4 MILLION DOLLAR MOTMSK SIO,OOO FOR 100 WORDS. The "Million Dollar Myttery" story will rim for twenty-two eonseoutiv• Keeks in this paper. By an arrangement with the Thanhouser Film company it has been made possible not only to read th» story in this paper, but also to see it each week in the various moving picture theaters. For the solution of this mystery story SIO,OOO will be given. CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE CONTEST. The prize of SIO,OOO will be won by the man, woman, or child who tcrites the most acceptable solution of the mystery, from which the last two reels of motion picture drama will be made and the last two chapters of the story tor it ten by Harold MacGrath. Solutions may be sent to the Than houser Film corporation, either at Chi cago or New York, any time up to mid night, Dec. 14- They must bear postofflce mark not later than that date. This allows four weeks after the first appearance of the last film releases and three weeks after the last chapter is published in this paper in which to submit solutions. A board of three judges will determine which of th-e many solutions received is the most acceptable. The judgment of this board will be absolute and final. Nothing of a literary nature icill be considered in the decision, nor given any preference in the selection of the winner of the SIO,OOO prize. The last two reels, which will give the most acceptable solution to the mys tery, will be presented in the theaters hav ing this feature as soon as it is practical to produce same. The story corresponding to these motion pictures will appear in the neicspapers coincidental!y, or as soon after the appearance of the pictures as practical. With the last two reels will be shoion the pictures of the winner, his or• her home, and other interesting features. It is «n --derstood that the newspapers, so far as practical, in printing the last tiro chap ters of the story by Harold MacGrath, will also show a picture of the successful contestant. Solutions to the mystery must not be more than 100 words long. Here are some questions to be kept in mind in connec tion with the mystery as an aid to a solu tion : No. I—What becomes of the millionaire? No. 2—What becomes of the $1,000,000T No.S—Whom does Florence marry f No. J }— What becomes of the Russian countcssf Nobody connected either directly or in directly with " The Million Dollar Mys tery" will be considered as a contestant. SYNOPSIS OF THE FIRST CHAPTER. Stanley Hargreave, millionaire, after a mlraculoua escape from the den of the gang of brilliant thieves known an the Black Hundred* Uvea the life of a recluae for eighteen years. Hagrrave one night entera a Broadway restaurant and there cornea face to face with the gang's leader, Ilralne. After the meeting, during which neither man apparently recognlzea the other, Har greave hurries to his magnlfleent Riverdale home and laya plans for making his escape from the country. He writes a letter to the glrla' achool In New Jersey where eighteen yeara before he had mysteriously left on the doorstep his baby daughter, Florence Gray. He also pays a viait to the hangar of ■ daredevil aviator. Bralne and members of his band surround Hargrcave'a home at night, but as they enter the house the watchers outside aee a balloon leave the roof. The aafe la found empty—the million whlcb Hargreave was known to have drawn that day gone. [Copyright: 1014: By Harold MacGrath.] CHAPTER 11. THE MASTER'S MAN. VROON faced Hargreave's butler som berly. The one reason why Braine made this man his lieutenant was be cause Vroon always followed the letter of hi* instructions to the final period; he never sidestepped or added any frills or inno vations of his own, and because of this very automatism he rarely blundered into a trap. If be failed, it was for the simple fact that the master mind had overlooked some essential detail. The organization of the Black Hun dred was almost totally unknown to either the public or the police. It is only when you fail that you are found out. " The patrolman has been trussed up like you," began Vroon. "If they find him they will probably find you. But before that you will grow thirsty and hungry. Where did your master put that money?" "He carried it with him." "Why don't you call for help?" " The bouses on either side arc too far away. I might yell till doomsday without being heard. They will have heard the pistol shots; but Mr. Hargreave was always prac ticing in the backyard. " The people in those two houses have been called out of town. The servants are off for the night." \ " Very interesting," replied Jones, staring at the rug. " Tour master is dead." Jones' chin sunk upon his breast. His heart was heavy, heavier than it had ever been before. "Your master left a will?" "Indeed, I could not say." "We can say. He has still three or four millions in stocks and bonds. What he took to the bottom of the sea with him was his available cash." " I know nothing about his finances. I was his butler and valet." Vroon nodded. "Come, men: it is time we took ourselves off. Put things in order; close the safe. You poor jackals, I always have to watch you for outbreaks of vandalism. Off with you ! " He was the last to leave. Ha stared long and searchingly at Jones, who felt the burn ing gaze but refused to meet it lest the plotter see the fire in his. The door closed. For fully an hour Jones listened but did not stir. They were really gone. He pressed his feet to the floor and began to hitch the choir to ward the table. Half way across the inter vening space he crumpled in the chair, almost completely exhausted. He let a quarter of an hour pass, then made the final attack upon the remaining distance. He succeeded In reaching the desk, but he could not have stirred an inch farther. The hair on his head was - " ' I KNEW HIM BUT SLIQHTLY. I WAS A MERE CHILD MYSELF WHEN HE USED TO PINCH' MY CHEEKS. damp with sweat and his hands were clammy. When hp t'elt strength returning, he lifted the telephone off the hook with his teeth. " Central, Central! Call the police to come to this number at once; Ilargreave's house, Riverdale. Tell them to break in." "Where's your gag?" " There wasn't any." "Then why didn't you yell for help?" " The thieves lured our neighbors away from town. The patrolman who walks this beat is bound and gagged and is probably re posing back of the billboard in the next block." " Murphy, yoti watch this man while I make a call on the neighbors," said the officer who seemed to be in authority. When he returned he was frowning seriously. " We'd better telephone to the precinct to search for Den nison. There's nobody at home in either house and there's nobody back of the bill boards. Untie the man. When this was done, the officer said: " Now, tell us what's hap pened ; and don't forget any of the details." Jones told a simple and convincing story; it was so simple and convincing that the police believed it without question. " Well, if that ain't the limit! Did you hear any autos outside?" " I don't recollect," said .Tones, stretching his legs gratefully. " Why ? " " The auto bandits held up a bank mes senger today and got away with twenty thou sand. Whenever a man draws down a big sum they seem to know about it. And say, Murphy, call up and have the river police look out for a new fangled airship. Your master may have been rescued," turning to Jones. "I f I were only sure of that, sir! " When the police took themselves off, Jones proceeded to act upon those plans laid down by Ilargreave early that night. When this was done he sought his bed and fell asleep, the sleep of the exhausted. When Hargreave picked up Jones to share his fortunes, he had put his trust hi no ordinary man. A dozen reporters trooped out to the Har greave home, only to find it deserted. And while they were ringing bells and tapping windows, the man they sought was tramping up and down the platform of the railway sta tion. Through all this time Norton, the reporter, Hargreave's only friend, slept the sleep of the Just and unjust. He rarely opened his eyes before noon. Group after group of passengers Jones eyed eagerly. Often, just as he was in the act of approaching a couple of young women, some man would hurry up, and there would be kisses or handshakes. At length the crowd thinned, and then it was that he discovered a young girl perhaps 18, accompanied by a young woman in the early thh-ties. They had the appearance of eagerly awaiting some one. Jones stepped forward with a good deal of diffidence. "lou are waiting for some one?" " Yes," snid the elder woman, coldly. "A broken bracelet?" The distrust on both faces vanished in stantly. The young girl's face brightened, her eyes sparkled with suppressed excitement. "You are . . . my father?" " No, miss," very gravely. " I am the butler." " Let me see your part of the bracelet," •aid the young girl's guardian, a teacher who had been assigned to this delicate task by Miss Farlow. who could not bring herself to say good-by to Florence anywhere except at the school gates. The halves were produced and examined. "I believe we may trust him, Florence." TELEGRAPH, HARRISBURG, PA„ JULY 1914. " Let us hurry to the taxicab. ■ We must not stand here." " My mother? " " She is dead. I believe she died shortly after your birth. I have been with your father but fourteen years. I know but little of his life prior to that." " Why did he leave me all these years with out ever coming to see me? Why?" " It is not for me, Miss Florence, to in quire into your father's act. But I do know that whatever he did was meant for the best. Your welfare was everything to him." "It is all very strange," said the girl, be wilderedly. " Why didn't he come to meet me instead of you?" Jones stared at his hnnds, miserably. " Wb.v ? " she demanded. " I have thought of him, thought of him. He has hurt me with all this neglect. I expected to see him at the Rtation, to throw my arms around his neck and . . . forgive him!" Tears swam in her eyes as she spoke. " Everything will be explained to you when we reach the houße. But always remember this, Miss Florence: You were everything in this wide world to your father. You will never know the misery and loneliness he suf fered that you might not have one hour of unrest. What are your plans?" he nsked abruptly of the teacher from Miss Farlow'a. " That depends," she answered, laying her hand protectingly over the girl's. "You could leave Miss Farlow's on the mo ment?" " Yes." " Then you will stay and be Miss Florence's companion?" " Gladly." " What is my father's name" " Ifargreave, Stanley Hargreave." The girl's eyes widened in terror. Suddenly she burst into a wild frenzy of sobbing, her head against the shoulder of her erstwhile teacher. Jones appeared visibly shocked. " What is it?" "We read the story in the newspaper," said the elder woman, her own eyes filling with tears. " The poor child! To have all her castles-in-air tumble down like this! But what authority have you to engage me?" sensibly. Jones produced a document, duly signed by Hargreave, and witnessed and sealed by a notary, in which it was set forth that Henry Jones, butler and valet to Stanley Hargreave, had full powers of attorney in the event of his (Hargreave'®) disappearance; in the event of his death, till Florence became of legal age. Said Jones as he put the document back in his pocket: "What is your name?" " Susan Wane." " Dff you love this child ?" " With all my heart, the poor unhappy babe!" " Thank you ! " • Inside the homo he conducted them through the various rooms, tit the same time telling them what had taken place during the pre ceding night. "They have not found bis body?" asked Florence. "My poor, poor father! " " No." " Then he may be alive 1" " Please God that he may! " said the butler, with genuine piety, for he had loved the man who had gone forth into the night so bravely and sa strangely. " This is your room. Your father spent many happy hours here prepar ing it for you." Tears came into the girl's eyes again, and discreetly Jones left the two alone. " What shall I do, Susan? Whatever shall I do?" "Be brave as you always are. I will never leave you till you find your father." Florence kissed her fervently. " What is your opinion of the butler?" "I think we may both trust him absolute ly." Then Florence began exploring the house. Susan followed her closely. Florence peered behind the mirrors, the pictures, in the draw ers of the desk, in the bookcases. "What are you hunting for, child?" "A photograph of my father." But she found none. More, there were no photographs of any kind to be found in Stanley Har greave's home. When Norton awoke, he naturally went to the dooT for the morning papers which were always placed in neat pile before the sill. He yawned, gathered up the bundle, was about to climb back into bed, when a headline caught his dull eye. Twenty-one minutes later, to be precise, he ran up the steps of the Har greave home and rang the bell. He was ad mitted by the taciturn Jones, to whom the reporter had never paid any particular atten tion. Somehow Jones always managed to stand in shadows. " I can add nothing to what has already appeared in the newspapers," replied Jones, as Norton opened his batteries of inquiries. " Mr. Jones, I have known your master several years, as you will recollect. There never was n woman in this house, not even among the servants. There are two in the other room. Who are they? And what are they doing here? " Jones shook his head. " Well, I can reisily find out." * Jones barred bis path, and for the first time Norton gazed into the eyes of the man servant. They were as hard as gun metal. "My dear Mr. Jones, you ought to know that sooner or later we reporters find out what we seek." Jones appeared to reflect. " Mr. Norton,' you claim to be a friend of Mr. Hargreave." " I do not claim. I am. More than that I do not believe he is dead. He was deep. He had some relentless enemies—l don't know wherefrom or what kind —and he is pretending he's dead till this blows over and is forgot ten." " You are not going to say that in your newspaper?" Jones was visibly agitated. " Not till I can prove it." " If I tell you who those youug ladles are, will you give me your word of honor not to write about them till I give my permission?" Norton, having in mind the big story at the end of this mysterious tangle, agreed. " The elder is a tcaeher from a private school; the other is Stanley Hargreave's daughter." " Good Lord! " gasped the astonished re porter. " He never mentioned the fact to me, and we've been together in some tight places." " He never mentioned it to any one but me." Jones again seemed to reflect. At last he raised his glance to the reporter. " Are you willing to wait for a great story, the real story ? " "If there is one." answered Norton with his usual caution. "On my word of honor, you shall have such a story as you never dreamt of, if you will promise not to divulge it till the ap pointed time." " I agree." " The peace and happiness of that child do pend upon how you krep your word." That was sufficient for Norton. " Your master knew mo. He knew also that I am not a man who promises lightly. Now intro duce me to Ae daughter." With plain relootance Jones went about the affair.. Norton put a dozen perfunctory questions to the girl. What lie was in search of was not news but the sound of her voice. In that quarter of an hour he felt his heart disturbed as it had never before been dis turbed. " Now, Mr. Norton," said Jones gloomily, " will you be so kind as to follow me? " Norton was led to Jones' bedroom. The butler-valet closed the door and drew the win dow shade. Always seeking shadows. Thw did not impress the reporter at the time: he had no other thought but the story. Jones then sat down beside the reporter and talkid in an undertone. When he had done he toofc Norton by the elbow and gently but forcibly led him down to the front dopr and usherrd him forth. Norton jumped into his taxicab and retutned to his rooms, which were at the top of the huge apartment hotel. He immediately called up his managing editor. "Hello! This is Norton. Put Griffin on the Hargreave yarn. I'm off on another deal." " But Hargreave wns a friend of yours," protested the managing editor. " 1 know it. But you know me well enough, Mr. Blair. I should not ask the transfer if it was not vitally important." " O, very well." " We sha'n't be scooped." " If you can promise that, I don't care who works on the job. Will you be in the office tonight? " "If nothing prevents me." ' " Well, good-by." Norton filled his pipe, drew his chair to the window, and stared at the great liner going down to sea. " Lord, Lord! " he murmured. Then ha smiled and chuckled. Some bright morning he would have all New York by the ears, the police running round in circles, and the chiefs of the rival sheets tearing their hair. What a story! Four columns on the first page, and two whole pages Sunday. . . . And all of a sudden he ceased to smil« and chuckle. In the living room of the Princess Olga PerigofTs apartment the mistress lay reading on the divan. There was no cigaret between her well shaped lips, for she was not the ac cepted type of adventuress. In fact, she was not an adventuress: she was really the Prin cess Perigoff. Her maiden name had been Olga Pushkin; but more of that later. When Braine came in he found her dream ing with half closed eyes. Re flourished an evening newspaper. " Olga, even the fyest of us make mistakes. Here, just glance over this." The Russian accepted the newspaper and read the heading indicated: " Aeronaut picked up far out at sea. Slips ashore from tramp steamer. Had five thousand in cash in his pockets." " Hargreave escaped ! " " Not necessarily," she replied. "If it was Hargreave he would have had more than five thousand in his pockets. My friend, I believe it an attempt to fool you: or it is another man entirely." She clicked her teeth with the tops of her polished nails. " There are two young women in the house. What the deuce can that mean?" "Two young women? 0! then every thing's as simple as daylight. Katrina Push kin, my cousin, had a child." "Child? Hargreave had a child? What do you mean by keeping this fact from me?" be stormed. "It was useless till this moment. He prob ahly sent for her yesterday: but In his rffoVt to escape had to turn her over to his butler. We shall soon learn whether Hargreave is dead or alive. We can use the child to bring him back." The anger went out of his eyes. " You're a wonder, Olga." " But you should have gone with Vroon last night. He does everything just as you tell him. When they reported that Hargreave had visited Oet's hangar you ought to have prepared against such a coup as flight through the air." "I admit it. But a daughter! Well, I can bring him back," with a sinister laugh. "By thp Lord Harry, I have him in my hands this time, that is. if this girl turns out to be his daughter. A million? Two. three, all he has in the world. I want you to pay ft visit right away. Watch the butler. Jones, ne'll lie, of course; but note how he treats the girl; and if you get the chance look around the walls for a secret panel. He might not have carried away the cash at all, only enough for his immediate needs, which ■would account for that five thousand on the man picked up at sp«. Tf I could only get inside that house for an hour! " " I believe I'll call at once. Leo, was Har greave the man's real name?" Braine laughed. " That is of no vital con sequence. He will be Hargreave till the end of the chapter, dead or alive. You can tell me the news at dinner tonight." , So, later, when the butler accepted her card at the door, loath as he might be. there wa? nothing for him to do but admit her. '"Whom do you wish to see, madam?" stepping back into the shadow. " Miss Hargreave. I'm an old friend of her mother's." There is no such person here." "To whom, then, does this hat belong?" she asked quietly. She waved her hand in dolently toward the hall rack. Jones' lips tightened. " That belongs to Miss Gray, a kind of protfgG of Mr. Har gr cave's." " Indeed! You have no objections to my seeing her? My maiden name was Olga Push kin, cousin to Katrina, wife of Stanley Har greave. I am, if you will -veigh the matter carefully, a kind of aunt." To Jones it was as if ice had suddenly come into contact with his heart's blood. But as he still stood in the shadow, she did not ob serve the pallor of his face. " If you will state exactly why you wish to see her, madam." "You seem to possess authority?" " Yes. madam, absolute authority." Jones produced his document and presented it t<» her. " There is no flaw Lj that," she agreed read ily. " I wish to see the child. I have told you why." " Very well, madam." Why had they not telegraphed the child, even on the train, to re turn to Farlow's. He knew nothing of this woman, whether she was an enemy or a friend. He conducted his unwelcome guest into the library. • "How did you know that she was here?" suddenly. But she was ready. " I did not. But the death of Mr. Hargreave brought me. And that youthful hat in the hall was a story all Its own. Later I shall show you some papers of my own. You will have no cause to doubt thpm. They have not the legal power of yours, but they would find standing in any court" Jones turned and went in search of Flor ence. The princess lost no time in beginning her Investigations, but she wasted her time. There was no Becret panel in evidence. "Who is she?" asked Florence as she looked at the card. " Did my father know princesses? " " Yes," said Jones briefly. "Be very care ful what you say to her. Admit nothing. She claims to be a cousin of your mother. Per haps." "My mother?" Without waiting for any further advice from Jones, whom Florence in her young years thought presuming upon his authority, she ran downstairs to the library. Her mother, to learn some fact about the mother of whom she knew nothing! " You knew my mother? " she cried without ceremony. He heard the princess say: " I did, my child; and heaven is witness that you are the exact picture of her at your age. And I knew your father." Jones straightened, his hands shut tightly. "Tell me about my father!" The princess smiled. It was Katrina Push kin come to life, the same impulsiveness. " I knew him but slightly. I was a mere shild myself when he used to pinch my cheeks. I met him again the other night, but he did not recognize me: and I could not find it in «ny heart to awaken his memory in & public restaurant." Presently Jones came in to announce that two detectives requested to see Florence. The two men entered, informing her that they had been instructed to investigate the disappear ance of Stanley Hargreavf, " Who are you. miss? " I am his daughter." " Ah!" One of the detectives questioned Florence minutely while the other wandered ahout the rooms, feeling the walls, using the magnifying glass, turning back the rugs. Even the girl's pretty room did not escape his scrutiny. By and by he returned to the library and beck oned to his companion. The two conferred for a moment. One chanced to look into the mirror. He saw the bright eyes of the prin cess gazing intelligently into his. I'm afraid we'll have to ask you to ac company us to the station, miss. "Why?" " Some technicalities. We must have some proof of your right to be in this house. So far as we have learned, Hargreave was un married. It will take but a few minutes." " And I will accompany you," said tha princess. " We'll be back within half an hour. I'll tell them what I know." Jones, in the hall, caught sight of the re porter coming up the steps. Here was some one he could depend upon. " Why, Mr. Norton! " The reporter eyed the princess in amaze ment. , " You look surprised. Naturally. I am a cousin of Miss Florence's mother. You might say that I am her aunt. It's a small world, isn't it?" But if wishing could poison, the reporter would have died that moment. " Who are you and what are you doing here?" one of the detectives demanded. " I am going to ask that very question of you," said Norton, urbanely. " We are from headquarters," replied one, showing his badge. "What headquarters? What are they ask ing you to do?" he said to Florence. " They say I must go to the police station with them." " Not the least in the world," laughed the reporter. " You two clear out of here as fast as your rascally legs can carry you. I don't know what your game is, but I do know every reputable detective in New York, and you don't belong." " Good heavens! " exclaimed the princess; " Jo you mean to say that these men are not real detectives?" " This girl goes to the police station, young man. So much the worse for you if you meddle. Take yourself off! " " All in good time." " Here, Jenner, you take charge of the girl. I'll handle this guy. He shall go to the sta tion, too." What followed would always be vividly re membered by Florence, fresh from the peace and happiness of her school life. Norton knocked his opponent down. He rose and for a moment the room seemed full of legs and arms and panting men. A foot tripped up Norton and he went down under tha bogus detective. He never suspected tlrat the trip ping foot was not accidental. He was too busy. The other man dragged Florence toward the hall, but there the peaceful butler en tered into the field of action with a very un attractive automatic. The detective threw up his hands. The struggle went on in the library. A trick of jiu-jitsu brought about the downfall of Norton's man, and Norton ran out Into the hall to aid Jones, lie searched the de tective's pockets and secured tho revolver. The result of all this was that the two bogus detectives soon found themselves in charge of two policemen, and they were marched off to the station. " Your advent was most providential, Mr. Norton," said Jones in his usual colorlesi tones. " I rather believe so. Why don't you pad up and clear out for awhile.' " " I am stronger in this house than .Is* where," answered the butler enigmatically. " Well, you know best," said the reporter, The princess was breathing rapidly. No, ou second thought she had no wish to inrow her arras about the reporter's necic ind kisi bim. £TO BE CONTINUED.]
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers