DOLLAR SIO,OOO FOR 100 WORDS. "The Million Dollar Mystery" story trill run for twenty-tiro consecutive weeks in this paper. By an arrangement with the Thanhottscr Film company it hits been made possible not only to read the story in this paper but also to see it each week in the carious moling picture theaters. For the solution of this mystery story SIO.OOO will be given by the Thanhouser Film corporation. COXDITIOXB GOVERXIXG THE COXIEST. The pri:e of SIO,OOO trill be iron by the man, woman, or child irlio icritrs the most acceptable solution of the mystery, from ichiclt the last tiro reels of motion picture drama trill be made and the last tiro chapters of the story written by Harold MaoUrath. Solutions may be sent to the Than hou-str Film corporation, either at Chicago or Xrw York, any time up to midnight, Jan. 1-i. This allows several weeks after the last chapter has been published. A board of three judges trill determine which of the many solution.« received is the most acceptable. The judges are to be Harold MocGrath, Lloyd Lonergan, and Miss Maa Tince. The judgment of this board trill be absolute and final. Xothing of a literary nature will bp considered in the decision, nor given any preference in the selection of the winner of the SIO,OOO pri:c. The last two reels, which will give the most acceptable solution to the mys tery, trill 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 coincident ally, or as soon after the appearance of the pic tures as practicable. With the last two reels trill 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 MacGrath, trill 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 connection with the mystery as an aid to a solution : 2io. I—What becomes of the millionairef Xo. 2—What becomes of the $1,000,0001 Xo.S —Whom docs Florence marryt Xo..} —What becomes of the Russian countess.' Xobody connected either dirertly or in directly with " The Million Dollar Mys tery" trill be considered as a contestant. SYXOPSTS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. Stanley Hargreave. millionaire, after a miraculous escape from the den of the fsanß of brilliant thieves known as the Blaek Hundred* live* the life of a recluse for eighteen years. Hargreave acci dentally meet* limine, leafier of the Blaek Hundred. Knowing; Rralne will try to pet him. he escapes from hi* own home by a balloon. Before escaping he write* a letter to the girls' school, where eighteen year* before he mysteri ously left on the doorstep hi* baby daughter, Florence tiray. That day also drawn one million dol lars from the bnnk, but It I* reported that this dropped Into the sea. when the balloon he eseaped In wa* punctured. Florence arrive* from tl»e girls* school. Countess (ilea, Braine's companion, vis- It* her nnd claims to be n relative. Two bogus detectives call, but their plot Is foiled by Xorton, a newspaper man. By bribing the cnptaln of the Orient Norton lays a trap for Bralne nnd his ganK. Countess Olgs also visits tae Ori ent's captain and she easily falls Into the reporter's snare. The plan proves abor tive through Braine's good luck, and only hirelings fall Into the hands of the police. After falling In their first attempt the Black Hundred trap Florence. They ask her for money, but she escapes, again foiling them. Norton and the countess eall on Flor ence the next day. once more safe at home. The visitors having gone, Jones removes a section off flooring, and from a cavity takes a bo*. Pursued by mem bers of the Black Hundred, he rushes to the water front nnd succeeds In drop ping the box into the sea. Bralne conceive* the Idea of giving a roachlng party, to which Floreaee Is In vited. Jones and .Norton both go along and are fortunately on hand to save Florence from being Imprisoned In the country bouse to which she Is lured. Florence goes horseback riding and Is captured by one of Braine's men along the roadside. Norton rescues her. They ■re pursued, however, and the pair make their complete escape only after Norton has exploded a tire on the fast approach ing machine with a bullet. Countess Olga, scheming to break the engagement now existing between Flor ence Hargreave and Norton, Invites them both to her apartments and pre tends to faint In the reporter's srms. Florence appears Iji the doorway lust at the planned moment, and ns n result gives Norton back his ring. CHArTF.It TX. THE LEAP IN THE DAIUC. SO far as Joues was concerned, he was rather pleased with the turn of affaire. This was no time for lovemaking; no time for silly, innocuous quarrels and bickerings, in which love must indulge or die. Florence no longer rode horseback, and Xor ton returned to his accustomed haunts, where o one made the slightest attempt upon his life. In his present state of mind he would have welcomed it. " What's the matter with .Tim?" asked the night city editor, raising his eye shade. " I don't know," answered the copy reader. " Goes around as if he'd been eating dope; bumped into the boss a while ago and never stopped to apologize." " Perhaps he's mapping out the front page for that Hargreave stuff," laughed the copy reader. " Between you and me and the gate post, I don't believe there ever was a maa by the name of Hargreave." "O, there was a chap by that name, all right. He s dead. A man can't swim 300 mil*, in rou«h winter, life buqy or no. They THE TELEGRAPH, HARRISBURG, FA,, AUGUST 1014. ought to have funeral services, and let it go at that." " But what was the reason for that fake cable from Gibraltar saying that Orts was alive? 1 don't see any sense in that." " The man who pulled it off did. I think, for my part, that both Orts and Hargreave are dead, and that the man picked up by the tranjp steamer Orient was riding some other balloon." " You're wrong there. The description of it proved that it was Orts' machine. O, Jim probably has got a man's size yarn up liis sleeve, but he's a long time in delivering the goods. He's beginning to mope a good ilea 1 . Woman back of it somewhere. Haven't held down this copy job for twelve years with out being able to make some tolerable FLORENCE AND SUSAN WENT SHOPPING. guesses. .Tim's a star man. W'licn he sots 6tarted nothing ran stop him. He covered the Chinese Boser reMlion better than any other correspondent there. I 'wonder how old he is?" " O, I should say about thirt.v-one or two. Here he comes now. 'Lo, Jim!" " Hello! Where's Ford? He cave me rt ticket to the theater tonight, and I want ta punch his head. What's drama coming to, anyhow? Cigarets ami booze and mismated couples. Can't they find good enough things out of doors? O, I know. They cater to a lot of foo's who believe that what they sec Is an expression oI high life in New York and London. And it's rot, plain rot. It's merely the scum on the boiling pot. And any old housewife would skim it off and chuck it into the slops. Life? Piffle!" "What's the grouch?" " Looking for the dramatic job?" " No. I've just l>een wondering how far these theatrical managers can go without slitting the golden goo»o." Norton sought his desk and bpgan rum maging the drawers. He was not hunting for anything; he was merely passing away the time. By and by. when the pastime no longer served, he pulled his chair over to the window and sat down, staring at stars such as Copernicus never dreamed of. Ships going down to sea, ferries swooping diagonally hither and thither, the clockwork signs; hut he took no note of these marvels of light. "Not at home!" he muttered. He had called, written, telephoned. No use. The door remained shut, Jones an swered the telephone, and the letters came back. He began to think very deeply con cerning the rerigoff woman. Had she played a trick? Had that fainting spell been bun combe for his benefit as well as Florence's? But he had not a shadow of a proof. The thing that puzzled him equally with this was that all attempts against his life had mirac ulously ceased; no safes thundered down in front of him, and no nutos tried to carve him in two. The only thing that kept him active was the daily call of Jones by wire. Miss Florence was well; that was all Jones was permitted to say. Restlessly Norton spurned his chair and ■walked ovw to the telephone booth. It was midnight. He might or might not be able to get Jones. But almost instantly a voico said, "What is it?" " Jones? " "X 0- Who is it?" " Norton." " Why, you called me up not ten minutes ago." " Not I!" "It Was your voice, as plain as day." "What did I want?" keen all at once. The reply did not come immediately. " You are certain it was not you?" " Wait a moment and I'll call the editor. He will prove to you that I've been here for an hour, and that this is the first call I've made. Some one has been imooaing on you. \ What did they ask you to do?" " You asked me to come down to the offl e at once, and I requested you to come to the house, and you said you could not. I de clined to stir." "What do you think?" " Exactly what you're thinking—that they have come to life again." "Jones, is Miss Florence awake?" " No." " Ho you think there is any hope of hnving her understand what really happened?" " I am here only to guard her. I cannot undertake to read her thoughts." " You're not quite in favor of a reconcilia tion ? " "O, yes, if it went no further. Ymng people are young people the world over." "What does that mean?" " That they would net create imaginative heart aches if they were not young. Better let tilings remain exactly as they are. When all these troubles are settled finally, the lesser trouble may he talked over sensibly. Bui this is not the timo. There is no news. Good-night." Norton returned to his eliair, gloomier than ever. With his feet upon the window sill, he stared and stared and dreamed and dreamed till a hand fell upon his shoulder. It belonged to one of the office boys. " Note f'r you, sir." Norton read it and tore it into little pieces. Then he rose and distributed the pieces in the several yawning waste baskets which strewed the aisle leading to the city desk. " I'm not wanted for anything?" he asked. "No. Clear out!" laughed the night city editor. " The sight of you is putting every body in the gloom ward." Norton went down to the street. At the left of the entrance he was quietly joined by a man whose arm was carried in a sling. He motioned Norton to get into the taxicab. Tliey were dropped in a deserted spot in Iliverdale. On foot they went forward to their destination, which proved to be the deserted hangar of the aviator William Orts. " I want you to tell Jones that a tug and several ilivers are at work on the spot where he threw the <-hest. That's all. Now, doc tor, rewind this arm of mine." The amateur surgeon made a very good job of it; not for nothing had he followed fighting armies to the front. "Did they find anything?" " Not up to date. But we might if we cared to. They have left a buoy over tie spot they're exploring. But just now it floats a quarter of a mile to the east of the spot." " Who were the men in the motor boat that chased Jones? " " Only Jones can tell you. Queer old codger, eh?" " A bit stubborn. He wants to handle it without police assistance." "And he's right. We are not aiming to arrest any one," sinisterly. "There can't be any draw to this game. Here, no smoking. Too much gas afloat." Norton put the cigarets back into his pocket. " What's the real news?" he de manded. "You would not hring me out here just to rebandage that arm. It really did not need it. Come,.out with.it." " You're sharp," " I'm paid to be sharp." " I've found where the Bla k Hundred holds its sessions." " By George, that is news!" "The room above is vacant. A little hole in the celling, and who knows what might happen? " " What do you want me to do?" " Tell Jones. When the next meeting comes around I'll advise you. I've stumbled UDOB A dissatisfied member. So. buck UD. M they any. We've got two ends of the net down, and with a little care we'll have them all. Now, let me have a hundred." Norton drew out a packet of bills and counted off five twenties. " Why don't you draw the cash yourself?" "It happens to be in your name, son." " I forgot," said Norton. " But what a chance for tnc! Nearly five thousand, nil mine for a ticket to Algiers!" A grunt was the only reply. " I want you to tell me about the Perigoff woman." " 1 know only one thing—that Braine is there every night." " No!" "The orders are for you to play the gam» just as you are playing it. When we strike, it must be the last blow. AH this hide-and seek business may look foolish to you. It's like that Japanese game called 'jo.' It looks siinpie, but chess is a tyro's game beside it. Can you find j'our way hack all right?" " I can." " Well, you'll better be going. That's nil the lisht I have, in this torch here. Got a lot to do tomorrow and need sleep." Norton stole away with great caution. llis first intention was to proceed straight to the city, but despite his resolution he found himself within a quarter of nn hour gazing up at the windows of the Hargreave house. " Not l at home! " Quite unconscious of the fact, he was as close to death as any mortal man might care to be. The policeman, suddenly looming up under the arc lamp, proved to be his savior. The lull made Jones doubly alert. He was • BRAINE IS THERE EVERTY NIGHT • positive that they were preparing to strike again. But front what direction and in what manner? He had not the gift of clairvoy ance, so he had to wait; and waiting is a terrible game when perhaps death is bal ancing the scales. It is always easier to make an assault than to await it: and it is a good general who always finds himself prepared. But it made his heart ache to watch the child. She went about cheerfully—when any one was in the room with her. Many a time, however, he had stolen to the door of her bedroom and heard the heart rending sobs, a vain attempt being made to stifle them among the pillows. She was only 18; it was first love; anil first loves are pale, evanescent attachments. It hurt now; but she would get over it presently. Youth for gets. Time, like water, smooths away the ragged places. The Countess call d regularly. She was, of course, dreadfully sorry over what had happened. She had heard something about his character; newspaper men weren't always the best. This one was a mere fortune hunter; a two faced one, at that. She was never more surprised iu her life when he threw his arms around her. And so on, and so forth, half lies and half truths, till the patient Jones felt like wringing her neck. From his vantage point the butler smiled ironically. He could read the heart of this Perigoff woman as he could rend the page of a book. The affrontery! And all the while he must gravely admit her and pretend when the blood rioted in his veins at the sight of her. But he dared not swerve a single inch from the plans laid down. It was a cup of bitter gall, and there was no way of avoid ing the putting of it to his lips. She emn nated poison as nightshade emanates it, the upas tree. And he must how when she en tered and bow when she left! Still, she ha 1 done him an indirect favor in breaking up this love business. One afternoon Braine summoned his run about and called upon two physicians. When he was ushered into the deserted office of the first he sent his card in. The doctor replied in person. His face was pale and his hands shook. "GoocV afternoon," said Braine, smiling affably. The doctor eyed him like a man hypno tized. " You . . . you wished to see me on some particular business?" " Very particular," dryly. "My car is out side. Will you be so good as to accompany me ? " The doctor slowly went into the hall for his hat and coat. He left the house and got into the car with never a word of protest. "Thinking?" said Braine. " I ant always thinking whenever I see your evil face. What devilment do you re quire of me this time?" " A mere stroke of the pen." "Where are we going?" To call on another physician of your standing," significantly. "It is a great thing to have friends like you two. Always ready to serve us, for the mere love of it." "There's no need of using that kind of talk to me. You have me in the hollow of your hand. Why should I bother to deny it? I have broken the law. I broke it because I was starving." " It is better to starve in freedom than to eat fat joints up the river. Today it is a question of sanity." " And you want me to assist in signing away the liberty of some person who is per fectly sane?" "The nail on the head," urbanely. " You're a fine scoundrel! " " Not so loud!" warningly. "As loud as I please. I am not forget ting that you need nie. I'm no coward. 1 recognize that you hold the whip hand. But you can send me to the chair before I'll crawl to you. Now, leave me alone for a while." The other physician had no such qunlrns of conscience. He was ready at rll Mine* for the generous emoluments which accrued from his dealings with the man Braine. The Countess Perigoff was indisposed; so it was quite in the order of things that she should summon physicians. There is a law in the state of New York— just or unjust, whichever you please—that reads that any person may he adjudged in sane if the signature? of two registered physi cians are affixed to the document. !t does not say that these physicians shall have been proved reputable. There were, besides the physicians, a motherly looking woman and a man of benign countenance. Their faces were valuable assets. To gain another person's confidence is, perhaps, among the greatest human achievements. A confidence mail and woman in the real sen* 1 of the word. In your laiud's eye you could see this man carrying the con tribution plate down the aisle on Sunday mornings, and his wife Kate putting her mite on the plate for the benefit of some poor, untidy Hottentot. On Tuesday of the following week Florence and Susan went shopping. The chauffeur was a strong young fellow whom Jones relied upon. If you pay a man well and hold out fine promises, you generally can trust him. As their car left the corner another followed leisurely. This second auto mobile contained Thomas Wendt and his wife Kate. The two young women stopped at the great, dry goods shop near the public library, and for the time being naturally for got everything but the marvels which had come from all parts of the world. It is as natural for a woman to buy ad it is for a man to sell. In ■ome manner or other Florence became separated from Susan. She hunted througfi aisle after aisle, but could not find her: for the simple reason that Susan was hunting for her. It occurred to the girl that Susan might hare wisely concluded the best place to wait would l«e in the taxicab. And bo Florence hurried out into the street, into the nrms of the Wendt family, who were patiently awaiting her. The trusted chauffeur had been sent nround to the side entrance by the major domo. The young lady had so requested, so he said. Florence struggled and called for the po liceman, who came running np, followed by the usual idle, curious crowd. "The poor young woman is insane," said the ni"therly Kate, tears in her eyes. The benign Thomas looked at heaven. "We are her keeper?." "It is not true!" cried Florence des perately. "She has the hallucination that she is the daughter of the millionaire Stonier Hargreare." And Thomas, exhibited his document, which was perfectly legal, so far as appearances went. "Hurry up and get her off the walk. T can't hare the crowd growing any larger," said the policeman, convinced. So, despite her cries and protestations, Florence was hustled into the automobile, eren the policeman lending a hand. " Poor young thing!" he said to the crowd. "Come, norr, move on. I can't have the walk blocked np. Get a gait on you." He was congratulating himself upon the orderliness of the affair when a keen eyed young man in the garb of a chauffeur touched his shoulder. "What's this I hear about an insane woman?" lie demanded. "She was insane, all right. They ha-1 papers to proro it. She kept, crying that she was Stanley Hargreave's daughter." "My God!" The young man struck his forehead in despair. "You ass, 6he was Stanley Hargrenre's daughter, and they've kidnaped her right under your nose! What was the number of that car?" "Cut out that line of talk, young fellah; I know my business. They had the proper documents." " Rut you hadn't brains enough to inquire whether tliQy were genuine or not! You wait!" shrilled the chauffeur. "I'll hare you broken for this work." He wheeled and rail back to his car, to find Susan and the countess in a groat state of agitation. " They got her, they got. her! And I sword on the book that they nerer should, so long as i drore the car." Susan wept, and the countess tried in. to console her. And when Jones was informed he fright ened even the countess with the snarl of rage which burned across his lips. He tore into the hall, seized his hat, and was gone. Not a word of reproach did he offer to tL« chauffeur. He understood that no one is He found the blundering police man, who now realized that he stood iu for a whiff of the commissioner's carpet. All he could do was to gire a good description of the man and woman. Word was sent broadcast through the city. The police had to he informed this time. Late in the day an officer whose beat in cluded the ferry landing at Hoboken said he had seen the three. Ererything had looked all right to him. It was the mother ly face of the one and the benign counte nance of the other that had blinded him. At midnight Jones, haggard and -with the air of one beaten, returned home. "No wireless yet?" asked Norton. " The George Washington of the North German Lloyd does not answer. Something has happened to her wires; tampered with, possibly." "So long as we know they are at sea, we can remedy the evil. They will not b« able to land at a single port. I have seni ten cables. They can't get away from th« wire. If I could only get hold of the name! of those damnable doctors who signed that document! Twenty years." Jones bent his head in his hands, and Norton tramped the Boor till the sound of hil footsteps threatened to drive the moanins Susan into hysterics. " It is only a matter of a few days." "But can the child stand the terrors?" questioned Jones. " Who knows that they may not really drive her insane?" On board the George Washington every one felt extremely sorry for this beautiful girl. It was a frightful misfortune to be so stricken at her age. " She is certainly insane," said one of the passengers, ■who had known Hargreave slightly through some banking business. " Hargreave wasn't married. He lived alone." , After the second day out Florence was permitted to wander about the ship as she pleased. A good many of the passengers were mightily worried when they learned that the wireless had in some mysterious way been tampered with after the boat had made the open sea. It was impossible to put about. The apparatus must be fixed at sea. And when finally Norton's wireless caught the wires of the George Washington he was gravely informed that the young lady re ferred to had leaped the rail off the Banks at night and had been drowned. She ha 1 not been missed till the following morning. 'TO BE CONTINUED.]
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers