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MILLION DOLLAP MTtPY Marold MacGath
$ 10,000 FOR ONE HUNDRED WORDS
"The Million Dollar Mystery* 9 storp
Util run for twenty •two consecutive weeks
in this paper. 11 y an arrangement with
the Thanhouscr Film company it has been
made possible not only to read the story
in this paper but als* to see it each week
in the various moving picture theaters.
For the solution of this mystery story
SIO,OOO will be given by the Thanhousef
Film corporation.
CONDITION'S GOVERNING THE
CONTEST.
The prize of SIO,OOO will be won by the
man, woman, or child who writes the most
acceptable solution of the mystery, from
uhich the last two reels of motion picture
drama will be modi and the last two
chapters of the story written by Harold
MacGrath.
Solutions may be sent to the Than
houser Film corporation at fi South Wa
bash avenue, Chicago fit., or Thanhouscr
Film corporation, 7/ West Twenty-third
street, New York City. N. Y. t any time up
to midnight, Jan. I\, 1915. This allows
sei'rral weeks after the last chapter has
hern published.
A board of three judges will determine
u hich of the many solutions received is the
most acceptable. The judges arc to be
Harold MacGrath, Lloyd Lonergan, anh
Miss Mao Tince. The judgment of this
flltanlay Unrgirrnvn, ml I lion n Ire, nfler a
mlraniloua earniie from the «len of the
ffnnfK of brilliant thieve* known an the
Black Hundred, 11%ew the life of h re
rlune tor eighteen yearn. ll*rnren%e ac
cidentally meet* limine, lender of the
Blaek Hundred. K Miming limine %%11l
fry to net him, he escape* from him own
home by n balloon. Before escaping he
write* a letter to the sirin' aehool where
eighteen year* before he m j sfrrlmisly
left on the doorstep hla baby daughter,
Florence <■ ray. Tbnt day llargrenve nlno
drawn 91,000,000 from the bank, but It la
reported that thla dropped Into the aea
when the balloon ho escaped In wna
punctured.
Florence nrrlnea from the girla* school.
Countess Olga, llralne'a companion, via-
Ita her and clnlma her on n relative. The
Black Hundred then are a meana of funk
ing Florence a target for their attacks.
They are after the fI.IHW.OOO, and llralne,
their leader, acta frnpa for Florence,
The Vtlnck Hundred after n number of
attempts fall, due to the wlnilom of
f Copyright! 1814: By Rarold M*oOratb.]
chapter xviii.
Tilt MARKED MAM..
ABOUT this time that 1* lo *ay, about
the time the Black Hundred was
stretching out ita powerful secret
arm a toward Norton there arrived in
New York City a personage. Thla person
age waa the Princes* l’arlova, a fabulously
rich Polish Ituaainn, She leased a fine house
near Central park and set about to conquer
social New York. This wns not very diffi
cult, for her title wns perfectly genuine and
she moved in the moat exclusive diplomatic
circles in Europe, which, ns everybody
knows, Is the most brilliant in the world.
(When the new home was completely deco
rated she gave Rn elaborate dinner, and thnt
attracted tho newspapers. They began to
talk about her highness, printed portraits of
her, and devoted a page occasionally in the
Sunday editions. She tiecame something of
a rage. One morning It was announced thnt
the Princess Parlova would give a masked
ball to formally open her home to society:
and it wns this notice (list first brought the
Princees Parlova under Braine’s eyes. Ho
was at the Perigoff apartment at the time.
“Well, well!" lie mused aloud.
“What is It?" asked Olga, turning away
from the piano and ending one of Chopin's
maitirkaa brokenly.
“ Her.- is tlie Princess Parlova in town.”
I “ And who is she? "
j "She is the real thing, Olga; a real
princess with vast ('Mates in Poland with
which the greedy Slav next door has been
very gentle."
"I haven’t paid much atteution to the
social news lately. What about her?"
i "She is giving a masked hall to formally
,open her house on the west aide. And it’a
going to cost a pretty penny.”
, “ Well, you’re uot telling me thla to make
we want to know the princess," said Olga,
petulantly.
*’ No. But Put going to give you a letter
of introduction to her highness."
" O!"
"And you are going to ask her to invite
two particular friends ofgyours to this 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 1*
" Well, then, Olga."
“ That’s better. Now, how w ill it he eas
ier than 1 thtuk?”
" Simply this, the Princess Parlors Is an
oath bonnd member, but baa not I'ecu active
for years.”
" Oho!" Olga waa ail antmatiou now.
“Go on!”
"You will go to her with a letter of In
troduction —Oo! Better thau that, you will
make a formal call and show her this ring.
You know the ring,” he said, paaaiug the
talisman to the countess. “Show this to her
and ah# will obey you iu everything. She
will have no alternative."
“Very good,” replied Olga. “And then
the program is to Insist that she invite Flor
ence and that fool of a reporter to thla bail.
Then what?"
"You can leave that to me."
" Haven’t all these failures !>een s warn
ing r
“ No, my dear. I w»s born optimistic; but
there's a Jinx somewhere iu one of my pock
IYNOPNII OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.
board will be absolute apd final. Nothing
cf a literary nature v ill 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 will ap
pear in the newspapers coincidentally, or
us soon after the appearance of the pic
tures ns practicable. With the last two
reels will be shown the pictures of the win
ner, his or her home, and other interesting
features. It is under stood 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
vith the mystery as an aid to a solution:
No. 1 What becomes of the millionaires
No. 2 What Incomes of the. &1,000,0001
No.fi Whom docs Florence marryt
No. I—What becomes of the Russian
countessf
Nobody conceited either directly or in
directly irith “ The Million Dollar Mys
tery ” will be considered as a contestant.
.lonea, the llargrenve Imfler, and Nor
ton, a newspaper mun.
Concealed above the rendesvoua of the
Black Hundred, a man learns of the re
co%ery of the box from the sen by n
sailor and of Ita subsequent return to
the bottom of the aea, and he quickly
com in it iilch tea the fact to Jones. A dupli
cate box la planted and later secured by
the bund, but before Ita contents are ex
amined the box mysteriously disappears.
Finding himself checkmated at every
turn, llralne endeatora to rnineah the
llargrenve houaehold In the law In order
to gain free access to the house. The
timely discovery of the plot by Norton
sets the police nt the heels of the pack
and results In n mid on the gang 4 * ren
desvous, which, however, proves to be
barren of results.
The Black Hundred begin to fear Nor
ton and plan to dlapose of him. Again
the unnoticed butler shows his hand by
rescuing Norton and defeating Bralne.
And still the golden tinted hank notes
repose tranquilly In their hiding placet
ets. Time after time I’ve had everything
just where I wnnted it, snd then -poof! It’s
pure bald luck on their aide, hot sooner or
later the wheel will turn. And nny chance
that offers 1 hui bound to accept. Some
how or other we may be able to trap Flor
ence and Norton. I want both of them. If
1 can get them snugly away Jonea will be
forced to draw in llargreave."
“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 Braine,
not in quite the heat of tempers. “Pm in
no mood for whims.”
“ Music does not soothe yotir soiil, then? ’’
cynically.
’’ If I had one it might You will call
on the Princess Parlova tomorrow after
noon. It depends upon you what my plana
will be. 1 think you’ll hnve little trouble
in getting into the presence of her high
ness, and once there she wUI not be able
to resist you."
“ i’ll go."
And go she did. The footman in green
livery hesitated for a moment hut 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 Princess Parlova was « handsome
woman vergiug 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 Huger* and smiled
inquiringly toward her guest.
“I confess,” she began, "thnt l recall
neither your face nor yonr name. I am
sorry. Where have I had the honor of
meeting you before?”
"You have never met me before, yotir
highness,” answered Olga sweetly.
“You come ou a charity errand, then?”
’’That depends, your highness. Will you
Is* so goml as to glance at this?" Olga
asked, holding out her palm upon which the
talisman lay.
The princess shrank back, paling.
"Where did you get that?" she panted.
“From the head," was the answer.
“ Aud you have followed me from Rus
sia?” whispered the princess, her terror
growing.
"O, iuk The Black Hundred is as strong
ly organised here as in f*t. Fetersburg. But
we always keep track of the old members,
especially when they stand so high in the
world as yourself,"
"But l waa deceived and betrayed!" ex*
claimed the princes*. "They urged me to
join on the ground that the organisation
was to attempt to bring about the freedom
of Poland."
Olga shrugged. “ You Were rich, highness.
The Black Hundred needed money.”
"And you need it now?" eagerly, be
lieving that she eaw a loophole, "How
much? rt, I will give a hundred thousand
rubies on your promise to leave ut« alone.
Tell me!"
“ I am sorry, your highness, but 1 have
no authority to aceept such an offer. In
deed, my errand is far from being expensive.
All the Black Hundred desires is foot iu
vitation* to this hall which you are soon
to give. That should 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. Not so much as a silver spoon will
be found missing. This is on my word of
hoii-r. und I never hrenk that word, if you
please."
“(Jive me the list,” said the princess,
wearily. " gave you that ring?’
" The head.”
"In Husain?"
“ 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 Hargrenve?”
" A friend of mine." evasively.
“ Poes she belong to the organisation? "
" No.”
“ Then you have some ulterior purpose
in having nte invite her?"
“I have," answered Olga sharply; "but
that does not concern your highness in the
least”
The princess bit her Ups. “ 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 l beg yon
now to excuse me. But If anything happens
to any of my personal friends ——”
“Well?” haughtily from Olga.
“Well, l will put the matter in the hands
of the police."
’• But so long ns your personal friends are
not concerned?” •
"I shall then of necessity remain desf
nnd blind. It is one of the |>cnalties I must
pay for my folly. I wish you good-day.”
“ And also good riddance," murmured
Olga under her breath as she rose aud started
for the hallway.
Thu* it was that when Norton went to
the office the next afternoon he foutid a
broad white envelope on his desk, indiffer
ently he opened the same nnd his eyes bulged.
“ Princess I’arlova request*" and so forth
and so on. Then lie shrugged. The chief
had probably asked for the invitatiou and
he would have to write up the doings, a
phase of reportorial work eminently dis
tasteful to him. He went up to the city desk.
" t'an't you find some one else to do this
stuff?" he growled to the city editor.
The city editor glanced at the card and
crested envelope. “Good lord, man! No
body iu this office had anything to do with
that. What luck! Our Mis* Hayes tried
all manner of schemes, but was r buffed on
alt aides. How the deuce did yon chance
to get one?"
“Search me," said the bewildered Nor
ton.
“if I were you I’d ait tight and take it
all in." advised the editor. " It's going to be
the biggest splurge of its kind we’ve had
in year*. We've been working every wire
we know to get Misa Hayes inside, but it was
no go. This prince** is not onto the gang*
yet. In this country you get into society or
yon don’t through the Sundays.”
“ Hanged if 1 know who wished this thing
on me.”
"Take it philosophically,” said the editor
sarcastically. “The princess won’t l»ite you.
She may even have seen your picture ”
’’Get out!” grumbled Norton, turning
away.
lie would go out and see Florence. On
V nr**
«Sm>si nm*^ 1 ROOM AND MADE PRISONER.*
the way out to lUverdale he came to the
conclusion that the list of the princess fell
short and some friend of his who was help
ing the woman out suggested his name. It
was the only way he could account for it.
But when he learned that Florence had au
invitation exactly like his own ami that
she received it that morning he liecatne sus
picious.
"Jones, what do you think of it?” he
questioned.
“ I think it was very kind of the Conntesa
I’eriguff suggesting your uaiue ami that of
Florence," said the bntler nrhanely.
"Olga?" cried Florence, disappointedly.
*’ It is the only logical deduction I can
make," declared Jones. "They are both
practically Russians."
"And what would yon advise?” asked
Norton.
" Why. go and enjoy yourselves. Fore
warned is forearmed. The thing is, be very
rsrefol not to acquaint any one with tls
character of your disguise, least ot all the
Countess Perigoff. Besides.” Jones added
ami’lng, ” perhaps I may go myself.”
“ Goody 1 I’ve read about masked balls and
have always been crazy to go to one,” said
Florepee with eagerness.
“ Suppose we go at once and pick out some
costumes?” suggest'd Norton.
“Just as soon as I can get my hat on,”
replied Florence, happy as a lark.
“But mind,” warned Jones; “be sure that
you sec 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 his lips.
A happy person is-generally unobservant.
Two happy persons together are totally un
observant of what passes around them. In
plainer terms this lack is called love. And
being frankly in love with each other, neither
Norton nor Florence observed that a taxicab
followed them into town. Jones, not being in
love, was keenly observant; but the taxicab
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
that 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 tl.e cos
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 a pair exactly like these,” said the
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 lisp ho 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 “ Yes, air,” and “ No, sir.” Norton wa;
beginning to learn that this strange man could
put on a dozen kinds of armor and always re>
tain his individuality. And tonight thers
seemed something vaguely familiar about the
inipassave face of the butler, as if he had
seen it somewhere in the past hut 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 catne home
to him with the ahoA of a douche of ice cold
water, t'nder his breath he murmured:
“You’re a wonderful man. Jones; and I tak»
my hat off to you with the deepest admira
tion. Ilang me!”
“What are you mumbling about?” asked
the happy girl at hi* tide.
“Was I mumbling? Perhaps I was going
over my catechism. 1 haven't been out in so
ciety in so long that I've forgotten how to
act.”
“I believe that. We've been in here for
five minutes and you haven't told me that you
love me.”
“ Go«l heavens! “ And bis arms went
around her so tightly that she begged for quar
ter.
“ How strong you are ! n
The splendor of the rooms, the dazzling an- I
ray of jewels, the 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
she 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 Braine
and Olga, both dressed exactly like Norton
and Florence. Another man and woman en
tered presently and Braine spoke to them
for a moment, as if giving instructions, which
was indeed the case.
The band crashed into another dance, and
the masqueraders 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’a
warning touch she was up and away like the
mischievous sprite that she was. Jim r*-
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. <
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.
Norton whispered: “ I have made an im
portant discovery. We must be off at once.
Come with me.”
Florence, without the least suspicion In the
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 the
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 Uf> and began to., wan
der about in search of Florence.
Braine played a clever game that night. lie
and the Russian, still dominoed like Norton
and Florence, ordered the Hargreave anto, by
number, entered it and were driven up to the
porte cochere of the Hargreave 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
picked them up.
It grew more and more evident to Jim that
something untoward had taken place. He
could not find Florence anywhere, in the al
coves, in the side rooms, the supper or card
room. Later, to. his utter amazement, he was
informed that the Hargreave anto had soma
time since been called and its owner taken
home. Some one had taken his place!
His 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 Riverdale. 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?” criea Jones, making
an effort to dispel the drowsiness. “ What
time is it?” suddenly.
" Midnight! Where is she? ”
“Midnight? I’ve been drugged! ” Without
a word Jones staggered off to the kitchens,
Jim at his heels.
There was always hot water, and within
five minutes Jones had drunk two enps of
raw strong coffee.
“ Drugged ! ” he murmured. “ Some one in
the house! I’ll attend to that later. Now,' 1
the chauffeur!
But the chauffeur swore on his oath that he
had left Jim and Florence on the steps of the
porte coehere.
“ Det in! ” said Jones to Norton, now fully
alive. He could not get it out of his head
that some 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 nad
already collected.
Then Jim overheard a woman maaqusesder
say: “ The fool made tl.e bomb too strong.
She is in the room on the second floor. The
game is np if she suffocates ” The voice
trailed off and the women became lost in the
crowd. But it was enough for the ’spotter,
who pushed hi* way roughly through the ex
cited masqueraders and entered the
The rescue was one of the moat exciting to SB
found la the newspaper files of the day.
So Bralne in his effort to scare everybody
from the house had overreached himself one#
more.
(TO BE OOSTtSem]