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SIO,OOO FOR 100 WORDS. “The Million Dollar Mystery ” story V)iU run for twenty-two consecutive weeks in this paper. By an arrangement with the Thanhouser 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 of this mystery story SIO.OOO will, be given by the Thanhouser Film corporation. CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE CONTEST. The prize of SIO,OOO will be won by the man, woman, or child who writes the most acceptable solution of the mystery, from which the last two reels of motion picture drama will be made and the last two chapters of the story icritten by Harold MacGrath. Solutions may be sent to the Than housar Film corporation , either at Chicago or Now York, any time up to midnight, Jan. Vi. This allows several weeks after the last chapter has been published. A board of three judges will determine which of the many solutions received is the most acceptable. The judges are to be [ Harold MacGrath, Lloyd Lonergan, and , Miss Maa Tinee. The judgment of this \'icard will be absolute and final. Nothing a literary nature will bo considered in list decision, nor given any preference in the\talection of the winner of the SIO,OOO prize. The last two reels, which will give the most acceptable solution to the mys tery, &dll be presented tu the theaters having t'his feature as soon as it 4s pos sible to /»’’ oduce the same. The story corre sponding t\‘ these motion pictures will ap pear in t,%s newspapers coincidentally, or as soon af>e. r the appearance of the pic lures as pr.ystieablc. the' last two reels will be s'h'ovn the pictures of the win ner, his or her ts-ome, and other interesting features. It is understood that the news papers, so far at* practicable, in printing the last two chap Ob-s of the story by Har old MacGrath, show a picture of the successful contestant- Soltutions to the mfrztory hm tM not he more than 100 words ItKig- Here we some questions to be kept in mind in connection with the mystery as an aiE to a solution: Ho. I—What becomes of*.the millionaire. f Ho. 2 —What becomes of the SIJMM),OOOT No.S —Whom does FlorcnW marry] Ho. h —What becomes of the Russian countess] Nobody connected cither dtrorOdf or tn directly with “ The Milßon Dakar Mys tery ” will be considered as a contestant. SYNOPSIS OfF PKEVKHJS CHAPTHBS. Stanley Hsrgresre, mlfWoimtrr, sftena miririilouN riViMK- from the don of the gaifg of hrtVxanl thieve knotvn as the ■ Black Hundred, live* the life of s *r elnsr for elghtnn yean, fiaigiesve ac cidentally meets Brillne. leader of the Black Baadrcd. Knowing limine wfH try to get him, be escapes from his own * home by a balloon. Before cacaptng he writes a letter to the girls’ school where efghtreu years before he mysteriously i left oa the doorstep bis baby dangbtr-r, Florence Gray. That day Hargrraw also draws S3,OUCMKK> from the hank, bait It is reported that this dropped Into the Sen trben the balloon he escaped in was 1 punctured. Florence arrives from the girls’ school. | Countess (Ham, Itrirtne's compswfon, vis it* her and elates* to be a n'laflw. Two bogus detecttxes can. Wit their plot in foiled by Norton, it newspaper man. By bribing fbe captxdn of the Orient Norton lays a trap for Bratne and his gang. Camrtm (Hga also vtslfa the Art. enthi eapfntn. and she easily Mh fate ’.-fbe reporter's snare. The pten proxies abortive (hi iisgh Rndnd’s good hn* and otrty bin Tings MI Ista the hands of the police. ! After sassing to tfetfr first aftempt the Bhtrk Hundred-trap Flaw nee. they ask | her for money, hot she maps, agate sassing them. Norton and dhe esnatess rdl oa Flaw etxrr the next dap. omen mane sate nt hvror. The vislfms harvteg gone, .tones I removes a seetton of flooring and from i a cavity tafcr* a box. Pursued by mem bers of the Black Hundred, be rntdn-s to fbe water front and sneered* in drop. * ptng the box into the sea. Fountrss Olga succeed* la breaking the engagement existing between Flor ence Haegreave and Norton. Accomplice* of Brulae sneered In kid imping Florence while she Is shopping and harry her off to sea. She leaps tote the sea and Is picked op In a dared con dition by a party of Ssbeemen. The Black Hundred locate her. and Bradne. disguised as bee father, sneeeeda In tak ing brr bark to sea with him. Florrnrr sets Are to the boat and la reseat d by a ship on which Norton has beta shang haied. Norton and Florence, safely ashore and with no longer say mlsnnderstand- Ing hi SI i« them, take the train for home. The-train I* wrecked and -watting member* of the Hlaefc Hundred carry the Injured Florence to a deserted hot. Norton, who tries to rescue her. Is tied to the raitruwd track*. Florence saves Mm and IHmfly Jones emaes to the ren ter of both. The Black Hundred recover the hat Jones dropped In the ocean. By a clever m*r Norton sad Jones regain It. ' FVeyibtflt: Oil: By HaroM UxcGrath.l CHAPTER Xm. AN AGENT TOO If BtTBBTA. THE Black Hundrol. not ft* individual* but as an anwnizatioo, Sevan to worry. Powerful, anti often reckless and d.ur ine because It was powerful, it heron to look a bunt for some basic cause for afl these failures against Hargreaves 'laughter ami Ha-rgreave’s gbost. They bud tried to put the inquisitive reporter out of the way: they had laid every trap they could think of to.catch th<* mysterious visitor at the Harm-cave home; they bad thrown out a hundred lure® to bring Hargreave oot of his liar, and foiled* and they had lost a down valuable men and several thousand’ dollars. This most end somewhere, ■>od quickly. HORTON WANTED TO A 7SS HEQ.EUf THE ETERNAI JONES MIGHT BZ'mOUMQ The one ray of hope tor the conspirators tay in the fact that Florence bad never seen her father and knew not in the least what he looked like. They determined to try again to this direction. “ Give it ail np,” said the countess to Brainc. “ I tell yon, whatever ia back of all this is stronger than we. are. He knows the organization, and for ail we know he may be a ghost.” ‘ I never go back,” smiled Braine. “'There's something more than the million. There’s the sport of the thing. We’ve been bested in a dozen bouts, and nearly always by a fluke. They have the* breaks, as they say out at the PcSo grounds." “ But the time, and expense when we might be getting results -elsewhere? I tcil yon, Lea, I’m afraid. IFs like always hearing sane one you and never finding anybody when ytyd:-tnrn. I have tofd yim my dnnbte. I have aisp-asked yon to trap that batter, but yoa*w always-' laughed’.” “ Yaw are seeuig, ghxwta, Olga- A new man from Imiy Russia,” sbrugglng, “’tecoming to nigtit. FSridraitly fte bead ower there thinks our eoutrffiatioms of late have not -been op to the mark, and. 4htw an-going to stir ns up. I am willing to wager my soul, boweya-, that first box is t-imply a hoax to befuddle us. EWher- that <ir -iLtirAds ttm key. Rut the rest of fbem insist that fire box mast he--recovered. When I leave this roam tonight I am going over to ItriumWe and stalk all by myself. Pm goteg to gefc-a gtempse of thnl. -inyte.rin as stranger. He carries a sear of mine some where, fur T Irilr him that night.” The door .«pened,'*xitJ'-tke executive chamber heroine silent. “■Ccaait Farofi’”’barwmyf the anirr of Vroon. “ He wffl present Tils credentials^” This formaffiy was executed as prescribed by ti*e rules-, and Count PirrofF was given his ehair. He spdtr- for a while, rather pom pously. “ The head •organizaSon is not satisfied with fti offspring to this Hargreave affair,” he safd to, condusion. “ You arc slow.” “Then you have come with some suggestion* tor the betterment of our business?” asked Braine ironically. \ “ Sir, this is not the hour for flippancy,” said the agent coldly. Braine made a sign with his hand, a sign not observed by every one. fnstontfy Paroff bent lowly. He recognized that the speaker was the actual, not the nominal, head of the American branch. “ Wbat are your suggestions?" inquired the nominal bead from Ms chair, anxious to avoid a clash between the newcomer and the trucu lent master of them aIL “ I have been informed that nargreave’s daughter has never seen her not even a photograph of him," said Paroff, more amia 'bly. “ We are absolutely certain that this is fno case,” said the nominal bead, who was known *n the president. “ But we tried one play in that direction, and it failed miserably.” “ I have the story," replied Paroff. “ft was clumsily done. The ruse was an old one.” Braine was frank enough to admit the truth of this statement, however much he disiikej the aumisfdon. Tie nodded. " I hkve authority to take a hand in this af fair. We cannot waste all summer. Thom govern trek! plans of the fortifications of the Panama are waiting. There's your millions. But the fact remains that it i* the law of the Black Hand red never to step down till abso lutely defeated. The hidden million i* but buff; we must find and break this renegade Ilan-grcave.” “ If-be lives,” sail Brains. *” Who can say one way or ftp other 7” brusquely asked PhrufL “The fact that afl > our plans and schemes Inxve come to naurht should prowe to you that you are not -fighting a ghost. There in but one way to bring out the truth.” ” And that is to make a captive of his daugh ter,” supplemented Braine. “ And we have worked toward that end ceaselessly. We are quite ready to listen to your suggestions, count” “ And ro am I,” thought tin; man with Ms ear to the little bole in the ceiling above. “ And some day, my energetic friend, I’m going i to pay you bark for that bullet.” Count Paroff cleared his voice and laid bla plans before Ills audience. “To act frankly and to tbe open, to go boldly to the Hargreave borne and I, ro'daim myself Hargreave. I can disguise mjxeff in a manner that will at leant temporarily fool the butler.” “ Who has been with his master for fourteen years, knows every move, habit, gesture, inflec tion,” interposed Braine. “ But proceed, count, proceed. You will remember the old adage: too many rooks.” * Ah,” flashed back tbe count, “ but a new cook?" Olga touched Braine’* trm wamingly. “ Yon mean, then, that there ha* Mien talk in St. Petersburg of disposing of some one?” “ A good deal of talk, sir,” haughtily, for getting that he had bent humbly enough but a few moment* gone. “ Very well; go on." Thought tbe man at the peephole above; “ Tliw'h another adage. When thieves fall act, then honest men get their dues. Yes, yes; proceed, proceed!” Paroff went oti. “ 1 shall, tlien, go frankly to the Hargreave house and claim my own. Meantime I have to you the busmen* of luring the butler away. Half an hour is all I need to bring that child here, to break tbe wall that stands between us and what we seek." 03JN5X CVWaoPP- PRESENTS MIS CREOENTHAIJS “ ho tin tt'uoff" murmured'lSraiae. “ Olga, I want you to play a trick on this handsome ddtegate at targe. Pm not very eutfiuadastic ower his talk. I want bhn lmarilfoted. Afl you have to do, ha-says, is to walk into tbe Tlargrcave bouse. «md walk out aystbi. Well, let's you and 1 sec- that be Joes that arid noth ing else. I’ll have no one m-ddling with rny own game.” Some one sneezed, and everybody looked at his neighbor. The sneeze was repeated, but muffled, as if some one was desperately aux ious to avoid sneezing. “It came from above!” whispered Olga “ Don’t look up!” Braine worn cool, lie walked idly across the room to where Vroon sat. “ Very well, Paroff; we give you free rein.” To Vroon he said: "Some one is wati-hing us from the rooia overhead. I thought thnt room belonged to us.” “It docs,” said Vroon stolidly. “ Then how Is It that some one U watching from up there? No excitement. I’m going to bid every one good-night, then I’m going to investigate. When I leave you will quietly •and men to ail the exit* to the building. I want flic man who sneezed, and I want him badly.” Olga departed with Braine, only she imme diately sought the taxi that brought her mid was driven home. It was always understood that wb-n any serious exploit was under way hereabouts she wag to make her departure at •nee. V roan stationed his men at the several exit* and Braine went upstairs. The man who had cm-ozed, however, had vanished ns rompieteiy as if be bad worn that invisible cloak on* roads about in the Persian tales. As a matter of fact, after the second sneeze lie had gone up to the roof, got oat by tie- trap, and jumped rather risky business, too to tin- n"Xt roof and hod clambered down the fire escape of tbe second building, lie was swearing inandiidy. After nil these days of care and planning, after all his cleverness in locating the ren dezvous of the Black Hundred, and now to lose hi* advantage because of an uncontrollable sneeze! He would never dare go back, awl just when he was beginning to pick up fine bits of information! Bo Floreore Harp:reave was geing to have a new father in a day or so? There were some clever rugma among this biwwl of the tea; but their etevernesn was well offset by art equal number of fowls. Yes, flier-■ were some otever rogurs, and to prove litis astiertinn Rnuuc wienred a taxteub and drove - furiously asratE, Ms dintrrartion tlie home of hin itiK-u-ut enemy. lie dropped the cab a blorh or two away imd prr.smfFy at owed hSmtieir away to fin- sununer hwuae nt the left of tbe town. It would l ave hrn a capital Idea—that ia, ff the other man hud nutthougfat of and nutiriimted this very thMig. 80-be imod a public pay station telephone; and Braine waited to vain, waited till tile lights to the Hargreave bn»a:e went out one by our and it become wrapped in Jarlcmsm within and irjoonalrhre witfiomt. Braine won a tfitilosopher. ne rrtnrued to his wiitring taxirtib, drove home, paid file bfli, sutritog grindy, and went to lied. It was going to be n wonderful game of Wind umn’s huff, and it was orator to be sport lo watih-ffttH fnoi I*uroff Minuter into a pit. The next.afternoon Plorence and Norton sat in the Klim Bier bouse t alking of the fntirre. Imsiers are prone to talk of that . As if oay thirig else in fire world ever eqiuih; the pciment.! Tt'cy taftedofutee fltfte jrpartmerito and vara Onus in tbewnmtner and how much ttwy, would *awe mil-of Itin rntay, and a tiusisand itlMf one ofiurr filings wbiHi wunM not interest you at all if I recounted them in detail. But ttiry dM leree each other, ax»l they were gotog to be married; .w«i may he certain of that. They did not <rarre u snap of the finger what .tones thought. They were going to be married, and that was ail there was to it Of course, Flor ence couhln’t touch a F’Uiiy of her father’s money. If i«p, Norton, eoirlffn*? take core of her without ladp, wliy, he wouldn’t be wmfh tlie piHvder to Mow Mm up with. “ But, my dear, you mnni be very eareful,” hi- said. “ Jones aiul I will always be about somewhere. If tiny really get hold of you once, God alone knows what wilt happen. It is not you, it is your poo- father they want to bring out into the open. If they knew where he was they would not bother you in the least.” “ Have I realty a father? Sometimes f doubt. Why couldn’t he steal into the house arid see me, juKt on ne?” “ I’erhaps he dares not. This house is al ways watched, night and day, tiioogh you’ll look in vain to discover any one. Your saltier knows best what he is doing, my dear girl. Ymt see, 1 root him years ago in Chinn ; and when he started out to do a certain thing lie generally did it. He never botched any of hi* plans. Bo we all must wait. Only I’m going to marry you all the same, whether ho like* It or not. The rogues will try to Impose upon you again; but do not pay any attention to notes or personals in tbe papers. You've been through enough. And it was n lucky thing that I was on that freighter that picked you up at sea. I shall always wonder how that yaeht took fire.” “Ho shall I,’’ replied Flnrenee, her brow* drawing together in puzzlement. “ Sometimes I think I muxt have dotu- it. You know, peo ple out of their heads do strange things. I worn to see mysidf as in a dream. And thl* man Braine is a scoundrel!” “Yfes; and more than that, he is the dear friejid of tbe countess. lint understand, you must never let her dream or suspect that you know. By lulling her Into overconfidence some day ahe will naturally grow careless, arr.l then we’ll have tlie in all. I think I understand whut your father’s idea in: not to have them arrested for blnekmail, hut practically to ex terminate them, put them in prison for such term* of years that they’ll die there. When you sec a snake, a poisonous one, don't let it get away. Kill it. Well, I must be off to work." “ And yon be careful, too. You are in more danger than 1 am.” “ But I’m a roan and can dodge quick,” T» laughed." picking up his hat. “ What a horrid thing money is! Ts I hadrfl any money, nobody would bother me.” “ 1 would,” he smiled. He wanted to ltisa liar, but the eternal .Tones might he watching from the windows; and so he putted her hand instead ai.d walked down the graveled path to the street. It was difficult work far Florence to play at friendship. She was like her father; she did not bestow it on every one. She bad given her friendship to the Itusniim, the find, seal htg friendship in iter life, and she had been roughly disillusioned. Bat if the countess onirid act, so could she; and of the two her acting was the most consummate, ‘.he could smile and laugh and jest, nil the while her heart was burning with wratli. Odc day, a week or so after her meeting with Norton in the summer house, Olgu ar rived. benottfnlly gowned, handsome as ever- Thrrc was not the least touch of the adven turess in her makeup. Florence had jnst re ceived some mail, nnd site had dropped ti«e tet ters oil tile library table to greet the ootmUs®. She bad opened them, but had not yet looked at'their contents. They were chatting pleasantly ahont in consequent things, when the maid came in and asked Florence Co come to Miss Susan's room for a moment. Florence excused herself, wondering wlmt. Susan could want. She for got the mail. As soon as sloe was gone the cormtess, cer tain that .lone* was not lurking shout, ptakad up the letters and calmly examined thetr con tents ; and among them she found this re markable itnrimirrit : “Tte.ir Hit ugh tor 1 haws never seen ; I most torn the treasure -oxszr to von. Mart me st Shi file summer honse. Tell no one as my life is hi danger. Ytmr loving (after.” The cmmtroh cmtM have htnghcd /Joint. Wi* saw this man ■Fa/off’s hand; and hire warn the chance to botool and humiliate him a/id send Mm off packing to bis retd and mm erahto eonntry. Kite frail made np once as Fhwewc, nnd site eoufd easily do so ugatai The only thing ttrnt trnnWrd her was the feet ffmt idle did not know whether IHorence had rend the letter or not. Thus, she did not dare destroy ft. She first thought of chang ing the Hock ; then site roneliitVd to drop the letter exnefly where she had fonnd ft and trust to tue.ll. , When Florence returned mho explained that her aiisemx- had liren due to some trifling household affair. v Skid the rtussfon- " 1 mine primarily to not ymt to has tomorrow, where they dance, ts ymr ffke. yon may ask Mr. Norton to go a-Joag. I tic—in to Observe that you two are rtrflrer food of one another*' “O, Mr. Norton is Just a valuable friend.'** returned Florence wlffn a smife that quite deceived the. other woman. “1 stnrll he glad to go to the tea. But I shrfl not promise t» dance;" “ Not wltli Mr. Norton"?” archly. “ Beporters never dance themselves: they uralte other* donee instead!” “I Shull have to tell that,” declared tire countess; and she laughed quite lie neatly. “Then f have sirM Koihefliing witty'?” “ hi deed yon have; and It l* not only witty hot truthful. Pm afraid yon*re deeper than the rest of ns 'nave any idea of.” “Perhaps I jm;" tbought Fhrrenee; “~irt least, dec. pur than yon heflev*.” When the ismntess fluttered down to her rtmoiiHitie Florence hated the siglit of it— and drove away Florence remembered her letters. And when i/oe esme to the one pur porting to f>- from her father, ahe read it rarefnffy. lieut her head in thought, and final ly destroyed the missive, absolutely confident that it was only a trap, nnd not very well onneeived nt that. Norton hnd given h"r plenty of reasons for believing all such let ters to be forgeries. Her father, if he really wished to see her, would enter the house; be would not write. Ah, when would she see fust father of hers, so mysterious, always hovering near, nlwnys unseen? it must have l>een an nmttslng adventure for the countess. To steal Into the summer house and wait there, not knowing if Flo rence had advised .Tones or the reporter. If caught, she had her excuses. Payoff, tlie confident, however, appeared shortly after. "My child!” whispered the man. And Olga stifled a laugh; hut to him it sounded like a nob. “1 am worn out,” he said. “1 am tired of the game of hide nnd seek.” “ Vou will not have to piny the gsme long,” thought Olga. “The money ia hidden in my office down town. And we must go there at onee. When we return we will pack up and leave for Europe. I’ve longed to see you so!" “ You poor fool! And they sent yon t® supersede Leo!” she mused. She played out the farce to the rery end. She permitted herself to be pinioned and jogged; nnd for what urineecaimry roughness she suffered at the hands of Paroff ho would presently pay. He took her straight to the executive chamber of the Black Hundrrel and pushed her into tho room, exclaiming tri umphantly; "Here Is Hargrenve’s daughter!” “Indeed!” snid Olga, throwing hnck her veil and standing revealed in her mask. “Olga!” cried llrninc, laughing. And that was the inglorious end of th® secret agent from Itusaia. [TO UK 005TI.MJHJ.) “ I am tired