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■©■MEION DOLLAP MYSTM^fladdMacCM
SIO,OOO FOR ONE HUNDRED WORDS.
** The Million Hollar Mystery " story
will run for tw*nty-two consecutive weeks
in thin paper. fly an arrangement uifh
the Thanhouaer Film company it has hern
made possible nod only to read the stoty
in thin paper hut also to ere it ca'di week
in the ration* moving picture theaters.
For the Molution of thin tnystery story
*IO.OOO Mill hr given hy the Thonhouscr
Film corporation.
CONDITION E GOVERNING THE
CO A VEST.
The prize of SIO,OOO tmil he non hy the
man, woman, or child who writes the mo*t
lereptable solution of the my*tery, from
which the last two rerls of motion pit lure
drama will hr made and the lout two
thaplcrs of the story written hy Harold
MacUraih.
Solution* may he *ent to the Than
hauser Film evaporation at ft South ll a*
‘sash avenue, ( f hicago, 111., or Thanhouser
Film corporation , 7/ West Twenty-third
street, Aru York City A. V., any time up
to midnight. lan. Iff, 1916. Thin u I low a
never T ireekn after the. hint chapter haa
lean published.
A hoard of three judges will determine
which of the many solutions received in the.
most acceptable. The judges are to he
Harold Martfrath, Lloyd honergan, and
Minn Mac Tincc. The judgment of thin
fllanlfy llarrrravf. millionaire, nf!*r aa
•Hrni'uloii* e*«*H|?c from Ihr «lrn of Ihr
fans of hHIIInnf tblrvm known aa Hi**
It lurk Hundred, lUfa fhr Ilf** of n rf
rliiftr for rlghlrrn yrnm. Ilargrravr ■ «•-
rldrnlally mrrli Hrnin**, lender of the
lllark II if iiflrr ft. HmmlnK llrnlnr will
try so KH him. hr rai'N|ira from bln own
homr I*t n l*wMoon. Before rN('N|ilnu bn
wrllra a letter to fhr itlrU’ wrhool whrrr
eighteen yrnrn before hr myntr rtounljr
Irfl on Ihr (loorHlrp hi* bnby daughter,
I l»H-ni r lirajr. Thai flay llargrea%#
wlmo tlrawa from thr bank, lint
If !■ rrporlril thiit thlx dropped Into Iho
*ra wbi-n thr balloon hr earaprd In waa
jinnettired.
Florrnrr arrlt'M from Ihr girl** arhool.
Countraa Olga. Ilralne’* companion, ala
lia brr and rlalma hrr aa a rrlallar.
Two hogua ilHrrllvra rail* but I heir plot
la foiled Hy Norton, a newapaprr man.
After falling la tbelr flral attrmpl. the
Vllark Hundred trap Floreaee. They aak
her for money, but ahr ear a pea. nKaln
foiling thrm.
>nrlnn and the eounfean rail on rior
finr the neat day. ware more aafe at
home. The xlaltora ha%lng gone M Jonr*
rentotra n nertlon of floorlna aail from
a ea%lty take* a bill. I’lirauril hy mem
hera of the Black llundrrd. he niahra to
the water front ami aur«*eeda la drop
ping; the box Into the arn.
Arrompllora of Vlrala# kidnap Florence
and hurry her off I* arn. *hr lenpa over
board and la picked up la a daxril con
dition by flahcrmrn. Braine, dlagulaed
a« her father, taken her bark to am with
him. Florence aria Are to tbe boat and
tOopyWght: 1014: B> Harold MncCrath.j
CHArTBR XVII.
■rrriKu tbaph nm Norms.
Ti HE Black Hundred possessed three sep
• rale council chambers, always In prep
* aration. lienee, when the one In use
was burned down, they transferred
their conference# to the second council cham
ber appointed identically the same as the first.
Aa inferred, the organisation owned con
siderable wealth, and they leased the bulld
infa in which they had their council cham
bers. leased them for a number of years, and
refurnished them secretly with trap floors,
doom, and panels, and all that apparatus so
necessary to men who are sometimes com
pelled to make a quick getaway.
When the Atlantic City att ropt waa
turned into a fiasco by Norton's timely ar
rival. Itralne determined once more to rid
himself of this meddling reporter. He knew
too ranch, in the first place, and In the sec
ond place Itralne wanted to learn whether
the reporter bore a charmed life or waa that
ordinarily lucky. He would attempt nothin*
delicate, requiring finesse. He would simply
waylay Norton and make a commonplace end
of hint. He would diaapprar, this reporter,
that would lw all; and when they found him
he might nr might not he recognizable.
So flraine called a conference, and he and
hia fellow rogues went over a number of
expediencies, and finally agreed that the beat
thing to do would be to send a man to the
newspaper, ostensibly aa a reporter looking
for a sitnation. With this excuse lie would
he able to bang around the city room for
three or four days. The idea back of this
waa to waylay Norton on Ills way to some
assignment which took hltn to the suburbs.
All this waa arranged down to the small
est detail: and a man whom they were quite
certain Norton had not yat seen wss selected
to play the part, lie had been a reporter
on -e. more's the pity ; so there was no doubt
of hia beiuf able to handle hia end of the
game.
"1 want Norton. I want him badly." de
clared Hralne, " and woe to you if you let
boose play in between you and the object
of this move."
The man selected to act the reporter hung
Ills head. Whisky had been the origin of
Ilia fall from honest living, and he waa not
so calloused as not to feci the sting of re
morse at times.
" Xl..re." went on Braine, ”1 want Norton
brought to 43 It's a little off the beat, and
we can handle hltn aa we please. When we
get rid of this newsp«p,r ferret, there'll 1*
another to eliminate. But he's a fox. and a
fox must be set to trail him."
“And who is that?**
“Jones. Jones, Jones!" thundered Braine.
"He s the live wire. Hut the reporter find.
Jones depends a lot on hint Tt»ke away
this paup anil Jones will not b- *.• sure <f
himself. There's a man outside all tliia dr
hoard will he absolute and final. Xothing
oj a literary nature will he considered in
'he derision, nor given any preference in
the selection of the winner of the SIO,OOO
prize. The last two leels, which will giro
the most acceptable solution to the mys
teey, will he presented in the theaters
haring tins failure, as soon a* it is pos
sible to produce the same. 'I he story corre
sponding to these motion pieturis will ap
pear in the newspapers coincident ally, or
at soon nf*er thr appearanv'e of thr pic
tures as practicable. With the' last two
seels will he shawm *he pictures of the win
ner, his or her home . and other interesting
features, ft is understood that the news
papers. so far ax practicable, in printing
the last two chapters of the story by liar
ild Macfjrath, will aha show a picture, of
the successful contestant.
Notations to the mystery must not he
more than Hid u ords tong. Here are some
questions to be kept %v mind in connection
with the. mystery as an aid to a solution:
No. f What becomes of the mitHonain ?
.N0...' What becomes of the Sf,000,000?
Xo. .1 Whom does Florence marry?
Xo. i What becomes of the Uussinn
cou ntessf
Nobody connected either directly or in
i iree.tly with "The Million Hollar Mys
tery " will be, considered as a contestant.
IYNOr«Ift OF PRBVIOtfI CHAPTERS.
la reamed b.v a whip on which Norton haa
been abn UK Haled.
( oncralrd above the rendr/.voua of the
lllnrk Hundred, a man lenrna of the re
covery of tltr bo* from thr arn by u
aallor nod of tfa aubarquent return to
thr bottom of flic arn. and lie quickly
communicate* the fact to .louea. A dupli
cate box la planted and Inter aeeured by
the baud, lint before Ita rontenta are ex
amined the box in y aterlonaly dlanppeara.
finding titmarlf check mated at every
turn, llrnltie endenvora to ennteali the
llnrgrenve hovinclinld In the law In or
drr to gain free nerra* to thr houae.
The timely dlacovery of the plot by Mor
ton aeta the poller at the her la of the
park and reaulta In a raid on the ganjut'a
rendcsvou*. wlileh, however, proven to be
barren of reaulta.
Following a telephone meannge Jonra
received from a n»y aferloua peraon whom
be addreaaed aa “ alr, M Florence la again
lured from her home and taken out to
ncn. Through Norton*a daring and aklll
aa an aviator ahe la reaeueil and relttrna
to her home In time to confront an agent
of the lllnck Hundred.
Through treachery lu the Vlnrgronve
houae hold Florence la delivered Into th
hiinila of an iinacriipiiloiia doctor, who la
In the pay of the lllack Hundred. From
flie faithful Hiiaan Norton lenrna tbr.t
thr doctor liaa declared that Florence la
atrlckrn with amnllpox nud that he la
preparing to aplrtt her nvvny. Hy acting
quickly llie reporter, with the aid of
Puaan, aurreeda la extricating (he .voting
Woman from the danger after nn en
counter with nteinbera of the gang.
els, and all these weeks of warfare have not
served to bring him into the circle.”
“ ITargreave is dead,” said Vroon stolidly.
“As dead as I am," anarled Braine. "Two
men went awa.v In that balloon: and I’ll
wager my bead that one man came back. I
am beginning to put a few thing*’ together
that 1 have not thought of before. Who
knows? That balloon may have been car
ried out to aea purposely. The captain on
that tramp steamer may have lied from be-
■ . V-hly. ' X - T " ■■
w evd IjUSahjsi*? V- "roljw y f*'
ginning to end 1 tell yon, Hargreave is
alivy, and wherever he is he has his band ou
all tile wire*. He has agents, too, of whom
we know nothing about. Hang the million!
1 want to put my hands on Hargreave just
to prove that 1 nut the better man. He com
muuicatea with Jonea, perhaps through the
reporter: he ha* had me followed; it way
he who changed the boxes, bored the hole in
tbe celling of the other quarter*, and learned
Heaven knows what"
“If that's tbe case." **id Vrooo. "why
hasn't be had u* apprehended?"
Braine laughed heartily. “ Haven't you
he,n able to b> tills time what hi* gam#
is? Bv'tugc lie doe* not want the polos
NORTON SAVES HIS OWH LIFE. BY THE USE OF HIS WATCH
CAbE.
to meddle only In the smaller affair.. ITe
want* to do away with us one hy one; he
want* to put terror into the hearts of al! of
ua. Keep this point in your mind when you
art. llp’ll npvpr summon thp ijoliee un'ess
we make a broad daylight attempt to get
po.session of his daughter. And even th».i
he would make it out a plain ease of kid
naping. Elimination, that's the word. All
right. Well play at that game ourselves.
No. 1 shall lie Mr. Norton. And if you fail
I'll break you,” Braine added to tbe ex-re
porter.
“I'll get him,” sail the man sullenly.
I.ater, when he applied for a situation on
the Blade, it happened that there were two
atrikes on hand, and two or three extra men
were needed on the eity staff. The man from
the Black Hundred was given a temporary
jyb and went, hy the name of Gregg.
For three days he worked faithfully, ab
staining from his favorite tipple. He had
never worked in New York, so bis record was
unknown. He bad told the city editor that
he had worked on a Chicago paper, now de
funct.
He paid no attention whatsoever to Nor
ton. a sign of no little aoum.n. On tbe
other hand Norton never went forth on an
assignment that Gregg did not know exactly
where he was going. But all these stories
kept Norton in town; and it would be al
together too risky to attempt to handle him
anywhere hut outside of town. So Gregg
had to abide his time.
Tt came soon enough.
Norton was idling at his desk when the
city editor called him up to the wicket.
“ Gen. Henderson has just returned to
America. Get his opinion on the latest Bal
kan rumpus. He's out at his suburban home.
II ere's the address.”
“How long will you hold open fur me?”
asked Norton, meaning how long would the
city editor wait for the atorv.
"Till one-thirty. You ought to he back by
midnight. It's only 8 now.”
"All right: Henderson's approachable. 1
may get a good story out of him.”
“ Maybe.” thought Gregg, who had lost
nothing of this conversation.
It was Lis opportunity. He immediately
left the zone of the city desk for a telephone
booth. But as be passed the line of desks
and busy reporters he did not note the keen
scrutiny of a smooth faced, gray haired man
who stood at the side of Norton’s desk await,
ing the reporter's return.
“ Why. Jones," cried the surprised Nor
ton. “ What are you doing all this way from
home?"
“Orders," snid Jones, smiling faintly as
he delivered a note to the reporter.
“Anything serious?"
“Not that I ant aware of. Misa Florence
was rather particular. • She wanted to be sure
that the note reached your hands safely."
“ And do you nieHti to say that you came
away and left her alone in that house?”
Agi.in Jones smiled. “ I left her well
guarded, you may be sure of that. She will
never run away again.” He waited for Nor
ton to read the note.
It was nothing more than one of those
love orders to come and call at once. And
she had made Jones venture into town with
it! The reporter smiled and put the uote
away tenderly. Aud then he caught Jones
smiling, too.
“ I'm going to marry her. Jones."
“ Thst remains to be seen," replied the
butler, not unkindly.
"Well, anyhow, thanks for bringing the
note. But I*ve got to dianpiniint her to
uigliA I'm off in a deuce of a hurry to in
terview Gen. Henderson. I'll be out to tea
tomorrow. You can find your way out of this
oid fire trap. By-b.v 5 ”
The moment he turned away the amile
faded from Jones' face, and with the quick
ness aud uoiarlessneaa of r cat he reached tha
side of the booth In which Gregg believed
himself to tie secure from eavesdropping. The
half dozen words Jones heard convinced him
that Norton was again the object of the
Black Hundred’s attention. Up bad seen the
man’s face that memorable night when the
balloon stopped for its passenger. Before
Gregg came out of the booth Jones derided
to overtake him and forewarn him, but un
fortunately the reporter was nowheje in
sight.
There was left for Jones nothing else but;
to return home or follow Gregg when he
came out. As this night he knew Florence
to be exceptionally well guarded, both within
and without tbe house, he decided to wait and
follow the spy.
When Braine received the message he was
pleased. Norton’s assignment fitted his pur
pose like a glove. Before midnight he would
have Mr. Meddling Reporter where he would
JONES, AFTER DISPOSING OF BRAINE, HELPS NORTON UP FROM
THE'PUNISHMENT ROOM”
bother no one for some time—if he proved
traetalde. If not. be would never bother any
one again. Braine gave hia orders tersely.
T'nless Norton met with unforeseen delay,
nothing could prevent his capture.
When Norton arrived at the Henderson
place, a footman informed him from the
veranda that Gen. Henderson was at 4t> Elm
street for the evening, and it would be wise
to call there. .Tim nodded his thanks and
set off in haste for 43 Elm street. The foot
man did not enter the house, but hurried
down the steps and slunk off among the ad
jacent shrubbery, llis mission wns over with.
The house in Elm street was Braine's sub
urban establishment. Ho went there occa
sionally to hibernate, as it were, to grow- a
new skin when close pressed. The caretaker
was a ntan rightly called Samson. He was
a bruiser of the bouncer type.
It was fast work for Braine to get out
there. If the man disguised as a footman
played his cards badly, Braine would have
all his trouble for nothing He disguised him
self with that infernal cleverness which had
long since made him a terror to the police,
who were looking for ten different men in
stead of one. He knew that Norton would
understand instantly that he was not the gen
eral ; but on the other hand, lie would not
kuow that he was addressing Braine.
So the arch conspirator waited; and so
Norton arrived and was ushered into the
room. A single glance was enough to satisfy
the reporter, always keen eyed and observant.
“ I wish to see Geu. Henderson," be said
politely.
" Gen. Henderson is doubtless at his own
house."
“ Ah! "
“ Don't be alarmed —yet," said Brains
smoothly.
" I am not alarmed." replied Norton. “ I
am only chagrined. Since (Jen. Henderson
ia not to be found here. 1 must be excused."
“ I will excuse you. presently."
*’ Ah ! I begin to see."
"Indeed!" mocked Braine.
“ I have tumbled or walked Into a trap."
" A keen mind like your* must have recog
nized that fact the moment you discovered
I was not tl.e general.”
“ I am indebted to the Black Hundred?"
coolly.
" Precisely. We do not wish you ill. Mr.
Norton."
“To be sore, no!" ironically. ".What
with falling safes, poisoned cigareta. and so
forth. I can rendily ace that you have my
welfare at heart. What puxxled me wa*
the euddennem with which these affection
ate aign* ceased."
“You're a man of heart." said Braine with
genuine admiration. “ These affectionate
signs, aa you call them, ceased because for
the time being you censed to be a menace.
Yon have lircome that once more, and here
ffou are!"
“ And what are you going to do with me
■ow that you have got me?"
“ There will be two conraeg.” Brain
reached into a drawer and drew out a thick
roll of bills. “ There are here something
like ?5,000."
“ Quite a tidy sum; enough for a chap
to get married on."
The two men eyed each other steadily. And
in his heart Braine sighed. For he saw in
this young man’s eyes incorruptibility.
“It is yours on one condition.” said Braine.
reaching out his foot stealthily toward th*
button which would summon Samson.
“ And that is.” interpolated Norton, “ that
I join the Black Hundred.”
“Or the great beyond, my lad,” took up
Braine, his voice crisp and cold.
Norton could not repress a shiver. Where
had he heard this voice before . . .
Braine! He stiffened.
“Murder in cold blood?” he managed to
tay.
“ Indefinite imprisonment. Choose.”
“ I have chosen."
" H'm! " Braine rose and went over to
the sideboard for the brandy. “ I’m going
to offer you a drink to show you that per
sonally there are no bard feelings. You are
in the way. After you, our friend, Jones.
This brandy is not poisoned, neither are the
glasses. Choose either and I’ll drink first.
We are all desperate men, Norton; and we
stop at nothing. Your life hnngs by a hair.
Do you know where Hargreave is?”
Norton eyed his liquor thoughtfully.
“Do you know where the money is?”
Norton smelt of the brandy.
“I am sorry,” said Braine. “I should
have liked to win over a head like yours.”
Norton nonehalantly took out his wateh,
and that bit of bravado perhaps saved his
life. In the case of his watch he saw a
brutal face behind him. Without a tremor,
Nortgn took up his glass.
“ I am sorry to disappoint yon,” he said ;
“ but I shall neither join you nor go to by
by.”
Qiflck ns s bird-shadow above grass, he
flung the brandy over his shoulder into the
face of the man behind. Sampson yelled with
pain. Almost at the same instant Norton
pushed over the table, upsetting Braine with
it. Next he dashed through the curtains,
slammed the door, and fled to the street, very
shaky about the knees, if the truth is to be
told.
Gen. Henderson's views upon the latest
Balkan muddle were missing from the Blade
the following morning. Norton, instead of
returning to the general’s and fulfilling his
assignment like a dutiful reporter, hurried
out to Itiverdale to acquaint Jones with what
had happened. Jones was glad to see him
safe ami sound.
“ That new reporter started the game," he
said. “ I overheard a word or two while he
was talking in the booth. All your telephone
booths sre ramshackle affairs, you use them
so constantly. I tried to find you, but you
were out of sight. Now, tell me what hap
pened."
“ Sh ! " warned Norton as l,e spied Florence
coming down the stairs.
" I thought you couldn't come! ” she cried.
“ But 10 o'clock! "
“ l changed my mind.” he replied, laughing.
He caught her arm In hi* and drew her
toward the library. Jone* smiled after them
with that enigmatical smile of Ms. which
might have signified irony or affection. After
half an hour's chat, Florence, quite aware
that the two men wished to talk, retired.
At the door Norton told Jones what had
taken place at 49 Elm afreet.
“Ah! we must not forget that number,"
mused Jones. "My advice is, keep an eye on
this Gregg chap, We may get somewhere by
watching him."
" Do you know where Hargreare ls?“
Jones scratched hi* chin reflectively.
Norton laughed. " I can't get anything out
of you."
“ Much less any one else. I'm growing
fond of you, my boy. Y'ou're a man.”
“ Thanks ; and good-night.”
When Olga Perigoff called the next day
Tones divested himself of his livery, donned a
plain coat and hat, and left the house stealth
ily. Today he was determined to learn some
thing definite in regard to this suave, hand
some Russian. When she left the house Jones
rose from his hiding place and proceeded to
follow her. The result of this espionage on
the part of Jones will be seen presently.
Meantime Jim went down to the office and
lied cheerfully about his missing the general.
Whether the city editor believed him or not is
of no matter. Jim went over to his desk.
From the corner of his eye he could see Gregg
scribbling away. He never raised his head as
Jim sat down to read his mail. After awhile
Gregg rose and left the office: and, of course,
Jim left shortly afterward. When the new
comer saw that he was being followed, he
smiled and continued on his way. This Nor
ton chap was suspicious. All the better: his
suspicions should be made the hook to land
him with. By and by the man turned into a
drug store and Jim loitered about till he re
appeared. Gregg walked with brisker steps
now. It was his intention to lead Norton oa
a wild goose chase for an hour or so, long
enough to give Braine time to arrange a wel
come at another house. -
Norton kept perhaps half a block In the
rear of his man all the while. But for this
caution he would have witnessed a little pan
tomime that would have put him wholly upon
his guard. Turning a corner, Gregg all but
bumped into the countess. He was quick
enough to place a finger on his lips and
motion his head toward a taxicab. Olga
hadn’t the least idea who was coming around
the corner, but she hailed the cab and was
off in it before Jim swung around the corner.
Jones, who had followed the countess for
something over an hour and a half, hugged a
doorway. What now? he wondered. The
countess knew the man. That was evidence
enough for the astute butler. But what
meant the pantomime and the subsequent
hurry? He soon learned. The man Gregg
went his way, and hen Jim turned the cor
ner. Jones oast a wistful glance at the van
ishing cab of the Russian, and decided to
shadow the shadower —in other words, follow
the reporter, to see that nothing serious be
fell him.
The lurer finally paused at a door, opened
it with a key, and swung it behind him. very
careful, however, not to spring the latch.
Naturally Jim was mightily pleased when l.e
found the door could be opened. When Jones,
not far behind, saw him open the door, he
started to call out a warning, but thought the
better of it. If Norton was walking into a
trap it was far better that lie. Jones, should
remain outside of it. If Jim did not appear
after a certain length of time, he would start
an investigation on his own account.
No sooner was .Tim in the hallway than he
was set upon and overpowered. They had in
this house what was known as “ the punish
ment room.” Here traitors paid thh reckon
ing and were never more heard of. Into this
room Jim was unceremoniously dropped when
Braine found that he could get no informa
tion from the resolute reporter.
The room did not look sinister, but for all
that it possessed the faculty of growing
smaller and smaller, slowly or swiftly, as the
man above at the lever willed. When Jim
was apprised of this fact, he ran madly about
in search of some mode of escape, knowing
full well in Ms heart that he should not find
one.
Presently the machinery began to work,
and Norton’s tongue grew dry with terror.
They had him this time: there was not the
least doubt of it. And they had led him
there by the nose into the bargain.
' Twenty minutes passed, and Jones con
cluded it was time for him to act. He went
forward to try the door, but this time it was
locked. Junes, however, was not without re
source. Tlie bouse next door was vacant, and
he found a way into this, finally reaching tho
roof. From this he jumped to the other roof,
found the scuttle open, and crept down tha
stairs, flight after flight, till the whir of a
motor arrested him.
Conspirators are often overeager. too. So
intent were the rascnls upon the business a.
hand that they did not notice the door open
slowly. It did not take the butler more than
a moment to realize that his friend and ally
was near certain death. With an oath h i
sprang into the room, gave Braine a push
which sent him down to join the rictira, and
pitched Into the other two. It was a battle
royal while it lasted. Jonea knocked down
one of them, yelled to Norton, and kicked the
rope he saw down Into the pit. One end of
this rope was attached to a ring in the wall.
And up this rope Norton swarmed after ha
had disposed of Braine. The tide of battle
then swung about In favor of (he butler, and
shortly the fake reporter and hi* companion
were made to join their chief.
Jones stopped the machinery. He could not
bring himsdf to let his enemies die so hor
ribly. later he knew he would regret this
sentiment.
When tl.e police came, summoned by some
outsider who bad heard the racket of the con
flict, there was no one to be found is the pit.
Nor was there any visible sign of an exit.
There was one. however, built against such
an hour and known only to tbe chief* of tha
Black Hundred.
And «till the golden tinted bank notes
posed tranquilly in their hiding place! B; '
(TO BE COKTINUD )