f mm MYSTERY f
Jfam HAROLD MAC GDATH— -f
■■■■■■■■l __. ■Mffllmmi
SIO,OOO FOR ONE HUNDRED WORDS
" The Million Dollar Mystery" story
Mil l run for twenty-two consecutive week*
4* this paper. By an arrangement with
the Thanhouser Film company it hot been
made possible not only to read the »tory
in this paper but als n to tee it each weeh
in the various moving picture theaters.
For the solution of this mystery story
SIO,OOO will 00 given by the Thanhousrr
Film corporation.
COXDITIOXS GOTERXIXO THE
COXTEST.
I The prise of SIO,OOO trifl be iron by the
man, woman, or child who writes the most
acceptable solution of the mystery, from
which the last two reels of motion picture
drama will be madt and the last two
chapters of the story written by Harold
MaoGrath.
Solutions may be sent to the Than
houser Film corporation at 5 South Wa
lash avenue, Chicago, 111., or Thanhouser
Film corporation, 71 IFeaf Twenty-third
street, Xew York City, X. I'., any time up
to midnight, Jan. 14, 1915. I'his allows
several weeks after the lost chapter has
teen published.
A board of three judges will determine
which of the many solutions received is the
trost acceptable. The judges are to be
Harold MacGrath, Lloyd Lonergan, and
Jfitt Mae Tinee. The judgment of thit
SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.
Stanley HtrtrctTt, millionaire, after
a miraculous escape from the den of
the sans of brilliant thieves knowo as
the Black Hundred, lives the life of a
recluse for eighteen years. Hargreave
accidentally meets Bralne. leader of the
Black. Hundred. Knowing Bralne will
try to set him, he eacapes from his own
home by a balloon. Before escaping he
wrltea a letter to the girls' school
where eighteen years before he mys
teriously left on the doorstep his baby
daughter, Florence Gray. That day
Hargreave also draws 91,000,000 from
the bank, but it Is reported that thin
dropped Into the sea when the balloon
he escaped la was punctured.
Florence arrives from the girls'
school. Couatess Olga. Bralne's com
panion. visits her and claims her as ■
relative. The Black Hundred then see
■ means of making Florence a target
for their attacka. They are after the
91*000,000, and Bralne, their leader, aets
traps for Florence. The Black Hun
dred. after a number of attempts, fall,
dne to the wisdom of' Jones, the Har
greave butler, and Morton, a newspaper
wan.
Concealed at the readeavoua of tha
iCopyrlfbt: 1814: By Harold MacGmth.)
|» CHAPTER XIX
A BLANK SHIXT OF PAPER.
FLORENCE was a fortnight in recov
ering from the shock of her experience
at the masked ball of the Princes*
Parlova, who, by the way, disappeared
from New York shortly after the fire, no
doubt because of her fear of the Black
Hundred. The fire did not destroy the house,
but most of the furnishings were so thor
oughly drenched by water that they were
practically ruined. Her coming and going
were a nine days' wonder, and then the pub
lic found something else to talk about.
Norton was a constant visitor at the Har
greave place. There was to him a new inter
est in that mysterious house, with its hidden
panels, Its false floors, its secret tunnels; but
he treated Jones upon the same basis as
hitherto. One tiling, however: He felt a
sense of security in regard to Florence such
as he had not felt before. So, between as
signments, he ran out to Rrrerdale and did
what he could to amuse his sweetheart.
Later, they took short rides in foe runabout,
and at length she became as lively as she
ha>" ever been.
But often she would catch Norton brood
ing.
"Whit makes you frown like that?"
"Was I frowning?" innocently enough.
" I And you this way a dozen times in an
afternoon. What is the matter? Are they
after yoa again?"
" Heavens, no I I'm only a vague issue.
2%ey trill not bother me so long as I do not
bother them. It has dwindled into a game
of truce."
"Do you think so?" eying hilh curiously.
"Why, yes."
" What's the use of trying to fool me, Jim?
If they haven't been after you, you are
sensing a presage of evil. I'm not a child
any long*.'. Haven't I been through enough
to make m« a woman? Sometimes I feel
very old."
"To me yon are the most charming in all
this wide world. No, you're not a child any
longer. You are a woman, brave and patient;
and I know that I could trust you with any
secret I have or own. But sometimea a per
son may have a secret which is not his and
which be hasn't any right to disclose."
She became eilent for awhile. "I hat*
money," she said. " I bate it, hate It! "
" If s mighty comfortable to have it around
sometimes." he countered.
"At in my case, for Instance. If I were
poor and had to work no one would bother
me."
" I would!" he declared, laughing. " Come;
lefs throw off moods and go into town for
tea at the Rose Garden; P. id if you feel
strong enough we'll trip the light fantastic."
They had been gone from the house less
than an hour when a man ran up the steps
of the veranda and rang the bell. Jones
being busy at the rear of foe house, the maid
came to the door.
"la Miss Hargreave in?" the stranger
asked.
" No," abrunpy. The door began to close
ever so slowly!
board will be absolute and final. Xothlng
cf a literary nature will be considered in
the decision, nor given any preference in
the selection of the winner of the 510,000
price. The last two reels, which 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
as soon after the appearance of the pic
tures as practicable. With the last two
reels will be shown the pictures of the trin
«er, 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, 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 connection
uith the mystery as an aid to a solution:
Xo. I—What becomes of the milllonaireT
Xo.S —WJiat become* of the *1,000,000T
Xo. B —ir>.om docs Florence marryt
Xo. 4 —WAat becomes of the Russian
countesst
Xobody connected either directly or in•
directly tcith " The Million Dollar Mys
tery " tcill be considered as a contestant.
Black Hundred, a man learns of the re
covery of the box from the sea by a
sailor and of Its subsequent return to
the bottom of the sea, nntl he quickly
communicates the fact to Joues. A du
plicate box Is planted and Inter secured
by the band, but before Its contents are
examined the box mysteriously disap
pears.
Finding himself checkmated at every
turn, Bralne endeavors to enmesh the
Hargreave household In the law In
order to gain free access to the house.
The timely discovery of the plot by
Norton sets the police at the heel* of
the pack and results In u raid on the
gang's rendezvous, which, however,
proves to be barren of results.
The Black Hundred begin to fear Nor
ton and plan to dispose of him. Again
the unnoticed butler shows his hand by
rescuing Norton and defeating Bralne.
Bralne and Countess Olga plan a dar
ing attempt to capture Floreace and
Norton at a milked ball given by Prln
css Parlova. They defeat their own
plan by ove'-anxlety.
And still the golden tinted bank notes
repose tranquilly In their hiding placet
"Do you know where I can find her?"
The maid eyod him with coTcrt keenness;
then, remembering that the reporter was with
Florence, said: "I believe she is at the
Rose Garden this afternoon."
" That is in town? "
" Yes."
Thanks.' The man turned abruptly and
ran down the steps.
The maid ran back to Jones.
"Why didn't you call me?" he demanded
impatiently.
" There wasn't time."
"Did you tell him where she was?"
" Yes. But I shouldn't have told him if
Mr. Norton had not been with Miss Flor
ence."
Jones ran to the front, dashed out, eyed
the back of the man hastening down the
street, smiled, and returned to his work, or,
rather, to the maid. He took her by the
shoulder, whirled her about, and shot a look
into her eyes that quailed her.
"Always call me hereafter, no matter
what I m doing. That man has never laid
eyes on Florence and has no idea what she
looks like. Why did you drug my coffee the
night of that ball?"
She stepped back.
And how much did they pay you for
letting that doctor seu3 Florence to Atlantic
City? I know everything. Hereafte., walk
straight If you play another trick I'll kill
you with these two hands. And listen and
tell this to your confederates: I always
know every move they make; that is why no
one is missing from this house. There is a
traitor. Let them find him if they can. Will
you walk straight, or will you leave?"
"I—l will walk straight," she faltered.
" The money was too big a temptation."
"Did they give it to you?"
" Yes. And more to stay here. But this
is the first bit of dishonest work I ever did."
" Well, remember what I have said. An
other misstep and I'll make an end to you.
Don't think I'm trying to scare you. You've
witnessed enough to know that it's life and
death in this house. Now run along."
At the Garden Jim and Florence sauntered
among the crowd, not having any particular
objective point in view.
"Sh!" whispered Jim.
"What is it?"
" Olga Perigoff Is yonder In a box."
"Very well; let us go and sit with her.
Is she alone?"
"Apparently. But don't you think we'd
better go elsewhere?"
"My dear young man," said Florence with
mock loftiness, " Olga Perigoff has written
me down as a simple young fool, and that is
why, sooner or later, I'm going to put the
shoe on the other foot. You and Jones have
coddled me long enough. Inasmuch as I am
the stake they are playing for, I intend to
have something more than a speaking part
In the play."
" All right; you're the admiral," he said
with pretended lightness.
So the two of them joined their subtle
enemy, conscience of a tingle of zest as they
did so. On her part, the countess was always
THE TELEGRAPH, HARRISBURG, PA..
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FLORENCE. RISKS HER LIBERTY TO OBTAIN THE MAGIC PAPERS. ♦
suspicious of this sleepy-eyed reporter. She
never could tell now much he knew. But of
Florence she was reasonably certain; and so
long as she could fool the pretty infant the
suspicions of the reporter were of a neg
ligible quantity. She greeted them effusively
and offered them chairs. For half an hour
they sat t'tiere, chatting inanities, all the
while each mind busy with deeper concerns.
When the man in search of Florence even
tually arrived and asked the manager of the
garden if he knew Miss Hargreave by sight
the manager pointed toward tne box. The
man wound his way in and out of the idlers
and by the time he reached the box Jim and
Florence had made their departure. The
man bowed, approached, and asked if khe
was Miss Hargreave. For a moment the
countess suspected a trap. Then it appealed
to her mind that if there was no trap it might
be well to pose as Florence, if only to learn
what the outcome might be.
"Yes. What is wanted?" she asked.
The man took a letter from his pocket and
'eanded it to Olga, saying: " Give this to
your father. He knows how to read it."
Before she could reply the man had turned
and was hurrying away.
Oiga opened the note, her heart beating
furiously. It was utterly blank. Xt first
she thought it was a 'noax. Then she hap
pened to remember that there was such a
thing as invisible Ink. At last! Hargreave
was alive; this letter settled all doubt in her
mind on this question. Alive! And not only
that, but the girl and Jones were evidently
In communication wit'n him. She summoned
a waiter, made a secret sign, and he bowed
and approached. She slipped the letter into
his hand and whispered: "Show that at
the cave tomorrow. It is in invisible ink and
meant for Hargreave."
" He's alive? "
" Positively."
" Very well." The waiter bowed and
strolled away nonchalantly.
Braine was in Boston over night, other
wise the countess would have taken the mys
terious note at once to him. She remained
for perhaps a quarter of an hour longer and
then left the garden. She would have taken
the letter to her own apartment but for the
fact that the chemicals needed were hidden
In the cave.
Now it hardened that Florence went out
for her early ride the next morning, and
crossing a field she saw a man with a bundle
under his arm. The sun struck his profile
and limned it plainly, and Florence uttered a
low cry. The man had not observed her.
So, very quietly, she slipped from the horse,
tethered It to a tree, and started after the
man to learn what he was doing to far from
the city. She would never forget t'nat face.
She had seen it that dreadful night when the
note had lured her into the hands of 'ner
enemies. The face belonged to the man who
had impersonated her father.
It occurred to her that she might just as
well do a little detective work on her own
hook. She had passed through so many terri
fying episodes that she was beginning to*
crave for the excitement, strange as this may
seem. Like a gambler Vno has once played
for high stakes, she no longer found pleasure
lu thimbles and needles and pins. She fol
lowed the man with no little skill and at
length saw him approach a knoll, stoop,
apparently press a spring, and a hole sud
denly yawned. The man vanis'ned quickly,
and the spot took on again ita virginal ap
pearance. A cave! Florence had the patience
to wait. By and by the man appeared again
and slunk away.
When ahe was sure that he was beyond
range, she came out from the place of con
cealment, crept up the knoll, and searched
•bout for the ma&ic Taudle of thla si ranee
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door. Diligence rewarded her, and she soon
found herself in a large, musty earth-smelling
cave. Loot was scattered about, and there
were boxes and chairs and a large chest.
Men evidently met here, possibly after some
desperate adventure against society. She
found nothing to reward her hardihood, and
as she was in the act of moving toward the
cave's door she beheld with terror that it was
moving!
She was near the chest at that moment.
The cave was not a deep one. There was no
tunnel, only a wall. Resolutely she raise-1
the lid of the chest, stepped inside, and drew
the lid down. She was just in time. The
door opened and three men entered, talking
volubly. They felt perfectly secure in talk
ing as loudly as they pleased. To Florence it
seemed almost impossible that they did not
hear the thunder of her heart? Strain her
ears as she might, she could gather but little
of w'nat they said, except:
" If Hargreave had this paper we might ell
be put on the defensive. To an outsider it
is a blank paper. But the boss will be able
to read it . . The speaker moved
away from the vicinity of the chest and she
heard no more.
Very deftly ■ Florence raised the lid just
enough to peep out. The man who had been
talking was putting the note in his hip pocket.
As he turned toward the chest he sat down
on the soapbox immediately in front of the
cheat An inspiration came to the girl, au
exceedingly daring one. She took her liberty
in her hands as she executed the deed. But
the dimness of the cave aided her. Wnen she
crouched down again the magic paper was
hers.
It seemed hours to her 'before the men left
the cave. As she beard the hidden door jar
In closing she raised the lid and stepped out,
breathing deepTy. The paper she hail pur
loined was indeed blank, but Jones or .Tim
would know w'nat to do with it. And
wouldn't they be surprised when she told
them what she had accomplished all alone?
Her exultation was of short duration. She
heard tne whine of the door on its hinges.
The men were returning. Wb^?
They were returning because tbey had dis
covered a woman's shoeprint outside. It
pointed toward the cave, freshly, and there
was none coming nway. To reenter the
chest would be foolhardy. It would be the
first place the men would look. She glanced
about desperately. She saw but one chance,
the well. And even while the door was
swinging inward, letting the brilliant sun
shine enter, she summoned up "the courage
and let herself down into the well, which
proved to be nothing more nor less than an
underground river!
The men came in with a rush. They upset
boxes, looked into the chest, and the man who
was evidently in command gazed down the
well, shaking his head. Their search was
thorough, but tney found no one. .and at
length they began to reason that perhaps a
woman had got as far as the door and then
turned away, walking on the turf.
Meantime Florence was 'borne along by the
swift current of the river, which gained in
swiftness every moment. From time to time
she bumped along the rocky walls, but she
clung to life valiantly. In ten minutes she
was swept to the other side of the hill, Into
the rapids; but the blue sky was overhead,
she was out in the familiar world again. On,
on she was carried. Even though she was
half dead, she could hear the roar of a falls
somewhere in advance.
Braine tuought he really had a clue to the
treasure, and with his usual promptness he
set about to learn if It was worth anything.
He procured a launch and began to prowl
about, using a pole as a feeler. All the w'hile
he was being closely watched by Norton, who
bad concluded to hang onto Braine's trail till
he found something worthy of note. Braine
was disguised, but this time Jim was not to
be fooled. But what was he looking for,
wondered the reporter? Braine continued
to pole along, sometimes pausing to look over
the gunwale down Into the water. In rais
ing his head after t'ne last investigation h«
discerned something struggling in the water,
about three hundred yards away. The cur
rent leisurely brought the object into full
view. It was a young woman with just
power enough to keep 'nerself afloat. The
golden head roused somethinr in him stronger
than curiosity. It might be!
Braine proceeded to move the launch in
the direction of the girl, U ww tkm am
ment that turned the reporter's gar*. Ht,
too, uow Raw the woman in the water and
wondered how she had come there. When
Braino reached the girl and pulled her Into
the launc'n Jim saw her face plainly.
He tlew from his vantage point, found a
skiff, and started after Braine.
"By the Lord Harry!" murmured the
rogue. " Well, they can talk of manna from
heaven, but this is what I call luck. Flor*
ence Hargreave, out of nowhere, into my
arms! The god of luck has cast anothe*
horseshoe and it's mine."
He had :t flask in his pocket, and he forced
some of the biting spirits down the girl's
throat. She opened 'nor eyes.
"Well, my beauty?"
Florence eyed him wildly, not quite nnder
standing where he had come from.
" I don't know how you got here," he said!
" and I don't care. But here we are to
gether at last. Where is your father? "
" I—l don't know," dnzedly.
" Better think quickly," he -warned. " I
want lucid answers to my questions, or back
you go into the water. I'm about at the end
of my rope. I've been beaten too many
times, my girl, to have any particular lovo
for you. Now, w'nere is your father?"
" I don't know; I have never seen him."
Braine laughed.
And Jim's boat ran afoul some rocks and
into the water he went. He had not at
tracted Braine's nttention, fortunately. Ho
began to swim toward the drifting launch.
"Where have they bidden that money?"
" I don't know."
" Well, well; I've given you your
You'll have to try your luck with the water
again."
Florence, weak as she was, set her lips.
" You don't ask for mercy t" he said
(banterlngly.
" I should be wasting my breath to ask
for mercy from such a monster as yon are,"
she answered quickly. i
"That damned Ilargreave nerve!" he'
snarled.
He rolled up his sleeve 3 and stepped
toward her. She braced herself but did not i
turn her eyas from his. Suddenly, from
nowhere at all, came a pair of hands. On®
clutched the gunwale and the other laid |
hold of Braine. A quick pull followed, and j
Braine began to topple. But even as he Ml
he managed to fling himself atop his assail- !
ant; and it wns only when the struggle began
In foe water that he recognized the reporter, j
All the devil in him came to the surface and
he fought with the fierceness of a tiger to ' -y
kill, kill, kill. In nearly every Instance thie j
meddling reporter had checkmated him. Thie
time one or the other of them shonld stay la
the water.
Norton recognised that he had a large order
before r nim to disable Braine. The recogni
tion between them was noiv frank and abso
lute; there could never again be any diplo
matic sidestepping.
" You're a dead man, Norton!" panted
Braine, as he reached for the reporter'!
throat.
Norton said nothing, but struck the hand
aside. For a moment they both went under,
Tney came up sputtering, each trying for •
hold. It was a terribly enervating struggle.
Florence could do nothing The boat in
which she sat continued to drift away from
the fighting men. Once she tried to ranch
Braine with the pole he had bee'n using, but
failed.
From the shore came another boat Foa
awhile she could not tell whether It eon»
taincd friends or enemies. It was terrible to
be forced to wait, absolutely helpless. When
she bean! the newcomers call encouragingly
to Braine she knew then that the brave fight
of her sweetheart was going to come to
naught. .She knew a little about motors.
She threw on the power and headed straight
toward the rowboat The men shouted at
her, but she did not alter her course. The
rowboat had its sides crushed In and the
men went piling into foe water;
" Jim," she cried. j
Norton suddenly flung off Braine and begaq
to swim madly for the motor boat, which
Florence had brought about Even then if
was only by the barest luck in the world thai
Norton managed to catch the gunwale. Th*
rest of it was simple. When they finally,
reached a haven, Florence, oddly enougfey
thought of the horse she had left tethered
nine miles from the stable*. She leafheA
hysterically.
" I guess he won't die. We can tend not
one out for him. Now, for heaven's sake*
how did you get into this? Where were youj
What have you been up to?" with tended
brusqueness. j
" I wanted to do a little detectire work ot
my own," she faltered.
"It looks as if you bad done It Ton
infant! Will you never learn to keep oub>
side this muddle? It's a man's work."
Florence, thoroughly weakened by her lontf
immersion in the water, began to weep al
ien fly.
"Yen poor child. I'm a brute!" And he
comforted her.
Later that day, at home, she remembered
the blank paper.
" I stole this from one of the men 1B thi
cave. He said this blank paper would
probably save father."
Jim took It. " Hm! Invisible ink, ud If!
had a fine washing."
" But maybe it is waterproof."
" Maybe it is. Anyhow, Sherlock,
we'll show it to Jones and see what he im"
£w BE OUittKUmJ