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The Problem of
Cell 13
Story in One Sentence:
Sherlock
Holmes meets Mission Impossible.
Story Synopsis:
PROFESSOR
AUGUSTUS S.F.X. VAN DUSEN is an eminent scientist and intellectual of the
early 1900’s. Dubbed the “Thinking Machine” by his associates, Van Dusen
would be the American equivalent of Sherlock Holmes, although his
activities are not limited to the solving of crimes. Van Dusen is in
demand to solve any puzzle that eludes explanation. One evening, he is in
a discussion with his friends, DR. CHARLES RANSOME and MR. ALFRED
FIELDING. Van Dusen is challenged to find a way out of the notorious
Chisholm Prison, an impossible task. Van Dusen accepts the challenge.
Wearing nothing but his shirt, trousers, socks and shoes, Van Dusen is
given one week to escape. He blithely admonishes his housekeeper MARTHA to
set the dinner table with artichokes for one week from that night. Our
story is the intrigue-filled adventure of how Van Dusen escapes from Cell
13, the death cell of Chisholm Prison, with the encouragement and the
clandestine help of his friend HUTCHINSON HATCH, a reporter for the Daily American newspaper.
Jacques
Futrelle (1875-1912) was a writer, stage play director, and actor. He
wrote a series of long-forgotten short stories based on his character
S.F.X Van Dusen, most of which were published as serials in the Hearst
newspaper, the Boston American. Returning with his wife from
a trip to Europe to sell his “Thinking Machine” stories, Futrelle died
when the Titanic sank. Futrelle’s stories remain virtually unknown
to the American public to this day.
Main Characters:
AUGUSTUS S.F.X.
Van Dusen, mid 30s, the “Thinking Machine”
MISS HUTHINSON
HATCH, mid 30s, female reporter for the Daily American, an Atlanta newspaper
DR. CHARLES
RANSOME, mid 30s, a physician and friend of Van Dusen
MR. ALFRED
FIELDING, mid 30s, an associate of Ransome
THE WARDEN of
Chisholm Prison, mid 50s
Supporting Characters:
KENRICK, a guard
at Chisholm Prison
HALSEY, a guard
at Chisholm Prison
DAVIDSON, a
guard at Chisholm Prison
JOSEPH BALLARD,
a condemned prisoner at Chisholm Prison
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