Clarence Young

“ Hitter, the station agent, who was on his way down the road, and who had come to where Jerry was riding around in a circle with Bob and Ned in the centre.
“He can’t stop!” cried Ned and Bob at once.
“I knowed there’d some trouble come of that machine,” said Mr. Hitter, shaking his head. “I told you not to monkey with ’em. It all comes of man trying to improve on nature. Walking’s good enough for me. What particular form of trouble does the critter seem to be suffering from? I mean the motor-cycle.” ”

“ PRACTICE FOR THE RACE.
“We must begin track work,” said Jerry one afternoon, when the three chums, having been out on a spin, stopped beneath the shade of a road-side tree. “A week from to-day the races take place.”
“I think we are all in pretty good trim, and so are the machines,” ventured Bob.
“That part’s all right, Chunky,” came from Ned, “but what we want is track work, as Jerry says. Nothing like getting right on the ground. Besides, we have been speeding on a wide road, where we have all the room we want. ”

“ Not long after dusk the following night Jack and Noddy were in close consultation in “the coop.”
“I hear Ned, Bob and Jerry are going to enter the races,” said Jack, after a short conversation.
“Why, you’re not afraid of them, are you?” asked Jack.
“I know I can beat either Ned, Bob or Jerry. The only thing is I’m not in good training and I can’t spare the time. I’m faster than either of them for a short sprint,” which he was. “But in a long race they might down me.”
Jack did not think it wise to comment on the bully’s change of ideas. ”

“ Not the two thousand dollars?”
“That’s what I did, dad,” replied Bob, laughing.
“Shake hands!” exclaimed the banker. “I’m proud of you, Bob, my boy! What are you going to take as your prize?”
“I—that is we—er—you see,” burst out Bob, “Ned, Jerry and I agreed if either of us won, to ask for a touring automobile.”
“Good land, boy! what do you want of that?”
“We thought we’d take a trip across the country.”
“Well, well! This does beat all!” exclaimed Mr. Baker. “An automobile! Goodness gracious sakes alive! What a boy you are!” and Mr. Baker sighed and laughed by turns. ”

“ Several miles were passed in this fashion, the pursuing machine getting no nearer. Then, all at once, Ned cried:
“I can see his light!”
It was true. Either Noddy had increased his speed, or he had emerged from behind some bend in the road that hitherto hid the gleam of his lamp from the boys.
At the same time the explosions of his motor sounded louder.
“He’s catching up to us!” cried Jerry. “Shall we turn on more power?”
“It’s a little risky,” cautioned Bob. “Especially as we don’t know the road very well. However, another notch or two won’t do any harm.” ”

“ That was him, sure enough.”
“I don’t think he goes so very fast,” observed Jerry.
“He does, all the same,” was Bob’s opinion. “You can make up your mind Noddy will have as fast a machine as there is built.”
“I suppose he bought it with some of the proceeds of the mill robbery,” cried Jerry.
“Hush!” cried Ned. “Don’t say such things. Some one might hear you and it would make trouble. Besides, we have not proved Noddy guilty yet.”
“Well,” said Bob with a shrug of his shoulders, “I hope we don’t meet him very often when we are out on the road. He’s not the most pleasant fellow in the world.” ”

“ A scheme to get some one to race for you, or an arrangement to get out of training?” asked Jerry.
“Neither one,” was the reply, “but I think we ought to begin to think of what we will do with our touring automobile.”
“Wait until one of us wins it,” advised Ned. [180] “We don’t stand any better chance than a dozen others.”
From off in the distance there sounded the loud explosions of an approaching motor cycle.
“That’s Noddy’s machine,” said Jerry. “I hope he doesn’t come around here bothering us.” ”

“ I’d like to see ’em try it,” boasted Noddy. “No. I was out taking a spin, and that young cub of a Ned Slade tried to upset me. I got even with him, though,” added Noddy, to whom telling the truth did not come natural. “I gave his wheel a twist and sent him flying. I guess he won’t forget his fall in a hurry. He got worse than I did,” which was not so, though Jack did not know it.
“Serves him good and right,” chuckled the toady. “I can’t bear Ned. He’s too uppish. Thinks because his father has a little money he’s better than the rest of us. And I haven’t any use for his chums, Bob and Jerry.” ”

“ The noise sounded nearer and, in a few minutes Noddy rode up on his cycle. He got off, ran his machine close to where the three chums had stored theirs, and then came to where Bob, Ned and Jerry were taking their ease.
“You fellows going in the race?” asked Noddy, in rather more friendly tones than he was in the habit of using to those he did not care for.
“We expect to,” answered Jerry.
“And you think you’ll all win, I s’pose?” went on the bully, in a sneering tone.
“One of us hopes to take a prize,” said Jerry, preserving a calm voice. ”

“ One of the smaller buildings of the mill was burning furiously. Smoke, flames and sparks were spouting from the roof, which was almost consumed.
Up dashed the engines. Connections were quickly made to hydrants, and soon two good sized streams were playing on the flames. The puffing of the steamers, the snapping and crackle of the flames, the shouts of those looking on, the yells of the firemen and the crash as pieces of the burning building fell in, made a din that was chaotic.
“Stand back boys!” exclaimed one of the firemen. “We want to run a hose in that gate.” ”

“ Then Bob took three apples from his pocket and treated.
“Do you fellows know what I wish?” began Jerry, who had finished his light 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 about you, 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 myself [5] and the immediate neighborhood up with gasolene.”
“They’re easy to run,” affirmed Jerry, “and no more dangerous than a horse. ”

“ At the sound of the quicker explosions there were hasty glances at the youth on the part of many strangers. Jerry was off down the track in a trice. The next instant a dozen riders had taken after him, anxious to see what his machine could do. But Jerry was too wise to be caught. ”

“ Ned and Jerry had a hard time making their way through the throng to where Bob stood. The crowd evinced a desire to catch up the victor and carry him on their shoulders. That a boy of his age should have won a race where many veteran riders contested was no small honor, and the people of Cresville were proud of Bob. Even the girls went wild with delight. ”

“ It was a beautiful morning and Ned thoroughly enjoyed it as he rode along. Even the rough jolting of the farm wagon was not unpleasant.
“I don’t usually travel in this kind of a rig on Sundays,” explained the farmer. “But I have to go over to Doddtown for some grain for the horses, and I had to take this cart.”
“I’m glad you did,” said Ned. “If you had been in a carriage I couldn’t have brought the motor cycle with me.”
“No more you could,” spoke the farmer. “Everything happens for the best after all. ”

“ Isn’t that better than a horse, or a motor boat? Think what it would mean. We could travel all over,—make a tour of the United States perhaps. Yes, sir, that’s the ticket! If we win let’s get a touring car. What do you say, boys?”
For a few seconds the very audacity of the idea seemed to stagger Ned and Bob. They gradually recovered, and their eyes shone as they realized the possibilities of the plan.
[132]
“We’ll do it!” exclaimed Ned.
“That’s what we will!” asserted Bob.
“Then all we have to do is to go in and win that first prize,” concluded Jerry. “We must begin practice at once.” ”

“ The boys resumed their talk about the coming motor cycle races. They discussed the questions [134] from all sides, and decided that, accidents excepted, they had at any rate as good a chance of winning, at least one of the prizes, as any one else.
“We’ll form a community of interests,” said Bob. “We’ll race separately, but whoever wins pledges himself to get a touring automobile, if one can be had for the amount of the prize, and share it with the others. Is that a go?”
“It is,” said Jerry.
“Every time, as far as I am concerned,” was Ned’s answer. ”

“ Jerry did so. In an instant the motor-cycle ceased the explosions, and, in a little while it slowed down so that Jerry could dismount.
“Well, that certainly was an experience,” commented Jerry, as he wiped the dust from his face. “But it was fun all the same,” he added, whereat Mr. Hitter laughed.
“Boys will be boys,” the station agent muttered as he went off down the road.
“Funny the machine got such a fit on,” said Ned, examining the motor-cycle closely. “I didn’t think they would act like that.”
“Here’s the difficulty,” cried Bob, who was also looking over the apparatus. ”

“ Ned handled his machine well, and secured a good place, about third from the front. He quickly had his motor going at full speed, and he was delighted to see that he was increasing his lead over the man behind him. He was slowly creeping up on the man ahead of him, when the latter looked back. Then he turned on a little more power, and slowly drew away from Ned. The boy knew, then, that there was at least one machine faster than his.
Around and around the track the riders went. They took the turns at dangerous speed, and one man had a spill that put him out of the contest. ”

“ Noddy examined it more closely. Then he laughed.
“Some one has gone to the trouble of marking his initials on it in red ink,” he said. “Probably for identification, or to serve as a mark. Maybe it was once used as a marked bill,” and Noddy gave a short laugh. “See, there are the letters H. R. C.”
“I guess you’re right,” agreed Paul. “Well, hand it over. I must be going. Sorry you lost the bet, but losers must pay, you know.”
“Oh, I’m not squealing,” retorted Noddy.
“Guess I’ll be going,” went on Paul. “Beastly long walk back to town.”
Ned was glad to hear the sound of departing footsteps. ”

“ His last wager, laid just before the time of the three mile race, was with Paul Banner. “Polly,” the boys called him, for young Banner aspired to be what, a few years ago, was called a dude. He was fond of dressing in the height of fashion, and liked to be thought a sport. He had a small income, did not work, and spent most of his time at the athletic club.
“I’ll give you odds of two to one against the favorite in this race,” said Noddy to Paul.
“And who’s the favorite?” asked Paul.
“Jerry Hopkins,” replied Noddy. “Come, what do you say? ”

“ I couldn’t get a rise out of him.”
“Now you see what a pocket is,” said Jerry as he joined his chums. “If you get into one do your best to ride out, or you’ll lose the race, providing the others stick together and have made up their mind to let one of their number win.”
The practice continued for some time. A little before noon there was a stir at the track entrance and a motor cycle, painted a bright red on every available space shot on the track. The loudness of the explosions told that it was a machine of high power, and it attracted considerable attention. ”

“ The motor-cycle of to-day is fast taking the place of the ordinary bicycle, and the automobile, or auto, as it is commonly called, is taking the place of our horses. This being so, it has occurred to the writer to prepare a line of stories, telling of the doings of a number of lively, up-to-date lads who at first own motor-cycles and later on become the proud possessors of a touring car.
This tale before you, “The Motor Boys,” is the first volume of the series, telling of the doings of Ned, Bob, Jerry and their chums in and around their home town. ”

“ CAUGHT IN THE STORM.
“We ought to begin our training for the motor cycle race soon,” said Jerry one morning, when he stopped at Ned’s house, coming back from the post-office.
“I guess you’re right,” Ned assented. “I think a few good long trips on the road as a starter would be a fine thing. What we need most is an endurance run, for that’s what will count in the twenty-five mile race that we are going to compete in.” ”

“ You know what a sneak Jack is, always toadying around that bully Nixon. Well, Nixon threatened to get even with all of us on account of that little spill he and Ned had. This is how he’s done it. He’s got Jack to do his dirty work, and Jack has hired Bill to doctor our wheels.
“While we were away Bill comes over here, bribes poor old Pete with the offer of something to smoke to leave him in charge for a little while, and does the trick. Didn’t Bill give you something to smoke?” demanded Jerry. ”

“ As Jerry came in front of the Nixon residence he was surprised to see no lights in the house.
[220]
“That’s queer,” he said to himself. “The place is usually well lighted, for they always have company there. I guess Mr. and Mrs. Nixon must be away from home.”
He was about to pass on when he noticed a faint glimmer of light near the automobile shed, Mr. Nixon having recently purchased a big touring car.
“Rather dangerous to go out there with a lantern,” Jerry thought, “especially if they have oil and gasolene stored there. I wonder if Noddy is there?” ”