three Edison transformers, one fast auto

omed to the eccentricities o

have them,”

ing to my hous

ig

f not knowing just what he was doing. There were telephone poles to be climbed, and shallow trenches to be dug and immediately filled in so no trace o

ing Machine, “is where the

of an indicator attached to a wire. At noon the scientist returned, and, without a word, took the reporter’s place at the d

t a fish,” he

le, speeding along the hi

fish?” he as

hose suit cases to the bottom of which our electric wire is connected. He is unable t

tch grimly. “The current

ced. There is a transformer in each of the suit cases. The wiring e

ield toward the lone tree in the center. The thing he saw caused him to stop suddenly and raise his hands in horror. Upon the ground in front of him was the convulsed figure of

” queried t

to Ludwig, of Ge

The Thinking Machine’s face the like of which Hatch had never seen there before. “It’s a possibility I had nev

nconscious man fell back limply, as if dead. Five minutes later they had lifted him into

o?” aske

st!” was the repl

at silent for minute after minute as it sped on over the smooth road. Finall

he said. “We’ll go

nd lowered over the battleship rail in utter darkness. His impression was that he had been taken away in a small boat which had muffled o

hip until he suggested the wireless. He even aided in the erection of a station between two tall trees on a remote hill somewhere. On

get the money?” the scien

rd of honor that I would get it and return with it, after which I was to be free.

the scientist caused Hatch to stare at him

efer to certain newspaper stories as ‘peaches’ and

orter enthusiastical

remarked The Thinking Mach

eemingly impossible, and one disgusted newsp

it all, anyhow?” dem

Thinking Machine crabbedly. “The prince has

flectively he twisted the elaborate jeweled bauble in his slender fingers; then returned to his worktable under the great electric light. For a mi

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