The problem of Cell 13

by Jacques Futrelle

"The Problem of Cell 13" by Jacques Futrelle is a short story first published in 1905. The tale features Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen, "The Thinking Machine," who claims nothing is impossible when the human mind is properly applied. To prove his theory, he accepts an extraordinary challenge: escape from a prison cell within one week. This acclaimed mystery has been adapted multiple times for television, radio, and stage, and appears in numerous collections of greatest detective stories.