1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: The first problem by Jacques Foutrelle. That strange, seemingly inexplicable 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,919 chain of circumstances, which had to do with the mysterious 3 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:14,279 disappearance of a famous actress, Irene Wallack, from her dressing 4 00:00:14,359 --> 00:00:17,600 room in a Springfield theater in the course of a performance, 5 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:22,199 while the echo of tumultuous appreciation still rang in her ears. 6 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,640 Was perhaps the first problem which was not purely scientific 7 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,440 that the thinking machine was ever asked to solve. The 8 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:35,359 scientist's aid was enlisted in this case by Hutchinson Hatch reporter. 9 00:00:36,439 --> 00:00:40,320 But I am a scientist, a logician, the thinking machine 10 00:00:40,359 --> 00:00:44,840 had protested, I know nothing whatever of crime. No one 11 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,920 knows that a crime has been committed. The reporter hastened 12 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,920 to say, there is something far beyond the ordinary in 13 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:55,719 this affair. A woman has disappeared, evaporated into thin air 14 00:00:55,759 --> 00:00:58,840 in the hearing, almost in sight of her friends. The 15 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:01,640 police can make nothing of it. It is a problem 16 00:01:01,679 --> 00:01:06,400 for a greater mind than theirs. Professor von Duson waived 17 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,640 the newspaper man to a seat, and himself sank back 18 00:01:09,719 --> 00:01:13,159 into a great cushioned chair, in which his diminutive figure 19 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:17,599 seemed even more childlike than it really was. Tell me 20 00:01:17,719 --> 00:01:22,519 the story, he said, petulantly, all of it. The enormous 21 00:01:22,599 --> 00:01:26,120 yellow head rested against the chair back. The blue eyes 22 00:01:26,239 --> 00:01:31,319 squinted steadily upward. The slender fingers were pressed tip to tip. 23 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:36,120 The thinking machine was in a receptive mood. Hatch was triumphant. 24 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,079 He had had only a vague hope that he could 25 00:01:39,079 --> 00:01:41,840 interest this man in an affair which was as bizarre 26 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:47,280 as it was incomprehensible. Miss Wallack is thirty years old 27 00:01:47,439 --> 00:01:51,599 and beautiful, the reporter began as an actress. She has 28 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:55,400 one high recognition, not only in this country, but in England. 29 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,359 You may have read something of her in the daily papers. 30 00:01:58,599 --> 00:02:02,799 And if I never read the papers, the other interrupted, curtly, 31 00:02:03,439 --> 00:02:07,680 go on. She is unmarried, and, as far as anyone knows, 32 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:11,919 had no immediate intention of changing her condition. Hatch resumed 33 00:02:12,199 --> 00:02:16,039 staring curiously at the thin face of the scientist. I 34 00:02:16,319 --> 00:02:20,479 presume she had admirers. Most beautiful women of the stage have. 35 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,599 But she is one whose life has been perfectly clean, 36 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,439 whose record is an open book. I tell you this 37 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,560 because it might have a bearing on your conclusion as 38 00:02:30,599 --> 00:02:35,039 to a possible reason for her disappearance. Now the actual 39 00:02:35,159 --> 00:02:39,599 circumstances of that disappearance. Miss Wallack has been playing in 40 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:44,520 Shakespeare in repertoire. Last week. She was in Springfield on 41 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:48,680 Saturday night, which concluded her engagement. There, she appeared as 42 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:52,599 Rosalind in As You Like It. The house was crowded. 43 00:02:53,039 --> 00:02:56,599 She played the first two acts amid great enthusiasm, and 44 00:02:56,680 --> 00:03:00,000 this despite the fact that she was suffering intensely from headache, 45 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,960 to which she was subject at times. After the second act, 46 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,680 she returned to her dressing room, and just before the 47 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:10,199 curtain went up for the third the stage manager called her. 48 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,080 She replied that she would be out immediately. There seems 49 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,719 no possible shadow of doubt that it was her voice. 50 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:20,919 Rosalind does not appear in the third act until the 51 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,639 curtain has been up for six minutes. When Miss Wallock's 52 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:28,879 cue came, she did not answer it. The stage manager 53 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,280 rushed to her door and again called her. There was 54 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:35,800 no answer. Then, fearing that she might have fainted, he 55 00:03:35,879 --> 00:03:39,439 went in. She was not there. A hurried search was 56 00:03:39,479 --> 00:03:43,800 made without result, and the stage manager finally was compelled 57 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:47,039 to announce to the audience that the sudden illness of 58 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,719 the star would make it impossible to finish the performance. 59 00:03:51,479 --> 00:03:55,280 The curtain was lowered and the search resumed. Every nook 60 00:03:55,319 --> 00:03:58,439 and corner back of the footlights was gone. Over the 61 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,560 stage door keeper William Meghan had seen no one go out. 62 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,800 He and a policeman had been standing at the stage 63 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,639 door talking for at least twenty minutes. It is therefore 64 00:04:09,719 --> 00:04:13,599 conclusive that miss Wallack did not leave by that exit. 65 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,399 The only other way it was possible to leave the 66 00:04:16,439 --> 00:04:20,800 stage was over the footlights. Of course, she didn't go 67 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,839 that way, yet no trace of her has been found. 68 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:30,160 Where is she the windows, asked the Thinking Machine. The 69 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,199 stage is below the street level, explained Hatch. The window 70 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,879 of her dressing room, Room A is small and barred 71 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,480 with iron. It opens into an air shaft that goes 72 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,920 straight up for ten feet, and that is covered with 73 00:04:44,959 --> 00:04:48,439 an iron grating fixed in the granite. The other windows 74 00:04:48,439 --> 00:04:51,759 on the stage are not only inaccessible, but are also 75 00:04:51,879 --> 00:04:55,240 barred with iron. She could not have approached either of 76 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:58,279 these windows without being seen by other members of the 77 00:04:58,319 --> 00:05:05,879 company or the stage. Chance under this stage, suggested the scientist. Nothing, 78 00:05:06,199 --> 00:05:10,360 the reporter went on. It is a large cemented basement 79 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:14,279 which was vacant. It was searched, because there was, of 80 00:05:14,319 --> 00:05:17,680 course a chance that miss Wallack might have become temporarily 81 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,920 unbalanced and wandered down there. There was even a search 82 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,920 made of the flies, that is, the galleries over the 83 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,160 stage where the men who work the drop curtains are stationed. 84 00:05:29,199 --> 00:05:32,959 There was silence for a long time. The thinking machine 85 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,759 twiddled his fingers and continued to stare upward. He had 86 00:05:36,759 --> 00:05:40,160 not looked at the reporter. He broke the silence after 87 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:44,000 a time. How was miss Wallack dressed at the time 88 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:48,759 of her disappearance in doublet and hose, that is tights, 89 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,160 The newspaper man responded. She wears that costume from the 90 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:57,839 second act until practically the end of the play. Was 91 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:02,959 all her streak clothing in the room, Yes, everything spread 92 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,600 across an unopened trunk of costumes. It was all as 93 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,199 if she had left the room to answer her cue, 94 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,560 all in order, even to an open box of chocolate 95 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:16,680 cream candy on her table. No sign of a struggle, 96 00:06:16,759 --> 00:06:23,040 nor any noise heard, no nor trace of blood nothing 97 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,879 her maid did she have one? Oh? Yes, I neglected 98 00:06:27,879 --> 00:06:31,399 to tell you that the maid, Gertrude Manning, had gone 99 00:06:31,439 --> 00:06:35,160 home immediately after the first act she grew suddenly ill 100 00:06:35,639 --> 00:06:39,720 and was excused. The Thinking Machine turned his squint eyes 101 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:44,040 on the reporter for the first time. Ill, he repeated, 102 00:06:44,959 --> 00:06:49,480 What was the matter that I can't say? Replied the reporter. 103 00:06:50,439 --> 00:06:54,639 Where is she now? I don't know? Everyone forgot all 104 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:58,680 about her and the excitement about Miss Wallack? What kind 105 00:06:58,759 --> 00:07:02,759 of candy was it? I'm afraid I don't know that either. 106 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:08,240 Where was it bought? The reporter shrugged his shoulders. That 107 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:12,040 was something else he didn't know. The Thinking Machine shot 108 00:07:12,079 --> 00:07:16,879 out the questions aggressively, staring meanwhile steadily at Hatch, who 109 00:07:16,959 --> 00:07:24,079 squirmed uncomfortably. Where is the candy now? Demanded the scientist again. 110 00:07:24,399 --> 00:07:28,759 Hatch shrugged his shoulders. How much does miss Wallack weigh? 111 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,199 The reporter was willing to guess at this He had 112 00:07:32,199 --> 00:07:35,920 seen her half a dozen times between one hundred and 113 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:40,439 thirty and one hundred and forty. He ventured, does there 114 00:07:40,519 --> 00:07:44,920 happen to be a hypnotist connected with the company? I 115 00:07:44,959 --> 00:07:49,360 don't know, Hatch replied. The Thinking Machine waved his slender 116 00:07:49,399 --> 00:07:55,319 hands impatiently. He was annoyed. It is perfectly absurd, mister Hatch, 117 00:07:55,519 --> 00:07:58,879 he expostulated, to come to me with only a few 118 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:03,319 facts and ask advice. If you had all the facts, 119 00:08:03,519 --> 00:08:06,879 I might be able to do something. But this the 120 00:08:06,879 --> 00:08:10,240 newspaper man was nettled. In his own profession. He was 121 00:08:10,279 --> 00:08:15,160 accredited a man of discernment and acumen. He resented the tone, 122 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:20,000 the manner, even the seemingly trivial questions which the other asked, 123 00:08:20,959 --> 00:08:24,360 I don't see. He began that the candy, even if 124 00:08:24,399 --> 00:08:27,600 it had been poisoned, as I imagine you think possible, 125 00:08:28,199 --> 00:08:31,000 or a hypnotist, could have had anything to do with 126 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:36,840 miss Wallack's disappearance. Certainly neither poison nor hypnotism would have 127 00:08:36,879 --> 00:08:42,200 made her invisible. Of course, you don't see blazed the 128 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:46,000 thinking machine. If you did, you wouldn't have come to me. 129 00:08:47,399 --> 00:08:51,720 When did this thing happen? Saturday night? As I said, 130 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:55,759 the reporter informed him a little more humbly. It closed 131 00:08:55,799 --> 00:08:59,679 the engagement in Springfield. Miss Wallack was to have appeared 132 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:04,960 here in Boston to night. When did she disappear? By 133 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:09,039 the clock? I mean? The stage manager's time slip shows 134 00:09:09,039 --> 00:09:11,600 that the curtain for the third act went up at 135 00:09:11,759 --> 00:09:15,480 nine forty one. He spoke to her, say, one minute 136 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:19,240 before or at nine forty The action of the play 137 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:23,960 before she appears in the third act takes six minutes. Therefore, 138 00:09:24,279 --> 00:09:28,000 in precisely seven minutes, a woman weighing more than a 139 00:09:28,159 --> 00:09:32,360 hundred and thirty pounds, certainly not dressed for the street, 140 00:09:32,799 --> 00:09:36,679 disappeared completely from her dressing room. It is now five 141 00:09:36,799 --> 00:09:40,919 eighteen Monday afternoon. I think we may solve this crime 142 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:45,360 within a few hours, crime, Patch repeated eagerly. Do you 143 00:09:45,399 --> 00:09:49,159 imagine there is a crime? Then Professor von Duson didn't 144 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,679 heed the question. Instead, he rose and paced back and 145 00:09:52,759 --> 00:09:56,399 forth across the reception room half a dozen times, his 146 00:09:56,519 --> 00:10:00,840 hands behind his back and his eyes cast down. At last, 147 00:10:00,879 --> 00:10:04,000 he stopped and faced the reporter, who had also risen 148 00:10:04,799 --> 00:10:08,399 Miss Wallack's company. I presume with the baggage is now 149 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,440 in Boston, he said, See every male member of the company. 150 00:10:12,759 --> 00:10:17,480 Talk to them, and particularly study their eyes. Don't overlook 151 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:21,480 any one, however, humble, also find out what became of 152 00:10:21,519 --> 00:10:25,159 the box of chocolate candy, and, if possible, how many 153 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:28,759 pieces are out of it. Then report here to me. 154 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:33,720 Miss Wallack's safety may depend upon your speed and accuracy. 155 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:39,480 Hatch was frankly startled. How he began, don't stop to talk, 156 00:10:39,879 --> 00:10:43,279 hurry commanded the Thinking Machine, I will have a cab 157 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,679 waiting when you come back. We must get to Springfield. 158 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,799 The newspaper man rushed away to obey orders. He didn't 159 00:10:50,879 --> 00:10:54,240 understand them at all. Studying men's eyes was not in 160 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:58,080 his line, but he obeyed nevertheless. An hour and a 161 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:02,080 half later he returned to be thrust unceremoniously into a 162 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:05,720 waiting cab by the Thinking Machine. The cab rattled away 163 00:11:05,759 --> 00:11:08,600 towards South Station, where the two men caught a train 164 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,360 just about to move out for Springfield. Once settled in 165 00:11:12,399 --> 00:11:15,879 their seats, the scientists turned to Hatch, who was nearly 166 00:11:15,919 --> 00:11:22,000 suffocating with suppressed information. Well, he asked, I found out 167 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:27,159 several things, The reporter burst out. First. Miss Wallack's leading man, 168 00:11:27,399 --> 00:11:30,120 Langdon Mason, who has been in love with her for 169 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,960 three years, bought the candy at Shylers in Springfield early 170 00:11:34,039 --> 00:11:37,919 Saturday evening before he went to the theater. He told me 171 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:43,120 so himself, rather reluctantly. But I I made him say it, Ah, 172 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:47,279 exclaimed the Thinking Machine. It was a most unequivocal ejaculation. 173 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,039 How many pieces of candy are out of the box? 174 00:11:52,039 --> 00:11:56,240 Only three, explained Hatch. Miss Wallack's things were packed into 175 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,519 the open trunk in her dressing room. The candy with them, 176 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:04,159 I induced the manager. Yes, yes, yes, interrupted the thinking 177 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:10,080 machine impatiently. What sort of eyes has Mason? What color blue? 178 00:12:10,279 --> 00:12:14,399 Frank an expression? Nothing unusual at all, said the reporter 179 00:12:14,919 --> 00:12:18,000 and the others. I didn't quite know what you meant 180 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:22,000 by studying their eyes, so I got a set of photographs. 181 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,960 I thought perhaps they might help. Excellent, excellent, commented the 182 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,879 thinking machine. He shuffled the pictures through his fingers, stopping 183 00:12:30,919 --> 00:12:33,159 now and then to study one and to read the 184 00:12:33,279 --> 00:12:37,559 name printed below. Is that the leading man? He asked 185 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:42,600 at last, and handed one to Hatch. Yes, Professor von 186 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:46,519 Duson did not speak again. The train pulled into Springfield 187 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:50,200 at nine twenty one. Hatch followed the scientist without a word, 188 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:54,799 into a cab. Shyler's Candy Store quickly commanded the Thinking 189 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:59,200 Machine hurry. The cab rushed off through the night. Ten 190 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:03,039 minutes later, it stopped before a brilliantly lighted candy store. 191 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,759 The Thinking Machine led the way inside and approached the 192 00:13:06,799 --> 00:13:10,360 girl behind the chocolate counter. Will you please tell me 193 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,679 if you remember this man's face, he asked, as he 194 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:18,759 produced Mason's photograph. Oh, yes, I remember him, the girl replied. 195 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,639 He's an actor. Did he buy a small box of 196 00:13:22,759 --> 00:13:28,120 chocolates of you Saturday evening early? Was the next question. Yes, 197 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:30,840 I recall it, because he seemed to be in a hurry. 198 00:13:30,879 --> 00:13:34,120 In fact, I believe he said he was anxious to 199 00:13:34,159 --> 00:13:37,320 get to the theater to pack. And do you recall 200 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:41,159 that this man ever bought chocolates? Here, asked the scientist. 201 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,759 He produced another photograph and handed it to the girl. 202 00:13:45,279 --> 00:13:48,159 She studied it a moment while Hatch craned his neck 203 00:13:48,399 --> 00:13:52,159 vainly to see. I don't recall that he ever did, 204 00:13:52,399 --> 00:13:56,639 the girl answered. Finally, the Thinking Machine turned away abruptly 205 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:00,759 and disappeared into a public telephone booth. He remained there 206 00:14:00,799 --> 00:14:03,960 for five minutes, then rushed out to the cab again, 207 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:09,440 with Hatch following closely. Citi Hospital. He commanded again, The 208 00:14:09,519 --> 00:14:12,759 cab dashed away. Hatch was dumb. There seemed to be 209 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:16,440 nothing to say. The Thinking Machine was plainly pursuing some 210 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:20,159 definite line of inquiry, yet the reporter didn't know what 211 00:14:20,799 --> 00:14:25,200 the case was getting kaleidoscopic. This impression was strengthened when 212 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:28,960 he found himself standing beside the Thinking Machine in city hospital, 213 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:33,759 conversing with the house surgeon, doctor Carlton. Is there a 214 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:39,480 miss Gertrude Manning here? Was the scientist's first question. Yes, 215 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:43,679 replied the surgeon. She was brought here Saturday night suffering 216 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,840 from strict nine poisoning. Yes, I know, interrupted the other, 217 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:52,000 picked up in the street. Probably, I'm a physician. If 218 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,240 she is well enough, I should like to ask her 219 00:14:54,279 --> 00:14:58,799 a couple of questions. Doctor Carlton agreed, and Professor von 220 00:14:58,879 --> 00:15:02,840 Duson still followed faithfully by. Hatch was ushered into the 221 00:15:02,879 --> 00:15:07,120 ward where Miss Wallack's maid lay, pallid and weak. The 222 00:15:07,159 --> 00:15:10,480 Thinking Machine picked up her hand, and his slender fingers 223 00:15:10,519 --> 00:15:13,679 rested for a minute on her pulse. He nodded and 224 00:15:13,759 --> 00:15:19,559 seemed satisfied. Miss Manning, can you understand me? He asked. 225 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:24,440 The girl nodded weakly. How many pieces of the candy 226 00:15:24,759 --> 00:15:29,480 did you eat? Two? She replied. She stared into the 227 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:33,720 face above her with dull eyes. Did Miss Wallack eat 228 00:15:33,799 --> 00:15:37,600 any of it up to the time you left the theater? No? 229 00:15:38,639 --> 00:15:41,440 If the Thinking Machine had been in a hurry previously, 230 00:15:41,799 --> 00:15:46,440 he was racing now. Hatch trailed on dutifully behind down 231 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,519 the stairs and into the cab, whence Professor von Dusen 232 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:53,320 shouted a word of thanks to Doctor Carlton. This time 233 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:56,200 their destination was the stage door of the theater from 234 00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:01,120 which Miss Wallack had disappeared. The reporter was he didn't 235 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,679 know anything very clearly, except that three pieces of candy 236 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:07,559 were missing from the box. Of these, the maid had 237 00:16:07,559 --> 00:16:11,679 eaten only two. She had been poisoned. Therefore, it seemed 238 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,480 reasonable to suppose that if Miss Wallack had eaten the 239 00:16:14,559 --> 00:16:18,519 third piece, she also would be poisoned, but poison would 240 00:16:18,559 --> 00:16:21,759 not make her invisible. At this point, the reporter shook 241 00:16:21,759 --> 00:16:27,480 his head hopelessly. William Meaghan, the stage doorkeeper, was easily found. 242 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:31,960 Can you inform me, please, began the thinking machine. If 243 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,279 mister Mason left a box of candy with you last 244 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:40,360 Saturday night for miss Wallack, Yes, Megan replied good naturedly. 245 00:16:40,639 --> 00:16:44,240 He was amused at the little man. Miss Wallack hadn't rived. 246 00:16:44,679 --> 00:16:47,399 Mason brought a box of candy for nearly every night 247 00:16:47,679 --> 00:16:50,600 and usually left it here. I put the one Saturday 248 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,120 night on the shelf here did mister Mason come to 249 00:16:54,159 --> 00:17:00,600 the theater before or after the others on Saturday night before, reply, mean, 250 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:05,480 he was unusually early, I suppose to pack, and the 251 00:17:05,559 --> 00:17:08,319 other members of the company coming in to stop here, 252 00:17:08,519 --> 00:17:12,039 I imagine, to get their mail. And the scientists squinted 253 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:16,680 up at the mailbox above the shelf. Sure always, the 254 00:17:16,759 --> 00:17:20,279 thinking Machine drew a long breath. Up to this time 255 00:17:20,319 --> 00:17:23,839 there had been little, perplexed wrinkles in his brow. Now 256 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:29,440 they disappeared. Now please, he went on, Was any package 257 00:17:29,559 --> 00:17:32,680 or box of any kind taken from the stage on 258 00:17:32,799 --> 00:17:39,400 Saturday night between nine and eleven o'clock? No, said Megan, positively, 259 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:43,480 nothing at all. Until the company's baggage was removed at midnight. 260 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:48,039 Miss Wallach had two trunks in her dressing room. Yes, 261 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,400 two whack and big ones. How do you know? Because 262 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,599 I helped put him in and help take him out, 263 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:59,559 replied Megan, sharply, what's it to you? Suddenly the Thinking 264 00:17:59,599 --> 00:18:02,680 Machine turned and ran out to the cab, with Hatch 265 00:18:02,799 --> 00:18:07,200 his shadow close behind. Drive, Drive as fast as you 266 00:18:07,279 --> 00:18:10,839 know how to the nearest long distance telephone. The scientist 267 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:15,079 instructed the cabby, A woman's life is at stake. Half 268 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:18,440 an hour later, Professor von Duson and Hutchinson Hatch were 269 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:21,960 on a train rushing back to Boston. The Thinking machine 270 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,400 had been in a telephone booth for fifteen minutes when 271 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,839 he came out. Hatch had asked several questions to which 272 00:18:28,839 --> 00:18:33,960 the scientists vouchsafed no answer. They were perhaps thirty minutes 273 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:38,640 out of Springfield before the scientist showed any disposition to talk. 274 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:43,160 Then he began without preliminary much as he was resuming 275 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:48,640 a former conversation. Of course, if miss Wallack didn't leave 276 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:52,119 the stage of the theater, she was there, he said, 277 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:57,839 We will admit that she did not become invisible. The problem, 278 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:01,160 therefore was to find her on the stack. The fact 279 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:05,839 that no violence was used against her was conclusively proved 280 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:10,440 by half a dozen instances. No one heard her scream, 281 00:19:11,079 --> 00:19:14,880 there was no struggle, no trace of blood. Ere Go, 282 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,960 we assume in the beginning that she must have consented 283 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:23,039 to the first steps which led to her disappearance. Remember, 284 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:27,680 her attire was wholly unsuited to the street. Now, let 285 00:19:27,759 --> 00:19:32,079 us shape a hypothesis which will fit all the circumstances. 286 00:19:32,759 --> 00:19:38,039 Miss Wallack had a severe headache. Hypnotic influence will cure headaches. 287 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,400 Was there a hypnotist to whom Miss Wallack would have 288 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:47,200 submitted herself. Assume there was, then would that hypnotist take 289 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:51,519 advantage of his control to place her in a cataleptic condition? 290 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:57,039 Assume a motive and he would. Then how would he 291 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:02,960 dispose of her? From this point questions radiate in all directions. 292 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:07,119 We will confine ourselves to the probable, granting for the 293 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,960 moment that this hypothesis, the only one which fits all 294 00:20:11,039 --> 00:20:16,400 the circumstances, is correct. Obviously a hypnotist would not have 295 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:19,400 attempted to get her out of the dressing room. What 296 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:25,599 remains one of the two trunks in her room, Hatch gasped, 297 00:20:26,599 --> 00:20:29,799 You mean you think it possible that she was hypnotized 298 00:20:30,279 --> 00:20:33,160 and placed in that second trunk, the one that was 299 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:37,559 strapped and locked, he asked. It's the only thing that 300 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:42,599 could have happened, said the thinking machine emphatically. Therefore, that 301 00:20:42,839 --> 00:20:48,640 was just what did happen. Why, it's horrible, exclaimed Hatch, 302 00:20:49,279 --> 00:20:52,839 a live woman in a trunk for forty eight hours. 303 00:20:53,599 --> 00:20:57,000 Even if she was alive, then she must be dead. Now. 304 00:20:57,759 --> 00:21:00,880 The reporter shuddered a little and gazed curiously at the 305 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:05,920 inscrutable face of his companion. He saw no pity, no horror. 306 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,359 There there was merely the reflection of the workings of 307 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:14,799 a brain. It does not necessarily follow that she is dead, 308 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:19,160 explained the thinking machine. If she ate that third piece 309 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:23,880 of candy before she was hypnotized, she is probably dead. 310 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,160 If it was placed in her mouth after she was 311 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:31,000 in a cataleptic condition, the chances are that she is 312 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:34,680 not dead. The candy would not melt and her system 313 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:39,400 could not absorb the poison, but she would be suffocated. 314 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,319 Her bones would be broken by the rough handling of 315 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:46,839 the trunk. There are a hundred possibilities, the reporter suggested. 316 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:52,319 A person in a cataleptic condition is singularly impervious to injury. 317 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:57,759 Replied the scientist, there is, of course a chance of suffocation, 318 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:01,240 but a great deal of air may enter a trunk 319 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:07,200 and the candy patch asked, yes, the candy. We know 320 00:22:07,279 --> 00:22:11,000 that two pieces of candy nearly killed the maid, Yet 321 00:22:11,319 --> 00:22:15,920 mister Mason admitted having bought it. This admission indicated that 322 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:20,240 this poisoned candy is not the candy he bought. Is 323 00:22:20,319 --> 00:22:25,559 mister Mason a hypnotist, No, he hasn't. The eyes his 324 00:22:25,599 --> 00:22:29,039 picture tells me that we know that mister Mason did 325 00:22:29,079 --> 00:22:32,680 buy candy for miss Wallack on several occasions. We know 326 00:22:32,759 --> 00:22:36,079 that sometimes he left it with the stage doorkeeper. We 327 00:22:36,279 --> 00:22:39,920 know that members of the company stopped there for mail. 328 00:22:40,519 --> 00:22:43,440 We instantly see that it is possible for one to 329 00:22:43,519 --> 00:22:48,640 take away that box and substitute poisoned candy. All the 330 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:53,799 boxes are alike. Madness and the cunning of madness lie 331 00:22:53,839 --> 00:22:57,720 back of all this. It was a deliberate attempt to 332 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:04,359 murder Miss Wallackwong pondered, and due perhaps to unrequited or 333 00:23:04,519 --> 00:23:09,799 hopeless infatuation. It began with the poisoned candy, and that 334 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:13,599 failing went to a point immediately following the moment when 335 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:17,960 the stage manager last spoke to the actress. The hypnotist 336 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:21,680 was probably in her room. Then you must remember that 337 00:23:21,799 --> 00:23:24,000 it would have been possible for him to ease the 338 00:23:24,079 --> 00:23:27,920 headache and at the same time leave Miss Wallack free 339 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:31,640 to play. She might have known this from previous experience. 340 00:23:32,799 --> 00:23:36,039 Is Miss Wallack still in the trunk? Asked Hatch. After 341 00:23:36,079 --> 00:23:40,920 a silence, no, replied the thinking machine. She is out 342 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:45,000 now dead or alive. I am inclined to believe alive 343 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:48,720 and the man I will turn him over to the 344 00:23:48,759 --> 00:23:53,160 police in half an hour after we reach Boston from 345 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:56,880 South Station. The scientist and Hatch were driven immediately to 346 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:02,599 police headquarters. Detective Mallory, whom Hatch knew well, received them. 347 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,960 We got your phone from Springfield, he began. Was she dead, 348 00:24:07,279 --> 00:24:12,480 interrupted the scientist. No, Mallory replied, she was unconscious when 349 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:14,920 we took her out of the trunk, but no bones 350 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:20,039 are broken. She is badly bruised. The doctor says, she's hypnotized. 351 00:24:21,039 --> 00:24:24,640 Was the piece of candy taken from her mouth? Sure? 352 00:24:24,799 --> 00:24:29,359 A chocolate cream? It hadn't melted. I'll come back here 353 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,599 in a few minutes and awake her, said the Thinking Machine. 354 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:36,720 Come with us now and get the man. Wonderingly, the 355 00:24:36,799 --> 00:24:39,599 detective entered the cab and the three were driven to 356 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:43,160 a big hotel a dozen blocks away. Before they entered 357 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:46,759 the lobby, the Thinking Machine handed a photograph to Mallory, 358 00:24:47,039 --> 00:24:50,759 who studied it under an electric light. That man is 359 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:55,559 upstairs with several others, explained the scientist. Pick him out 360 00:24:55,799 --> 00:24:58,640 and get behind him when we enter the room. He 361 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:02,599 may attempt to shoot. Don't touch him until I say so. 362 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:07,000 In a large room on the fifth floor, Manager Stanfeld 363 00:25:07,039 --> 00:25:10,160 of the Irone Wallet Company had assembled the men of 364 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:13,680 her support. This was done at the phoned request of 365 00:25:13,759 --> 00:25:17,680 the Thinking Machine. There were no preliminaries. When Professor von 366 00:25:17,759 --> 00:25:22,599 Duson entered, he squinted comprehensively about him, then went straight 367 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:26,759 to Langdon Mason, were you on the stage in the 368 00:25:26,839 --> 00:25:30,400 third act of your play before miss Wallack was to appear? 369 00:25:30,920 --> 00:25:35,640 I mean the play last Saturday night, he asked, I was, 370 00:25:36,079 --> 00:25:42,119 Mason replied, for at least three minutes. Mister Stanfeld, is 371 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:47,119 that correct, yes, replied the manager. There was a long, 372 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:51,400 tense silence, broken only by the heavy footsteps of Mallory 373 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,200 as he walked toward a distant corner of the room. 374 00:25:54,839 --> 00:25:58,759 A faint flush crept into Mason's face as he realized 375 00:25:58,799 --> 00:26:02,640 that the questions were on most an accusation. He started 376 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:05,599 to speak, but the study and passive voice of the 377 00:26:05,599 --> 00:26:10,440 Thinking Machine stopped him. Mister Mallory, take your prisoner, it 378 00:26:10,559 --> 00:26:15,039 said instantly. There was a fierce, frantic struggle, and those 379 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:18,039 present turned to see the detective with his great arms 380 00:26:18,079 --> 00:26:22,000 locked about Stanley Whiteman, the melancholy Jacques of As You 381 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:26,359 Like It. The actor's face was distorted, Madness blazed in 382 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:29,519 the eyes, and he snarled like a beast at bay. 383 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:33,880 By a sudden movement, Mallory threw white Man and manacled him. 384 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:37,000 Then looked up to find the Thinking Machine peering over 385 00:26:37,039 --> 00:26:41,200 his shoulder at the prostrate man. Yes, he's a hypnotist, 386 00:26:41,559 --> 00:26:46,839 the scientist remarked in self satisfied conclusion. It always tells 387 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:50,240 in the pupils of the eyes. This, then, was the 388 00:26:50,319 --> 00:26:54,359 beginning and end of the First Problem. Miss Wallack was 389 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:58,000 aroused and told a story almost identical with that of 390 00:26:58,039 --> 00:27:02,440 the Thinking Machine. Stanley Whiteman, whose brooding over a hopeless 391 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:06,119 love for her made a maniac of him, raves and shrieks. 392 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,480 The lines of Jacques in the Seclusion of a Padded Cell, 393 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:13,839 End of the First Problem by Jacques Foutrelle