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The Floating Press - Clarence Young

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121 pages

English

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In the early twentieth century, juvenile action-adventure novels took off in popularity, spawning a new generation of faithful readers. One of the most beloved franchises was The Motor Boys series, which followed a group of motorcycle-riding pals as they explored the world and outwitted bad guys along the way. These charming tales are timeless in their appeal and will spark the imaginations of today's young readers.

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Children's

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Publié par	The Floating Press
Date de parution	01 août 2013
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781776528066
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0134€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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THE MOTOR BOYS
OR, CHUMS THROUGH THICK AND THIN
* * *
CLARENCE YOUNG

*
The Motor Boys Or, Chums through Thick and Thin First published in 1906 ISBN 978-1-77652-806-6 © 2013 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Preface Chapter I - An Encounter on Bicycles Chapter II - A Mean Plot Chapter III - The Day of the Races Chapter IV - The Three Mile Race Chapter V - A Demand for Money Chapter VI - At the Club House Chapter VII - Noddy and the Square Box Chapter VIII - The Mill Mystery Chapter IX - The Queer Bank Bill Chapter X - The Motor-Cycle Chapter XI - Machines for Bob and Ned Chapter XII - A Wild Night Ride Chapter XIII - Adventures on the Road Chapter XIV - A Fire and a Discovery Chapter XV - Ned Under Suspicion Chapter XVI - Plans for a Motor-Cycle Race Chapter XVII - Caught in the Storm Chapter XVIII - A Leap for Life Chapter XIX - Jerry and the Doctor Chapter XX - Closing the Net Chapter XXI - Practice for the Race Chapter XXII - Jack Pender's Trick Chapter XXIII - The Ride to Boston Chapter XXIV - Getting Back Home Chapter XXV - Noddy's Queer Actions Chapter XXVI - Noddy Nixon Cornered Chapter XXVII - Noddy Nixon's Move Chapter XXVIII - The Great Race Chapter XXIX - A Trip Overland Proposed Chapter XXX - An Important Letter—Conclusion
Preface
*
Here is a brand-new line of stories for you, to be issued under thegeneral title of “The Motor Boys Series.”
The motor-cycle of to-day is fast taking the place of the ordinarybicycle, and the automobile, or auto, as it is commonly called, istaking the place of our horses. This being so, it has occurred to thewriter to prepare a line of stories, telling of the doings of a numberof lively, up-to-date lads who at first own motor-cycles and later onbecome the proud possessors of a touring car.
This tale before you, “The Motor Boys,” is the first volume of theseries, telling of the doings of Ned, Bob, Jerry and their chums in andaround their home town. Some stirring races are mentioned, and also thewicked plots of some enemies to bring our heroes to grief. At the racessome fine prizes were put up, and Ned, Bob and Jerry did their best tocarry off the honors. In the meantime there was a mysterious robberyof a mill, and what the lads did to solve this riddle I leave to thechapters, which follow, to relate.
This story of “The Motor Boys” will be followed by a second volume, tobe called “The Motor Boys Overland,” and then by a third, “The MotorBoys in Mexico.” I hope these volumes will please my boy readers.
CLARENCE YOUNG. January 9, 1906.
Chapter I - An Encounter on Bicycles
*
“Hi, Ned! what do you say to a little race?”
“I’m ready,” called Ned Slade.
“How about you, Jerry?”
“Oh, I’m always ready,” answered Jerry Hopkins, tossing aside the coreof an apple he had been eating. “But how far is the race to be, Chunky?”
“To the oak tree,” replied Bob Baker.
“Suits me,” said Jerry. “All aboard!”
The three bicyclists rose from the grass where they had been resting inthe shade of a big maple tree, after a trip of about five miles on theirbicycles around the country outside of the village of Cresville, wherethey lived. Cresville was a pleasant town, not a great many miles fromBoston.
The three boys were chums, and had been ever since they had startedto school together, eight years previous. There was Bob, the son ofAndrew Baker, who was counted one of the wealthiest men in Cresville.His interests were varied, but were mainly in banks and bankinginstitutions. Besides Bob there was in the family a daughter Susie. Bobwas fourteen years old, and Susie two years younger, and Bob was so muchinclined to stoutness that he was sometimes called “Chunky” by his chums.
Ned was the only child of Aaron Slade, owner of the largest departmentstore in the town, and a well-off merchant. As for Jerry he lived withhis widowed mother, and his sister Julia Hopkins, a girl whom it woulddo your heart good to know, she was so jolly and full of fun. The deathof Mr. Hopkins, a few years previous, had left his widow with an ampleincome, which she devoted to the bringing up of her children. Jerry andNed were the same age, fifteen years.
All three boys were sturdy chaps, full of life and energy. They hadstudied, played and fought together so long that they had come to beregarded as three inseparables by the townspeople.
“Now are you fellows ready for the word?” asked Bob, steadying his wheelin a line with the other two.
“Let her go!” called Jerry.
“Sing out, Chunky!” shouted Ned.
There was a moment of suspense, and a momentary thrill over even soslight a thing as this little sprint among the three boys. Each onemeant to win.
“Go!” yelled Bob.
In an instant the wheels were started off. Three boys bounded into threesaddles. Three pairs of feet began to pump the pedals desperately. Acloud of dust arose and the race was on.
It was a distance of half a mile from the maple tree, where the startwas made, to the oak which Bob had designated as the winning post. Theroad was a good hard level stretch of macadam and the wheels fairly spunalong it.
At first the boys were on even terms. Then Bob gradually drew awayfrom Ned and Jerry. Seeing this Ned put an extra ounce or two into hispushing and he soon caught up to Bob. These two held the lead on almosta line for a few hundred feet.
Suddenly there was a whirr of wheels behind them, an excited joyousshout and, with a yell, Jerry whizzed past, and obtained such a goodadvantage that he kept it, until he reached the oak, where he leapedoff, and cast himself down in the shade to rest.
“I didn’t think you could do it, Jerry,” panted Ned, as he and Bobflashed up two seconds later. “Honest, I didn’t.”
“Nor I,” came from Bob. “You must have been practicing lately.”
“Well, I thought I ought to try and improve my wheel-work,” said Jerrymodestly. “I’m thinking of going in the club races that will be heldsoon, and I wanted to stand some sort of a show.”
“I’d say you stood a pretty good one, if you ride like you did to-day,”interposed Ned. “You went past us flying, and Bob and I weren’t going soslow, either; were we, Bob?”
“Not exactly.”
For a few minutes the boys lolled lazily in the grass, enjoying thefresh air and sunshine. Then Bob took three apples from his pocket andtreated.
“Do you fellows know what I wish?” began Jerry, who had finished hislight lunch first. “I wish we all had motor-cycles.”
“It wouldn’t be a half-bad idea,” agreed Bob, after a little thought.“I’m beginning to get a little tired of this leg-work, myself. How aboutyou, Ned?”
“I think I could use a motor-cycle if one came my way,” replied Ned.“That is after I learned how to operate one, and wouldn’t blow myselfand the immediate neighborhood up with gasolene.”
“They’re easy to run,” affirmed Jerry, “and no more dangerous than ahorse. The catalogue I have says so.”
“That reminds me, are you two going in the bicycle races?” asked Jerry.“You know there are going to be some fine prizes.”
“You mean the Cresville Athletic Club races?” asked Ned.
“Yes,” replied Jerry.
“I hadn’t thought much of it,” said Bob. “I heard about ’em, but ittakes a lot of time to train, and you have to almost starve yourself.”
“How about you, Ned?”
“Well, if you and Bob go in for it, Jerry, I s’pose I might as well too.Tell us what you know about the races.”
Jerry related what he had heard about the plans of the athletic clubto hold an out-door meet on their grounds three weeks hence. As he hadsaid, several valuable prizes were to be awarded, and there were manyclasses of handicap contests, so that the boys would have plenty ofchances to enter, and stand a good show of winning one or more of thetrophies.
“It sounds good,” said Ned at length.
“I’m going to enter, and begin training at once,” decided Chunky.
“Same here, then,” came from Ned. “Have you entered yet, Jerry?”
“No, but I’ve begun to train some. There’s plenty of time to send inyour name if you want to enter. The lists are open until five daysbefore the races.”
“All right, then it’s settled,” exclaimed Ned, slowly rising from hiscomfortable berth in the grass.
The three boys mounted their wheels and started slowly homeward. Theytook their time, keeping close together and talking now of the comingraces and again of the prospects of owning motor-cycles. At the top ofa long, gentle sloping hill, that led down, almost to the centre of thetown, the boys put their feet on the coasters and let their wheels glidedown by gravity. Soon they were going at a rapid rate, with Ned slightlyin the lead.
At the foot of the hill another road crossed at right angles. By reasonof a turn to this second road, and a clump of trees, any one passingalong it could not be seen until he was nearly in the middle of the hillroad.
Suddenly there shot from behind the clump of trees lining the cross-road,a figure on a wheel.
“Look out!” yelled Bob and Jerry.
Ned looked up and saw, but was too late. He could not check his speed,and the only thing to do was to turn to one side, and try to avoid theother rider. Unfortunately the other rider, also seeing the danger, tookthe same turn as had Ned.
“There’s going to be a smash!” called Jerry in excited tones.
The shock threw Ned and the other cyclist from their wheels into thedusty road. The bicycles went in one direction and the riders inanother. Both boys were lying still on the highway when Bob and Jerrycame running up.
“Are they killed?” asked Jerry in