Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

■©■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 )