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MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERYSs 5 $10,000 FOR 100 WORDS. V.'-'jfe' A-S Tic ptfblieatioft of "The Million Dollar VJ'Aji Ifystery" begins today. The story tciU ; run for twenty-two consecutive weeks in ' V;a tJWl paper. Hji an arrangement with the r j - I -v&jl Thanhouser Film company it has been made possible not only to read the Story I V3S I ,n PaVrr but also to see it each week I ''iS ,n PBfMHM THOiinj? picture thraiers. 'JEjl'jj For rA solution of (Ate mystery story :- Sio.ono will be given. . -,VW' CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE 'V ,?rW ;ri--e o tlO,000 will be won by the 1 Wmm wow, ("man, or C&iid irio writet f i c ?iof iiS1 acceptable solution ot thr myttery, from H which the last two reels of motion picture H drama will be made md thr last tico fyffi'J& chapters of the story written by llurld 'rv.i: UatUrath. m Solutions may be sent to the Than- H houtcr film corporation, cither at Chi COffO or Sew York. Llty time vp to mid- LLLM night, Dei I) They mu.'t bear post- B offiec mark not later than that da!c. This B allows lour weeks after th first appear ence of the last film re'eates and thiee M weeks after the last chapter is published in this paper, which o submit solu- ' , lions H A board a! three )ud ic will determine M which of thr many toluHoht received it H th most acccjitable. lie judgment ol H this board will be nbsoh It ai d final- H Nothing of a literary ucture will b- con- H kidercd in the decision, nor given an-i M preference in the selection o) the winner H of the SIfKUOO prize. 'J'hc last two reels. H u hull will on e tl-e most acceptable solu- H Hon to the m y tern, will be prescnUd in H the theaters having tl.it feature H as it is practical tu piuihm 'the H story corresponding to motion pic- tures will appear in the neiCipOper COfR- ctientaUy or a toon after the npiir H auce of the ptetMret at practical With M 'he last two reels will be tl e pic- r4 -ur- ! the n mm i hit OT her . and H i, tier interesting features. It it under-. I ?;,M stood that the newspaper?, so far as prac- M tiral. in punting the la1 two chapter ; .i-J, ,j the siorj iv Harold UccGrath, will M also thoio a picture of the successful con I tettani m Solutions to ihe myttery must hoi be M mere than 100 words Here air s,,. e M iuestioiis to V hept in mtlld in roniicc- tion with the mystery as an aid to a "'Sh ' What becomes of the milliona-ircf No. S What becomes of thr SI.OOOMOt M y o. .? Whom ioet Vlorencc marryt No, i What be'eomet o) tht ttustian I countess f H obady connected tithcr direct h or in- H directly with " P7u Million I 'la Uyt H fry" wtll be considered as a eontettunt - CoprlKtt: 1014: By Hnrold UacQrHlh.) iH CHAPTER A CALL I.N TUB KiCUT. ij. snrm 1 1 1 C 10 art l'e tin darker Lhac a I country road at night, parti rularlj if H I one docs not Liiw th. aj f the land. It is not difficult to traverse a known path no matter how darl it is, one is a hie to tind the way by the aid of a mental photo graph taken in the daytime. Hot supposing you have never been over the road ir the day time, that you know nothing whatever "f its topography, where it dips or risp;, where it I narrows or forks. foil find yourself in th same unhappy state of mind as a bliod man j auddenly thrust into a strange house i Ooe black night, aloDg a certain country I read, in the heart of New Jersey, in the days when the only good roads were city thorough- fares and country highways wore routes to ' I limbo, a carriace went forward cautiously. , From time to time it careened like a blunt- iAy noM barge In a beam sea. The wheels and 5l pringfc roiced their anguish continually; for $j it was a good carriage, unaccustomed to such ruts and hummocks. Swl " Faster, faster ! " came a muffled voice ffil from the interior. Sir, I dare not drive any faster," replied I the coachman. " I can't see the horees' heads, air, let alone the road. I've blown out the lamp, but I can't see the road any better for that." " Let the horses have their heads ; they'll And the way. It can't be much farther. Youll see lighta." The coachman swore la bis teeth. All ' right This man who was in such a hurry ! would probably send them all into the ditch. 8ave for the few stars above, he might have been driving Beelzebub's coach in the Bottom leas Pit Black Tervet, everywhere black vel vet. A wind was blowing, and yet the black ness was so thick that it gave to the coach man the sensation of mlhl suffocation. By and by, through the trees, he saw a flicker of light It might or might not be the destination. He cracked his whip recklessly and the carriage lurched on two wheels. The man in the carriage balanced himself carefully, so that the bundle in his arms should not b unduly disturbed. His arms ached. He tuck his head oat of the wiavlow. That's the place," he s&id. " And when yon drive up make as little noise as you can." "Tea, sir," called down the driver. When the carriage drew up at its journey's end the man inside jumped out and hastened toward the gates. He eeratlnlxed the sign on ' . ene or the posts, itiis was the place: Mias F a aixw ' s Pbivate Schoou The bundle in his arms stirred and he hur ried np the path to the door of the house. He leixed the ancient knocker and struck several time. He then placed the bundle on the steps i and ran back to the waiting carriage. Into which he stepped. " Off with yo 1 " That's a good word, sir. Maybe we can ( make your train." "Do yon think you could find this place again?" " Yon couldn't get me on this pike again, air, for a thousand ; not me I " The door slammed and the unknown sank I back against the cushions. He took out his handkerchief and wiped the damp perspiration from his forehead. The big burden was off his mind. Whatever hsppened in the future, they would never be able to get him through his Heart. Bo much tot the folly of his youth. It was a quarter after 10. Miss Susan Farlow had just returned to the reception room from her nightly tour of the upper halls to see if all her charges were in bed, where the rules of t he school confined them after 9:30. It was at this moment that she heard the thunderous knocking at the door. The old maid felt her heart stop bcaliDg for a moment. Who could it be, at this time of niht? Tbpn th thought came swiftly that perhaps the parent of some one of her charges was ill and this was the summons. Stilling her fears, she went resolutely to the door and opened it. There was no one in sight. "Who it it.'" she called. N., ,,nr nr.swercd. She cupped her hand to her ear. She cou'd hear the '.latter of horses dinily. " Well ! " she exclaimed ; rath r angrily, too. She was in the net of rlosins the door when small hands and feet, her spirit and gentle ness And now, at any day, some one with a broken bracelot might come for her. As the days went on the heart of Susan Farlow grew heavy. Never mind, aunty," said Florence ; " I shall always come back to see you." 6he meant it, poor child ; but how was she to know the terrors which lay yonder, beyond the horizon? The house of Stanley Hargreave, in River dale, was the house of no ordinary rich man Outside it was simple enough, but within you learned what kind of a man Hargreavs waa. There were rare Ispahan and Saruks on the floors and tapestries on the walls, with hers and there a fine painting. The library itself represented a fortune. Money had been laid out lavishly but never wastefully. It waa the home of a scholar, a dreame., a wide traveler. In the library stood the master of the house, idly Anserine some papers which lay on the study table. He shrugged at tome unpleasant thought, settled his overcoat about his shoul ders, took up his hat, and walked from tbo room, frowning slightly. The butler, who also nrted in the capacity of valet, always within call when his master was about stepped swiftly to the hall coor and opened It. " I may be out late, Jones." said Flargreave. " Yes. sir." IIar?reave stared into his face keenly, as If trying to pierce the grave face to learn what was going on behind it. "How long have you been with me? " Fourteen years, sir " " Some day I shall need you." My life has always been at your disposal, sir. since that night you rescued it." ' Well, 1 haven'i the least doubt that when I ask ypu will give. " ' 3yvP THE, irvTT20TXJGTI0NS WE.BE MADE, NOETON FE.LT BATHLG CsViA&QlNCD. 0 the lieht from ihe hall discovered to hr tbl bundle OB the Steps. She stooped ami tctn hed it. " (iootl ueuvena, it's a child!" She puked the bunriie Up. A whimper came from it, a tired little whimper of protest. She ran back to the reception mom. A found ing! And on lir doorstep! It wa-j incred il If. W hat in the woild should she do? It would create a SpantlaJ and hurt the prestige i f the school. Some ono lind mistaken her select private school for a farmhouse. It was frightful. Then she unwrapped the child. It was n! it n yf.ar old. dimpled and lden haired. thumb was in its rosebud mouth and it blue pyes looked up trustfully into her own. " Y hy, you cherub! " cried the old maid, a 6trange turmoil in bet heart. She caught the chi'd to her breast, and then for the first tin. noticed the thick envelope pinned to the child s cloak. She put the baby into a chair and brok3 open the envelope. " Name this child Florence Gray. I will (send annually a liberal sum for her support and reclaim her on her eighteenth birthday. The other half of the inclosed bracelet will Identify me Treat the girl well, for I shall watch over ber in secret" Into the fixed routine of her humdrum life had come a mystery, a tantalizing, fascinating mystery. She had read of foundlings left on doorsteps from paper covered novels confis cated from her pupils but that one should be placed upon her own resppctable doorstep ! Suddenly she Bmiled down at the child and the child smiled back. And there was nothing more to be done except to bow before the de crees of fate. Like all prim old maids, her heart was full of unrequited romance, and here was something she might spend its floods upon without let or hindrance. Already she was hoping that the man or woman who had left It might never come back. The child grew. Regularly each year, upon a certain date. Miss Farlow received a regis tered letter with money. These letters came from all parts of the world ; always the same sum, always the same line " I am watching.'' Thus seventeen years passed , and to Susan Farlow each year seemed shorter than the one before. For she loved the child with all her heart. She had not trained young girls sll these years without becoming adept in the art of reading the true signs of breeding. Then was no ordinary blood In Florence , the fact was emphasized by her exquisite face, her " Without question, sir. It was always o understood." Ilargreave's glance sought the mirror, then the smileleaa face f hs man. He laughed, but the sound conveyed no sense of mirth; tl.cu he turned ami went down the steps slow),., like a man burdened with some thought which "a not altogether to hts liking. r had sent an order for his car, but had imme diately countermanded it He would walk till b- srew tired, hail a taxicab. and take a run Up ami down Broadway The wonderful illu mination might prove diverting. For eighteen years nearly ; and now it was as natural for hini to throw a glance over his shoulder when ever he left the house as it was for him to breathe. The average man would have grown careless during all these years, but llargreavii was not an average man , he was, rather, an extraordinary individual. It was his life in exchange for eternal vigilance, and he knew and accepted the fact. Half an hour later he got into a taxicab and directed the man to drive downtown as far as Twenty-third street and back to Columbus circle. The bewildering display of lights, how ever, in nowise served to lift the sense of op pression that had weighed upon him all day. South of Forty-second street he dismissed the tailcab and stared undecidedly at the brilliant sign of a famous restaurant. He was neither hungry nor thirsty ; but there would be strange faces to study and music. It was an odd whim. He had not entered a Broadway restaurant in all these years. He was unknown. He belonged to no clubs. Two months was the longest time he had ever re mained in New York since the disposal of his old home in Madison avenue and his resigna tion from his clubs. This once, then, he would break the law he had written down for him self. Boldly he entered the restaurant Some time before Hargreave surrendered to the restless spirit of rebellion, bitterly to re pent for it lster, there came into this restau rant a man and a woman. They were both evidently well known, for the bead waiter was obsequious and hurried them over to the beat table he bad left and took the order himself. The man possessed s keen, intelligent face. You might have marked blm for a successful lawyer, for there was an earnestness about hi expreeaiou which precluded a life of idleness. His age might have been anywhere between 40 and 60. The shoulders were broad and the hands which lay clasped upon the table were slim but muscular. Indeed, everything about blm suggested hidden strength and vitality. His companion was small, handsome, and ani mated. Her frequent gestures snd mutable eyebrows betrayed her foreign birth. Her age was a matter of importance to no one but herself. They were at coffee when she said : " There's a young man coming toward ua. He is look ing at you." The man turned. Instantly bis face lighted np with a friendly smile of recognition. " Who ts it? " she asked. " A chap worth knowing ; a reporter just a little out of the ordinary. I'm going to intro duce him. You never can tell. We might need him some day. Ah, Norton, how are you? " " Good evening, Mr. Bralne." The reporter, catching sight of a pair of dazxllng eyes, hesitated. " The Princess Peiigoff, Norton. You're in no hurry, arc you ! " " Not now," smiled the reporter. "Ah!" said the princess, interested. It was the old compliment, said in an unusual way. It pleased her. The reporter sank into a chair. When in active he was rather a dreamy eyed 6ort of chap He possessed that rare accomplishment of talking upon one subject and thinking upon another at the same tune. S while he talked gayly with the young woman on varied themes, his thoughts were busy speculating upon her companion. He was quite certain that thu name Brains w.i- assumed, but he was also equally certain that the man carried an ex traordinary brain under his thatch of salt and pepper hair The man bad written three or four brilliant mouographs on poisons and the uses of radium, and it was through and b7 these that the reporter had managed to pick up bis acquaintance. He lived well, but in conspicuously. Suddenly the pupils of Braine's eyes nar rowed, the eye became cold Over the smok9 of his cigaret he was looking into the wail mirror. A man had passed bebiud him and sat down at the next tah'e Still caring into th? mirror. Braine saw Norton wave his hand; saw also the open wonder on the reporter's pleasant face Who is your friend, Norton?" Braitio asked indifferently, his head still unturned. " Stanley Hargreave. Met him in Hong kong when I was sent over to handle a parr of the revolution. War correspondence stuff rir-t time I over ran across him on Broadway at night We've since had some powwows over some rare books. Queer old cock ; brave av n Hob but as quiet as a mouse." " Bookish, eh? Mj kind, i Br ing him over." T'ndernenth the table Braine maneuvered to touch the foot of the princess. " I dou't know," said the reporter dubiously. " He might say no, and that would embarrass the whole lot of us. He's a bit of a hermit. I'm surprised to see him here." " Try," urged the princess. " I like to meet men who are hermits." " I haven't the least doubt about that," the reporter laughed "I'll try; but don't blame me if I'm rebuffed." He left the table with evident reluctance ftDd approached Hargreave. The two shook hands cordially, for the elder man was rather fond of this medley of information known a Jim Norton. " Sit down, boy ; sit down. You're just the kind of a man I've been wanting to talk to tonight." " Wouldn't you rather talk to a pretty woman? " " I'm an old man." " Bab ! That s n hypocritical bluff, an I you know it. My friends at the next table have asked me to bring you over." " I do not usually care to meet strangers " "Make an exception this once," said thj reporter, who had seen Braine's eyes change and was curious to know why the appearance of Hargreave in tho mirror had brought about that metally gleam. Here were two unique men ; he desired to see them face to face. " This once. My fault , I ought not to be here; I feel out of place. What a life, though, you reporters lead ! To meet kings and presi dents and great financiers, Socialists and an archists, the whole scale of life, and to slap these people on the back as if they were every day friends ! " " Now you're making fun of me. For on king there are always twenty thick brogans ready to kick me down the steps , don't forget that." Hargreave laughed. " Come, then ; let us get it over with." The introductions were made. Norton felt rather chagrined. So far as be could see. the two men were total strangers. Well, it was all in the game. Nine out of ten oppor tunities for the big story were fake alarms; but be was always williug to risk the labor these nine entailed for the sake of the tenth. At length Braine glanced at his watch, and the princess nodded. Adieux were said. In side the taxicab Braine leaned back with a deep, audible sigh. "What it is?" she akd " The luck of the devil's own." be said. Child of ths Steppes, for years I've flown about seas and continents, through valleys and over mountains for what? For the sight of the face of that man we have just left. At first glance I wasn't sure; but the sound of his voice was enough. Olga. the next time you see that reporter, throw your arms around bis neck and kiss him. What did I tell you? Without Norton's help I would not have been sure. I'm going to leave jou at your apartment ' Ihe man of the Black Hundred?" she whispered. ' The man who deserted and defied the Black Hundred, who broke bis vows, and never paid kopeck for the privilege; the man who had been aprointed for the supreme work and who -an away. In those days we needed men of his stamp, and to accomplish this end. ..." "There was a woman." she interrupted, with n touch of bitterness " Always the woman. And dhe was as clever and handsome as you are." " Thanks. Sometimes ..." "Ah, yes!" ironically. "Sometimes you wish you could settle down, marry, end have a family! Your domesticity would last about a month." She made no retort because she recognized the truth ct this statement " There's an emerald I know of," he said ruminatively. "It's quite possible that you may be wearing it within a few days." ' I am mad over them. There is something in the green stone that fascinates me. I can't resist it." I " That's because, somewhere in the far past, your ancestors were orientals. Here we are I II see you tomorrow. I must hurry Good night." She stood on the curb for a moment nd watched the taxicab till it whirled around a corner. The man held her with a fascina- ME. SCBAJT I PJ IZE.D THF, SMGr! CXN ONE. OF THE. POffTS.TH.IS WA9 THE- PLACE.. tion more terrible than any jewel. She knew him to be a great and daring rogue, cunning, patient, fearless. Backed away in that mind of his there were a thousand accomplished deeds which had roused futilelr the police of two continents. Braine! She could hare laughed. The very name be had chosen was an insolence directed at society. The subject of her thoughts 6oon arrived at his destination. flight of stairs carried him into a dimly lighted hall, smelling evilly of escaping gas. He donned a black mask and struck tho door with a series of light blows; two, then one, then three, and again one. The door opened and he slipped inside. Round a tabic sat several men, also masked. They were all tried and trusted rogues; but not one of them knew what Braine looked like. He alone remained unknown save to the man designated as the chief, who was only Braine's lieutenant. 'Ihe mask was the insignia of the Black Hundred, nn organization with all the ramifications of the CnmoTra without their abiding stupidity. Trom the assassination of a king, dow n to the robbery of a country post office, nothing was too great or too small for their nets. Their god dwells in the hearts oi all men ami is called Greed. The ordinary business over, the chief dis missed the men, und he and Braine alone re mained. " Vroon, I have found him." said Braine. " There are but few . which one?" " Eighteen years ago, in St Petersburg. " I remember. The millionaire's son. Did he recognize yon?" " I dou't know. Probably he did. But he always had good nervea. He is being followed at this moment. We .-hall strike quick; for if be recognlzeJ me he will act ulck. He is cool and brave. l on remember how he braved us that night in Itussra. Jumped bold ly through the window at the risk of break ing his neck. He landed safely; that is the only reason he eluded ns Millions and they slipped through our fingers. If I could only find some route to his heart! The lure we held out to him is dead." "Or in the fortre.., which is the same thing. What are your plans:" " 1 hare in mind something like this." And Hargreave was working out bis pmns, too; and he was just as much of a gejjral as Braine. He sat at his library tbl, tli maxillary muscles in his jaws working. So tbey had found him? Well, he had broken tht kw of his own making and he must suff-ix 4 the consequences. Braine, who was Menshl koff in Russia. Schwartz in Germany, Mendois, in Spain, Cartucci in Italy, and Du Bois in France; so the rogue had found him out? loc Poor fool that he had been ! High spirited, full of those youthful dreams of doing good f in the world, he had joined what he had be- lleved a great secret socialistic movement to f. learn that he had been trapped by a band I rtW of brilliant thieves. Kidnapers and assassi nators for hire; the Black Hundred; fiends from Topbet I For nearly eighteen years he nj bad eluded them, for he knew that directly rei or indirectly they would never cease to hunt f01 for him; and an idle whim had toppled him j into their clutches. c& He wrote several letters feverishly. Th tit last was addressed to Miss Susan Farlow and read : " Dear Madam ! Send Florence Gray to New York, to arrive here Friday ca morning. My half of the bracelet will be identification. Inclosed find cash to square at accounts." He woold get together all his available funds, recover his child, and fly to the ends of the world. He wonld tire them out be They would find that the peaceful dog ws a H bad animal to rouse. He rang for ths faithful Jones. " Jones, they have found me," he said simply. " Ton will need me. then?' " Quite possible. Please mail these and then we'll talk it ore- No doubt some one m is watching outside. Be careful." " Very good, sif." Hargreave bowed bis head in his hands. Many times he had journeyed to the school it and hung about the gates, straining his eyes 6' toward the merry groups of young girls. Which among them was his, heart of his heart, blood of bis blood? Tbst she might never be drawn into this abominable tangle, 1 r he had resolutely torn her ont of his life com- w pletely. The happiness of watching the child a gTow into girlhood he had denied himself. She ,' at least would be safe. Only when she was safe In a far country would he dare tell her. He tried in vain to conjure up a picture of j her he always s.w the mother whom he had C loved and hated with all the ardor of bis youth. Many things happened tht next day. There was a visit to the hangar of one William Orts, f the aviator, famous for his daredevil exploits. f There were two visit in fact, and the sec- " ond visitor was knocked down for his pains. He had tried to bribe Orts. ,j There were several excited bankers, who f protested against such large withdrawals with out the usual formal announcement But a check was a check, and they had to pay. Hargreave covered a good deal of ground. i but during all this time his right hand never left the automatic in his overcoat pocket . except at those moments he was obliged to sign bis checks. He would shoot and make Inquiries afterward. Far away a young girl and her companion got on the train which was to carry her to ( New York, the great dream city she was j always longing to see. f And the spider wove hla web. . Hargreave reached home at night He pot j the money in the safe and was telephoning 1 when Jones entered and handed his master an unstamped note. ' Where did you get this?" " At the door, sir. I judge that the house Is 1 surrounded." ( Hargreave read the note. It stated briefly that all his movements during the day had been noted. It was known tbat be had col- ( lected a million paper money. If he sur rendered this he would be allowed twenty foor hours before the eal chase began. Other- , wise he should die before midnight Har- greave crushed the note in his hand. They ' might kill him ; there was a chance of tbeir accomplishing that; but never should they touch his daughter's fortune. " Jones, you go to the rear door and 111 take a look out of the front. Wo have an hour. I know the breed. They'll wait till midnight and then force their way in." i Hargreave saw a dozen shadows in the front ' yard. " Men all about the back yard," whispered ( Jones down the hall. i The master eyed the man. ' " Very well, sir," replied the latter, with . understanding. " I am ready." The master 'vent to the safe, emptied it of Its contents, cross tie ball to the bedroom, and closed the door softly behind him, Jonss having entered the same room through another door to befool any possible watcher After a long while, perhaps an tour, the two men emerged from the room from the same d-tors they had entered. So whispered the watcher to bis friends below. " Hargreave is going upstairs." " lt him go. Iet bim take a looi at us from the upper windows. He will understand 4j that nothing but wings will nave him." Silence. By and by a watcher reported tht he hard the scuttle of the roof rattle. " Look !'' another crieJ, startled. A bluish glare came from the roof. " He's shooting off a Roman candle ' They never saw th- man-made bird till It alighted upon the roof. They never thought of shooting at it till it had taken wing! Then they rushed the doors of the house. They made short work of Jones, whom they tied up like a Christmas fowl aod plumped rough ly ino a chair. They broke open the safe, to find it empty. And while the rogues were rummaging about the room, renting their spite upon many a treasure they could neither ap preciate nor understand, a man from the out ttide burnt in. i " The old man is dead and the money is the bottom of the ocean ! We punctured her She's gone !" A thin, inscrutable smile stirred the lips ot the man bound in the chair 10 BX COWTUfUmJ s