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SIO,OOO FOR 100 WORDS. “ The Million Dollar Mystery ” story wRI run for twenty-two consecutive weeks in thin paper. By an arrangement i oi'.h the Thanhoueer Film company it has been made possible not only io r:ad the story in this paper but also to see it each week in the various moving picture theaters. For the solution of this mystery story (10,000 will be given. CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE CONTEST. The prize of (10,060 will be won by the man, woman, or child who writes the most acceptable solution of the mystery, from which the last two reels of motion picture drama will be made and the last two chapters of the story writte by Harold ilacGrath. Solutions may be sent to the Than houscr Film corporation, either at Chicago or New York, any time up to midnight, Dec. I’/. They must bear postoffice mark not later than that date. This allows four weeks after the first appearance „f the last film releases and three weeks after the last chapter is published in t>.. paper in which to submit solutions. A. board of three judges will determine which of the many solutions received is the most acceptable. The judgment of this board will be absolute and final. Nothing of a literary nature will 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 solutic to the mys tery, will be presented in the theaters hav ing this feature as soon as it is prac tical to produce same. The story corre sponding to these motion pictures will ap pear in the newspapers coincidentally, or as soon after the appearance of the pic tures as practical. With the last two reels wilt be shown the pictures of the win ner, his or her home, and other interesting features. It is understood tax the news papers, so far as practical, in printing the last two chapters of the story by Harold MdGrath, will also show a picture of the successful contestant. Solutions to the mystery must not be more than 100 words long. Here aro some questions to bo kept in mind in connection with the mystery as an aid to a solution: No. I—What1 —What becomes of the millionaires Vo. 2 What becomes of the $ 1,000.000 f Vo. S —Whom does Florence marryt Vo. 4 —What becomes of the Russian countessf Vobody connected either directly or in directly with “ The Million Dollar Mys tory ” will be considered as a contestant. SYNOPSIS OP CUAPTIUtS ONii A.NU TWO. Stanley Hargrrenve, millionaire, after a mlraeuloua escape Iron the lieu us the gong of brilliant thieve* known uo the Uluck Hundred, live* the life of a reciuee for eighteen yearn, iiartfreave one nigin a Broadway rentauraut ami there com*< face to face with the Kuoit 1 * leader, iiraine. After .tie meeting, during which neither man apparently recognize* the other, Horgreave hurrie* to bin magnifi cent Kiverdale home and lay* plan* lor making hi* escape from the country, lie write* a letter to the girl*’ acliuul in New Jerney where eighteen year* before he hud myaterioualy left ou the dooratep hi* baby daughter. Florence tiray. Ha also pay* a vinit to the hangar of a daredevil aviator. Braine and members of his band sur round Hargreave** home at night, but an they enter the house the watebera out side see a balloon leave the rout. the safe Is found empty*—the million vvbieh Hargreave wan known to have drawn that day gone. Then some one an nounced the balloon bad been punctured and dropped to the bottom of the sea. Florence arrives from the girls’ school. J'riucess Olga. Bralue’s companion, vis its sad claim* to be a reluUve. Two bogus detective* call, bat tbeir plot Is lolled by Norton, a newspaper man. ICopyrlght: Ull: By Harold HacGruaui CHAPTER 111. THE SAFE IN' THE LONELY WAREHOUSE THE princess did not remain long after the departure oi the police with the bogus detectives. It had been a very difficult corner to wriggle out of, aU because Braine bad added to bis plans after she had left the apartment. But for the ad vent of the meddling reporter the coup would have succeeded, herself apparently perfectly innocent of complicity. That must he the keynote of ail her plans: to appear quite innocent and leave no trail behind her. She bad gained the confidence of Florence and her companion. And she was rather certain that ■be had impressed this lazy-eyed reporter and the stolid butler. She had told nothing hut the truth regarding her relationship. They would find that out. She was Katrina Push kin's cousin. But blood with her counted as naught She had room in her heart but for two things, Braine and money to spend on her caprices. " How long has your highness known Mr. Braine?" asked the reporter idly, as as smoothed sway all signs of ids recent con flict. M O, the better part of a year. Jlr. Har greave did not recognize me the other night That was quite excusable, for when he last taw me I was not more than IJ. My child," she said to Florence, “ build so hopes regard ing your mother. B’ue is doubtless dead. Cpoa sou-e trivial matter —I "do not know wbut it was —she waa confined to the fortreaa. That was seventeen years ago. IVhen you enter the fertres* at at Petersburg, you cease to be." " That l* true enough." “ 1 did not rfetrtl myself to your father. I d.d not care at that moment to abock him with the remembrance of the past la not Mr. Eraiue a remarkable man?" Ail this io her charming broken English. “He is, indeed, ’ affirmed Norton. “ He's s superb linguist, knows everybody and has traveled everywhere. Kt mat er what iul>- Ject you bring up he seems well informed.” “ Come often,” urged Florence. " I shall, my child. And any time you need me, call for me. After all, 1 am nearly your aunt. You will find li f ? In the city far different from that which you have been ac customed to.” She limped down to he- limousine. In trip ping up Norton he had stepped upon her foot benvily. " She is lovely ! ” cried Florence. ” Well, 1 must be on my way, also,” said Norton. “ I am a worldly wise man, Miss Florence. As Jones here. Never go any place without letting him know; cot even to the corner drug store. I am going to find your father. Some one was rescued. I'm going to find' out whether it was the aviator or Mr. Hargreave.” Jones drew in a deep breath and his eyes V SHE. SAID. closed for a moment At the door be spoke to the reporter. " What do you think of that woman?" “ I believe that she has told the truth. She is charming.” “ She is. But for all her charm and truth I cannot help distrusting her. 1 have an idea. J shall call up your office at the end of each day. If a day ccmes without a call, you will know that something Is wrong." “ A very good idea.” Norton shook hands With every one and departed. *'What a brave, pleasant yonng man 11 murmured Susan. “I like him, too; .nd I’d like him for a friend,” said the guileless girL ” It is very good to have a friend like Mr. Nortou,” added Jones, and passed out into the kitchen. All the help had been discharged •r.u upon his shoulders lay the burden of tbs cooking till such time >. hen he could rein state the cook. There was a stormy scene between Braine and the princess that night. "Are you in your dotage?” she asked Vehemently. "There, there; bring your voice down s bit. Where’s the girl? ” "In her home. Where did you suppose she would he, after that botchwork of letting me go to do one thing while you hud in mind another? And an ordinary pair of cutthroats, at that! " "The thought came to me after you left. 1 knew you d recognize the men and under stand. 1 sec no reason why it didn't work.' “It would have been »1! rigtt if you had consulted a clairvoyant.” " IVhat the deuce do ;’ou mean by that?” Braine demanded rough!.-. " 1 mean that then you would have learned your friend the reporter waa to arrive upon the scene at its most vital moment.”. "What, Norton?" “ Ves. The trouble is with you, you have been so successful all these years that you bave grown overconfident. 1 toll you that tber' is a desperately shrew, man somewhere back of all this. Mark me. I do not believe Hargreave is dead, ire Is !a hiding. It mar be near by. He may bave *• oppeu from the balloon before it -eit land. The man th-y picked up may be Orta, the aeronaut. The five thousand might have beep his fee for rescuing Hargreave. Here is the greatest thing we’ve ever been up against; and you ■tart in with every day ne.hodsi" " Uttlo woman, don't let your tongue run •way with you too far.” " I'm not the least bit afraid of you, Leo. Tou need me, und it has never been more apparent than at this moment.’’ "All right. 1 fell by the wayside this trip. Truthfully, 1 realized it five ninutea after the men were gone. The only clever thing I did was to keep the mask on my face. They can’t como back at :ic. but the thing looked so easy; and it would have worked but for N'crton'a appearance. " You all but compromised me. That butler worries me a attic." Her expression lost ,U anger and grew thoughtful. “ He’s always about, somewhere. Do you think llnrgresvs took him into his confider.es?" "Can’t tell. He’s been watched straight for forty hours. H. hasn’t mailed a letter or telephoned to any place but the grocery. There have been no telegrams Some one tn that house knows where the money is, and it’s ten to one that it will bo the girL" " She looks enough like iiatrina to be her ghost” Braine went over to the window and stared up at the stars. “ You have made a good impression on the girl?” with his back still toward her. “ I had her in my arms.” *' Olga, my hat is off to you,” turning, now that his face was again in repose. “ Yonr very frankness regarding 70ur relationship will pull the wool over their eyes. Of course, they’ll make inquiries and they’ll find out that you haven’t lied. It’a perfect. Not even that Dewapaper weasel will see anything wrong. Toward you they will eventually east up and you can act without their even dream ing your part ’a the business. We must not be seen in public any more. This butler may know where 1 ctand evr though h« cannot prove it. Now, I’m going to tell you some thing. Perhaps you’ve long sin.ro guessed it. Katrina was mine till Hargreave—never mind what bis name was then —till Hargreava came into the fold. So sure of her was ( that I used her as a lure to bring him to u*. She fell in love with him, but too late to warn him. I had the satisfaction of seeing him cast her aside, curse her, and leave her. In one tiling she fooled us all. I never knew of the child till you told me." He paused to light a cigaret ’ Hargreave was madly in love with her. He cursed her, but he came back to the houso to .orgive her, to find that she had been seized by the secret police and entombed in tha fortress. I had my revenge. It was I who sent in the information, (radically bogus. But in Russia they never question; they act and forget. So he had i> daughter I ” Hu began pacing the floor, bis hands be hind his back; and the ~oman watched him, oscillating between love am', fear. He came to a halt abruptly a-d looked dowu at her, "Don't worry. Tou have x. rival. I'll leave the daughter to your t-nder mercies. "T he butler,” she sait, " has full powers of attorney to act for Hargreave while ab sent, up to the buy ;ko girl becomes of legal age " ’’ I’ll keep an eye on our friend Jones. From now on, day and right, there will be a cat at the knothole, and 'were mouse! Could }cu make up anything l.ke this girl?" sud fltnly. ” A fair likeness." “Do it. Go to that ship which picked up the man at sea and quiz the captain. Either the aviator or Hargreave is alive. It is im portant to learn which at once. Be very care ful; play the game us only you know bow to play it. And if Hargreave is alive, we win. Tomorrow morning, early. Tears of anguish, and ail that. Sailors are easy when a woman weeps. No color, rcmemOcr; just the yellow wig and the salient features. Now, by-byl’J "Aren't you going to kiss me, Leo?” He caught her hand- “There is a species of Deliiah about you, Olga, a kiss tonight from your lips would snip my locks; aud I need a clear hoatj. Whether we fail or win, when this game is played you shall be my wife." He kissed .hs hand* anti strode out Into the balk The woman gazed down at her small white Lands and smiled tenderly. (The tigress ho* her tender moments!; He meant it] Kbe went into her dressing room and for an hour or more worked over her face nnj bair, till she was certain that if the captain of the ship described her to any one else he could not fail to give a fair description of Florence Hargreave. But Norton reached the captain first. Other reporters had besieged hi.j, but they had suc ceeded in gathering the vaguest kind of in formation. They had no description of Har greave, while Norton had. Before going down to the boat, however, be had delved Into the pas! of the I’riucesa Olga Perigoff. It cost kirn a pocketful of money, ml the cul justified the means. The princess had no past worth mentioning. By piecing thia and that together be became assured that she had told the sim ple truth regarding the relationship to Flor ence’s mother. A cablegram had given him all the facts in her history; there were no gups or discrepancies. It read clear and frank. Trust a Russian secret agent to know what he was talking about. So Norton’s suspicions—and he had enter tained some—were completely lulled to Bleep. And be wouldn’t have doubted her at all ex cept for the fact that Brains had been with her when he had introduced Hargreave. liar gteave had feared Brains; that much the reporter had elicited from the butler. But there wasn’t the slightest evidence. Brains had been in New York for nearly six years. Tho priuceas had arrived in the city hut a year gone. And Braine >vos a member of BMKS 4 ; **';>, fl| j mot the least bit afcaidofvoj, leo. several fashionable clubs, never touched cards, and seldom drank. Ho was an expert chess player «nd a wonderful amateur billiard Ist. Perhaps Jones, the taciturn and inscrutable, bad not told him ail he -new regarding his master’s past. Weil, well; he had in his time untangled worse snarls. The office had turned him loose, a free lunce, to Handle the case as he kiw tit, to turn in the story wheu it was complete. But what a story It was going to ho wbea he cleared it up! The more mystifying it was, the greater tip zest and sport for him. Norton was like u gambler who played for big stakes, and only big stakes stirred bis cravings. The captain of the tramp steamer Orient told him the same tale he bad told tho other reporters: he bad picked up a man at sea. Tho man had been brought aboard totally exhausted. “Was there another body anywhere? 1 " No.” “What became of him?” “ I sent a wireless and that seemed to bother him. It looked to me that he did not want anybody to learn that be had been rescued. The moment the boat touched tbe pier he lost himself in the crowd. Fifty reporters cam* aboard, but he was gone. And 1 could only tell them just what I'm 'elling you.". "He buil money?” "About five thousand.”. " Please describe him.” • 1 The cuptain did so. It van the same de sciiption be bad given to ail thu reporters. Norton looked over the lull at tbe big ware house. " Win It an ordinary ’ alloon?" "There you’ve got me. My Marconi man says tbe balloon part wur. like any other bal loon ; but tbe passenger rar w'us u new busi ness to him. It could be duveu against tbs wind." “ Driven against the wind. Did you tell this to the other chaps?” "Don’t think I dIX Just remembered It. Probably some new Invention; end now it’e at the bottom of tb • sea. Two men, a* L understand it, went off in this contraption. One is gone for good." “I or good,” echoed the reporter gra rely. Gone for good, indeed, poor devil! Norton took out u roll of bills, "'zbere’s two hundred in Mila roll.” “Well?” said tho captain, vastly aston ished. “ It's yours If you will d* me a small favor." “ If It doesn’t get me mixed up with tb* police. I'm oniy captain of a trump; and some of the harbor police have taken a dis like to me. What do yon want me to do? ” " The police will not bother you. Tbla mao Hargreave had some enemies; they want either his life or his money; maybo both. It is -a peculiar cuso, with Russia in the back ground. He might have laid the whole busi ness before the police, but he chose to fight It out himself. And to tell the truth, I don’t believe the police would have done any good.” "Heave her over; what do you want me to do for that handsome roll of money?” “ If any man or woman who is not a re porter comes to pump you tell them the man weut ashore with a packet under hia arm.” *’ Tie a knot in that.” “ Say thut the man was gray haired, dead shaven, straight, with a scar high up on hia forehead, generally covered up by bis hair.” ** That's battered down, my lad- Ho pa.’* " that you saw him enter yonder ware house, and later depart without his packet,l ” Easy as dropping my mudbook.” 'ibuts aIL” Norton gave the enptuln tha money. ** Good-by und utuuy thunk***! ” Don’t mention it." Norton left tbe slip and proceeded to the office of the warehouse, lie upproached the manager’s desk. " Hello, Grunnis, old top I ” Ibe man looked . p from his work surlily. Then bis facu brightened. Norton? What’s brotigi t you here? O, yes; that huiloou business Bit dowu." *’ What kind of a inn •• 1, the csplaia 4 that old booker In the slip?” “Shifty in gun runmn>„ but otherwise as equare as a die. ixioks funny to see an old tub like that fixed up with lreiess; but that has saved bis neck a dozen times when ua was running it into a noose. Not going u» interview me, are you ? ” "No. I’m going to ask you to do me g little favor.” "They always say that. But spin her out. If It doesn’t cost mo my job, It’s yours.". ” W ell, there will bj persons making In quiries about tbe uiystcriou.. aerouuuL Ail 1 want you to say is, that be left a packet with you, that you’ve put It in that sat* till b« calls to claim it." Grunnis nibbled tbe end of bis pen. “Sup posing some one should come und demuud thul 1 open the sufe und deliver?” ’’ All you ve got to do is to tell them to shew the receipt signed by yoi." The warehouse manager laughed. " Got a lot of sense In tbnt Ivory t’oiue of yours. All right. But if anything happens you’ve gjt to come arounJ anil back uie up. Wbat’a it •bout'/” "That I dare not tell you. Thle much, I’m iuylng a trap and i want sum* one 1 don’t know to fall Into it.” "On your way, James. But If you don’t send ms some prize Agbt tickets next week for this. I’ll never do you another favor." In reply Norton took from his pocket two bits of pasteboard and laid them on tbo desk. " I knew you’d bs wuatiug something likq tbU." "Ringside!" cried Grar.nl*. "Tou report ers are Idcky devils 1 " "At U o’clock this afternoon I wont yoa to call me up. If no one baa called, why the game is up. But If some one does com* •round und make Inquiries, don’t fail to let me know.” “ I’ll be here till 5. I’d better call you up then.” Then Norton returned Vo me and Idled abont till afternoon. He went over to Riverdale. Five times he walked up and down the front of the Hargreave place, finally plucked ap his courage and walked to the door. He chatted with -.'iorcnce for a while and found that, for all she might be guileless to the world, she was a good linguist, a fine musician, and talked with remarkable keen ness about books and arts. But unless he roused her, the sadneas of her position al ways Iny written in her face. It was not diOicult for him to conjnre up her dreams la coining to the city and the blow which, like a bolt of lightning from c clear sky, had shattered them ruthlessly. "You must come every day and tall me bow you have progressed,' she said. " I’ll obey that order gladly, whenever II can possibly do it- Al;; visits will always be * l * ort ’" a.Umuul-JKI " That Is not necessary.” ” No,” said Norton in his heart, “ bat It Id wise.” Always he found Joner waiting fog bin at (bo door, always In tho shadow. | ’’Well?” the butler whispered. " I have laid a neat trap. Whether this balloon was the one that left the top of thia house 1 don’t know. But if there were two men in it, one of them liee at the bottom <4 the sea.” , 1 ’’ And the man found? ” The butler's voice yras tense. I "It was not Hargreave. I met Orta bad once, and as he wore a beard then, the cap tain's description did not /ally with my recol lection.” jjj “ Thank God I Bnt what V this trap?” * I propose to find oat by It who is back •f all this, who Ilargrcave’a real enemies are. 1 ! Norton returned to bis rooms, there to await the call from Grannia. He was sorry, bat If Jones would not take him into hia fullest confidence, he must ho>d himseU to blame fog any blunder he (Norton) made. Of coarse, be coaid readily understand Jones' angle ot vision. He knew nothing an’ the general rna of reporters; he had beard of them by rumoe and distrusted them. He was not aware ot the fact that the average reporter carries more secrets in Ms head than a prime min ister. It wur, then, up to him to set about to allay this distrust and gain the man's com. plete confidence. Meanwhile that sar# morning a pretty young woman hoarded the Orient aad asked to be led to the captain. Her eyes were red; she bad evidently been weeping. When the captain, susceptible like all sailors, aow her his promises to Norton tool: wings. "This is Copt. Hagan?” she asked, balling the handkerchief she held la her hand. " Yes, mins. What cun Ido for you?" ll* put his bunds embarrsssadly into bis pocket* —and felt tho crisp bilk. But for that rnagio touch he would bave forgotten hk lines, lie squared bis shoulders. " 1 have every assurance that the man yoa picked up ut sea is my father. I am Flor ence Hargreave. Tell me everything." The captain’s very blundering deceived her, “ And then he bustled down the gang-plank and headed for that warehouse. He hod • package which he was os bender of ai it U bad been dynamite." " Thunk you 1 ” Impulsively. “ A man has to do hk duty, miss A tailor’d always glad to rescue a man at sea,. awk wardly. When she finally went down tbe gang-plank tbe sigh tbe captain heaved was almost as loud as the exbuuat from the donkey engine* which were working cut tbo crates of jemoaW from the hold. "Maybe she Is hk daughter; but two hun dred is two hundred, and I’m a poor sailor* man." Then Grannie came In for bk troubles. What was a chap to do when a pretty girt appealed to him? ” 1 am sorry, miss, but I can’t give yon that package. 1 gave tbe man a receipt and till it U presented to me tbe package must remain in yonder safe. Tou understand enough about business to reallza that I dU not solicit tbe Job, 1: waa thrust upon mo. I’d give a hundred dollars If tb* blame thing wua out of my safe. You say it i* your for tune. That hasu’t been proved. It may ba gi.npowder, dynamite. I’m sorry, bot yoa will have to find your father and bring tka receipt," The young wounn left tb* warehouse, dab bling her eyes with tha sodden handkerchief. " I wonder,” mused Grannls, as be watched her from tbe window, " 1 wonder what the deuce that chap Norton ia up to. Tb* girl might have been tbe man’s daughter. . . , Good Lord, wbat an aaa I am! There wasn’t auy maul" And so he tcached over for the telephone. Immediately upon receipt of the measaga the reporter set hk machinery in motion. On tbe morrow tbe newspapers bad scare beads about an attempt to rob the Duffy warehouse. It appeared tbai the polica bad beet Upped beforehand and wera on tba grounds in time to gather io several notorious gunmen, who, under pressure of the third degree, vowed that they bad been hired and paid by a man in a mask and had not tb# slightest idea wbat be wanted them to raid. Norton was in u fine temp*?. After all bk careful planning, he In-’ gained nothing, absolutely nothing. But wait; ba had g&invd something: tb* bitter enmity of a cunning and desperate man, who hac been forced ta ttrnaln hidden under the pier till almost dawa, [TO ME CONTINUED.] •* • _l