f r
- '.IXO l;m!Mi'fli yi'aaw t-v . . ; tii'.(u
$10)00 FOR 100 WORDS.
-Tke Million Dollar Stysttry " slofg
will run for twenty-two CO teeutiva weekt
in tkit pop. By am arrangemtnl wi:h
tkt Tkankouaer film company it hat htm
made possible not only It r:ai tkt ttory
in tkit paper but alto to it tack wttk
In tkt various mocirif picture theater!.
For tkt tolution ol tkit mystery ttory
tlOftVQ till be given.
COSDITIOSS UOVEttS'lSQ TBE
V0STE8T.
Tkt priee of J 10,000 will 6 von bp tkt
man, woman, or child who writet the noil
acceptable tolution of tkt myitery, from
which thu lett two reel! of motion picture
iramt will be made anil tkt last two'
chapter! of tkt ttorp vrittt bp Harold
Uae(hatk.
Solutions map be tent to tke Than
kouser Film corporation, eitker at Chicago
or Jitte York, any time u; to midnight,
Dee. 11. Tktp mutt bear poitofioe mark
not later tkan tkat date. Tkit alloitt four
weekt after tkt firtt appearance f Ike tail
film releasee and tkree wetkt niter tke lait
chapter it publtsked t ... paper in which
to tubmit tolutiont,
A board of three fudge! will determine
whick of tke many tolutiont received it tkt
moif acceptable. Tkt judgment of thit
board will bt absolute and final. Nothing
of a literary nature will be coniiuercJ in
tkt decision, nor given any preference in
tkt telection of tke winner of tke ilOflOO
pritt. Tkt (ai( two reels, which will give
the moit acceptable solutic : to tke "'lit
tery, will bt presented in the theater! hav
ing thit feature at toon at it is prac
tical to product tame. Tke etory ccrre
tpondlng to these motion picture! will ap
pear in the newtpupert coincidentallg, or
at toon after the appearance of the pio
turet at practical. With the last tico
retlt will be shown the pioturei of the I' i'i'
iter, kit or her home, and other interesting
feature!. It It understood (' at the newt
paper, so far at praciival, in printing tht
last tico chaptert of the itorg by Harold
MacOrath, will also show a picture of the
tuccrssful contestant.
Halations to the mystery must not be
more than 100 wordt lonf. Here are
tome questions to be lept in mind in
connection with the mystery ft an aid
to a solution :
A'o.l What becomet of the millionaire
Ko.tWhat becomet of the $l,W)0,O00t
JVo. S Whom dort Florence marryt
A'o. 4 What becomet of the Russian
countess t
Vobody connected either directly or in
directly with "Tke Million Dollar My
tory" will be considered ai a contestant.
(VNOI'SIS OK CIIAPTEHJ CMS AMD
I TWO.
(airy Ilarsreave, millionaire, after
aalraenloue eeeape from tke dca of tho
aag of brilliant tblevea kiom a the
Black llnadred, Uvea Ike life of a retinae
for elakteea year. Ilarnreav one nig at
eater a Broadway veatauraat aad tkero
Maw face to faoe wllk tho (g'l
loader, llralae.
After the meetlaa", daring vtklek
neither maa apparently recoanleea tho
tker, llararrave karrtea to kla raasnia
eeat Rlverdale kome aad laye plaaa for
maklaa kla oaeape from tke country. Ho
writes a letter to tke girl.' ackool la
New Jersey where elghtera yeare keforo
ko aad mjaterloueljr left oa Ike dooratea
kla kabf dauakter, Vlurrace Orajr. Ha
ala
daredevil avAator
Bralae aad aiembera of kla baad aa.
round llarajrrave'a kome at Bight, bat aa
tkrf eater tke koaae the iratckera oat
aide aeo a kallooa leave tke roof. Tko
afe la feaad empty the mlllloa klob
llarcreavo wna kaevra to kava dravra
aoaneed tho kallooa kad keea poaatured
aad dropped to tko bottom of tko aea.
Floreara arrtvea from tko glrla' arbsol.
1'rtaceaa Olga, Bralaa'a compaalna, vla
Ita aad elalau to bo a relative. Tna
boana deteetlvea eall, bnt tkelr plot la
foiled bp Nortoa, a aetfapaper man.
(Copyright; 1U: By Harold MoOrth.)
CIIAFTKK 111.
Till BAia lit TUK LONKLT WillllOUBt
THE rlncaa did not remain lonf tfter
tba departure ot the police with the
bofua detective. It had beep a very
difficult corner to wriggla out of, all
because Itralna bad added to bia plana attar
aha had left the apartment. Hut for tba ad
Tent of the meddling' reporter the coup would
bava auccccded, herself apparently perfectly
lunoceut of complicity. That must be the
keynote of all her plana; to appear quit
Innocent and 1its no trail behind ber. Bh
had tallied the confidence ot Florence and ber
couipautoo. And aha wn ruther certain that
aha bud Impressed tills lacy eyed reortvr and
the atolid butler. She had told nothing but
tba truth regarding her relationship. Tbey
would find that out. She waa Katrlua, I'uab
kin'a couin. lint blood with ber counted oa
naught. Sha had room In ber heart but for
two thing, ltraina aud money to apend oa
her caprices.
" How long hna your highness .known Mr.
Amine? " asked tho reporter Idly, as ha
amoothed away all atgna of bit recent con
Illct "0, the better part of a year. Mr. liar-'
g reave did not recogulio ma the other night
That wa quite eicuauble, for when ha last
anw ma I waa not mora than 12. My child,''
ahe aald to Florence, " build no bopea reghrd
ing your mother. She la doubtless dead. Upon
aome trivial matter I do not know what It
waa aba waa confined to the fortress. That
waa seventeen yeara ago. When you entei
tha fortrcaa at Bt. Petersburg, you ceasa to
be."
"That Is trua enough."
"I did not recall rnyaelf to yout father.
1 did not cars at that moment to shock him
with tba remembrance ol tha past la not Mr.
ltraina a remarkable man? " All this In ber
ibarmlng broken Engllah.
' Ha la, Indeed," affirmed Norton. " He's
' a auperb linguist, knows svorybod) and has
traveled erarywher. No mat'er what sub
ject you bring op ha seems well InformeJ."
"Coma often," urged Florence.
" I shall, my child. Act any time you
need me, call for me. After all, 1 am nearly
your aunt. Xou will fiud ll'i In the city far .
different from that which you bava been ao
customed to."
She limped dowu to he llnousin. In trip
ping up Norton be had stepped upoo ber fool
heavily.
"She la lovely! " cried Florence.
"Well, 1 must be on my way. lao," said
Norton. " I am a worldly wise man, Miss
Florence. Aa Jones here. Never go any place
without letting blm knew ; cot-even tc the
corner drug store. I am going to find your
father. Some one waa rescreJ. I'm going to
find out whether it waa the aviator or Mr.
Hargreave."
Jones drew 'n a deep, breath and his eyes
VV 'fc'f '
tr1.'
closed for a moment. At the door he spoks
to the reporter.
"What do you think r-t that woman?"
" I believe that ahe has told the truth. She
ia charming."
" She is. But Tor all her chnrm and truth
I cannot help distrusting ber. I have an
idea. I shall call up your office at tha end
of each duy. if a day comes without a call,
you will know that something Is wrong."
" A very good Idea." Nortoa shook hands
with every one and cepnrtel.
" What a brave, pleasant young man 1 "
murmured Susan.
"I like him, too; nd I'd l'ke him for a
friend," aald the guileless girl.
" It la very good to have a friend li'ie Mr.
Norton," added Jones, and paased out Into
the kitchen. All the help bail been discharged
and upon bia shoulders lay the burden of tbe
cooking till such time v hen he could rein
state ths cook.
There waa a aturmy acene between Braine
and tbe princess that night.
"Are you In your dotage?" ahe naked
Vehemently.
" There, -there; bring your voice down a
bit. AVhere'a tbe girl?"
"In her borne. Where did you suppose aba
would be, after that botchwork of letting me
go to do one thing while you bad In mind
another? And an ordiuary pair of cutthroats,
at that I "
"Ths thought came to me after you lett
I knew you'd recognize the men and under
aland. I see no reason why it didn't work."
" It would have been all rlgl t if you bad
consulted a clairvoyant."
"What the deuco do ;oa mean by that?"
Bralue demanded roughl;',
" I mean that then you would have learned
your friend the reporter waa to arrive upon
the acene at Ita most vital moment."
"What, Norton?"
" Yea. The trouble la with you, you have
been so successful all these years that you
have grown overcouhdent I tell you that
thcr- Is a deopcrately shrswi' m.tn somewhere
back of all this. Mark nie, I t'o not believe
Hargreave la dead. He la in hiding. It may
be near by. lie may have topped from the
balloon before it -eit land. The man tbey
picked up may be Oits, the ncromiut Tha
fire thousand might have been bia fee for
rescuing Hargreave. Here Is the greatest
thing we've ever been up agalcst; aud you
start In with every day ue.hodsl"
" Little woman, dou't'et your tongue run
away with you too far."
" I'm not the least bit afraid of you, Teo.
You need me, ttnd It haa never been more
apparent than at this moment."
" All right. I fell by tl e waysice this trip.
Truthfully, I realised It firs minutes after
the men were gone. The only clever thing
I did was to keep ths mask en my face. They
can't come back at 11c But the thing looked
so easy; and it would Lave worked but for
Norton's appearance.
" You all but compromised me. That butler
worries me a little." Her expression loot Its
anger and grew thoughtful. " lie's always
about, somewhere. Do rou think Uargreavo
took him into bis confidence J"
"Can't tell. He's beej watched straight
for forty hours. U. basi't mailed a letter
or telephoned to any place but tbe grocery.
There have been no telerama. Sdtne one to
that bouse knowa where tbe money la, and
It'a tec to pne that it will be the girl."
" She looks enough like KatKna to be ber
ghost."
Uralne Tent over to the w.-lo and stared
Up at tbe atnra.
' " You 'have made a good ' Impression oa
tho girl?" with bia back still toward her.
"I bad ber in my arms."
" Olga, my hat ia oft to you," turning, now
that bis Aioe waa again In -repose-. Your
very frankness regarding ; onr relationship will
pull tbe wool over their eyes Of course,
they'll make inquiriea and they'll find out
that you b.iveu't lied. It'a perfect. Not eveu
that newspaper weasel will sea anything
wrong.' Toward you tbey will eventually ease
1 I II
r:
wii
VOU MOST COMB
EVUCYDAVANO ,
HAVE PeQOa&5SE.D.
SHE. SAID .' ,
up and you can act without their even dream
ing your ptirt 'a tho business. .We must not
be seen in public any more; ' This .batter may
know where . stand eve-, though be cannot'
prove It Now, I'm going ta tell you some
thing. Perbups you've long -sinca guessed
it Katrlua was mine till Uarsren.ve never
mind what his nama was then till Hargreave ;
came into the fold. So pure ot her waa I
that I used her as a lure to bring blm to us.
She full In love with bim, but too late to warn
bim. I bad the satisfaction of seeing blm
caat her aside, curse her, and leave ber. Ia
one thing she fooled us all. I never knew of
the child till you told roe." '
He paused to light a cigaret
"Hargreave waa madly in love with her.
He cursed ber, but be come hack to tbe house
to furglve ber, to find that she bad been aelzed.
by tha secret police and entombed in the
fortress. - 1 bod my revenge. U waa I who
sent la the information, fractkally bogus.
But In Ituasla they never question ; they act
and forget. So he had daughter 1"
Ho began pacing the floor bia banda be
hind bia back; and the -,omnn watched him,
oscillating between lore and fear. He camaa
to a bait abruptly atd looked down at her.
"Don't worry. You kave u. rival. I'll
leave the daughter to your tender mercies.
"The butler," she salt, "has full power
of attorney to act for Hargreave while ab
sent, up to the day the jit becomes of legal
age"
" I'll keep an eye on our friend Jones.
From now on, day and -light, there will be
a cut at the knothole, and 'ware mouse! Could
you make up anything like thia girl?" sud
denly. "A fair likeness."
" Do it. Go to that ship which picked up
the man at sea and quia the captain. Kitber
the aviator or Hargreave is alive. It la Im
portant to learn which tit once. Be very cn re
fill ; play the gnme as only you know how to
play it. And if Hargreave Is alive, we win.
Tomorrow morning, early. Tears ot anguish,
and all that. Sailors are easy when a woman
weeps. No color, rcmem'Hsr; Just the yellow
wig and the salient features. Now, by-byl'!
"Aren't you going to kiss nit, I.eo?"
He caught her bands. "There Is a species
cf Delilah about you, Olga. A kiss tonight
from your lips would snip my locks; and I
need a clear hrtid. Whether we fail or win,
when this game Is played you .shall be my
wife." lie kissed the hands and strode out
into tho hall.
The woman ghzed down a' btr small whit
hands aud suilled tenderly. (The tigress ha
her tender momenta!) II? meant It!
She went into her dressing room and for
an hour or more worked over her face od
hair, till she was certain that If the captain
. c' tha ship described her to any one else b
could not fall to give a fair descrptioa of
Florence Ilarrave.
But Norton reached tha captain first. Other
reporters bad besieged biu, but they hod suc
ceeded, la gathering the vaguest kind of in
formation. They had no description of Har
greave, while Norton had. Before going dewa
to the bent, however, he 'lad delved iuto the .
paa: of the Princess Olga I'eilgtff. It . cost
blm a pocketful of money, Vil the end JiiitiCed
v'..rttr
.5 OTy r BX I
1 1 a s s 1
1 y
tbe means. The princess had no past worth
mentioning. i)y piecing tbis aC that together
he became assured that ala bad told the aim
pie truth reg-jrdiBg the relationship to Flor
ence's mother. .A cablegrar )ad given blm
all tbe facts In her- history; there were no
gaps or discrepancies. It read clear and funk.
Trust a Htraala'n secret agent to ioow- what
be was talking about
80 Norton's sunpk-ieoa and be nod enter
tained ome were completely lulled to sreep.
.And be wouldn't have doubted tier at all ex
cept for tbe fact that Brain? bad been with
her when he bad introduced Hargreave. Har-'
grrare had feared Drains; that much tba
reporter bad elicited from tbe butler. But
there- vrasn't the Slightest evidence. Brains
bad. keen in New York for nearly six years.
Tbe princess bad arrive' In the city but
year gone. And Braine was a member of .
I . '''' ' :) Mf I
j ' ' : ' h
jyH? - -Oh:
L 1 7 , : , v ( ;
fKr f J i
I'M NOT THE LEAST BIT AFRAID OF VOU,
several fashionable clubs, never touched card,
and seldom drank. He was an expert chess
player und a wonderful amateur billiurdist.
Perhaps Jones, the tuciturn end inscrutable,
had not tol l him all be .new regarding bis
master's past. Well, well; he had in his time
untangled worse snarls. Tbe office bad turned
him loose, a free lance,- to hnjdle the case as
be suw fit, to turn in the story when it was
complete.
But what a story it was going to be when
be cleared it up! The more mystifying it
was, the greater th seat and rpo.t for him.
Norton was like a gambler who pluyej for
big stakes, and only big stakes stirred bis
rravinga.
Tbe captain of the tramp steamer Orient
told bim tbe same tale he bad told the other
reporters:. he had picked up a man ut sea.
The man had been brought aboard totally
exhausted.
"Was there another body anywhere?"
" No."
"What became of him?"
" I aent a wireless and llat seemed to bother
bim. It looked to me that he did not want
Anybody to lcnro that be had been rescued.
The moment the boat touched the pier h lost
himself in the crowd. Fifty reporters came
aboard, but he waa gone. And I could ouly
tell them just what I'm 'elling you."
" He had money?"
" About five thousand."
" Please describe him."
Tbe captain did so. It aa the same de
scription he hud given to all the reporters.
Norton looked over the rail at tbe big ware
bouse. "Waa it an ordinary Walloon? "
"There you' we got me. My Marconi man
says tbe balloon part wan like any other bal
loon; but the passenger "ar waa a new busi
neas to bim. It could be driven against the
wind."
"Driven against the 'lnd. Did you tell
this to tne other chaps? "
"Don't think I diJ. Just remembered It
Probably some new luvention; and now it'
at the bottom of tht sea. Two men, as 1
understand it, went oil in this contraption.
One i gone for good."
For good," echoed the reporter gravely.
Gone for good, indeed, poor devil ! Norton
took out a roll ot bills. " 1 here's two hundred
in this roll."
-Well?'' said the captain, vastly aston
ished. -
" It's yours if you will do me a small favor."
"If it doesn't get me mixed up with the
'police. I'm only captain cf a tramp; and
some of the harbor police have taken a vlls
llte to me. Wbst do you want me to do
" Tbe police will not bother you. Tbia maa
HargTeave had soma enemies; tbey want
either bis life or his money ; maybe both. It
is a peculiar caae, with Kuaala In tha back
ground. II might have lafd the whole busi
ness before the police, but be cbose to fight
It out himself. ..And to tell tba truth, I doa'l
. believe- tbe polios would have dona any good."
" Heave ber' over ; -what do you want ma
to do for that handsome roll ot money?" '
""If any man or woman who is not a re
porter cornea to pump you tell them tbe maa''
went ashore with a packet under bia arm.1!
"Tie a knot in that"
" Say that the man waa gray haired, clean
shaven, straight, with a scar high up on bia
forehead, generally covered up by bia hair.".
"That's battered down, my raj. Go on."
L-E.O,
" Say that you saw blm enter yonder ware
house, and later depart without bis packet''
" Easy as dropping my mudhook."
" That's all." Norton gave the captain th
money. '.' Good-by and many thanks.?
"Don't mention it."
Norton left tbe slip und proceeded to the
office ot the warehouse. He approached th
manager's desk.
Hello, Grannis, old top I "
Tbe man looked ip from his work surlily.
Then bis face brightened.
"Norton? What's brought you here? 0,
yes; that balloon business Sit down."
" What kind of a ma:-. i the captain of
that old hooker in the al:p?"
" Shifty in gun runninr, but otherwise aa
square as a die. Looks funny to see an old
tub like that fixed up with vireleas; but (hat
has saved bia neck a dozen timea when be
waa running it into a noose. Not going to
interview me, are you?"
" No. I'm going to ask you to do me
little favor."
" They always say that But epln her out
If it doesn't cost me my job, it's yours."
" Well, there will be persons making in
quiries about the mysteriou. aeronaut All
I want you to say is, that be left a packet
with you, that you've put It in that safe till
be calls to claim it."
Grannis nibbled the enc" of bis pen. " Sup
posing some one should erne and demand that
1 open tbe safe and deliver?"
" All you've got to do is to tell them to
show the receipt signed by you."
The warehouse manager laughed. "Got
lot of sense in that ivory dome of yours. All
right. But if anything happens you've got
to come around and back me up. What's it
about?"
"That I dare not tell you. This much,
I'm laying a trap and i want some one I
don't know to fall into it."
"On your way, James- But if yon don't
- rend me sum prize fight tickets next week
tor this, I'll never do you another favor."
In reply Norton took from his pocket two
bits of pasteboard and laid them on the desk.
" I knew you'd be wanting eomething like
this."
" Ringside ! " cried Grannis. " You report
er are lucky levils! " -
"At 3 o'clock this afternoon I want yoa
to call me up. If no one ha called, why
the E.-iro is up. But if some one doea com
around and make inquiries, don't fail to let
me know."
" I'll be here till 5. I'd better call you op
then."
Then Nortoa returned home and Idled about
till afternoon. He went over to Blverdala.
Fire time he walked up and down the front
of the Hargreave place, finally plucked u
bl courage and walked to the door.
He chatted with L'lorenc for a while ano
found that, for all ahe might be guileless to
tbe world, she was a- good linguiat, a fine
musician, and talked wi til remarkable keen
ness about books aud arts. But unless be
- roused ber, the sadness of her position al
ways lay written ia her fr.ee. It was not,
difficult for him to conjure up ber dreams in
' coming to the city and ths blow which, like
a bolt of lightning from a. clear ky, haJ
shattered tbem ruthlessly.
m
"You must corns every day and tell me
how you bare progressed, ' she nld.
"I'll obey that order gladly, whenever I
can possibly do It M. visits will always be
short."
" Tbst is not necessary."
" No," said Norton in bis heart, " but It 1
wine."
. Alwaya be found Joner waiting for him at
. tha door, always in the abadow.
"Well?" the butler whispered.
"I have laid a neat trap. Whether thia
balloon waa the one that left the top of this
house I don't kuow. But if there were two
men in It, one of them lies at the bottom 0.
tho sea."
"And the man found?" The butler's voice
waa tense.
"It waa not Hargreave. I met Orts but
once, and as he wore a beard then, the cap
tain's description did not tally with my recol-.
lection." J
"Thank God! But what s this trap? "
"1 propose to find out by it who is back ;
-of all tills,, who Hurgnave's real enemies are." ;
Norton returned to his rooms, there to await;
tbe call from Grannis. Ho was sorry, hut if ;
Jones would not take him, into his fullest j
-confidence, he must hold himself to blame for j
any blunder he (Norton) made. Of course, ,
ho could readily nbdcrslund Jonca' amjle of j
vision. Ho knew nothing ot the general run 1
of reporters; he had bear J of them by rumor
and distrusted them. He was not aware of
the fact that the average reporter carries ,
more secrets in his head than a prime uiin- (
later. It whs, then, up to him to et about '
to alkiy this distrust and gain the man's com- j
plete confidence. ' 1
Meanwhile - that sine morning a pretty )
young woman boarded tho Orient and asked J
to be led to the captain. Her eyes were red J '
ahe had' evidently been weeping. When the)
captain, susceptible like all suilora, saw her
big promises to Norton tool: wings. V. ,
: " This is Capt. Hagna?" sb asked, balling i
the handkerchief ahe held in her band.
" Yes, miss. What can I do for you?" II
put bis bunds embarrassedly into bis pocket j
and felt the crisp bills.. But for that ningia 1
touch be would have forgotten his lines. lis I
squared bis shoulders. ' '
"I have every assurance that. the man you I
picked up tit sea is my father. I am Fior- )
enc Hargreave. Tell me everything." 1
The captain's very blundering deceived her. I
" And then he hustled down tbe gang-plunk j
and headed for that warehouse. He hud a i
puckage which he was aa tender of aa if it i
bad been dynamite." ;
" Thank you 1 " impulsively.
" A man has to do bis duty, miss. A sailor's
always glad to rescue a man at sea," awk-
warJly. . .
When she finally went down tbe gang-plank :'
the sigh the captain heaved was almost a
loud aa the exhaust from the donkey engines
which were working tut the crates of lemons
from the hold. "
"Maybe she is his daughter; but two hun
dred is two hundred, and I'm a poor sailor-,
man."
Then Grannis cams In for bis troubles.
What was a chap to do when pretty girl
appealed to him?
"I am aorry, miss, but I can't give yoa '
that package. - I gave the man a receipt and '
till it is presented to me the package must '
remain in yonder safe. You understand
enough about business to realize that I dl'J
not solicit tbe Job. It was thrust upon me. ;
I'd give a hundred dollars if tbe blame thing
was out ot my safe. You say it is your for-
tune. That haan't been proved. It may b ;
gunpowder, dynamite. I'm sorry, but JOU
will have to find your father and bring tha (
receipt." )
Tbe young woman left the warehouse, dab
bling her eyes with the sodden handkerchief. T
"I wonder," mused Grannis, a be watchod
her from the window, "I wonder what th )
deuce that chap Norton Is up to. Tht girl '
might have been the man'a daughter. . , , )
Good Lord, what an asa I am! There wasn't '.
any man I ". And so be reached over for th I
telephone. , '
Immediately upon receipt ol the message i
the reporter set bis machinery In motion. J
Oa the morrow the newspapers bad scare- -
beads about aa attempt to rob th Duffy,
warehouse. It appeared that th polic had
beer tipped beforehand and were oa th
grounds in time to gather lo several notorious
gunmen, who, under pressure of the third
degree, vowed that they had been hired and
paid by a man in a mask and bad not th
alightsst idea what be wanted them to raid.
Nortoa waa in a fine temper. After all
bis careful planning, he bar! gained nothing,
absolutely nothing. But wait; h bad gainsd
something: tha bitter enmity of a cunning
and desperate man, who bail been forced to
remain hidden under tbe pier till almost dawn,
TO CO.tTINCn).