MLLION DOLLAR MYSTffiY^S SIO,OOO FOR ONE HUNDRED WORDS " The Million Dollar Mystery " story tciß run for twentv-tico consecutive weeks in this paper. By an arrangement with the Thanhouser Film company it has been made possible not only to read the story in this paper but also to see it each week in the various moving picture theaters. For the solution of this mystery story f 10,000 trill be 'given by the Thanhous/r Film corporation. COXDITIOXS GOTERXIXO THE CONTEST. IThe prise of SIO,OOO will be won by the •mtn, woman, or child who writes the most acceptable solution of the mystery, from Khich the last tico reels of motion picture drama will be mads and the last two chapters of the story written by Harold MeioGrath. Solutions may be sent to the Than houser Film corporation at 5 South TTa bath avenue, Chicago, 111., or Thanhouser Film corporation, 71 West Twenty-third street, Xew York City, X. Y., any time up to midnight, Jan. 14, 1915.' This allows several weeks after the last chapter has been published. A board of three judges trill determine which of the many solutions received is the most acceptable. The judget are to be Harold MacGrath, Lloyd Lonergan. an& Ilist Hae Tinee. The judgment of this Stanley Harfrrare, millionaire, after a miraculous escape from the den of the ganc of brilliant thieve* known aa the Black Hundred, Uvea the life of a re cluse for eighteen years. Hargreave ac cidentally meets Bralne. leader of the Black Hundred. Knowing Bralne will try to set him. he eacapea from hla own kome by a balloon. Before eacaping he writes a letter to the girls' achool where eighteen years before he myaterioualy left on the dooratep hla baby daughter, Florenoe Gray. That day HnrgTeave alao draws $1,000,900 from the bank, but it ia reported that thla dropped lato the aea when the balloon he eacaped ia was punctured. Florence arrivea from the girla' achool. Conateaa Olga. Bralne'a companion, vla- Ita her aad clalma her aa a relative. The Black Hundred then see a meana of mak ing Florence a target for their attacks. They are after the $1,000,000, and Bralae, their leader, sets trspa for Florence, The Black Hundred after a number of attempts fail, due to the wisdom of {Copyright: 1814: By Harold MacGrath. J CHAPTER XVIII. THE MASKED BALL. ABOUT this time —that is to say. about the time the Black Hundred was stretching out its powerful secret arms toward Norton —there arrived in New York City a personage. This person age was the Princess Parlova, a fabulously rich Polish Russian. She leased a fine bouna near Central park and set about to conquer social New York. This was not very diffi cult, for her title was perfectly genuine and she moved in the most exclusive diplomatic circles in Europe, -which, as everybody knows, is the most brilliant in the world. When the new home was completely deco rated she gave an elaborate dinner, and that attracted the newspapers. They began to talk about her highness, prlnte'd portraits of her, and devoted a page occasionally in the Sunday editions. She became something of a rage. One morning it was announced that the Princess Parlova would give a masked ball to formally open her home to society: and it was this notice that first brought the Princess Parlova nnder Braine's eyes. He was at the Perigoff apartment at the tims. " Well, well! " he mused aloud. " What is it?" asked Olga. turning away from the piano and ending one of Chopin's mazurkas brokenly. " Here is the Princess Parlova In town." " And who is she? " "She is the real thing, Olga: a real princess with vast estates in Poland with which the greedy Slav next door has been very gentle." "I haven't paid much attention to the social news lately. What about her?" "She is giving a masked ball to formally open her houae on the west side. And it's going to cost a pretty penny." " Well, you're not telling me this to make me want to know the princess," said Olga, petulantly. " No. But I'm going to give yon a letter of introduction to her highness." "O!" "And yon are going to ask her to Invite two particular friends of yonra to tills won derful ball of hers." " Indeed," ironically. "That sounds all very easy." " Easier than you think, my child." "I will not have you call me child!'* "Well, then, Olga." "That's better. Now, how will it be eas ier than I think?" " Simply this, the Princeas Parlova Is an oath bound member, but has not been active for years." ' | "Oho!" Olga was all animation now. "Go on!"' "You will go to her with a letter of in troduction —no! Better than that, you will make a formal call and show her this ring. You know the ring," he said, passing the talisman to the countess. " Show this to her and she will obey you in everything. She will have no alternative." "Very good," replied Olga. "And thea the program is to insist that ahe invite Flor ence and that fool of a reporter to thia balL Then what?" "You can leave that to me." " Haven't all these failures been a warn ing?" " No, my dear. T was born, optimistic; but '•Wb * iiax aaaMrbMi i* «u at mt jpafe board will be absolute and final. Nothing cf a literary nature will 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 having this feature as soon as it is pos sible to produce the same. The story corre sponding to these motion pictures trill ap pear in the newspaper s coincidental!y, or as soon after the appearance of the pio tures as practicable. With the last two reels trill be shown the pictures of the u>in ner, his or her home, and other interesting features. It is understood that the news papers, so far as practicable, in printing the litst two chapters of the story by Har old MacGrath. will also show a picture of the successful contestant. Solutions to the mystery mu«t not 6s more than 100 words long. Here are some questions to be kept in mind in connection uith the mystery as an aid to a solution: Xo. I—TTAof becomes of the millionairef Xo. S —What becomes of the *1,000,000t Xo. S —TTAom does Florence marry f Xo. 4 —TFAaf becomes of the Russian COuntessT Sobody connected either directly or in directly trith " The Million Dollar Jfys tery" trill be considered as a contestant. Jonea, the Hargreave bntler, and Jfor ton. a aewapaper man. Concealed above the rendesvoua of the Black Hundred, a maa learna of the re covery of the box from the aea by a Bailor and of ita aubsequent return ta the bottom of the aea, and he quickly communicates the fact to Jones. A dupli cate box la planted and later secured by the bsnd. but before its contents nre ex amined the box myaterlously disappears. Fiadlng himself checkmated at every turn, Bralne endcavora to enmesh the Hargreave household In the law la order to galb free acceaa to the houae. The timely dlacovery of the plot by Norton sets the police at the heels of the pack and reaulta la a raid on the gang'a ren desvoua, which, however, proves ta ha barren of results. The Black Hundred begin to fear Nor ton and plaa to dispose of htm. Again the unnoticed bntler shows his hand by rescuing Norton and defeating Bralae. And atlll the golden tinted bank notes repose trsnqullly In their hiding place! ets. Time after time I've had everything just I wanted it, and then—poof! It'a pure bald luck on their side, but sooner or later the -wheel will turn. And any chance that offers I am bound to accept. Some how or other we may be able to trap Flor ence and Norton. I -want both of them. If I can get them snugly away Jones will b« forced to draw in Hargreave." " Is there such a man?" " You saw him that night at the restaur ant." " I have often thought that perhaps I Just dreamed it." She turned again to the piano and began humming Idly. " Stop that and listen to me," said Bralne, not in quite the best of tempers. " I'm in no mood for whims." "Music does not soothe your soul, then?" cynically. "If I had one it might. Tou will call on the Princess Parlova tomorrow after noon. It depends upon you what my plans will be. I think you'll have little trouble in getting Into the presence of her high ness, and once there she will not be able to resist you." " I'll go." And go she did. The footman in green livery hesitated for a moment, but the title on the visiting card was quite sufficient. He bowed the countess into the reception room and went in search of his distinguished mis tress. The Princrss Parlova was a handsome woman verging upon middle age. She was a patrician; Olga's keen eye discerned that instantly. She came into the reception room -with that dignified serenity which would have impressed any one as genuine. She held the card in her fingers and smiled inquiringly toward her guest. " I confess," she began, " that I recall neither your face nor your name. I am sorry. have I bad the honor of meeting you before?" " You have never met me before, your highness," answered Olga sweetly. "You come on a charity errand, then?" " That depends, your highness. Will you be so good as to glance at this?" Olga asked, holding out ber palm upon which the talisman lay. The princess shrank back, paling. " Where did you get that?" she panted. " From the head," was the answer. "And you have followed me from Rus sia?" whispered the princess, her terror growing. "0, no. The Black Hundred Is as strong ly organized here as in St. Peteraburg. But we always keep track of the old members, especially when they stand so bigh in the world as yourself." " But I was deceived and betrayed!" ex claimed the princess. " They urged me to join on the ground that the organization was to attempt to bring about the freedom of Poland." Olga shrugged. "Tou were rich, highneas. The Black Hundred needed money." " And you need it now ?" eagerly, be lieving that she saw a loophole. " How ouch? O, I will give a hundred thousand rubles on your promise to leave ma alons. Tell me!" " I am sorry, your highness, but I hara no authority to accept such an offer. In deed, my errand is far from being expensive. ▲U Itm JBte* KMiatf Mn h ♦ THE TELEGRAPH, HARRISBURG, PA.. OCTOBER 1914 vitations to thla ball which Ton soon to give. That slymld not cause you any alarm. We shall not interfere ■with your - sojourn in America in any way whatever, provided these invitations are issued." "You would rob my guests?" horrified ** Positively no! Here is a list of four names. Invite them; that is all you have to do. no much as a silver spoon will b« found missing. This Is on my word of honor, and I never break that word, if yon please." " Give me the list," said the princess, wearily. "Who gave you that ring?' " The head." "In Russia?" " No; here in America." Olga dipped into her handbag and produced a slip of paper. This she handed to the princess. " Here is the list, highness." "Who is Florence Hargreave?" " A friend of mine," evasively. " Does she belong to the organization? " ' •* No." " Then yon have some ulterior purpos* In having me invite her?" "I have," answered Olga sharply; "but that does not concern yonr highness in the least." The princess bit her lips. " I see your name here also; a man named Braine and another, Norton." " Say at once that you do not care to execute the wishes —the commands—of the order," said Olga coldly. " I will do as you wish. And I beg you now to excuse me. But if anything happens to any of my personal friends " "Well?" haughtily from Olga. " Well, I will put the matter in the hands of the police." " But so long as your personal friends are not concerned?" "I shall then of necessity remain deaf and blind. It is one of the penalties I must pay for my folly. I wish you good-day." " And also good riddance," murmured Olga under her breath as she rose and started for the hallway. Thus it was that when Norton went to the office the next afternoon he found a broad white envelope on bis desk. Indiffer ently he opened the same and his eyes bulged. " Princess Parlova requests" and so forth and so on. Then he shrugged. The chief had probably asked for the invitation and he would hare to write up the doings, a phase of reportorial work eminently dis tasteful to him. He went up to the city desk. " Can't you find soqje one else to do this •tufiTt" he growled to the city editor.. The city editor glanced at the card and crested envelope. "Good Lord, man! No body in this office had anything to do with that. What lncft! Our Miss Hayes tried •11 manner of schemes, but was rebuffed on all sides. How ths deuce did you chanc« to get one?" " Search me," said the bewildered Nor ton. "If I were yon I'd sit tight and take it all In, advised the editor. " It's going to be the biggest splurge of its kind we've had in years. We've been working every wire we know to get Miss Hayes inside, but it was no go. This princess is not outo the gam« yet. In this country you get Into society or you don't through the Sundays." " Hanged if I know who wished this thing on me." i "Take it philosophically," said the editor sarcastically. "The princess won't bite you. She may even have seen your picture " " Get out!" grumbled Norton, turning away. He would go out end see Florence. On the way out to Riverdale he came to the conclusion that the list of the princess fell short and some friend of bis who was help ing the woman out suggested his name. It wad the only way he could account ior it. But when he learned that Florence had au invitation exactly like his own and that she received it that morning he became sus picions. "Jones, what do you think of it?" he Questioned. " I think it was very kind of the Counteiss Perigoff suggesting your name and that of Florence," said the butler urbanely. "Olga?" cried Florence, disappointedly. "It is the only logical deduction I can make," declared Jones. "They are both practically Russians." ' And what would you advise?" asked Norton. " Why, go and enjoy yourselves. Fore warned is forearmed. The thing is, be very careful not to acquaint any one with the character of your disguise, least of all the Countess Perigoff. Besides," Jones added ■mlling, •' perhaps I may go myself." M Goody! I've read about masked balls and have always been crazy to go to one," said Florence with eagerness. " Suppose we go at once and pick out soma costumes?" suggested-Norton. "Just as soon as I can get my hat on," replied Florence, happy as a lark. "But mind," warned Jones; "be aure that you see the costumer alone and that no one else is about" " I'll take particular care," agreed Norton. " We've got to do some hustling to find some thing suitable. For a big affair like this the town will be ransacked. All aboard! There's room for two in that car of mine; and we can have a spin besides. Hang work! ** Florence laughed, and even Jones permitted a smile (which was not grim this time) to stir bis lips. A happy person ia generally unobservant. Two happy persons together are totally un observant of what passes around them. In plainer terms this lack is called love. And l-eing frankly in love with each other, neither Norton nor Florence observed that a taiicab followed them into town. Jones, not being in love, was keenly observant; but the taiicab took up the trail two blocks away, so the matter wholly escaped Jones' eye. The two went into several costumers', but could not find what they wanted. They eventually discovered a shop on a side street tl.at had been overlooked by those invited to the masquerade. They had a merry time rummaging among the camphory smelling boxes. There were dominoes of all colors, and at length they agreed upon two modest ones that were evenly matched in color and. design. Florence ordered them to be sent home. Then the two of them sallied up to the Ritz-Carleton and had tea. The man from the taxicab entered the coa tumer's, displayed a detective's shield and de manded that the proprietor show him the cos tumes selected by the two young people who had just left. The man obeyed wonderingly. " I want n pair exactly like these," said th» detective. "How much?" " Two dollars each, rental; seven apiece if you wish to buy them." " I'll buy them." The detective paid the bill, nodded curtly, and returned to his taxicab. " Now, I wonder." mused the costumer, " what the dickens those innocent looking young people are up to?" He never found out. On the night of the ball Norton dined with Florence for the first time; and for once in his life he experienced that petty disturbance of collective thought called embarrassment. To talk over war plans with Jones was one thing, but to have Jones serve soup was alto gether another. All through dinner Jones re plied to questions with no more and no less than "Yeß.'sir," and "No, sir." Norton was beginning to learn that this strange man could put on a dozen kinds of armor and always re tain his individuality. And tonight there seemed something vaguely familiar about the impassave face of the butler, as if he had seen it somewhere in the past but could not tell when or where. As he and Florence were leaving for the automobile which was to take them to the princess', the truth came home to him with the shock of a douche of ice cold water. , Under his breath he murmured: " You're a wonderful man, Jones; and I take my hat off to you with the deepest admira tion. Hnng me!" " What are you mumbling about?" asked the happy girl at his side. "Was I mumbling? Perhaps I was going over my catechism. I haven't been out in so-' ciety in so long that I've forgotten how to " I believe that. We've been in here for five minutes and you haven't to'd me that you love me." "Good heaven*!" And his arms went around her so tightly that she bejged for quar ter. *' How strong you are!" - , The splendor of the rooms, the dazzling ar ray of jewels, th# kaleidoscopic colors, the perfume of the banked flowers, and the music all combined to put Florence into a pleas urable kind of trance. And It was only when the first waltz began that she became her self and surrendered to the arms of the man s-je loved. And they were waltzing over a volcano. She knew and he knew it. From what direc tion would the blow come? Well, they were prepared for all manner of tricks. In an alcove off the ballroom sat Brains and Olga, both dressed exactly like Norton and Florence. Another man and woman en tered presently and Braine spoke to tt.era for a moment, as if giving instructions, which was indeed the case. The band crashed into another dance, and the masqueradera began swirling hither and thither and yon. A gay cavalier suddenly stopped in front of Florence. " Enchantress, may I have the pleasure of this dance?" Jim touched Florence's hand. But she turned laughingly toward the stranger. What difference did it make? The man would never know who she was nor would she know him. It was a lark, that was all; and despite Jim's warning touch she was up and away like the mischievous sprite that she was. Jim re mained in his chair, twisting his fingers and wondering whether to laugh or grow angry. After all, he could not blame her. To him an affair like this was an ancient story; to her it was the door of fairyland swung open. Let her enjoy herself. O Florence was liaving a splendid time. Her partner was asking all sorts of questions and she was replying in kind, when out of the crowd came Norton (as she supposed), who touched her arm. The cavalier stopped, bowed, and made off. tCorton whispered: " I have made an im portant discovery. We must be off at once. Come with me." Florence, without tL« least suspicion In ths world, followed him up the broad staircase. What with the many sounds it was not to be wondered at that the difference in the quality of voices did not strike Florence's ear as odd. The result of her confidence was that upon reaching the upper halls, opposite the dress ing rooms, she was suddenly thrust Into a room and made prisoner. When the light was turned up she recognized with horror th» woman who had helped to kidnap her and take her away on the George Washington weeks ago. She could not have cried out for help if she had tried. Meantime Jim got up and began to wan* der about In search of Florence. Brninc played a clever game that nlgLt. He and the Russian, atill dominoed like Norton and Florence, ordered the Hargreava auto, by number, entered it and were driven np to the porte cochere of the Hargreava house. The two alighted, the chauffeur sent the car to ward the garage, and Braine and his com panion ran lightly down the path to the street where the cab which had followed picked them up. It grew more and more evident to Jim thst something untoward had taken place. lie could not find Florence anywhere, in the al coves, in the sidtf rooms, the supper or card room. I.atcr, to his utter amazement, he was informed that the Hargreave auto had som.s time since been called and its owner taken home. Some one had taken his place 1 Ilia' first sensation was impotent fury against Jones, who had permitted them to play with fire. He flung out of the mansion unceremoniously, commandeered a cab, and flew out to Uiverdale. And when Jones came to the door he was staggering with sleep. "What's the matter with you?" demanded Jim roughly. " Where's Florence? " "Isn't she with you?" cried Jones, making an effort to dispel the drowsiness. " What time is it?" suddenly. "Midnight! Where is she?" "Midnight? I've been drugged ! " Wlthont a word Jones staggered off to the kitchens, Jim at bis heels. There was always hot water, and within five minutes Jones had drunk two cups of raw strong coffee. " Drugged ! " he murmured. " Some one In the house! I'll attend to that later. Now, the chauffeur! But the chauffeur swore on his oath that he had left Jim and Florence on the steps of the porte cochere. "Get In!" said Jones to Norton, now fully •live. He could not get It out of his head thnt eome one In the house had drugged him. The events which followed were to both Jones and Norton something like a series of nightmares. In the new home of the Princess Parlova a bomb exploded and fire followed the explosion. From pleasure to terror is only a step. The wildest confusion imag inable ensued. Most of the guests were of the opinion that some anarchist had attempted to blow up the house of the rich Pole. Jones and Norton arrived just as the smoke began to pour out from the windows. A crowd oad already collected. 1 Then Jim overheard a woman masquerader aay: " The fool made the bomb too strong. She is In the room on the second floor. The game is up if she suffocates " The voice trailed off and the woman became lost in the crowd. But it was enough for the reporter, who pushed his way roughly through the ex cited masqueraders and entered the house. The rescue was one of the most exciting to be found in the newspaper files of the day. So Bralne in his effort to scare everybody from the house had overreached himself one* more. fTO HK WMfjaKUFD.J
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers