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■®MIlliON DDLLAI? MTKTlPY^HaddfeGkh SIO,OOO FOR 100 WORDS. “The Million Dollar Mystery" story wM run for twenty-two consecutive weeks in this paper. 11 yan arrangement lerlh thr Thanhouscr Film company it hag hern nuub: possible not only to rtad thr glory in this paper hut algo to gee it eni'h week tn thr various mot’no picture theaters. For the golution of thig mystiry glory SIO/XKI i riU hr given by the Than hanger Film corporation. COXDITIOXH nOVEItSIKG THU COX TFST. Thr price of SIO,OOO trill hr iron hy the man. woman, nr rltilil oho trriteg tin noil acceptable golution of the mystery. from which the last tvo rrelg of motion picture drama mill he made ami the 1 art. two chapUrg of the glory written hy llarold Modi rath. Solu Hung may he gent In the Than hourar Film corporation, either at t hieayo or Sear York, any t im< up to midnight, Jan H. Thig allows grrrral tcrrkg after the last cltaplrr bag hern published. A hoard of three judgrs will determine, grltirlt of the many solutions received ir the matt aerrptnhU. The judges are to hr, Harold Maetirnth. Lloyd Lonrrpan, and Migg Man Time. The judgment of thig hoard trill hr absolute and final, \uthiny of a literary nature will bn eongitlercd in the densloti, not given any prrferrnee in thr gi lection of the winner of the SIO,OOO price. The lagt two reels, which will give the mngl acceptable golution to thr mys hry. mil be prtgentnl in the thratrrg hai'ing this feature ag goon as it is poii gihlr to prodn< e thi game. The glory rorre gpondmu In these motion pictures will ap pear m the mu papers coincidentally, or as soon after the appearance of thr pic tures ns practicable. II it/i the last two reels will be shown the pictures of the w in ner. his or In r home, and other interesting features. It is understood that the news papers. so far as practicable, in printing the last two chapters of the siory by Har old Mart hath, "ill "Iso sh o u a picture of the successful contestant. flotations to thr mystery must nat hr more than 100 scolds long. Here are some liucstions to hr kepi in mind in connr< lion smth the mystery as an aid to a solution : An. / What becomes of the unUionairef Xo. 1 II hat becomes of the $ 1,000.000 f Xo. .1 Wham does Florence marry f Sn.i Wlint becomes of the llussian COUntessT V ohody connected cither diriiclly or in dirnHy with " The Million Dollar Mys tery" uill be considered as a contestant. rvjfopaia of miEvrotm cHAmm*. Munir; llnrirrmr, mllllnnnlrr, after a miraculous rnrain' from <ln«- ilrn of tße Unan of brilliant Iklrirn kaoan aa the Hlaok llunrirr-4. Uvea Ike life of a rcclusc for elahteea yearn. Har«rr.»c Beet* dentally fnerla llralnr. leader of the Rlaek llonilred. K.owing llraloe will try to Bet him, lie eaeapra from hla own home by a balloon. Hefore enrnpluß he wrltea a letter to the glrln* arhonl, where el||hteen yearn before he myatert onaly left on the doorstep hla baby danßhler, Florence tiray. That day llamreave alao draws oae million dol lara from the bank, bill It la reported that thla dropped Into the aea, when tho balloon he raeaped In «a« puaetlired. Kloreme arrive# from the girls* aehool. Caaatraa lllan. Mralae'a companion, v la ftta her and rlalma to be a relative. Two hoitua deteetlvea rail, lint their plot la foiled by Norton, a newapaper man. By bribing the eaplala of the Orient Norton Inyo a trap for llralnr and hla noma. I ounlena Ulna alao vtaltn the Orl ent'a eapfaln and ahe raally fall# Into the reporter*# anare. The plan proven abor tive throoah llrolnr'a «ood luek. and only hlrrllnaa fall Into the hnnilo of the police. After falling In their Brat attempt the Blneh Hundred trap Klorenee. They oak her for Binary, bat ahe eaeapra, aaaln follloa them. Norm, and the eoaatea. call on Flor ence the oral day. once more aafe at home. The Tlaltara ha,lon gone, Joaea removea a aeetlon of floorlas, and from a cavity taken n bom. Turaurd by mem ber a of the Itlaek Hundred, hr ruahra to the water front and aurreeda In drop ping the ho* Into Ihr nra. limine ennccl vea IBe Idea of alvlaa a eoaehlaa party, to whlrh llatraor to In el ted. Jonea and Norton both an along gad are fortunately oa hand to nnve Florence from beta. Imprtaoned la the eonafry houae to which ahe la lured. Florence goo hararbock riding and to raptured by oae of limine*, men alone the rondadde. Norton reoenea her. They ■re poraurd. however, and the pair make their complete rnenpc only nfler Norton baa exploded a lire on the Inal approoeb |na machine wttb a bullet. t ouateaa Olga, aehemlng to break the engagement bow rmlatlna between Ktar raty Hargrrarr and Norton, tavltea them both to brr apartraeata nod pre ten da to faint la the reporter*, aim#. Floreare appear# la Ike doorway lual at the planned momral, and aa a rmult given .Norton bark hla ring. CTTAPTBR IX. TUB LBAI* IN Tttti DARK. SO fur a* Jon* 1 * was wwwnwd, ho wa* rather plraaed with the turn of affair*. Ttiifc 111 no limp for lovemaking; no timo for ailly, iuipxu<Hiii quarrel* ami hiokcrlor*. in n ltk'h tor# must indulge or dip. Florence no longer rvxlr horseback. au<l Nor ton returned to hi* arouatoined haunt*. where no onr niadr the ((lightest attempt upon hi* lifo. In hi* present atat* of mini hr n-onld harp welcomed it. “ Wh»t’» thr mat tor with Jim?" aakrd thp Bight city rditnr, rawing Ilia eye shade, j " I don't know,” anaartnl thp ropy reader. ** Cup# around a* If hr'd hrrn rating dopp; hun i•■hl into thp hoaa a white ago and nprpr Mopped to aiming ITT." ** Perhaps hr'* mapping out th# front par# for that Margrparp atntf." laugbpd thp copy reader. “ Between you and am apd the text* poat. I dont betierr there peer wa* a tuaa by the name of Margrparp.*' “O, there aa* a chap by that name, all fight lie * dead. V man ean't swim 900 Buie* in rough water, life bu»y or no. They ought to have funeral ferviocs, and let it go at that” “ Hut what was the reason for that fake rablp from Gibraltar allying that Orta wag alive? I don't we any aenae in that” “ The man who pulled it off did. I think, for my part, that both Orta and Hargreiive are dead, and that Hie man pinked up by the tramp steamer Orient was riding aome other balloon,” ” you're -wrong there. The description of It proved that it was Orta' machine. O, Jim pttnbabiy baa got a mnn’a size yam up hia aleeve, but he's a long time in delivering the goods. He’s beginning to mope a good deal. Woman l>ai kof it somewhere. Haven't held down this copy job. for twelve years with out being able to make aome tolerable . - '*•:/ •; r^ : "v : " snr nHHvjf v > mc'Tß—iiywjMg flu ft/ . i jvs ih« - ,&& & guessed. Tim's a star man. When he gets started nothing mil atop him. He covered the Chinese Boxer rebellion tietter Ilian any other correspondent there. I wonder how old he is'/” “ O, 1 should say about thirty-one or two. Here he toRMs now. ’T4O. Jim!” “ Hello! Where’s Ford? He gave me a ticket to the theater tonight, and I want to punch his head. Wlint's drama coming to, anyhow? Gigarots and booac and m item a. ted couples. Cun t they tind good enough things out of doors? <), I know. They eater to a lot of fools who bolioTp that what they see is an expression of high lift* in New York nisi Condon. Ami it’s rot, plain pot It’s merely the scum on the boiling pot Ami any oW housewife would skim it off and chuck It into the slops. Life? Piffle!" “What's tile grouch?" “ Looking for the dramatic job?" “No. Fre just been wondering how far these theatrical managers cun go without slitting the gulden gooao.” Norton rnmght his desk and began nun maging the drawers. He was not hunting for anything; he was merely ptissing away the time. By and by. when the iiasthne no longer served, he pulled hiA chair over to ttie window and sat down, staring at stars sueli as Copernicus never dreamed of. Ships going down to sea, ferries swooping diagonally hither and thither, the clockwork signs: but he took no note of these marvels of light. “Not at hornet" he muttered. He Imd railed, written, telephoned. No use. Tile door remit inert shut, Jones ait awered the telephone, ami the letters came hack. He t>egsn to think very deeply con cerning the Ferigoff woman. Had she played a trick? Had that fainting spelt been bun combe for his benefit as well as Florence s? But lie had not a shadow of a prootf. The thing that puzzled him equally with tills was that all attempts against his life had mirac ulously «*easetl; no aafea tluimlcred iKiwu in front of him. and no autos tried to carve him in two. The only thing that kept him active was tho daily call of .hme* by wtre. Miss Klorenee was well; that was all Jones wa« permitted to say. Heal less! J- Norton spurned hia ohair and walked over to the telephone booth. It ni midmghL He might or might not he able to get Jonea But almost instantly a voice said, “What is it?" “Jones?" "Yrs. Who is It?" “ Norton." * Why, yon called me up not ten minute* ago." " N»« I?" “It waa your voice, a* plain aa day." “What did 1 want?" keen alt at once. Tlie reply did not come inimediately. " You are certain it was not you?" " Wait a moment amt Fll call the editor. He w ill prove to you that Fve been hen* for an h**ur. and that this i* the drat call Fve made. Some one has been imposing on you. What did they orfk you to do?” “ You asked rne to corne down to the offl-e at onee, and T requested you to eome to the house, and you said you eouid not. I de fined to stir.” “What do you think?” * “ Exactly what you're thinking—that they have eome to life again.” “Jones, is Mias Floranee awake?” “ No.” “ Ho you think there is any hope of having her understand what really happened?” “ I am here only to gnard her. I cannot Undertake to read her thoughts.” “ You're not quite in favor of a reconcilia tion ? ” “O. ves. if it went no further. Young people are young people the world over.” FLORENCE AND SUSAN WENT SHOPPING. “What does that mean?" “ That they would not create imaginative heart aches if they were not young. Better let things remain exactly ns they are. When all these trim blew are settled finally, the lesser trouble may be talked over sensibly. Bill this is not tbe time. There is no news. Goodnight." Norton retnrned to his chair, gloomier than With Ilia feet upon the window sill, he stared and stared and dreamed and dreamed till n hand fell npon bis shoulder. It belonged to one of the office boys. “ Note f’r you, sir." Norton read it and tore it into little pieces. Tlwn he rose ami distributed the pieces in tho several yawning waste baskets which strewed the aisle leading to the city desk. “ I’m not wanted for anything? ” he asked. “ No. Clear out! ” laughed the night city editor. “The sight of you is putting every body in the gloom ward.” Norton went down to the street. At the left of the entrance he was quietly joined by a man whose arm was carried in a sling. Ha* navtioned Norton to get into the taxicab. They were dropped in a deserted spot in Itiverdale. On foot they went forward to their destination, which proved to be the deserted hangar of the aviator William Orta. “ 1 want yon to tell Jones that a tug and several divers are at work on the spot where he threw the ehetd.* That's all. Now, doc tor, rewind this arm of mine." The amateur surgeon made a very good job of it; uot for nothing had he folio wed lighting armies to the front. “Did tliey find anything?” " Not up to date. Bat we might if we eared to. Tliey have left a buoy over the spot t Ivey 're exploring. But just now it floats a quarter of a mile to the east of the spot." “ Who were the men in the motor* boat that chased Jones?" “ Only Jones can tell you. Queer old lodger, eh?" " A bit stubborn. He wants to handle it without police assistance." " And lie's right. We are not aiming to arrest any one," sinisterty. “ There can't be any draw to this came. Here, no smoking. Too much gas afloat." Norton put tlie cigarets back into his pocket " What's tlie jeal news?" he de manded. " You would not bring me out here just to rehnnriace that arm. It really did not ueed it. Come, out with it.” “ You're aliarp." “ Ftn paid to he sharp." “ I’ve found where the Black Hundred holds its sessions." “ By George, that is news! " " Tlie room above ia vacant. A little hole in the ceiling, and wha knows what might happen?" , "What do yon want me to do?" " Tell Jones. When the next meeting cornea around IH advise you. I've stumbled upou a dissatisfied member. S*. buck up. aa they say. We've got two ends of the net down, and with a little care we’ll have them all. Now, let me have a hundred.” Norton drew out a packet of bills and counted off five twenties. “ Why don’t you draw the cash yourself?” “ It happens to be in your name, son.” “ I forgot,” said Norton. “ But what a chance for me! Nearly five thousand, all mine for a ticket to Algiers!” A grunt was the only reply. “ I want you to tell me about the Perigoff woman.” “ I know only one thing—that Braine is there every night” “ No!” “ The orders are for you to play the gams just as yon are playing it When we strike, it must he the last blow. All this hide-and seek business may look foolish to you. It’s like that Japanese game called ‘ jo.’ It looks simple, but chess is a tyro’s game beside it Can you find Jour way bark all right? ” “ I can.” “ Well, yon’d better be going. That’s all the light I have, in this togch here. Got a lot Yo do tomorrow and need sleep.” Norton stole away with great caution. His first intention was to proceed straight to the city, hut despite his resolution he found himself within a quarter of an hour gazing np at the windows of the Hargrcave house. “ Not at home! ” Quite unconscious of the fact, he was as close to death as any mortal man might care to be. The policeman, suddenly looming up under the are lamp, proved to be his savior. The lull made Jones doubly alert. He was / ' ’ - Y • positive that they were preparing to strike again. But from what direction and in what manner? He had not the gift of clairvoy ance, so he had to wait; and waiting is a terrible game when perhaps death is bal ancing the scales. It is always easier to make an assault than to await it; and it is a good general who always finds himself prepared. But it made his heart indie to watrh the child. She went about eliecrfuily—when any one was m the room with her. Many a time., however, he had stolen to the door of her bedroom and heard the heart rending Mills, a vain attempt being made to stifle them aiming tbe pilkiws. She was only IS; it was first love; and first loves are evanescent attachments. It hart now; but she would get over it presently. Youth for gets. Time, like water, smooths away the ragged places. The Countess cnlhd regularly. She waa, of course, dreadfnlly sorry over what had happened. She bad heard something about his character: newspaper men weren't always the best This one was a mere fortune hunter; a two faced one, at that. She was never more surprised in her life when he threw his arms around her. And so on, and so forth, half lies and half truths, till the tuirient Jones felt like wringing her neck. From his vantage point the butler smiled ironically. He could read the heart of this FerigntT woman as he could read the page of a book. The affront cry! And all the while he must gravely admit her and pretend when the blood rioted in his veins at the sight of her. But he dared not swerve a single inch from tbe plans laid down. It was a cup-'of hitter gall, and there was flo way of avoid ing the putting of it to hia lips. She ema nated poison as nightshade emanates it, the upas tree. And he most bow when she en tered and bow when she left! Still, she ha 1 done him an indirect favor in breaking up this love busmens. N One afternoon Braire summoned his run about and called upou two pfijss iau# When BRAINE IS THERE EVERY..NIGHT he was ushered into the deserted office of the first he sent his card in. The doctor replied in person. His face was pale and his hands shook. “Good afternoon,” said Braine, smiling affably. The doctor eyed him like a man hypno tized. “ Y'ou . . . you wished to see me on some particular business?” “ Very particular,” dryly. “My car is out side. Will you be so good as to accompany me? ” The doctor slowly went into the hall for his hat and coat He left the house and got into the car with never a word of protest. “Thinking?” said Braine. “ I am always thinking whenever I see your evil face. What devilment do you re quire of me this time?” “ A mere stroke of the pen.” “Where are we going?” To call on another physician of your standing,” significantly. “Itis a great thing to have friends like you two. Always ready to serve ns, for the mere love of it.” “ There’s no need of using that kind of talk to me. Y'ou have me in the hollow of your hand. Why shonid I bother to deny it? I have broken the law. I broke it because I was starving.” “ It is better to starve in freedom than to eat fat joints up the river. Today it is a question of sanity.” “ And you want me to assist in signing away the liberty of some person who is per fectly sane ? ” “ The nail on the head,” urbanely. “ You’re a fine scoundrel! ” “Not so loud!” warningly. "As loud as I please. I am not forget ting that you need me. I’m no coward. 1 recognize that you hold the -whip hand. But you can send me to the chair hefore I’ll crawl to you. Now, leave me alone for a while.” The other physician had no such qualms of conscience. He was ready at all times for the generous emoluments which accrued from his dealings with the man Braine. Tbe Countess IYrigoff was indisposed; so it was quite in the order of things that she should' summon physicians. There is a law in the state of New York —• just or unjust, whichever you please—that reads that any person may be adjudged in sane if the signatures of two registered physi cians are affixed to the document It docs not say that these physicians shall hgve been proved repntnhle. There were, besides the physicians, a motherly looking woman and a man of benign countenance. Their faces were valuable usM*ts. To gain another person's confidence is. perhaps, among the greatest human achievements. A confidence man and woman in the real sense of the word. In your mind’s eye you could see this man carrying the con tribution plate down the aisle on Sunday mornings, nnd his wife Kate pntting her mite on the plate for the benefit of some poor, untidy Hottentot On Tuesday of the following week Florence and Susan went shopping. The chauffeur was a strong young fellow whom Jones relied upon. If yon pay a man well and hold ont fine promiaes, you generally can trust him. As their car left the corner another followed leisurely. This second auto mobile contained Thomas Wendt and hia wife Kate. The two young women stopped at the great dry goods shop near the public library, and for the time twine naturally for got everything hat the marvels which had come from all parts of the world. It is as natural for a woman to btiy as it is for a man to sell. In some manner or other Florence became separated fro® Susan. She hunted through aisle after aisle, but could not find her: for the simple reason that Susan was hunting fbr her. It occurred to the girl that Susan might have wisely concluded the best place , to wSit would be in the taxicab. And so Florence hurried out into the street, into the arms of the Wendt family, who were patiently awaiting her. ~ s The trusted chauffeur had been sent around bo the side entrance by the major do mo. The young lady had so requested, so be said. Florence struggled and caOed tar the po liceman, who came running up, followed hy the usual idle, enrions crowd. “The poor young woman is insane,” said the motherly Kate, tears in her eyes. The benign Thomas looked at heaven. “We are her keepers.” “It is not true! ” cried Fiore nee des perately. “ She has the haftocination that she is the daughter of the millionaire Stanley Hargreave.” And Thomas exhibited his document, which was perfectly legal, so far as appearances went. “ Hurry up and get her off the walk. I can’t have the crowd growing any larger,” said the policeman, convinced. So, despite her cries and protestations, Florence was hustled into the automobile, even the policeman lending a hand. “ Poor young thing! ” he said to the crowd. “ Come, now. move on. I can’t have the walk blocked up. Get a gait on you” He was congratulating himself npon the orderliness of the affai*. when a keen eyed young man in the garb - of a chauffeur touched his shoulder. “ What’s this I hear about an insane woman?” he demanded. “She was insane, all right They had papers to prove it She kept ’ crying that she was Stanley Hargreave’s daughter.” “My God! ” The young man struck his forehead in despair. “You ass, she was Stanley Hargreave’s daughter, and they’ve kidnaped her right under your nose! What was the number of that car? ” “ Cut ont that Rne of talk, young fellah; I know my business. They had the proper documents.” “ Bnt yon hadn’t brains enough to inquire whether thqy were genuine or not! You wait!” shrilled the chauffeur. "I’ll have you broken for this work.” He wheeled and ran back to his car, to find Susan and the countess in a great of agitation. “ They got her, they got her! And I swore on the book that they never should, so long as I drove tbe car.” Susan wept, and the countess tried ia v*>-'- to console her. And when Jones was informed he fright ened even the countess with the snarl of rage which burned across his lips. He tore into tbe hall, seized his hat, and was gone. Not a word of reproach did he offer to the chauffeur. He understood that no one is infallible. He found the blundering police man, who now realized that he stood in for a whiff of the commissioner’s carpet. AD he could do was to give a good description of tbe man and woman. Word was sent broadcast through tbe city. The police had to be informed this time. lAt e in the day an officer whose beat in cluded the ferry landing at Hoboken said be had seen the three. Everything had looked all right to him. It was the mother ly face of the one and the benign counte nance of the other that had blinded him. At midnight Jonea, haggard and with the air of one beaten, returned home. “ No wireless yet? ” asked Norton. “ The George Washington of the North German Lloyd does not answer. Something has happened to her wires; tampered with, possibly.” “So long as we know they are at sea, we can remedy the evil. They will not be able to land at a single port. I have sent ten cables. They can’t get a-vray from the wire. If I could only get hold of the names of those damnable doctors who signed that document! Twenty years." Jones bent his head in his hands, and Norton tramped the floor till the sound nf his footsteps threatened to drive the moaning Susan into hysterics. “It is only a matter of a few days." “ But can the child stand the terrors?" questioned Jones. " Who knows that they may not really drive her insane?” On board the George Washington every one felt extremely sogiy for this beautiful girl. It was a frightful misfortune to be so stricken at her age. “ She is certainly insane,” said one at the passengers, who had known Hargreav# slightly throngh some banking business. “ Hargreave wasn't married. He lived alone.” After the second day out Florence was permitted to wander about the ship as she pleased. A good many of the passengers were mightily worried when they learned that the wireless had in some mysterious way been tampered with after thp boat had mad* the open sea. It wa* impossaMl? to pug about The apparatus must he fixed at sea. And when finally Norton's wireless caught the wires of the <Jeorge Washington he was gravely informed that the young lady re ferred to had leaped the rail off the Banks at night and had been drowned. She ha J not been missed till the following morning, [TO BE CONTINUED.]