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EIGHT THE MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY Harold MacGrath SIO,OOO FOR 100 WORDS. The publication of “ The Million Dollar Myetary " begins today. The itory trill run for twenty-two oomccutive weeks in thit paper. By an arrangement with the Thankouser Film company it hat been made pottible not only to read the itory in thit paper, but alto to tee it each week in the various moving picture thcateri. For the lolution of thit mytiery itory SIO,bOO will be given. CONDITIONS GOVERN JNG THE CONTEST. The prise of SIO,OOO will be won by the man, woman, or child who urittl the i non acceptable lolution of the military, from which the lait two rerh of motion picture drama will be made and the taut two chapteri of the itory written by i/arold MacGrath. Solution* may bo tent to the Than holier Film corporation, either 01 Chi cago or New York, <,ny time up to mid night, Dec. Is. They mutt bear poit cflce mark not latrr than that date. Thii allowt four wcekt after th Ant apprar enot es the lait film ra’eaiei and three weeki after the lait chapter is published in thii paper, in whioh to submit solu tion*. A board of three fudges will determine which of the many solutions received ii the molt acceptable. The judgment of this board will be absolute anil final. Nothing of a literacy nature will be ron named 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 solu tion to the mystery, will be presented in the theaters hating this feature as soon as it is practical to produce same. The story corresponding to these motion pic tures will appear in the newspapers coin cidentally. or as soon after the appear ance of the pictures as practical. IVilfc •Ac last two reels trill be shown the pic tures of the winner, his or her horns, and other interrsting fraturrs. It is under stood that the newspaper.-, so far as prac tical. in printing the last two chapters o 1 the storj by Harold MrcGiath. will also show a picture of the successful con testant Holutinns in the mystery mutt not be more than lUO wordt lo.ty. Here are soma yurt lions to ie kept in mind in connec tion with the mystery as an aid to a lolution: No. I —TFhof becomes of the milUnnalref No. I —What becomes of the $1 .iri’i.OOUt No. B —TT/iotn does Florence mairyf No. b —Wkol becomes of the Hussion toutstent Nobody connected either directly nr in directly with "The Million Delia Mys tery” trill be considered as a contestant. tOepyrighi: 1914; B> Harold MacCrath.l CHAPTER I. a OAAJ. IN TUB NimiT. THERE are few things darker than a country road at night, particularly if one does not know th* lay o( the land. It is not difficult to traverse a known path; no matter how dart it ia, one is able to flad tbe way by tbe aid of a mental photo graph taken in the daytime. Hut stippoeing you have never been over the road it- the day time, that yon know nothing whatever of It* topography, where it dips or rises, where It narrows or forks. You fiad yourself in tbe earns unhappy state of mind as a blind maa suddenly thrust ioto s strange bouse. On* black night, along a certain country rand. In the heart of New Jersey, in the days when the only good roads were city thorough fare* and country highways were route* to limbo, a carriage went forward cautiously. From time to time it anreened like a blnnt noee barge in a beam see. Tbs wheels and springs voiced their anguish continually; for It was a good carriage, unaccustomed to such ruts and hummocks " Faster, faster 1 ” ram* a muffled vole* tram th* interior. " Sir, 1 dara not drive any faster," replied th* eoachmtn. “ I cen’t see the horns*’ heads air, Ist alone the road. I’ve blown out tbe lamps, but I can’t see th* road any better for that." " Let th* horses hav* their heads; they’ll find th* way. It can’t he much farther. You’ll see lights” The coachman sworn to hia teeth. All right. This man who was in such n burry would probably send them all into the ditch. Bav* lor th* few stars shoes he might bare bean driving Beelaebuh’a ooach in th* Bottom less Pit- Blaek velvet, everywhere black vel vet. A wind was blowing, and yet the black ness wa* so thick that It gar# to the coach man th* aennation of mile suffocation. By sad by, through the trees, he saw a flicker of ’ght. It might or might not 1-* th* destination. He crorksd hi* whip recklessly and th* carriage lurched on two wheels Th* man in th* carriage balanced himself carefully, so that the bundle l n htj arm* should not ha nndoly disturbed. Hit arras ached. H* stock bis head out of th window. "That’s the place,” he said. “And when fpu drive up make at little noise as you can.” "Yea. rtr,“ called down the driver. When th# carriage drew up at its Journey*# sod th* man inside Jumped out and hastened toward th* galea B* scrutinised th* sign on an* at the posts This wst the place: Miss Faju-ow’g Poivatx School. The bundle in hie arms stirred and he hur ried up th* path te th# door of the bouse. 11* saiaed th* ancieat kaocker sad struck several times He then placed the bundle on th* steps sad raa hack ta tha waiting carriage, iuto which he stepped. * Off with you 1" "That’s a good word, sir. Maybe we tea ■sake your train.” "Do you think you could find this plant again?” " You couldn’t get me on this pike again, Mr, for a thousand ; not mel ” Th* door stemmed and tbe unknown tank hack against th* cushions He took cat his handkerchief and wiped the damp perspiration from his forshead Th# big burden was oil bis ■led. Whatever happened in th# future, they would never he thie to get him through bl* bggyt- 0a such lor tha tally of hit youth. Tt wao a quarter after 10. r*M# wusaa Fa How bad just returned to tbe reception room from her nightly tour of tbe upper hall* ta nee If all her charges were in bed, where tbe rules of the school confined them after 8:80. It whs at thin moment that she beard tbe thunderous knocking at the door. The old maid felt bor heart atop beating for a moment. Who eonld It bt, at thia time of night? Then the thought came swiftly thnt perhaps the parent of gi id one of be charges was 111 and this was tiie summons. Stilling her fears, she went resolutely to tbs door and opened it. There was no one In sight "Who it it?” she called. No one nr.swerrd. She oupped her hand to her ear. Sho could hear tbe clatter of horaee dimly. " Weil! " she exclaimed ; rather angrily, too. She wax In the net of closing the door when . 3 the. INTU2ODUOTICKMS' WF-.&E MADE-. NOCTON FE.tr BATHE.Q. CHAGUINED. ■ the light from tbe hall discovered to her tin bundle on the steps. Bh* stooped sail touched it. " Good heavens, it 1 * a child 1 ” She picked the bundle up. A whimper cam* from it, a tired little whimper et protest. She ran hack to the raoaplton room. A found ling! And on her doorstep! It was incred ible. What in th* world should eh* do? It would create a scandal and hurt the prestige of tbe school. Hume one had mistaken her select private school for a farmhouse. It wss frightful Then ehe unwrapped the child. It wa* about a year old, dimpled and golden haired. A thumb was in its rosebud mouth tnd its Mue eyea looked up trustfully Into her own. “ Why, you cherub 1 " cried the old maid, * strange turmoil In her heurt. She caught th* child to her breaet, and then for the first time noticed th* thick envelop* pinned to A* ehlld’s cloak. She put the baby into a chair and broka open th* envelop*. " Name this child Floreno# Qray. I will •end annually a liberal aum tor her support and reclaim her on her eighteenth birthday. Th* other half of the incloaed bracelet will identify me. Treat the girl well, for I shall watch yver her In secret." Into th* fised routine of her humdrum life bed com* a mystery, a tantalising, fascinating mystery. She had rood of foundlings left on doorstep* -from paper covered novel# confis cated from her pupils—but that one should he placed upon her own respectable doorstep I Huddenly she smiled down at the child and the child smiled l>*ck. And there was nothing more to be dome except to bow before the de cree* of fate. Like nil prim oid maids, her heart wa* full of unrequited romance, and her* was something ehe might spend lta Hoods up-on without let or hindrance. Already she waa hoping that the man or woman who had left it might never corn* back. The child grew. Regularly each year, upon a certain date, Mia* Farlow received a regis tered letter with money. These letter* cam* from all parts of the world ; always the asm* sum. always the same line —“ I am watching.” Thus seventeen years panaed : and to Suaan Farh-w each year eeemed shorter than the on* before. For she loved thr child with all bar heart. She had not trained young girla all these years without becoming adept in the art of reading the true sign* of breeding. There waa no ordinary blood In F’oronce; the fact was emphasiied by her exquisite face, her small hands aud feet, her epirit and gentle nee*. And now, at any day, tome on* with a broken bracelet might com# for her. Ae th* days went oa th* heart at Susan Farlow grew heavy. “Never mind, aunty." aald Florence | "I shall alwaye come hack to aee you.” Hhe meant It, poor child ; but how waa tbe to know the terror* which lay yonder, beyond th* hortsoat The house of Stanley FTargreavv. In River dale, waa th* house at ao ordinary rich man. Outside It waa simple enough, hut within you leagued what kind of a man Hargreave was. There were rare lepohana and Haruke on th* floor* and tapestries on th* wall*, with her* and there * fin* painting. Th* library itself represented a fortune. Money had been laid out lavishly but nsevr wastefnlly. It was tbs home of a scholar, a dream*., a wide traveler. . la th* library stoed th* master of th* house. riE AUGUSTA HtKALU. AUGUSTA. GA. tuiy wagering some papers w«ci my on the study table. He shrugged at some unpleasant thought, settled hi* overcoat about his shoul ders, took up his hat, and walked from tbe room, frowning slightly. Tbe butler, who also acted in the capacity of valet, always within call when his master was about, stepped swiftly to the ball door and opened it. " I may be out late, Jones,” said Ilargreavo. " Yes, sir.” Ilargreavo stared Into his face keenly, as If trying to pierce the grave face to learn what wag going on behind it. “llow long have you been with me?" “Fourteen years, air.’’ “ Home day I shall need yon.” “ My life has always been at your disposal, sir, since that Dight yon rescued it.” “ Well, I haven’t the least doubt that when I ask you will give.” “ Without question, *ir. It wa* always sd understood." Hargreave’* glance sought the mirror, then the amilelee* face of hia man. lie laughed, but the sound conveyed no sense of mirth; then he turned and went down the step# slowly, like a man burdened with some thought which was not altogether to hu likln;JF'\H* had sent an order for bis car, but had imme diately countermanded It. He would walk till he grew tired, hail a taxicab, and take a run up and down Broadway. The wonderful illu mination might prove diverting. For eighteen year* nearly; aud now It was as natural for him to throw a glance over his shoulder when ever he left th* house as it was for him to breathe. Tlj* average man would have grown careless during ail these years; blit Hargreave was uot an average man ; he was, rather, an extraordinary Individual. It was his life in exchange for eternal vigilance, aud he knew and accepted tbe fact Half an hour later he got into a taxicab and directed th* man to drive downtown us far aa Twsuty-Alrd street and back to Columbus circle. Th* bewildering display of lights. how ever, in uowle* served to lift the sense of op pression that had weighed upon him all day. South of FVirly-avcvmd atrert he di-nbsed the taxicab and stored undecidedly at tl brilliant sign of a famous restaurant, lie - i neither hungry nor thirsty ; but there would be strange faces ta study and music. It wa* aa odd whim. lie had not entered a Broadway restaurant in all these year*. H* was unknown. He belonged to no clubs. Two mouths was the lougset time he Imd ever re mained in New York since th* disposal of his old home In Madison avenue and bis resigna tion from Ms club*. This once. then, he would break the law he had written down for Mai* self. Boldly he entered the restaurant. Home time before Hargreave surrendered to the restles* spirit of rebellion, bitterly to re pent for it Inter, there cuine into thl-t restau rant a man and a woman. They were both evidently well known, for th* head waiter wa# obsequious tnd hnrri*d them over to th# beet table he had left and took thr order himself. The man possessed a keen, Intelligent face. You might hav* marked him for a successful lawyer, for there wa* au earnestness about his sxpreaaion which precluded a Ilf* of idleness. His M* might bar* bean anywhere between 40 and 00. Tbe shoulders were broad and the hands which lay clasped upon the table were alnu but muscular. Indeed, everything about him suggested hidden strength and vitality. Hta companion waa amall, handsome, aud ani mated. Her frequent gestures and mutabl* eyebrows betrayed her foreign Mrth. Her age was a matter of ituporttoe* to no on* but haw elf. They were at coffee whan th* aald : “ There’# a young man coming toward us. He ia loolff lag at you.” Th* man tnrned. Instantly hit far* lighted up with a friendly amU* of recognition. “ Who la It? " aha a#ked. * A chap worth knowing; a reporter Jnat a littl* out of th* ordinary. I’m going to intro doc* him. Yon never can tell. IVe might need him some day. Ah, Norton, bow are you?" " Good evening, Mr. Brains.” Th# reporter, catching sight at a pair at dasallng */•*, ko*l- UUd. “ The Princess Pertgoff, Norton. You're In no hurry, are you ? ” " Not now," smiled the reporter. “Ah 1 ” 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 surt of chap. He possessed that rare accomplishment of talking upon one subject and thinking upon another at the same time. Ho, while he talked gayly with the young woman <Jn varied themes, his thoughts were bnsy speculating upon her companion. He was quite certain that the name Braine was 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 monographs on poisons and the uses of radium, and it was through and by these that the reporter had managed to pick up bia acquaintance. Ho lived well, but in conapteuoualy. Suddenly th# pupils of Braine’s eyes nar rowed; the eye became cold. Over the smoke of his cigaret he was looking into the wail mirror. A man had passed behind him and sat down at tbe next table. Still gazing into th* mirror, Braine saw Norton wave his hand; saw also the open wonder on tho reporter's pleasant face. ‘‘Who Is yonr friend, Norton?” Brain* naked indifferently, his head still unturned. “ Stanley Ilargreave. Met him in Hong kong when I was sent over to handle a part of the revolution. War correspondence stuff. First time I ever ran across him on Broadway •t night. We’ve since had some powwows over some rare books. Queer old cock; brave as a lion but as quiet as a mouse.” “Bookish, eh? My kind. Bring him over.” Underneath the table Braiue maneuvered to touch the foot of the princess. HE. yCttUTIMIZED THEeffIGN XDCG THE PLACfc, " I don’t know," said the reporter dubiously. " Ho might say no, and that would embarrass the whole lot of ns. He’s a bit of a hermit. I’m surprised to aee him here.” “ Try,” urged the princess. “ I like to mee; men who are hermits.” “ 1 haven’t the least doubt about that,” Ae reporter laughed. “ I’ll try; but don’t blame me if I’m rebuffed.” lie left Ae table with evident reluctance and approached Ilargreave. The two shook hands cordially, for the elder man was ratbor fond of this medley of information known a* Jim Norton. “ Sit down, boy; sit down. You’re just A* 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.” “Bah! That’s a hypocritical bluff, and you know It. My friends at the next tabl* have asked me to bring you over." " 1 do not usually care to meet strangers.’’ “Make an exesption this once," said thi , reporter, ' bo had **en Braine's eyes change and s curious to know why tlir appearance of Hargreave m th* mirror had brought about that uietally gleam. Her* wer* two unique men . he deairsd to see them fac* to face. “ This one*. My fault; I ought not to b« her*; 1 feel out of place. What a life, though, you reporter* lead 1 To meet kings and presi dents and great financiers. Socialists and an archists, the whole scale of life, and to alnp the** people on the back aa if the) were every day friends! ” “ Now you'x* making fun of me. For on* king there arc always twenty thick brogaas ready to kick me down the steps; don't forget AaC” Hargreave laughed. “Come, Aen; let a* get it over with." Th# introduction! were made. Norton felt rather chagrined. So far aa ha could sc*, th* two men wer# total strangers. Well, R was all In the gam*. Nine out of ten oppor tunities for the big story were fake alarms; but he wa* always willing to risk the labor these nine entailed for the sake of tbe tenth. At length Brala* glanced at his watch, and the prince** nodded. Adieus were said. In aide the taxicab Braine leaned back with a deep, audible sigh. “What it la?" ah* asked " The luck of the devil’s own.” he aald. "Child of A* Steppe*, tor ) ear# I've down about seas and continents, through valley* and over mountains —for what? For tho eight of the face of that man we hav* Jn»t 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 his neck and kiss him. What did I tell you? Without Norton’s help I would not have been sure. I’m going to leaw* you at your apartment” “The man of the Black Hundred?” aha whispered. “ Tha man who deserted and defied the Black Hundred, who broke his vows, and never paid a kopeck for the privilege; the man who had been appointed for the supreme work and who :an away. In those days w# needed men of his stamp, and to accomplish this end. ..." “ There was a woman,” she interrupted, with a touch of bitterness. “ Always the woman. And she was aa clever and handsome as you are.” “ Thanks. Sometimes ..." “ Ah, yes !*’ ironically. “ Sometimes yon wish you could settle down, marry, and have a family 1 Your domesticity would last about a month.” She made no retort because she recognised the truth of this statement. “ There’s an emerald I know of," be said riiminativeiy. “ 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.” “ That's because, somewhere in the far past, your ancestors were orientals. Here wa are. I’ll see you tomorrow. I must hurry, Good-night," She stood on the curb for a moment and watched th# taxicab till it whirled around a corner. The man held her with a fascina- tion more tecribl* than any jewel. She knew him to be a great and daring rogue, cunning, patient, fearless. Packed away in that mind of his there were a thousand accomplished deeds which had roused futilely Ae polic* of two continents. Braine! She could have laughed. The very name he had chosen waa an insolence directed at society. The snhjeot of her thoughts soon arrived at his destination. flight of stairs curried him into a dimly lighted hall, smelling evilly of escaping gas. He donned a black mask and struck the door with a aeries of light blows; two, then one, than three, and again one. The door opened and he slipped Inside. Hound a Able sat several men, also masked. They were all tried aud trusted rogues; but not one of tham knew what Braine looked like. He alone remained unknown aav* te the man designated aa th* chief, who wa* only Bralne’a lieutenant. The mask waa tto insignia of the Black Hundred, an organisation with all the ramifications of Ae Camorra without their abiding stupidity, rrotn tb* aaaaasination of a king, down to th* robbery of a country port office, nothing waa too grant or too amall for their nets. Their god dwells In tbe hearts of all men and to called Greed. Th# ordinary business over, th# chi*f dis missed A* men, and be and Brain* alon* re mained. “Troon, I hav* found him." said Brairo. “ Thera ora bat few ; which on*?” " Eighteen year* ago, A St. Petersburg.” “ 1 remember. The millionaire's ton. Did he recognise you?" “ I don’t know. Probably he did. But he always had good nerve*. ll# ia being followed at thie moment. Wc shall strike quick , tor if be recognized me he will act quick. H« la cool and brave. Yon remember how to braved na that night in Russia. Jumped bold ly through A* windov at the risk of break ing hia neck. He landed safely; that U th* only reason he eluded us. Millions; and they slipped through our fingers. If I coaid only find some route to his keart 1 The lure we held out to him is dead." “Or In A* fortress, which la Ae some thing. What are your plans?” “ I have ia mind something like AU." And Hargreave was working oat his plana, too; and he was just as much of a gei-ral as Braine. He aat at hit library Abls, the maxillary muscle* in bia jaws working. 8« they had fonnd him? Well, to had broken eh# tow of hi* own making and to must suffeg SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 Braine, who waa Menshl- koff in Huerta, Schwarts in Germany, Mendosa In Spain, Cartucci in Italy, and Do Bois in France; so the rogue had found him out? Poor fool that he had been! High spirited, full of thoc* youthful dreams of doing good in the world, be had joiued what he had be* lieved a greet secret socialistic movement, to learn that ha had been trapped by a band of brilliant thieves. Kidnapers and assassb nators for hire; the Black Hundred; fiend# from Tophet 1 For nearly eighteen years he bad eluded them, for he knew that directly or indirectly they would never cease to bunt for him; and an idle whim had toppled him into their clutches. He wrote several letters feverishly. The last was addressed to Mias Susan Farlow and read: “ Dear Madam : Send Florence Gray to New York, to arrive here Friday morning. My half of the bracelet will be identification. I ncloeed find cash to square accounts.” He would get together ail his available funds, recover bis child, and fiy to tha ends of the world. He would tire them out. They would find that the peaceful dog was a bad animal to rouse. He rang for the faithful Jones. “ Jones, they have found me,” he said simply. “ You will need me, then?" “ Quite possible. Please mall these and then we’ll talk it ovi -. No doubt some ona Is watching outside. Be careful.’’ “ Very good, s,r.” Hasgreave bowed his head in his bands. Many times he had journeyed to the school and hung about the gates, straining his eyas toward the merry groups at young girlsi .Which among them was his, heart of hia heart, blood of his blood? That she might never be drawn into this abominable tangle, he had resolutely torn her out of his life com pletely. The happiness of watching the child grow into girlhood he bad denied himself. She at least would be safe. Only when she waa safe in a far country would he dare tell her. He tried in vain te conjure up a picture of her: he always a« the mother whom he had loved and hated with ail the ardor of hit youth. Many things happened tie next day. Tbea* was a visit to the hangar of one William Orta, the aviator, famous for Ms daredevil exploits. There were two visit In fact, and tbe es> and visitor was knocked down far Mi (tha, He had tried to bribe Orta. There were several excited bankers, sht peotested against such large withdrawals with out the usual formal announcement. But check was a check, and they had to pay. Hargreave covered a good deal of |ieu»Wl. but during all this time Ms right hand never left the automatic In Me overcoat pocket, except at those moments he was obliged to sign his checks. Hs would shoot and male* inquiries afterward. Far away a young girl and bor oMapaolow get on the train which wus to carry bar to New York, tbe great dream oky she wag always )edging to see. And the spider wove Ms web. Hargreave reached home at night He pul the money in the safe and was telephoning when Jones entered and handed hia master as unstamped note. “ Where did you get this?” “At the doer, sir. I judge that toe house ■ surrounded.” Hargreave read the sots. Ik staked briefly that all bis movements during the day had been noted. It was known that he had col lected a million :•. paper money. If he son rendered this he would be allowed twenty four hours before the eel chase began. Other wise he should die before mtdtogbt Bar greave crushed the note In Ms hand. They might kill him; there was a chance of Artt accomplishing that; but never sbeuM they teach his daughter's fortune. “ Jones, you go to th* rear doer and FQ taka a look out of the front W* have an hewn I know the breed. They’ll wait till midnight and then force their way la.” Hargreave saw a doaen shadows In tha finat yard. ”Men all about the back yard,” wMkpesaC Jones down th* hall. The master eyed th* man. “Very well, sir," replied the latter, wttfe understanding. ” I am ready.” Tbe master -vent to the safe, emptied It of its contents, cross the hall te the and closed tha door softly behind Mn« Jones having entered the same room through another door to befool any possible watcher. After a long while, perhaps an boos, the twe rata emerged from the room from the —»» doaaa they had entered. 0* whispered the watcher to his friends below. “ Hargreave is going s petal re.” “ Let him go. Let him take a took at as from the upper windows. He will andatotaat that nothing but wings will save him.” Silence. By and hr a watoher reported that he beard the scuttle of the roof rattle. " Look !” another orled, startled. A bluish glare earns from the root ’W'- “ He’s shooting ofl a Homan candle !* w They never saw thr awn-mads bird till ■ alighted upon the roof. They never though! of shooting at it till it had taken wing! Than they rushed the doors of th* bouse. They made short work of Jones, whom they tied up like a Christmas fowl end plumped rough ly into a chair. They broke open tbe ytfe, to find it empty. And while the rogues ware rummaging about the room, venting their spit* upon many a treasure they oeuld neither ap preciate nor understand, a man tram tha eqfr aide burst In. “The old man is dead and the money la at the bottom of tbe ocean! We punctured best She’s gems!" A thin, inscrutable smile stirred the ll(w «• tha man bourn! In the chair. . , - i to ax coarmu®J ' —«<