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•®MION DDILAI? MYSTM^MMacGhth - SIO,OOO FOR 100 WORDS. “The Million llollar Mystery” story will run for twcnty-tuo consecutive weeks in this paper. Ity an arrangement with the Jlhanhouscr Film company it has been made possible not only to read the story in this paper but also to see it each week in the various moving picture theaters. For the solution 0/ this mystery story SIO,OOO will he given by the 7'hanhouscr Film corporation. CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE CONTEST. The prise of XIO,OOO will he 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 druma will be made and the last two chapters of the story written by Harold Alactirath. Solutions may be sent to the Than houser Film corporation, either at Chicago tr New York, any time up to midnight, Jan. Ib. I his allows four weeks after the fret appearance of the. last film releases and three weeks after the last chapter is published in this paper in which to submit solutions. A board of three judges will determine which of the many solutions received is the most acceptable. 'The )udg<s are to be Harold Mac.llrath, Lloyd Lonergan, and Miss Mar ’I 'inre. 'The judgment of this board will hr absolute and final. Nothing of a literary nature will be considered in the derision, nor given any preference, in the selection of the winner of the $10,001) prise. 7'he 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 In produce the same. The story corre spending to these motion pictures will ap pear in the newspapers coincidentally, or as soon after tie appearance of the pic tures as practicable. With the last two reels will be shown Ihe pictures of the win ner, his or her home, and other interesting features. It is understood that the news papers, so far as practicable, in printing the Inst two chapters of the story by Har old MacGrath, will also show a picture of the successful contestant. , Solutions tn the mystery must not be more than 100 cords long. Here are some questions to be kept in mind In connection with the mystery as an aid tn a solution : No. I What becomes of the millionairet No. 2 What becomes of the $1,000,0001 No.S H'kom does Florence marryf No. i H’Aat becomes of the Hussbn countessf Nobody connected either directly or In directly with " The Million Dollar Mys tery" will be considered as a contestant. (Minify Hargreaves* millionaire, after a miraculous escape from the «len of the Kudu of brilliant thieves known ns the lllnrk Hundred. Ilvrn the life of a fffluw for eighteen yflH. Hargreave one night enter* n llromlwny rmlnurnnt and there comes face to face with the gang’a lender. Ilrnlnr. After the meeting, during which neither ntnn npparenfly recognises the other* llargrenie hurries to his magnlfl cent Itlverdsle home nttd lays plans for making his escape from the country. He writes a letter to the girls’ school la New Jersey where eighteen years before he had mysteriously left on the doorstep his hahy daughter, Florence Gray* He also pays a ilalt to the hangar of a daredevil atlator. Ursine and members of hla hand sur round Ilargrenv r*n home «t night, hut as they e liter the house the watehers out side see a balloon leave the roof. The safe Is found empty-—the million which Hargreave waa known to hate drawn that day waa gone. Then some one an nounced the balloon had been punctured Florence arrives from the girls* school. Countess Olga, llratne’s companion, vis its her and claims to he a relative. Two bogus detcctlvca call, hut their plot ta failed by Norton, n newapaper man. My bribing the captain of the Orient Norton lava a trap for Hralne and hla gaag. « onnleaa Olga alao visits the Ori ent's captain and she easily falls Into tha reporter's aaare. The plan provra abor tive through Hralne'a good luck, and only hirelings fall lato the hands of tha police. After falling In thHr drat attempt tha lllaeh Hundred trap Florence. They ash her for money, hut she escapes, again falling them. Norton and the countess call on Flor enee the neat day, once more safe at home. The visitors having gone, Jones removes a section of flooring, and from • cavity takes a hoi. Furaucd by mem bers as the lllaeh Hundred he rushes to tha water frost aad aneceeda tn dropping tha has lata the aea. Bralne eoneelvea the Idea as giving a reaching party to which Floreace la In vited. Jones aad Norton both go along and are fortunately oa hand to save Florence from being Imprisoned In tha conn try house to which she Is Inrcd. lOnpyr'fH : Ul4i By lUroM MsrOratk.) CHAPTER VII. WnEN all three finally mat at tha Hargrove hotue Florence suddenly took Jones by the shoulders ami kissed him lightly on tha cheek. Jones started back, pale and disturbed. Norton laughed. H* did not feel tha allght aat tainge of Jealousy, but ha was aatan up with envy, aa tha old wivaa ssv. “ You are wondering K I suspect tha Countaaa Perlgoff?" aald Jones. “ I am." Tbia man Jonee waa developing Into « very remarkabla character. The re porter found himaelf aida glancing at tha thin, keen face of thin reoourceful butler. The lobe of the man'a left ear came within range. Nor ton reached for a cigaret, but hia baud* ebook aa he lit it There waa a peculiar little near In tha center of tha lobe. < “Well," aaid Jonea, "I can find no eel dance that aha baa been o 'Beamed In «u) of tbeee affaire." “Too ora suspicious?" _ xe " Of everybody,” looking boldly Into the r#- porter’s eye*. “Of me?” nmlllng. “ Even of myself sometimes.” Conversation dropped entirely after this declaration. “ You're a taciturn sort of chap.” “Am I ?” “ You are. But an agreement la an agree ment, and while I'd like to print this story, I'll not. We newspaper men seldom break our word.” Jones held out his hand. “ Homotimes I wish I'd started life right,” aaid the reporter gloomily. “ A newspaper man is generally improvident. He never looks ahead for tomorrow. What with my special articles to ths magazines, I earn between four and five thousand the year; and I’va never been able to save a cent.” “ Perhaps you've never rmlly tried,” replied Jones, with a glance at his companion. It was a good face, strong in outline; a little careworn, perhaps, but free from any indica tions of dissipation. "If I bad begun life as you did, I'd have ma le real end aolld use of the great men I mat. I'd have made finan ciers help me to Invest my earnings, or sav ings, little as they might be. And today I’d bo living on the income.” “You never can toil. Perhaps a woman might linvo made you think of those things; but if you had remained unattached up to 81, as I have, the thought of saving might never have entered your bead. A man In my pres ent condition, financially, has no right to think of matrimony.” “ It might he the saving of you if you met and married the right woman.” “ But the right woman might be heiress to millions. And a poor devil like mo could not marry si girl with money and hang onto his self respect.” “True. But there are always exceptions to all ririea in life, except those regsrding health. A healthy man Is a normal man, and a normal man has no right to remain alngie. You proved yourself a man thia afternoon, considering that you did not know I occupied the wheel Beat. Come to think It over, you renlly saved the day. You gave me the op portunity of steering ntrnlght for ths polica station. Well, good-by.” “ Queer duck ! ” mused the reporter aa, after telephoning, he headed for his office. Queer duck, Indeed I What a game It wee going to he! And tide man Jonee was playing It like a master. It did not matter that some one else laid down the rules; It was the way to which they were Interpreted. Bralne heard of the failure. The Black Hundred was finding its stock far below pur value. Four valuable men looked up in the Tombs, nwaltiug trial, to say nothing of the seven gunmen gathered in at the old warw (house. Brains began tct suspect that his failures were Use due to chance than to cal culation, that »t last he had encountered a mind which anticipated hla every move. He would have recognised this fact earlier had It not been that revenge had temporarily blinded him, The spirit of revenge never makes for mental clarity. There wee a meeting that night of ths Black Hundred. Four men were told off, and they drew their cbalrt np to Vroon's table for Instructions. Bralne sat at Vroon's elbow. These four men composed the most dangerous quartet in New York City. They were as daring «• they were desperate. They were the men who held up bank messengers and got away with thousands. They had learned to awonp down upon their victims as the hawk swoops down upon the heron. The news papers referred to them as the “ auto ban dits,” and the men took a deal of pride In the furore they had created. Vroon went over the Hargreave case mi nutely ; he left no detail unexplained. Blunt ly and frankly, the daughter of Stanley nar greave mult be caught and turned over to the care of the Black Hundred. It muat he quick action. Four valuable members were In the Tombs. They might or might not weakeu under polica pressure. For the first time In Its American career the organlmtlon stood fnctng actual peril; and Its one poeeible chance of salvation lay in the fact that no one’s face waa known to hla neighbor. He, Vroon. and the boas alone knew who and what meb man was. ltut the plans, the rami fications of the organisation might become public property; and that would mean an end to an exceedingly profitable business. The daughter of ITargreave rode horseback early every morning. Phe sought the country road. She waa Invariably attended by the riding master of a school near by. “ You four will make your own plans.” “ If the should be Injured!" “ Avoid It. If possible.” "We have a free hand!" ” Absolutely " We risk a bad fail from bar bore* If It's a spirited one.” " Pretend a breakdown in the road," inter polated Bralne. “Aa they approach, draw and order them to dismount. That method 9 will prevent any accident.” “ We'll plan it somehow. It look* easy." ” Nothing la easy where that girl Is con cerned. A thousand eyes seem to be watch ing her alighteet move-” “We shan’t leave anything to chance. Hovr many daya will you give us? ” “ Seven. A failure, mind you, will prove unhealthy to all concerned,” with a menace which made the four stir uneasily. The telephone rang. Bralne reached for the receiver. “ A man Just entered the Hargreave house at the rear. Come at once,” wag the message. “Is your car outside?” Braine asked. “We are never without it” “ Then let us be off. No one will stop u» for speeding on a aide street.” Fourteen minutes by the clock brought the car to a stand at the curb a few houses beloyv »| *"' " " * 1 NORTON PUT HIS ARMS' AROUND HER.' the Hargreave home. The men got oot. The watcher ran np. “ He la atill inside,” he whispered. “ Good! Spread out. If anybody leaves that house, catch him. If he rutjs too fast, shoot. We can beat th# police.” The men obeyed, and the watcher ran back to hla poet. He was desperately hoping the affair would terminate tonight. He was grow ing weary of thle eternal vigilwnce; and It was only his fear of the men known aa the boss that kept him at hts post. He wanted a night to carouse In, to be with the boys. The man for whom they were lying In wait was seen presently to creep cautiously round the side of the house, He hugged a corner and paused. They could see the dim outline of his body. The light In the atreet back of the grounds almost made a silhouette of him. lty and by, as If assured that the coast was clear, he stole down to the street " Halt! ” Instantly the prowler took to hla heels. Two shots rang out. The man was seen to atop, stagger, and then go on desperately. "He's hit!” By the time the men reachfd the corner they heard the rumble of a motor. One dashed taick to the car they had left standing at the curb. He made quick work of the job, but he was not quick enough. Still, they gave chase. They saw the car turn toward the city. But, unfortunately for the success of the chase, several automobiles passed, going Into town and tearing it. Checkmate. Bralne was keen enough tonight. “He Is hit | whether badly or not remains to be seen. We can find that out Drive to the nearest drug store and get a list of hos pitals. It's a tgn to one shot that we land him somewhere among the hospitals.” But they searched the hospitals In rain. None of them had that night received a shoot ing case, nor had they heeird one reported. The man had been unmistakably hit. He would not have dared risk the lose of time for a bit of play-acting. Evidently he had kept his head and sought hla lodgings. To call up doctors would be utter folly; for It would take a week for a thorough combing. This waa the aecoud time the man had got away. “ Perhaps I'm to blame,” admitted Brains. “ I should hava advised Miles to stalk him and pot him if hs got the chance. There's a master mind working somewhere hack of all this, and lt'a time I woke up to the fact. But you,” turning to the auto bandit*, “ yon men have your instructions. Mora than that, you have been given a free rein. See that you make good, os by the Lord Harry I I’ll break the four of you like pipe sterna.” “ Wa haven’t had a failure yet,” spoke np one of the men, more courageous than hla companion*. “ You are not holding up a bank messenger this trip. Remember that. Drive me as far as Columbus circle. Leave me on the side street, between the light*, so I can take off this mask.” Later Bralne sauntered Into Pabst and ordered a light supper. This night’s work, more than anything else, brought heme to * 9K §< f; ■ ■ Tn-ie DNJGHTER. OF HARJGREAVE floor hows&vk earvf elverv **Oi*>N)N9 aim tha fact that his luck was changing. For ysars he had proceeded with hia shady occupations without encountering any mem orable failure. He moved in the high world, quits unsuspected. Ha had written books, given lectures, been made a lion of, all the while laughing In hia sleeve at the gullibility of human nature But within the last two weeks he had received serious checks. From now on he mnst move with the utmost cau tion. Some one, was playing his own game waging warfare unseen. A battle of wits? So be It; but Breine intended to play with rough wits, and ha wasn't going to care which way the sword cut. He hateJ Stanley HargTeave with all thp hatred of his soul i the hatred of a man balked In love. And the man was alive, defying him; alive somewhere in this city this very night. With a bullet under hia akin. “Is everything aatistactory, airl" ha heard tha head waiter aay. “ Satisfactory! “ Bratne repeated blankly, “ Yea. air. You struck tha table aa though displeased.” “O! “ Then Bralne laughed relieved!#. "If I struck the tabla, it waa dona uncon sciously. 1 waa thinking.'! •Beg pardon, *lrt Anything elss, air?" " No. Bring me the check.” a • • • • • • “ Your master gives riding lessons? " The groom who had led the horse beck from Hargreave'* eyed his fuestloner rather super ciliously. “ Yes.” The groom fondled th* animal's legs. “ How much is It?" “Twenty dollars for a ticket of five rides. The master le the fashion up here. He doesn’t cater to any but the best families.” “ Pretty steep. Who wa* that young lad/ riding this morning with your master?” “ That’s the girl all the newspapers have been talking about," answered the groom Im portantly. " Actress? " “Actress! I should say not That young woman is the daughter of Stanley Hargreave, the millionaire who waa lost at sea. And it „ won’t be long before she puts her finger in a pie of four or five millions. If you want any rides, you’ll have to talk it ovar with the boss. He may or may not take any more rides. You’d probably have to ride in the afternoon, anyhow, a* every nag la ont la ths morning.” “Where’s ths most popular road?” • Toward the park; but Miss Hargreave always goes along the riverside road. She doesn’t ilk* strangers about.” “O, I eee. Well, I’ll drop In this aftsr noon and as* your master. They say that riding Is good for a torpid llvsr. Have a cigar?” “ Thanks.” Th* groom proceeded Into tit* stables and the affable stranger took himself oft. A free rslnt they could work It to suit themselves. Thera wasn’t the least obstacle In the way. On the face of It, it appeared to bs the simplest Job they bad yet under taken. To get rid of the riding master In some natural way after he and the girt had started. It was lika falling off a log. • Susan,” sold Florence aa sh* cams into breakfast after her exhilarating rids, “ did you hear pistol shots last night?” “ I heard some noise, but I was *0 sleepy I ? didn't try to figure out what It was.” “Did you, Jones?” " Yes, Miss Florence. Th# shots oarae from ths street. A policeman cam* running np later and said he saw two automobiles on the run. But evidently there wasn't anybody hurt. One has to be careful at night now adays. There are pretty bad men abroad. Did you enjoy the ride?” “ Very mneh. But there were spot* of blood on the walk near th# eorner." “ Blood?” Jones canght the back of a chair to steady hlmaelf. “ Yea. So some one was hurt. O, let’s leave thia place! ” Impulsively. “ Let ns go back to Miaa Harlow's. You could find a place In the village, Jones. But if I stay here much longer in this state of unrest I ■hall lose faith In everything and everybody. Whoever my father’s enemies are, they do not lack persistence. They have made two at tempts against my liberty, and sooner or later they will succeed. I keep looking over my shoulder all the time. If I hear u nolle I Jump.” q " Miss Florence, If I thought It wlee, you should be packed off to Miss Fariow's this minute. But not an hour of the day or night passes without this house being watched. I seldom see anybody about. I can only tense the presence of a watcher. At Miss Fariow's yon would be far more like a prisoner than her*. I could not accompany you. I am for bidden to desert this house." “ My father's orders? ” Jones signified neither one way nor the ether. He merely gazed stolidly at the rug. " That blood I’’ She sprang from her chair, horrified. “It was his I He was here last night, and they shot him I Ot” “Thera, there, Miss Florence! The man was only slightly wounded. He’s where they never will look for him.” Then Jones eon tinned, as with an effort: “ Trust me, Miss Floreace. It would not pay to run away. The whole affair would be repeated elsewhere. We might go to the other end of the world, but it would not serve ua In tha Wet. It la not a question of escape, but of who shall vanquish the other. There is nothing to do but ramaln hers and fight, fight, fight. We have put four of them In th* Tombs, to say nothing of the gunmen. That la what we must do—put them In a aaf# place, on* by ont, HU we reach the maater. Than only may wa breaths In safety. But If thay watch, so do wa. Tbsre la nover a moment when help !* not within reach, no matter where you go. So long aa you do not deceive me, no real harm shall befall you. Don’t cry. B* your father’s daughter, aa I am hla aarvant.” “I am very unhappy" And Florenoa threw h«r arm* around Susan and laid ha* bead upon her frirad’a ahouldsr. “ Poor child! " Susan, however, recognized th* wisdom of Jonas' statements. They were safest hers. The morning rides continued. To the girl, who loved tb* open. It was glorious fun. Those msd gallops along th* roads, the smell of earth and ata, tb* riogl* tn tba blood, war* tb* second best moments of her day. Tb* first? She Invariably blushed whan ah* con sidered what these first b«St momenta were. Ha was a brat* youag man. good to look at, wlttyt and always cheerful Why shouldn't ah* like him? Even Jonee liked him—Jones, who didn’t seem to like anybody. It did not matter whether It was wise or not; a worldly point of view was farthest from her youthful thoughts. It waa her own affair; her own heart. Five days later, a* she and the riding maa ter were cantering along the road, enjoying every bit of It, they heard the beat of hoofs behind. They drew np and turned. A rider was approaching them at a run. It was the head groom. The man stopped his horse In a cloud of dust. “Sir, the stables are on first'? *"f “Fire?” All the riding master’s savings were fa vested In the stables. The fact that he hat solemnly promised never to leave FI arenas alone and that he had accepted a generous boons slipped from Ms mind at the thought of fire, a terrible word to uny horseman. He wheeled and started off at breakneck speed, his head groom clattering behind him. Florence naturally wondered which of two course# to pursue: follow them, when she would be perfectly helpless to aid them, or continue the ride and save at least one horse from the terror of seeing flames. She chose the latter. But she did not ride with the earlier sest. She felt depressed. She loved horses, and the thought of them dying In tbos* wooden stables was horrifying. The fire, however, proved to be Incipient. But It wus plainly Incendiary. Some one had set fire to it with a purpose In view. Norton recognized this fact almost as soon as the fire men. He had oome this morning with the Idea of surprising Florence. He was going out on horseback to join her. Hi* spin# grew suddenly eoM. A trap! She had been left alone on the road 1 He ran over to the garage, secured a car, and went humming out toward the river road. A trap, and only by the sheerest luck had he turned up in time. Meantime Florence was walking her mount slowly. For once the scenery passed unob served. She was deeply engrossed with her thoughts, some of which were happy and some of wMch were sad. If only her father could be with her she wpuld be the happiest girl alive. She was brought out of her revery by th* sight of a man staggering along the road ahead of her. Finally he plunged upon his face In the road. Like the tender hearted girl she was, she stopped, dismounted, and ran to the fallen man to give him aid. She suddenly found her wrists clasped in two hands like iron. The man rose to his feet, smiling evilly. She struggled wildly but futilely. “ Better be sensible,” he said. “ I am stronger than you are. And I don’t wish to hurt you. Walk on ahead of me. It will be utterly useless to scream or cry out You tan see for yourself that we are in a deserted part of the road. If you will promise to act sensibly I shan’t lay a hand on you. Do you zee that hut yonder, near the fork in the road? We’ll stop there. Now, march ! ” n Sh# dropped her handkerchief, later her bracelet, and finally her crop, in hope that these slight clews might bring her help. She knew that Jones would hear of the fire, and, finding that she had not returned with the riding master, would Immediately start out in pursuit. She was beginning to grow very fond of Jones, who never spoke unless spoken to, who waa always at .hand, faithful and loyal. From afar came the low rumble of a motor. She wondered if her captor heard it. He did, but his ears tricked him into believing that it «tme from another direction. Eventually they arrived at the hut, and Florence was forced to enter. The man locked the door and waited outside for the automobile which he was ex pecting. He was rather dumfounded when he saw that It was coming from the city, not going toward it. 1 Tt was Norton. The riderless horse told him enough; the handkerchief and bracelet and crop led him straight for the hut. The man before the hut realized by this time that he bad made a mistake. He at tempted to reUnter -he hut and prepare to defend It till his companions hove in sight. But Florence, recognizing Norton, held the door with all her strength. The man snarled and turned upon Norton, only to receive a smashing blow on the jaw. Norton flung open the door. “ Into the car, Florence! There's another car coming up the road. Hurry 1 ” It was not a long chase. The car of the auto bandits, looking like an ordinary taxicab, was a high power machine; ami It gained swiftly on Norton’s four-cylinder. The re porter waited grimly. " Keep your head down ! ” he warned Flor ence. “ I’m going tor take « pot at their tires when they get within range. If I miss, I’m afraid we’ll bare trouble. Under no circum stances attempt to leave this car. Here they come I" { He suddenly leaned back and fired. It was only chance. The manner in which the cars were lurching made a poor target for a marks man even of the first order. Chance directed Norton's first bullet Into fh* right forward tire, which exploded. Going at sixty-odd miles an hour, they could not stop the car tn time to avoid fatality. The car careened wildly, swerved, and plunged down the em bankment into the river. Florence covered her eye* with her hands! and, quit* unconscious of what he waa doing, Nortoh put his arms around her. . [to bx oomnrom] h M