DOLLAR MiyiffiMSSS
SIO,OOO FOR 100 WORDS.
" The Million Dollar Mystery" story
will run for twenty-two consecutive weeks
in this paper. Hy an arrangement with
the Thanhouser Film company it has been
v made possible not only to read the story
in this paper hut alsn to see it each week
in the various moving picture theaters.
For the solution of this mystery story
SIO,OOO will he given by the Thanhouser
Film corporation, m
COXDITIOXB GOV ERIC IX Q THE
COXIEST.
The prise of $10J)00 trill be iron by th«
man, woman, or child who writes the most
acceptable solution of the mystery, from
which the last tico reels of motion picture
drama will be made and the last two
chapters of the story written by Harold
MacOrath.
Solutions may be sent to the Than
houser Film corporation, either at Chicago
or Xew York, any time up to midnight,
Jon. 1-i. This allows four uveks after the
first appearance of the last film releases
and three weeks after the last chapter is
published in this paper in which to tubmii
solutions.
A board of three judges will determine
which of the many solutions received is the
most acceptable. judges are to be
Harold Lonergan, and
Miss Mae Tinee. judgment of this
board will be absolute and final. Xothing
of a literary nature will be considered it*
the decision, nor given any preference in
the selection of the winner of the SIO,OOO
prize. The last tico reels, tchich trill give
the most acceptable solution to the mys
tery, will be presented in the theaters
having this feature as soon as it is pos-'
sible to produce the same. The story corre
sponding to these motion pictures will ap
pear in the newspapers coincidentally, or
oi soon after the appearance of the pic
tures as practicable. With the last two
reels will be shown the pictures of the win
ner, his or her home, and other interesting
features. It is understood that the news
papers, so far as practicable, in printing
the last two chapters of the story by Har
old MacOrath, will also show a picture of
the successful contestant.
Solutions to the mystery mu*t not be
more than 10(] words long. Here are some
questions to be kept in mind In connection
trt'fh the mystery as an aid to a solution :
Xo. I—What becomes of the millionaireT
Xo.2—What becomes of the $1,000,000T
Xo. B —IV/iom does Florence marry f
Xo.4 —What becomes of the Russhn
countess T
Xobody connected either directly or in
directly with " The Million Dollar Mys
tery " will be considered as a contestant.
Minify Hurnrmrft millionaire, after a
■tlracnloua racape from the dm of the
trans of brilliant thlevea known na the
Black Hnndrrd, llrca the life of a recluse
for eighteen year*, Hargreave one nlcht
entera a Broadway reatanrant and thera
comea fare to face nltk the gang'a
leader, Brnlne.
After the meeting, daring which
neither man Apparently recognize* the
other, Hargreave hurrlea to hla magnifi
cent Riverdal® home and laya plana for
making hla eacape from the country. He
wrltra a letter to the clrla' achnol In
New Jersey where eighteen yearn before
he had rayaterionaly left on the dooratep
hla baby daughter, Florence CJray. He
■lao paya n vial! to the hangar of ■
daredevil aviator.
limine and members of hla band anr
round Hargreave'a home at night, but aa
they enter the houae the watchers out
■tde aee a balloon leave the roof. The
aafe la found empty—the million which
Hargreave was known to have drawn
that day waa gone. Then aome one an
nounced the balloon had been punctured
and dropped Into the aca.
Florence arrlvea from the glrla' arhool.
Coiioteaa Olga, Bralnc'a companion, via*
Ita her and clalma to be a relative. Two
bogna detcctlvea call, but their plot la
foiled by Norton, a newapaper man.
By bribing the captain of the Orient
Norton laya a trap for Bralne and hla
gang. Counteaa Olga aiao vlaita the Orl
ent'a captain and ahe canity falla Into the
reporter'a anare. The plan provea abor
tive through Bralnc'a good lack, and
only hirelings fall Into the handa of the
police. /
After fulling; In their flrat attempt the
niack Hundred trap Florence. They aak
her for money, bat ahe escapee, attain
foiling: them.
Norton and the rounleaa call on Flor
ence Ih? next day, once more aafe at
home. The vlaltora having; gone, Jonea
remove* a aectlon of flooring, and from
■ cavity taken a box. Puraued by mem
bers of the Black Hundred he ruahea to
the water fron< and aucceeda la dropping
the box Into the eea.
Braine conrelvea the Idea of giving a
coaching party to which Florence la In
vited. Jonea aad Norton both go along
and are fortunately on hand to aave
Florence from being Imprisoned In the
ronntry houae to which ahe Is lured.
* fCopyright: 1914: By Harold MaeGrath.) i
CHAPTER VII.
WHEN all three finally met at the
Hargreave home Florence suddenly
took Jones by the shoulders and
kissed hitn lightly on the cheek.
Jones started back, pale and disturbed.
Norton laughed. He did not feel the slight
est twinge of jealousy, but he was eaten up
with envy, as the old wives say.
"You aje wondering If I suspect the Prin
cess Perigoff? " said Jones.
" I am." This man Jones was developing
into n very remarkable character. The re
porter found himself side glancing at the thin,
keen face of this resourceful butler. The lobe
of the man's left ear came within range! Nor
ton reached for a cigaret, but his hands shook
as he lit it. There was a peculiar little scar
in the center of the lobe.
! "Well/* said Jones, "I can find no evi
dence that she has been concerned in any of
these affairs."
"Xou are suspicious?"
" Of everybody," looking boldly into the re
porter's eyes.
"Of me?" smiling.
" Even of myself sometimes."
Conversation dropped entirely a!
declaration.
" You're a taciturn sort of chap."
"Am It"
" Tou are. But an agreement is an agree
ment, and while I'd like to print this story,
I'll not. J We newspaper- men seldom break
our word."
Jones held out his hand.
" Sometimes I wish I'd started life right,"
said the reporter gloomily. " A newspaper
man is generally improvident. He never looks
ahead for tomorrow. What with my special
articles to the magazines. I earn between
four and five thousand the year; and I've
never been able to save a cent."
" Perhaps you've never reully tried," replied
Jones, with a glance at his companion. It
was a good face, strong in outline: a little
careworn, perhaps, but free from any indica
tions of dissipation. "If I had begun life as
you did, I'd have made real and solid use of
the great men I met. I'd have made finan
ciers help me to Invest ray earnings, or sav
ings, little as they might be. And today I'd
be living on the income."
" Tou never can tell. Perhaps a woman
might have made you think of those things;
but if you had remained unattached up to 31,
as I have, the thought of saving might never
have entered your head. A man in my pres
ent condition, financially, has no right to
think of matrimony.'*
" It might be the saving of you if you met
and married the right woman."
" But the right woman might be heiress to
millions. And a poor devil like me could not
marry n girl with money and hang onto his
self-respect." .
" True. But there are always exceptions
to all rules in life, except those regarding
health. A healthy man is a normal man. and
a normal man has no right to remain single.
Tou proved yourself a twin this afternoon,
considering that you did not know I occupied
the wheel seat. Come to think it over, you
really saved the day. Tou gave me the op
portunity of steering straight for the police
station. Well, good-by."
" Queer duck! " mused the reporter as. after
telephoning, he headed for his office. Queer
duck, indeed! What a game it was going to
be! And this man Jones was pkiying it like a
master. It did not matter that some one
•lse laid down the rules: it was the way in
which they were interpreted.
Braine heard of the failure. The Black
Hundred was finding its stock far below par
value. Four valuable men locked up in the
Tombs, awaiting trial, to say nothing of the
seven gunmen gathered in at the old ware
house. Braine began ta suspect that his
failures were less due to chance than to cal
culation, that at last he had encountered a
mind which anticipated his every move. He
•would have recognized this fact earlier had
it not been that revenge had temporarily
blinded him. The spirit of revenge never
makes for mental clarity.
There was a meeting that night of the
Black Hundred. Four men were told off. and
they drew their chairs up to Vroon's table
for instructions. Braine sat at Vroon's elbow.
These four men composed the most dangerous
quartet In New York City. They were as
daring us they were desperate. They were
the men who held up bank messengers and got
away with thousands. They had learned to
swoop down upon their victims as the hawk
swoops down upon the heron. The news
papers referred to them as the " auto ban
dits," and the men took a deal of pride in
the furore they had created.
roon went over the Hargrove case mi
nutely ;he left no detail unexplained. Blunt
ly and frankly, the daughter of Stanley Har
greave must be caught and turned over to the
care of the Black Hundred. It must be quick
action. Four valuable members were in the
Tombs. They might or might not weaken
under police pressure. For the first time in
its American career the organization stood
facing actual peril; and its one possible
chance of salvation lay in the fact that no
one's face was known to his neighbor. He,
Vroon, and the boss alone knew who and
■what each man was. But the plans, the rami
fications of the organization might become
public property; and that would mean an end
to an exceedingly profitable business.
The daughter of Hargreave rode horseback
early every morning. She sought the country
road. She was invariably attended by the
riding master of a school near by.
* You four will make your own plana."
44 If she should be injured?"
** Avoid it, if possible."
"We have a free hand?"*
" Absolutely."
" We risk a bad fall from her horse If It's
a spirited one."
" Pretend a breakdown in the road," Inter
polated Braine. "As they approach, draw
and order them to dismount. That method
will prevent any accident."
" We'll plan-It somehow. It looks easy."*
" Nothing is easy where that girl is con
cerned. A thousand eyes seem to be watch
ing her slightest move."
" We shan't leave anything to chance. How
many days will you give us?
THE TELEGRAPH, HARRISBURG, PA„ AUGUST 1914.
" Seven. A failure, mind you, will prove
unhealthy to all concerned," with a menace
which made the four stir uneasily.
The telephone rang. Braine reached for the
receiver.
"A man just entered the Hargreave house
at the rear. Come at once," was the message.
"Is your car outside?" Braine asked.
" We are never without it"
" Then let us be off. No one will stop us
for speeding on a side street."
Fourteen minutes by the clock brought the
car to a stand at the curb a few houses below
the Hargreave home. The men got out. The
watcher ran up.
" He is still inside," he whispered.
" Good! Spread out. If anybody leaves
" ' '
NORTON PUT HIS ARMS' AROUND HER- '
that house, catch him. If he runs too fast,
shoot. We can beat the police."
The men obeyed, and the watcher ran back
to his post. He was desperately hoping the
affair would terminate tonight. He was grow
ing weary of this eternal vigilance; and it
was only his fear of the men known as the
boss that kept him at his post. He wanted a
night to carouse in, to be with the boys.
The man for whom they were lying in wait
was seen presently to creep cautiously round
the side of the house. He hugged a corner
and paused. They could see the dim outline
of his body. The light in the street back of
the grounds almost made a silhouette of him.
By and by, as if assured that the coast wa«
clear, he stole down to the street
" Halt!"
Instantly the prowler took to his heels.
Two shots rang out. The man was seen to
•top, stagger, and then go on desperately.
" He's hit! "
By the tiAe the men reached the corner
they heard the rumble of a motor. One
dashed hock to the car they had left standing
at the curb. He made quick work of the job,
but he was not quick enough. Still, they
gave chase. They saw the car turn toward
the city. But, unfortunately for the success
of the chase, several automobiles passed, going
into town and leaving it. Checkmate.
Braine was keen enough tonight.
"He is hit; whether badly or not remains
to be seen. We can find that out. Drive to
the nearest drug store and get a list of hos
pitals. It's a ten to one shot that we land
him somewhere among the hospitals."
But they searched the hospitals in vain.
None of them had that night received a shoot
ing case, nor had they h«ird one reported.
The man had been unmistakably hit. He
would not have dared risk the loss of time
for a bit of play-acting. Evidently he had
kept his head and sought his lodgings. To
call up doctors would be utter folly; for it
would take a week for a thorough combing.
This was the Becond time the man had got
away.
" Perhaps I'm to blame," admitted Braine.
" I should have advised Miles to stalk him
and pot him if he got the chance. There's a
master mind working somewhere back of
this, and it's time I woke up to the fact.
But you," turning to the auto bandits, " you
men have your instructions. More than that,
you have been given a free rein. See that
you make good, or by the Lord Harry! I'll
fcreak the four of you like pipe stems."
'• We haven't had a failure yet," spoke up
one of the men, more courageous than his
companions.
" You are not holding up a bank messenger
this trip. Remember that. Drive me as far
as Columbus circle. Leave me on the side
street, between the lights, so I can take off
this mask."
Later Braine sauntered into Pabst and
ordered a light supper. This night's work,
more than anything else, brought home to
him the fact that his luck was changing.
For years he had proceeded with his shady
occupations without encountering any mem
orable failure. He moved in the high world,
quite unsuspected. He had written books,
given lectures, been made a lion of, all the
MM
?HF DAUGHTER. OF HAROR.EAVE
CODE NOfeSeiVVK EAWLY EVERY
MORNIN6
while laughing in his sleeve at the gullibility
of human nature. But within the last two
weeks he had received serious checks. From
now on be must move with the utmost cau
tion. Some one was playing his own game,
waging warfare unseen. A battle of wits?
So be it; but Braine intended to play with
rough wits, and he wasn't going to care which
way the sword cut.
He hated Stanley Hargreave with all the
hatred of his soul: the hatred of a man balked
in love. And the man was alive, defying him;
alive somewhere in this city this very night,
with a bullet under his skin.
"Is everything satisfactory, sir?" he heard
the head waiter say.
"Satisfactory?" Braine repeated blankly.
" Yes, sir. You Btruck the table as though
displeased."
•< q; •• Then Braine laughed relievedly.
" If I struck the table, it was done uncon
sciously. I was thinking."
"Beg pardon, sir! Anything else, sir?"
" No. Bring me the check."
"Tour master giv®s riding lessons?"
The groom who had led the horse back from
Hargreave's eyed his questioner rather super
ciliously.
" Yes." The groom fondled the animal'«
" How much is it?"
" Twenty dollars for a ticket of five rides.
The master is the fashion up here. He doesn't
cater to any but the best families."
" Pretty steep. Who was that young lady
riding this morning with your master?"
" That's the girl all the newspapers have
been talking about," answered the groom im
portantly.
" Actress? "
" Actress! I should say not. That young
woman is the daughter of Stanley Hargreave,
the millionaire who was lost at sea. And it
won't be long before she puts her finger in a
pie of four or five millions. If you want tiny
rides, you'll have to talk it over with the
boss. He may or may not take any more
rides. You'd probably have to ride in the
afternoon, anyhow, as every nag is out in the
morning."
"Where's the most popular road?"
" Toward the park; but Miss Hargreave
always goes along the riverside road. She
doesn't like strangers about."
"O, I see. Well, I'll drop in this after
noon and see your master. They say that
riding is good for a torpid liver. Have a
cigar? "
" Thanks."
The groom proceeded into the stables and
the affable stranger took himself off.
A free rein; they could work it to suit
themselves. There wasn't the least obstacle
in the way. On the face of it, it appeared
to be the simplest job they had yet under
taken. To get rid of the riding master in
some natural way after he and the girl had
started. It* was like falling off a log.
" Susan," said Florence as she came into
breakfast after her exhilarating ride, "did you
hear pistol shots last night?"
" I heard some noise, but I was so sleepy I
didn't try to figure out what it was."
"Did you, Jones?"
" Yes, Miss Florence. The shots came from
tine street. A policeman came running up
later and said he saw two automobiles on the
run. But evidently there wasn't anybody
hurt. One has to be careful at night pow
adays. There are pretiy bad men abroad.
Did you enjoy the ride?"
" Very much. But there were spots of blood
on the walk near the corner."
" Blood?" Jones caught the back of a chair
to steady himself.
" Yes. So some one was hurt. O, let's
leave this place! " impulsively. " Let us go
back to Miss FVirlow's. You could find a
place in the village, Jones. But if I stay
here much longer in this state of unrest I
shall lose faith in everything and everybody.
Whoever my father's enemies are, they do not
lack persistence. They have made two at
tempts against my liberty, and sooner or
later they will succeed. I keep looking over
my shoulder all the time. If I hear a noise
I jump."
" Miss Florence, if I thought it wise, you
should be packed off to Miss Farlow's this
minute. But not an hour of the day or night
passes without this house being watched. I
seldom see anybody about. I can only sense
the presence of a watcher. At Miss Farlow's
you would be far more like a prisoner than
here. I could not accompany you. lam for
bidden to desert this house."
" My father's orders? "
Jones signified neither one way nor the
other. He merely Razed stolidly at the rug.
" That blood ! " She sprang from her chair,
horrified. "It was his! He was here last
night, and they shot him! O!"
" There, there, Miss Florence! The man
was only slightly wounded. He's where they
never will look for him." Then Jones con
tinued, as with an effort: " Trust me, Miss
Florence. It would not pay to run away.
The whole affair would be repeated elsewhere.
We might go to the other end of the world,
but it would not serve us in the least. It is
not a question of escape, but of who shall
vanquish the other. There is nothing to do
but remain here and fight, fight, fight. We
have put four of them in the Tombs, to say
nothing of the gunmen. That is what we
must ilo—put them in a safe place, one by
one, till we reach the master. Then only may
we breathe in safety. But if they watch, so
do we. There is never a moment when help
is not within reach, no matter where you go.
So long as you do not deceive me, BO real
harm shall befall you. Don't cry. Be your
father's daughter, as I am his servant."
" I am very unhappy!" And Florence
threw her arms around Susan and laid her
head upon her friend's shoulder.
" Poor child ! " Susan, however, recognized
the wisdom of Jones' statements. They were
safest here.
The morning rides continued. To the girl,
who loved the open, it was glorious fun.
Those mad gallons along the roaJs, the smell
of earth and sea, the tingle in the blood, were
the second best moments of her day. The
first? She invariably blushed when she con
sidered what these first best moments were.
He was a brave young man, good to look at,
witty, and always cheerful. Why shouldn't
she like him? Even Jones liked hira—Jones,
who didn't seem to like anybody. It did not
matter whether it was wise or not; a worldly
point of view was farthest from her youthful
thoughts. It was her own affair; her own
heart
Five .Jays later, as she and the ndinit mas
ter were cantering along the road, enjoyinj
every bit of it, they heard the beat of hoofs
behind. They drew up and turned. A rider
was approaching them at a run. It was the
head groom. The man stopped hit horse in a
cloud of dust.
" Sir, the stables are on fire! "
" Fire?"
All the riding master's savings were in
vested in the stables. The fact that he had
solemnly promised never to leave Florence
alone and that he had accepted a generous
bonus slipped from Lis mind at the thought
of lire, a terrible word to any horseman. He
wheeled and started off at breakneck speed,
his head groom clattering behind him.
Florence naturally wondered which of two
courses to pursue: follow them, when she
would be perfectly helpless to aid them, or
continue the ride and save at least one horse
from the terror of seeing flames. She chose
the latter. But she did not ride with the
enrlier zest. She felt depressed. She loved
horses, and the thought of them dying in those
wooden stables was horrifying.
The fire, however, proved to be incipient.
But it Tvas plainly incendiary. Some one had
Bet fire to it with a purpose in view. Norton
recognized this fact almost as soon as the fire
men. He had come this morning with the idea
of surprising Florence. He was going out on
horseback to join her.
His spine grew suddenly cold. A trap!
She had been left alone on the road! He ran
over to the garage, secured a car, and went
humming out toward the river road. A trap,
and only by the sheerest luck had he turned
up in time.
Meantime Florence was walking her mount
slowly. For once the scenery passed unob
served. She was deeply engrossed with her
thoughts, some of which were happy and some
of which were sad. If only her father could
be with her she would be the happiest girl
alive.
She was brought out of her revery by the
sight of a man staggering along the road
ahead of her. Finally he plunged upon his
face in the road. Like the tender hearted girl
she was, she stopped, dismounted, and r'tf to
the fallen man to give him aid. She
found her wrists clasped in two hands like
iron. The man rose to his feet, smiling evilly.
She struggled wildly but futilely.
" Better be sensible," he said. " I am
stronger than you are. And 1 don't wish to
hurt you. Walk on ahead of me. It will be
utterly useless to scream or cry out. You
<«n see for yourself that we are in a deserted
part of the road. If you will promise to act
sensibly I shan't lay a hand on you. Do you
see that hut yonder, near the fork in the road?
We'll stop there. Now, march !'*
She dropped her handkerchief, later her
bracelet, and finally her crop, in hope that
these slight clews might bring her help. She
knew that Jones would hear of the fire, and,
finding that she had not returned with the
riding master, would immediately start out In
pursuit. She was beginning to grow very
fond of Jones, who never spolte unless spoken
to, who was always at hand, faithful and
loyal.
From afar came the low rumble of a motor.
She wondered if her captor heard it. He did,
but his ears tricked him into believing that it
came from another direction. Eventually they
arrived at the hut, and Florence was forced
to enter. The man locked the door and waited
outside for the automobile which he was ex
pecting. He was rather dumfounded when he
saw that it was coming from the city, not
going toward it.
It was Norton. The riderle-s horse told
him enough; the hanJkerchief and bracelet
and crop led him straight for the hut.
The man before the hut realized by thil
time that he had made a mistake. He at
tempted to reenter -he hut and prepare to
defend it till his companions hove in sight.
But Florence,' recognizing Norton, held the
door with all her strength. The man snarled
and turned upon Norton, only to receive •
smashing blow on the jaw.
Norton flung open the door. " Into the car,
Florence! There's another car coining up
the road. Hurry! "
It was not a long chase. The car of the
auto bandits, looking like an ordinary taxicab,
was a high power machine; and it gained
awiftly on Norton's four-cylinder. The re
porter waited grimly.
" Keep your head down! " he warned. Fljtjr
ence. " I'm going to take « pot at their tires
when they get within range. If I miss, I'm
afraid we'll have trouble. Under no circum
stances attempt to leave this car. Here they
come 1 " x
He suddenly leaned back and fired. It waa
only chance. The manner in which the cars
were lurching made a poor target for a marks
man even oi the first order. Chance directed
Norton's first bullet into the right forward
tire, which eiplodeJ. Going at sixty-odd
miles an hour, they could not stop the car
in time to avoid fatality. The car careened
wildly, swerved, and plunged down the em
bankment into the river.
Florence covered her eyes with her hands;
and, quite unconscious of what he ma doing,
Norton put his arms around her.
XTO BE CONTINUED.]