1 EOLIAP MM f f ? . ( ft v HAROLD MAC GRATH -#L llMlllliilliil ___ _____ Itlßlll'BililMllf $lO 000 FOR ONE HUNDRED WORDS. "The Million Dollar Mystery" story board uiH be absolute and final. Nothing will run for twenty-two consecutive weeks of a literary nature will be considered in in this paper. By an arrangement with Ihe decision, nor given any preference in the Thanhouser Film company it has been the selection of the winner of the SIO.OOO made possible not only to read the story prue. The last tioo tcels, which will give in this paper but also to see it each leeek the most acceptable solution to the mys in the various moving picture theaters. tery, tcill be presented in the theaters For the solution of this mystery story having this feature an soon as it is pos slo,ooo tcill be given by the Thanhouser lible to produce the same. The story corre- Film corporation. sponding to these motion pictures will ap- CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE V far newspapers coincidental!y, or CONTEST. " *°o" af'er the appearance of the pic- The prise of SIO,OOO tcill be icon by the iures a ? Practicable. With Ihe last two man, woman, or child who writes the most feels will be shown ihe pictures of the win ecceptable solution of the mystery, from I,er ' his or er . h° me - a "to the sea when the balloon he escaped In was punctured. Florence arrives from the girls' school. Countesa Olga. Bralne's companion, visits her and claims her as a relative. The Black Hundred then see a means of mak ing Florence a target for their attacks. They are after the $1,000,000. and Bralne, their leader, sets traps for Florence. The Black Hundred, after a number of attempts, fall, due to the wisdom of Jones, the Hnrgreave butler, and Norton, • newspaper man. Concealed at the rendezvous of the Black Hundred, a man learns of the re {Copyright: 1914: By Harold MacGrath.] CHAPTER XXII. A NIGHT OF ADVENTURES. THK federal government agreed to s?.y nothing, to put no obstacles in tlic way of the Russian agent, provided be could abduct his trio without se riously clashing with the Xew \ ork police authorities. It was a recognized fact that the local police force -wanted the newspa per glory which would attend the crushing of the Black Hundred. It would be an ex ploit. But. their glory "was nil: nor did Ser van take his trio back with him to Russia. Many strange things happened that night, the night of the final adventure. Florence sat in her room reading. The book was " Oliver Twist." not the pleasant cst sort of book to read under the existing circumstances. Several times —she had reached the place where l-'agin overheard Nancy's confession —she fancied she heard doors closing softly, but credited it to he' imagination. Poor Nancy, who wanted to be good but did not find time to be! Florence possessed a habit familiar to most of us; the need of apples or candy when we are reading. So she rang the bell for her maid, intending to ask her to bring up some ap ples. She turned to her reading, presently to break off and strike the bell again. Where was that maid? She -waited perhaps live minutes, then laid down the book and be gan to investigate. There was not a servant to he found in the entire house! What in the world could that mean? Used as she was to heartrend ing suspenses, she was none the less terri fied. Something had taken the servants from the house. From whence was the danger to come this time. Where was Jones? Why did he not return as he had promised? It was long past the hour when he said be would be back. She went into the library and picked up the telephone. She was told that Mr. Nor ton was out on an assignment, but that he would be notified the moment he re turned. She opened a drawer in the desk. She touched the automatic but. did not take it up. She left the drawer open, however. Earlier, at the newspaper office that night, Jim went into the managing editor's office and laid a bulky manuscript on that gen tleman's desk. " Is this it?" "It is," said Jim. "You have captured them?" " Xo: but there if a net about them from which not one shall escape. There's the story of my adventures, of the adventures of Miss Hargreave and the butler. Jone*. You'll find it exciting reading. You might just as well send it up to the composing room. At midnight. I'll telephone the intro duction. It's a scoop. Don't worry about that." The editor riffled the pages. " A hundred and twelve pages. 300 words to the page: man, it's a novel!" "It'll read like one." "Sit down for a moment and let me skim through the tint ■lory." At the end of ter minutes the editor laid covery of the bo* from the aea by a sailor and of Its subsequent return to the bottom of the sea, and he quickly communicates the fact to Jones. A du plicate box Is planted and later secured by the band, but before Ita contents are examined the box mysteriously disap pears. Finding himself checkmated at every turn, Bralne endeavors to enmeuh the Hargrcave 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 heels of the pack and results In a raid on the gaag's ren dezvous, which, however, proves to be barren of results. The Black Hundrrd begin to fear Nor ton and plan to dispose of lilm. Again the unnutleed butler shows his hand by rescuing Norton and defeating Bralne. Florence secures a mysterious paper which Is of vital Importance to her father's safety. Brnlne loses hope of securing the $>,000,000 and turns to re venge. Henri Servan Is given documentary evidence against the Illack Hundred. They try to get It from him by a clever ruse, but agalu Jones heats them to It. down the copy. He opened n drawer and took out two envelopes. Tlie blue one he tore up and dropped into the waste basket. Xort£ATNL This man, however, threw away his cigar and hot footed it to the nearest pay station, lie kpew in his soul that he had just seen the man for whom they had been hunting; all these weary but strenuous weeks—Stan ley Hurjjreave in the flesh! Half an hour after his terephone message the chief of the Black Hundred and many lesser lights were on their way to the house of mystery. Had they but known! Now, the man who had created this tre niendoys agitation went serenely on. He proceeded directly and fearlessly to the front door, produced a latch key and entered. He paused through the hall and reception room to the library and paused on the threshold dramatically, Florence stepped biuk with a sharp cry of alarm. She hud heard the hall door open and close and hail taken "f for granted that Jones had returned. Ther« war a tableau of short duration. HARRISBTTRG, PA.. NOTEMBER. , 1914 "Don't you know me?" asked the stranger in a singularly pleasant voice. Florence had been imposed upon too many times. She shook her head defiantly, though her knees shook 60 that she was certa'O that the least touch would send her over. "I am your father, child!" Florence slipped unsteadily behind the desk and seized Ihe revolver which lay in the drawer. The man by the curtains smiled sadly. It was a smile Ihat caused Florence to waver a bit. Still, she extended her arm. " You do not believe me?" said the man, advancing slowly. " No. I have been deceived too many times, sir. Stay where you are. You will wait here till my butler returns. O. if I were only sure!" she burst out suddenly and passionately. " What proof have you Ihat you are what you say?" HP came toward lier, holding out his hands. u This, tha tyou cannot shoot me. Ah, the damnable ••wetdies! What have they done lo yon. my child, to make you suspicious of every one? Mow I have watched over you in secret! I will tell jou what only Jones and the reporter know, that the aviator died, that 1 alone was res cued, that I Rave Norton the. five thousand, that I watched thp windows of the Rus sian woman, and overheard nearly every plot that was hatched in the council cham ber of the Black Hundred; tliftt I was shot in the arm while' crossing the lawn one night. . And now we have the scoundrel* jiißt where (ve want them. They will he i:i this house for me within half an hour, 'tnd not one of them will leav<* it in freedom. 1 am your father, .Florence; 1 am (he lonely father who has spent the best years of his life a waj- fc— — l— »« safety. Can't you feel the truth of all this?" " No, no! Flense do not approach any nearer; stay -where you are!" At that moment the telephone rang. With the revolver still leveled she picked up the receiver. "Ilello, hello! Who is it? . . . O. Jim, Jim, come at once! I am holding at bay a man who says he is my father. Hold him where he is. you say? All right, I will. Come quick!" "Jim!" murmured the man, still advan cing. lie must have that revolver. The poor child might.spoil th^.whole affair. "So what Jones tells me is tru": that you are going to marry this reporter chap?" She did not answer. "With or without my consent?" If only he would drop that fearless smile! she thought. " With or without anybody's consent," she said. " What in the world can I say to yon to convince you?" ho cried. "The trap is set; but if Braine and his men come and find us like this, good heaven, child, we are both lost! Come, come!" "Stay where you are!" At that moment she heard a sound at the door. Her gaze roved; and it was enough for the man. He reached out and caught her arm. She tried to tear herself loose. " My child, in God's name, listen to rea son! They are entering the hall and they will lir.ve us both." Suddenly Florence knew. She could not have told you why; but there was an ap peal in the man's voice that went to her heart. "You are my father!" " Yes. yes! Rut you've found it out just a trifle too late, my dear. Quick; this side