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®MIIUON DDLLAI? MYSTCPY^IkoHMacGkh SIO,OOO FOR ONE HUNDRED WORDS “The Million Dollar Mystery 9 * story vill run for luenty-hro consecutive ve in in this paper. Hy an arrangement ruth the Thanhouscr Film company it ha* h*en made po**ihle not only to read the *tory in thin paper hut al*« to see it rarh neck in the various mating picture theater*, For the solution of thi « myntrry *iory F 10,000 vill oe given by the Thanhouser Film corporation. CONDITIONH aoVFRNtSQ Tim COX TEXT. The prise of SIO,OOO will he won by the man, woman, or chili who write* the mo*t acceptable solution of the my*tery, from v hirh the la*t two reel* of motion picture drama vill be inadi and the lout two chapter* of the, story xwritten by Harold AiarOrath. Flotation* may be *ent to the Thnn hou*er Film corporation at 0 South Wa bash arenuc, Chicago , 111., or Thanhouter Film corporation, 71 West Twenty-third street, \cw York City, X. ) , any time up to midnight, Jan. llt, 1915. This allows several verb* after the last chapter has been published. A hoard of three judges will determine vhieh Ilf the many solutions received is the most acceptable. The judges are to he llorold MacOrath, / loyd Lonrrgan, and Miss Mac Tinee The judgment of this Ptnnley llurgrfnvp, mlllSonitlre, nfier N nttriiiMiloiif fucnpr from the d«*n of fit? Knott of Itrllllnuf IhlfVf* known on the Illnrk II it o tire if, lh<*i fit? life of n rfHtiar for plrlil**i*ii yemrrn, llnrKren%e accident filly nirPlN llrnlnr, trader of the Illness Hundred. Kiiouliik llrnlnr will frj to Rrf lil mi, hr rn«'M|M*«i from hi* own hofttr n hnllo<>n. Ilrforr eacH|*lnK hr wrlfrn at letter so Ihr «lrl*’ nrhool where rlnlilfrn year* before hr niyu frriouwlj Irff on fhr doomfrp hln hnhy itiiuuhter, Florence taruy. That day IliirK'i Hvr nlaio driiwn , 9 1 ,000,000 from fhr honk, hut It Im reported that thin dropped Info flir men when tlir Itnlloou hr rnrnprd lu wan punctured. Flo rear? iirrlvpa from fhr school. 4 «>nnfran Olan, llraliir’n com panion, vlklU hrr and claim* hrr an a relative. The Illnrk Hundred thea men a inraitM of inaklttK Florence a tarart f«»r flirlr atfncka. They are after fhr d1.4NN1.000, and llrnlnr, fhrlr lender, aria frapn for Florence. The lllnek Hun dred. after a number of utfrmpla, fall, due so the wlndnun of Jour*, the liar- Krcit vp butler, and Norton, a newapaper man, Concealed at the reudeatotia of the (Copyright; 19H: B> tUroKI MactirsAli.) I I'iIAiTKK XIX A BLANK Kill'El OE l*A I’FR. FLORENCE was n forttiiicbt In recov ering from th" shook of uer experience nl th* masked lin 11 of the Princess I'arlova, who, by tin* way, disappeared from Now- lurk snortly after the lire, no doubt because of her fear of the Mark Hundred. The lire did not destroy the houae, but moat of the furnishings wore ao thor oughly drenched by water tlnit they were practically ruined. Her coining and going were a nine daya' wonder, and then the pub lic found aomething elae to talk about. Norton was a constant Tlaitor at the llur greave place. There waa to him a uew inter cut in that mysterious houae, with It* hidden panel*, it* falae floor*, It* secret tunnels; but he treated Jones upon the basi* aa hitherto. One tning, however; lie felt a aenae of security in regard to Florence such as he had not felt before. So, between as signments, he rati out to Itiverdale and did what be could to amuse Ida sweetheart I.a ter, they took abort ride* iu the runabout, and at length the became aa lively a* ahe be ' ever been. But often ahe would catch Norton hr od lug. “What make* you frown like that?" “Was I fpowniug?" innocently enough. “ I find you thia way n doaen time* in au afternoon Wnat is (lie matter? Are they after you agaiu? " “ Heaven*, no! I’m only a vague taaue. They will not bother uie ao long aa 1 do not bother them. It has dwindled into a game df truce." "Do you th'.uk ao?" eying liifn curiously. " Why, ye* ' " What * the use of trying to fool me, Jiui? If they haveu't been after you, you are seuaiug a presage of evil. I’m uot a child auy louger. Haven't I l>een through euough to make me a woman? Sometimes I fed eery old." "To me you ate the moat charming .u all thia wide world. No, you’re not a child auy longer. You ere a woman, brave and patient; and I know that 1 could trust you with any aecret 1 have or ow n. Rut sometimes a per son may have a secret whicn is not hi* and which he hasn't any right to disclose." •She became silent for awhile. " I hate money." she eaid "1 hate it, hate It!" •• It's mighty comfortable to have it around sometimes,” he countered, "As in my case, for instance. If Igwer* poor and had to work no on# would bother me." “ I would!" he dedared. laughing. "Come; let’s throw off mood* and go into town for tea at the Rose Harden: aud if you feel strong enough we’ll trip fne light fantastic." They had been gone from the house less than an hour when a man ran up the steps of the veranda and rang th* bell. Jones being busy at the rear of toe bouse, the maid came to the door. "|# Mia* Hargreave in?” the atranger asked “ No.” abruptly. The door hegsn to cloae ever ao slowly. nYinorai* of pkbviowi chaptbiis. board vill be absolute and final. Nothing * / a literary nature will he considered in the derision, nor given any preference in the selection of the u inner of the SIO,OOO prize. The last two reel*, v hich will give the most, acceptable solution to the mys tery, v ill he presented in the theaters haring this feature as soon as it is pos sible to produce the same. The story corre sponding to these motion pictures will ap pear in the newspapers coincidentally, or as soon after the appearance of the pic tures as practicable. With the last two reels will he shown the pictures of the win ner, his or her home, and other interesting features, ft is understood that the news papers, so far as practicable, in printing the last two chapters of the story by Har old Macfjrath, will also show a picture of the successful contestant. Solutions to the mystery must not he more than 100 words long. Here are some question* to be kept in mind in connection vith the mystery as an aid to a solution: No. 1 What becomes of the millionaire? No. 2 W hat become* of the •* 1,000,000? No. B—Whom does Florence marry? No. i—What becomes of tho Russian countess? Nobody connected cither directly or In directly with “ The Million Dollar Mys tery” will be'considered as a contestant. Illark Hundred, a man lenrna of she re covery of the box from the new Ity a rmIl«»r and of Ita auhaeqtirnt return to the bottom of (he nea. nod lie quickly enuiniunlcnfea the fact to Jonea. A du plicate box la planted and later aeeured Ity fhr hand, hut before Ita contents are examined the box. myaterloualy disap pears. Find In it himself checkmated at every turn, llrnlnr end?avora to enmesh the Kara reave household In the law In order to iculn free access to the houne. The timely discovery of the plot by Norton sets the police the heels of the pack and results In' a raid on the annit'a rendezvous. which. however, proves to be barren of results. The lllack Hundred bcffln so fear Nor ton and plan to dispose of him. Again the unnoticed butler shows his hand by rescuing Norton and defeating llralne. llrnlnr and Countess Olga plan a dnr- Intf attempt to capture Florence and Norton at a masked hull given by I*rln •' ■» I’arlova. They defeat their own plan by overanxiety. Aud still the golden tinted hank notes repose tranquilly In their hiding place! "I>o you know where I can find her?" Ihe maid eyed him with covert keeuness; then, remembering tnnt the reporter was with Florence, said: “l believe she is at the Uoaa Harden this afternoon." “That is iu town?” “ Yes." “Thanks" The man turned abruptly and ran down the steps. Tli* maid ran hack to Jones. “Why didn't you call me?" he demanded Impatiently. “ There wasn't time." “Did you tell him where she was?” “ Yes. But I shouldn't have told him if Mr. Norton had uot been with Miss Flor ence.” Jones ran to the front, daahed out, eyed the back of the man hastening down th* street, smiled, and returned to his work, or, rather, (o the maid. He took her by the shoulder, w hirled her about, and shot a look into her eyes that quailed her. “ Always call me hereafter, no matter ■what I'm doing. That man has uever laid eyes on Florence and has no bleu what she looks like. Why did you drug my coffee the night of that ball?" She stepped back. " And how much did they pay you for letting that doctor seuil Florence to Atlantic City? 1 know everything. Hereafte., walk straight, if you play anofuer trick I’ll kill you with these two bauds. And listen and tell this to your confederates; I always kuow every move they make; that is why no one ia aliasing from this house. Ther* is a traitor, I,et them find him if they can. Will you walk straight, or will you lenve?” "1- I will walk straight,” she faltered. " The money was too big a temptation." " Did they give it to you?" *' Yes. And more to stay here. But this is the first bit of dishonest work I ever did." " Well, remember wnat l have said. An other misstep and I'll make an end to you. Don't think I’m trying to acaro you. You've witnessed enough to know that It's life aud death iu this houae. Now run along." At the Harden Jim and Florence sauntered am.wig the crowd, not having any particular objective point in view. "Sh!" whispered Jim. " Wnat U it? ” " Olga I'erigoff ia yonder In a box." " ' cry well; let u* go and ait with her. 1* ahe alone?’ " Apparently. But don't yon think we'd better go elsewhere? " " My dear young man." said Florence with mock loftiness, " Olga I’erigoff has written m* down a* a simple young fool, and that Is why, sooner or later, I’m going to pnt the shoe on tha other foot Yon and Jones have coddled me long enough. Inasmuch aa 1 am th* stake they are playing for, I intend to have aomething more than a speaking part In th# play." " All right; you've th# admiral," he said with pretended lightness So th# two of them Joined their anhtle enemy, conscience of a tingle of test aa they did so. On her part, the counjess waa always Kmmww—mvmmxmxmiMW.Avv'^vm^mttmuwumwwi^xwWxtmnuvvwnvnnuvtuuunwnMnuumvnmxnnxnuvuunwnuukmnmu^ FLORENCE. RISKS HER. LIBERTY TO OBTAIN THE MAGIC PAPERS. auspicious of thia aleepy-eyed reporter. She never could tell 'now much he knew. But of Florence she was reasonably certain; and so lemg as she could fool the pretty infant the suspicions of the reporter were of a neg ligible qnantity. She greeted them effusively and offered them chairs. For half an hour they sat there, chatting inanities, all the while each mind busy with deeper concerns. When the man in search of Florence even tually arrived and aeAed the manager of the garden if he knew Miss Hargreave by sight the manager pointed toward tne box. The man wound his way In and out of the idlers and liy the time he reached the box Jim and Florence lend made their departure. The man bowed, approached, and asked if she was Miss Hargreave. For a moment the countess suspected n trap. Then it appealed to her mind that if there was no trap it might be well to pose as Florence, if only to learn what the outcome might be. “Yes. What is wanted?" she asked. The man took a letter from his pocket and ’sanded it to Olga, saying: “Hive this to your father. He knows how to read it." Before she could reply the man had turned and was hurrying away. Olga opened the note, her heart besting furiously. It was utterly blank. .tl first all* thought it was s hoax. Then she hap pened to remember that there was snch a thing &a Invisible ink. At last! Hargreave was alive; this letter settled all doubt in her mind on this question. Alive! And not only that, but th* girl and Jones were evidently iu communication w-it’a him. She summoned a waiter, made a secret sigu, and he bowed and approached. She slipped the letter into bis hand end whispered: “Show that at th# cave tomorrow. It is in invisible ink and meant for Hargreave." " Ho’a alive?” " Positively.” “Very well." The waiter bowed and strolled away nonchalantly. Hralne waa in Boston over nigut, other wise the countess would have taken the mys terious note at once to him. She remained for perhaps a quarter of an hour longer and then left the garden. She would have taken the letter to her own apartment but for the fact that the chemicals needed were hidden In the cave. Now it happened that Florence went ont for her early ride the next morning, aud crossing a field ahe saw a man with a bundle under his arm. The sun struck his profile and limned it plainly, and Florence uttered a low cry. The man had not observed her. So. very quietly, she slipped from the horse, tethered it to a tree, and started after the man to learu what he was doing to far from th# city. She would never forget tnat face. She had seen it that dreadful night when the n 't# had lured her into the hands of her enemies. The face belonged to the man who had impersonated bar father. It occurred to her that rfu* might just as well do a little defective work on her own hook. Sh* had passed through so many terri fy lug episode* that aha was beginning tty crave for the excitement, strauge as this may aeero. Like a gambler who has once played for high stakes, sh# no longer found pleasure In thimble* and needle* and pin*. She fol lowed the roan with no little skill and at length saw him approach a knoll, stoop, apparently press a spring, and a hole sud denly yawned. Th* man vanished quickly, and the spot took on again Its virginal ap pearance. A cave! Florence had the patience to wait. By and by the man appeared again aud slunk away. When ahe was snre that he ws* beyond range, ahe came out from the place of con cealment, crept tip tit# knoll, and searched about for th# magic Taudle of this strange • ‘ '• T * '\ 1 ... * . ■ '->* ,■ w . • V'v VTv ' , : -T: ' ' j , '. ,■ • : •- Mt/HERE HAVE THEY HIDDEN THAT MONEY. door. Diligence rewarded her, and she soon found herself in a large, musty earth-smelling cave. Loot was scattered about, and there were boxes and chairs and a large chest. Men evidently met here, possibly after some desperate adventure against society. She found nothing to reward her hardihood, and as she was in the act of moving toward the cave's door she beheld with terror that it was moving! She was near the chest at that moment. The cave was not a deep one. There was no tunnel, only a wall. Resolutely she raise! the lid of the chest, stepped inside, and drew the lid down. She was just in time. The door opened and three men entered, talking volubly. They felt perfectly secure in talk ing as loudly as they pleased. To Florence it seemed almost Impossible that they did not hear the thunder of her heart? Strain her ears as she might, she could gather but little of what they said, except: “ If Hargreave had this paper we might all be put on the defensive. To an outsider it I* a blank paper. But the boss will he able to read it . . ." The speaker moved away from the vicinity of the chest and she heard no more. Very deftly Florence raised the lid just enough to peep out. The man who had been talking was putting the note in hi* hip pocket. Aa he turned toward the chest lie sat down on tne soapbox immediately in front of the chest. An inspiration came to the girl, an exceedingly daring one. She took her liberty In her hands as she executed the deed. But the dimness of the cave aided her. When she crouched down again the magic paper was hers. It seemed hours to her before the men left the cave. A* the neard the hidden door jar In closing slse raised the lid and stepped out. breathing deeply. The paper she hall pur loined was indeed blank, but ‘Jones or Jim would know wnat to do with it And wouldn't they be surprised when she told them what ahe had accomplished nil alone? Her exultation was of short duration She heard tne whin* of the door on its hinge*. The men were returning. Why? They were returning because they had dis covered a woman's shoeprint outside. It pointed toward the cave, freshly, and there was none coming away. To reenter the cnest would be foolhardy. It would be the first place the men would look. She glanced about desperately. She saw but one chance, the well. And even while the door was swinging inward, letting the brilliant sun shine enter, she summoned up the courage and let herself down into the well, which proved to be nothing more nor less than an underground river! The men came in with a rush. They upset boxes, looked into the chest, and the man who was evidently in command gazed down the well, snaking his head. TheiT search was thorough, but tney found no one. And at length they began to reason that perhaps a woman had got as far as the door and then turned away, walking on the turf. Meantime Florence was borne along by the swift current of the river, which gained in swiftness every moment. From time to time •he bumped along the rocky walls, but she clung to life valiantly. In ten minutes she was swept to the other side of the hill, into the rapids; but the blue sky was overhead, she waa out in the familiar world again. On, on she was carried. Even though she wffb half dead, she could hear the roar of a falls somewhere in advance. Braine tuought he really had a clue to the treasure, and with his usual promptness he set about to learn if it waa worth anything. 11* procured a launch and began to prowl about, using a pole as a feeler. All the while he was being closely watched hy Norton, who had concluded to hang onto Braine's trail till he found something worthy of note. Braine was disguised, hut this time Jim was not to be fooled. But what was he, looking for, wondered the reporter? Braine continued to pole along, sometimes pansing to look over the gunwale down into the water. In rain ing hia head after the last investigation he discerned something struggling in the water, abou* three hundred ynrds away. The cur rent leisurely brought the object into full view. It was a young woman with jnat power enough to keep herself afloat. The golden head roused somethin’- in him stronger than curiosity. It might he! Braine proceeded to move the lattnch in the direction of the girl. It was this move- ment that turned the reporter's (rare. Hs, too, now saw the woman in the water and wondered how Rhe had come there. When Braine reached the girl and pnlled her into the launch Jim Raw her face plainly. He flew from his vantage point, found • Hkiff, and started after Braine. “By the Lord Harry!” murmured the rogue. “ Well, they can talk of manna from heaven, but this is what I call luck. Flor ence Hargreave, out of nowhere. Into my arms! The god of luck has cast another horseshoe and it's mine.” He had a flask in his pocket, and he forced some of the biting spirits down the girl’s throat. She opened her eyes. “Well, my beauty?” Florence eyed him wildly, not quite under standing where he had come from. “ I don’t know how you got here,” he said; “and I don’t care. But here we are to gether at last. Where is your father?” “ I—l don’t know,” dazedly. “ Better think quickly,” he warned. “ I want lucid answers to my questions, or back you go into the water. I’m about at the en 4 of my rope. I’ve been beaten too many times, my girl, to have any particular love for you. Now. where is your father?” “I don’t.know; I have never seen him.”' Braine laughed. And Jim’s boat ran afoul some rocks and into the water he went. He had not nit tracted Braine’s attention, fortunately. He began to swim toward the drifting launch. < “Where have they hidden that money?” “ I don’t know.” “ Well, well; I’ve given you your chance. You’ll have to try your luck with the water again.” Florence, weak as she was, set her lips. “ You don’t ask for mercy I ” he said Ibanteringly. “ I should be wasting my breath to ask for mercy from such a monster as you are,” she answered quickly. “That damned Hargreave nerve!” he snarled. He rolled up his sleeves and stepped toward her. She braced herself but did not turn her eyes from his. Suddenly, from nowhere at all, came a pair of hands. One clutched the gunwale and the other laid hold of Braine. A quick pull followed, and Braine began to topple. But even as he fell he managed to fling himself atop his assail ant: and it was only when the struggle began In the water that he recognized the reporter. All the devil in him came to the surface and he fought with the fierceness of a tiger kill, kill, kill. In nearly every inetance meddling reporter had checkmated him. This time one or the other of them should stay In the watei. t Norton recognized that he had a large order before him to disable Braine. The recogni tion between them was now frank and abso lute; there could never again be any diplo-i matic sidestepping. * “ You’re a dead man, Norton! ” pant'd Braine, as he reached for the reporter's throat Norton said nothing, but struck ths hand aside. For a moment they both went under. They came up sputtering, each trying for a hold. ' It was a terribly enervating struggle. Florence could do nothing. The boat in which she sat continued to drift away from the fighting men. Once she tried to reach Braine with the pole he had been using, but failed. From the shore came another boat For awhile she could not tell whether it con» tained friends or enemies. It was terrible to be forced to wait, absolutely helpless. When she heard the newcomers call encouragingly to Braine she knew then that the brave fight of her sweetheart was going to come to naught. She knew a little about motors. She threw on the power and headed straight toward the rowboat. The men shouted at her, but she did not alter her course. The rowboat had ita sides crushed in and the men went piling into the water. ” Jim,” she cried. Norton suddenly flung off Braine and began to swim madly for the motorboat, which Florence had brought about. Even then i if was only by the barest luek in the world that Norton managed to catch the gunwale. The rest of it was simple. When they finally reached a haven, Florence, oddly enough, thought of the horse she had left tethered nine miles from the stables. She laughed hysterically. “ I gueßH he won’t die. We can send some one out for him. Now. for heaven's sake, how did you get into this? Where were you? What have you been up to?” with tender brnsqueness. ” I wanted to do a little detective work of my own,” she faltered. “It looks as if you had done it. You infant! Will you never learn to keep out aide thi* muddle? It’s a man's work.” Florence, thoroughly weakened by her long immersion in the water, began to weep si lently. “You poor child. I'm a brute!” And ha comforted her. Later that day. at home, she remembered the blank paper. “ I stole this from one of the men In tha cave. He said this blank paper would probably save father.” Jim took it. “ Hm! Invisible ink. aid had a tine washing.” “ But maybe it is waterproof.” * < ” Maybe It is. Anyhow. Miss Sherlock, we'll show it to Jones and see what he say*.” [to be cosnsntD.]