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diff --git a/42461.txt b/42461.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 5c29907..0000000 --- a/42461.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7146 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Motor Boys, by Clarence Young - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Motor Boys - or, Chums Through Thick and Thin - -Author: Clarence Young - -Release Date: April 3, 2013 [EBook #42461] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR BOYS *** - - - - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - -[Illustration: "HE'S KILLED. THEY'RE KILLED!" CRIED SCORES.] - - - - - THE MOTOR BOYS - OR - CHUMS THROUGH THICK AND THIN - - BY CLARENCE YOUNG - - AUTHOR OF "THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND," "THE MOTOR BOYS - IN MEXICO," ETC. - - - ILLUSTRATED - - - NEW YORK - CUPPLES & LEON CO. - - - - -BOOKS BY CLARENCE YOUNG - - - =THE MOTOR BOYS SERIES= - (_=Trade Mark, Reg. U. S. Pat. Of.=_) - - 12mo. Illustrated - Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid - - THE MOTOR BOYS - Or Chums Through Thick and Thin - - THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND - Or A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune - - THE MOTOR BOYS IN MEXICO - Or The Secret of the Buried City - - THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS - Or The Hermit of Lost Lake - - THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT - Or The Stirring Cruise of the Dartaway - - THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE ATLANTIC - Or The Mystery of the Lighthouse - - THE MOTOR BOYS IN STRANGE WATERS - Or Lost in a Floating Forest - - THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE PACIFIC - Or The Young Derelict Hunters - - THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE CLOUDS - Or A Trip for Fame and Fortune - - - =THE JACK RANGER SERIES= - - 12mo. Finely Illustrated - Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid - - JACK RANGER'S SCHOOLDAYS - Or The Rivals of Washington Hall - - JACK RANGER'S WESTERN TRIP - Or From Boarding School to Ranch and Range - - JACK RANGER'S SCHOOL VICTORIES - Or Track, Gridiron and Diamond - - JACK RANGER'S OCEAN CRUISE - Or The Wreck of the Polly Ann - - JACK RANGER'S GUN CLUB - Or From Schoolroom to Camp and Trail - - - Copyright, 1906, by - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - - THE MOTOR BOYS - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER. PAGE - I. AN ENCOUNTER ON BICYCLES 1 - II. A MEAN PLOT 11 - III. THE DAY OF THE RACES 16 - IV. THE THREE MILE RACE 29 - V. A DEMAND FOR MONEY 42 - VI. AT THE CLUB HOUSE 48 - VII. NODDY AND THE SQUARE BOX 56 - VIII. THE MILL MYSTERY 62 - IX. THE QUEER BANK BILL 70 - X. THE MOTOR-CYCLE 78 - XI. MACHINES FOR BOB AND NED 87 - XII. A WILD NIGHT RIDE 95 - XIII. ADVENTURES ON THE ROAD 104 - XIV. A FIRE AND A DISCOVERY 111 - XV. NED UNDER SUSPICION 118 - XVI. PLANS FOR A MOTOR-CYCLE RACE 128 - XVII. CAUGHT IN THE STORM 135 - XVIII. A LEAP FOR LIFE 145 - XIX. JERRY AND THE DOCTOR 156 - XX. CLOSING THE NET 164 - XXI. PRACTICE FOR THE RACE 170 - XXII. JACK PENDER'S TRICK 179 - XXIII. THE RIDE TO BOSTON 187 - XXIV. GETTING BACK HOME 195 - XXV. NODDY'S QUEER ACTIONS 203 - XXVI. NODDY NIXON CORNERED 209 - XXVII. NODDY NIXON'S MOVE 216 - XXVIII. THE GREAT RACE 223 - XXIX. A TRIP OVERLAND PROPOSED 236 - XXX. AN IMPORTANT LETTER--CONCLUSION 243 - - - - -PREFACE. - - -_Dear Boys_: - -Here is a brand-new line of stories for you, to be issued under the -general title of "The Motor Boys Series." - -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. Some stirring races are mentioned, and also the -wicked plots of some enemies to bring our heroes to grief. At the races -some fine prizes were put up, and Ned, Bob and Jerry did their best to -carry off the honors. In the meantime there was a mysterious robbery -of a mill, and what the lads did to solve this riddle I leave to the -chapters, which follow, to relate. - -This story of "The Motor Boys" will be followed by a second volume, to -be called "The Motor Boys Overland," and then by a third, "The Motor -Boys in Mexico." I hope these volumes will please my boy readers. - - CLARENCE YOUNG. - _January 9, 1906._ - - - - -THE MOTOR BOYS. - - - - -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 core -of 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 in -the shade of a big maple tree, after a trip of about five miles on their -bicycles around the country outside of the village of Cresville, where -they lived. Cresville was a pleasant town, not a great many miles from -Boston. - -The three boys were chums, and had been ever since they had started -to school together, eight years previous. There was Bob, the son of -Andrew Baker, who was counted one of the wealthiest men in Cresville. -His interests were varied, but were mainly in banks and banking -institutions. Besides Bob there was in the family a daughter Susie. Bob -was fourteen years old, and Susie two years younger, and Bob was so much -inclined to stoutness that he was sometimes called "Chunky" by his chums. - -Ned was the only child of Aaron Slade, owner of the largest department -store in the town, and a well-off merchant. As for Jerry he lived with -his widowed mother, and his sister Julia Hopkins, a girl whom it would -do your heart good to know, she was so jolly and full of fun. The death -of Mr. Hopkins, a few years previous, had left his widow with an ample -income, which she devoted to the bringing up of her children. Jerry and -Ned were the same age, fifteen years. - -All three boys were sturdy chaps, full of life and energy. They had -studied, played and fought together so long that they had come to be -regarded as three inseparables by the townspeople. - -"Now are you fellows ready for the word?" asked Bob, steadying his wheel -in 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 so -slight a thing as this little sprint among the three boys. Each one -meant to win. - -"Go!" yelled Bob. - -In an instant the wheels were started off. Three boys bounded into three -saddles. Three pairs of feet began to pump the pedals desperately. A -cloud of dust arose and the race was on. - -It was a distance of half a mile from the maple tree, where the start -was made, to the oak which Bob had designated as the winning post. The -road was a good hard level stretch of macadam and the wheels fairly spun -along it. - -At first the boys were on even terms. Then Bob gradually drew away -from Ned and Jerry. Seeing this Ned put an extra ounce or two into his -pushing and he soon caught up to Bob. These two held the lead on almost -a line for a few hundred feet. - -Suddenly there was a whirr of wheels behind them, an excited joyous -shout and, with a yell, Jerry whizzed past, and obtained such a good -advantage that he kept it, until he reached the oak, where he leaped -off, and cast himself down in the shade to rest. - -"I didn't think you could do it, Jerry," panted Ned, as he and Bob -flashed 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 Jerry -modestly. "I'm thinking of going in the club races that will be held -soon, 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 so -slow, either; were we, Bob?" - -"Not exactly." - -For a few minutes the boys lolled lazily in the grass, enjoying the -fresh air and sunshine. 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 -and the immediate neighborhood up with gasolene." - -"They're easy to run," affirmed Jerry, "and no more dangerous than a -horse. 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 it -takes 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 club -to hold an out-door meet on their grounds three weeks hence. As he had -said, several valuable prizes were to be awarded, and there were many -classes of handicap contests, so that the boys would have plenty of -chances to enter, and stand a good show of winning one or more of the -trophies. - -"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 in -your name if you want to enter. The lists are open until five days -before the races." - -"All right, then it's settled," exclaimed Ned, slowly rising from his -comfortable berth in the grass. - -The three boys mounted their wheels and started slowly homeward. They -took their time, keeping close together and talking now of the coming -races and again of the prospects of owning motor-cycles. At the top of -a long, gentle sloping hill, that led down, almost to the centre of the -town, the boys put their feet on the coasters and let their wheels glide -down by gravity. Soon they were going at a rapid rate, with Ned slightly -in the lead. - -At the foot of the hill another road crossed at right angles. By reason -of a turn to this second road, and a clump of trees, any one passing -along it could not be seen until he was nearly in the middle of the hill -road. - -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 the -other rider. Unfortunately the other rider, also seeing the danger, took -the 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 the -dusty road. The bicycles went in one direction and the riders in -another. Both boys were lying still on the highway when Bob and Jerry -came running up. - -"Are they killed?" asked Jerry in a trembling voice. - -"No, only stunned, I guess," answered Bob, feeling of Ned's heart, and -finding it beating. "Let's see who the other fellow is." - -He turned the boy who had collided with Ned over. - -"Noddy Nixon!" he said. "He'll be sure to say this was Ned's fault, and -it may make trouble. I wish Ned had put on his brake." - -Ned sat up and opened his eyes. A few seconds later Noddy Nixon did -likewise. - -"What happened?" gasped Ned, rubbing the dust from his eyes. - -"You had a little spill, that's all," answered Bob. - -"A little spill? I should say we did," snarled Noddy, who was larger and -stronger than any of the three chums, and older, being about eighteen. -"A nasty little spill it was, too. And all your fault, Ned Slade! Why -didn't you look where you were going?" - -"Why didn't you look?" asked Ned, hotly. "I turned out to avoid you, and -if you'd been paying attention you wouldn't have steered right into me. -It's as much your fault as it is mine." - -"My leg's broke," came from Noddy. "You'll suffer for this!" - -"Get up and let's see if it's broken," urged Bob, taking hold of Noddy's -shoulder. - -"Oh! Ouch!" screamed Noddy, who though he was strong and a bully was -also a great coward in pain. "My shoulder's broken, too. I'll sue you -for this, Ned Slade, after I get well, and I'll lick you, too." - -"Oh, dry up!" muttered Ned, who was painfully limping toward his wheel. - -When Noddy came to move he discovered that he was not as badly hurt as -he had foolishly imagined. He got on his feet, brushed the dirt from -his clothes, and found that he could walk all right. But he scowled -darkly when he saw Bob grinning at him. - -"You're more scared than hurt," said Bob. - -"Look here, you impudent little snob!" burst out Noddy, limping over -toward the boy who was still smiling. "Don't give me any of your lip. I -won't stand it. I'll knock your head off!" - -"Better not try," advised Bob quietly, the smile leaving his face. "Two -can play at that game." - -"Yes, and so can we all of us!" broke in Jerry, who was something of -a boxer. "We're sorry for what happened, Nixon," he went on, "but you -needn't rub it in." - -"Oh, shut-up!" cried Noddy, turning away, and picking up his wheel. -"I'll get even with you for this, though," he muttered. - -"Two of my spokes are broken," he went on, after an examination of his -bicycle. "You'll have to pay for them, Ned Slade." - -"So are two of mine, and my handle bars are bent," retorted Ned. "I -guess we'll call it even, Noddy. I won't charge you for straightening -the handles," and he laughed in spite of the pain of his bruises. - -"You--you!" began Noddy, but rage seemed to choke him, and with -scowling face he mounted his wheel and rode slowly away. "You just -wait!" he shouted back, shaking his head at the three boys. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -A MEAN PLOT. - - -"Well," began Bob, when the three chums were ready to proceed on their -way, Ned having been brushed off, "I'd like to have Noddy for a close -friend, I don't think! Wonder what makes him so mean?" - -"Born so, I s'pose," grunted Ned. "Any one else would have laughed over -such an accident. He seemed to think I did it on purpose." - -"He talks as though he did," ventured Jerry. "I wonder what he'll do to -get square?" - -"Oh something sneaking, you may depend on it," replied Bob. "That's the -way with Noddy and his kind. He's nothing but a big bully. Never fights -with any one but some one he's sure he can whip. I don't know's I could -lick him, but I'd like to try once." - -"Me too," said Ned, "after I get over being stiff." - -When Jack Pender, who was a toady of Noddy Nixon, called on the latter -in a sort of club-house in Nixon's yard that night, he found the bully -in no amiable frame of mind. - -"What's the matter?" asked Jack. - -"None of your business," snapped Nixon, lighting a cigarette. - -"You needn't be so cross," whined Jack, who was used to rather shabby -treatment from the bully, to whom he toadied in the hope of favors. - -"I guess you'd be cross if you had the tumble I did to-day," growled -Noddy. - -"Somebody knock you down?" asked Pender, incautiously. - -"Somebody knock me down? 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." - -"Same here," agreed Noddy, lighting another cigarette. "But I'll get -even with 'em. My father has as much money as any of their fathers' has. -They needn't think they can down me." - -"Bully for you," cried Jack, hoping to curry favor. "I'd like a chance -to get even too." - -"Maybe it will come before you think it will." - -"What do you mean?" asked Jack in a whisper. - -"Never mind," replied Noddy. "I'll tell you when the time comes." - -For some time the two cronies sat and talked in the structure, which -Noddy had fixed up as a resort where he might smoke cigarettes, a -practice his father had forbidden him. - -"Going in the club races?" asked Jack at length. "I hear there will be -some fine prizes, and a little chance to make money." - -"You mean on the winners?" - -"Sure. I got the tips straight from one of the trainers. There'll be a -pretty penny in it for us." - -"It's worth looking into," decided Noddy. "But about my racing. I hadn't -thought of that. I suppose I could go in." - -After some further talk both Jack and Noddy decided they would enter -their names for several events in the bicycle class. When they parted -that night they agreed to meet the next evening to discuss details. - -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. - -"If the races were hundred-yard dashes I wouldn't worry a bit," said -Noddy. "I could win hands down. But the best race is for three miles, -and that--that's rather a long distance for me. If we could fix things--" - -"How fix?" inquired Jack. - -"Well," proceeded Noddy boldly, "I mean to win that race. There's a -first prize, worth three hundred dollars, and I want it. I'm going to -get it. That's all. If I can't win by fair means--" - -"I see," whispered Jack softly. - -"I'm glad you do," retorted Noddy, lighting a cigarette. "I may need -your help. We must beat them, Jack. I hate them!" - -Thereupon the two cronies resumed their whisperings, talking in low -tones, for they were fearful of being overheard in their plotting. - -Within the next few days arrangements for the races of the athletic club -went rapidly on. Bob, Ned and Jerry entered their names, Ned finding -that he had no permanent lameness from his "spill." Noddy and Jack also -had their names entered. Then all the boys, including many others who -had decided to try for the prizes, began training. - -There were several events on the race card. There were ten and five mile -races, but none of the boys thought of trying for them. There were also -short distance trys for girls, and also a three mile race, for boys and -young men between fourteen and nineteen years of age. The first prize -was a three hundred dollar piano, or any other article of that value, -and the second and third prizes were of one hundred and fifty and one -hundred dollars value respectively. Of course each of our heroes hoped -to win big prizes, and there was a keen but friendly rivalry among them. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE DAY OF THE RACES. - - -At last came the day for the races. It was early in July, and the -weather though warm, was not oppressive. Early in the morning a big -crowd started out toward the grounds of the Cresville Athletic Club, -which were about a mile outside of the town proper. - -Ned, Bob and Jerry reached the track about ten o'clock, and found it -pretty well occupied. - -"It will give us good practice in wheeling in a crowd," observed Jerry -as he stripped off his sweater and, in regular racing costume, began to -make the circuits. - -His two friends soon followed his example. A little later Noddy and Jack -arrived. The two cronies kept to themselves and spoke no word to our -three heroes. - -About noon-time there was a general stopping and all the contestants who -were warming up went to get something to eat. Under Jerry's advice Ned -and Bob ate and drank sparingly. - -The races were to begin at two o'clock. Long before that hour most of -the best seats were filled, and there was a crowd on the way to the -athletic grounds that would tax the capacity of the bleachers. - -About half-past one o'clock a rather gaunt individual might have been -seen making his way toward the athletic grounds. He wore a pair of -patched trousers and a green coat, with a red patch on either elbow. - -"Hi there!" called some boys. "Look at the hobo going to enter the -races." - -"Oh, I may be a hobo, but I'm not a dodo; put that in your pipe and -smoke it till night. That ain't a good rhyme, but it'll do this time," -recited the man in a sing-song tone. - -"Ha! Ha! Isn't he funny!" laughed some small boys. - -Hearing the sound of laughter Ned, Bob and Jerry, who were walking -together in the fields, a short distance away from the athletic grounds, -came over. - -"Why it's Old Pete!" cried Bob. "Hello Pete! I say, Old Pete Bumps!" he -called, waving his hand to the man with a green coat and a red patch on -either elbow. - -"Oh, I say, is that you, why how do you do?" said Mr., otherwise Old -Pete Bumps, who was a general man of all work about Mr. Baker's place. -He did everything from feeding the chickens to taking out the ashes. - -"Hello Pete!" called Jerry and Ned in chorus. "What did you come for? -Are you going to race?" - -"Am I going to race? Well not in this place," replied Pete gravely. -"I came to watch over you boys. Be a sort of general overseer as it -were. Look after the wheels and see that they get full meals," he added -without a smile. - -From which it may be inferred that Mr. Bumps was something of a -character. - -Indeed at one time he had been a well educated man. But an injury to his -head, caused by a fall, and a number of misfortunes, had displaced him -from a life of comparative wealth, and had made him a sort of foolish, -though very loving, elderly man. Mr. Baker had taken pity on him and -made a place for him, for which poor Old Pete Bumps, as he called -himself, was very grateful. He was very fond of children, especially -boys, and was always looking after the interests of Bob and his chums. - -"Now Pete can look after our wheels," said Bob. "I was wondering who we -could leave in charge between the heats, and while we were dressing. -He'll be the very one." - -"Surely will I, e'en though I die," said Pete gravely, for he had a -habit of making extemporaneous rhymes on all occasions, which jingles -sometimes fitted and sometimes did not. - -"All right, Pete," said Bob. "Come on over here," and he led the hired -man to where the boys had left their three wheels in charge of a lad of -their acquaintance, who had agreed to stand guard at the rate of five -cents a half hour. Pete gravely squatted down on the grass near the -bicycles. - -Relieved of the responsibility of guarding their mounts, the trio of -lads wandered about the grounds of the club. There was much bustle -and excitement. New riders were constantly arriving and going out on -the track to warm up. Hundreds of spectators were coming afoot, or in -carriages or automobiles. Flags waved gaily in the wind, and the whole -scene was a spirited one. A bevy of girls coming up the road that led to -the entrance of the grounds attracted the attention of our three heroes. - -"Looks like my sister Susie with that red dress on," said Bob. - -"And that seems to be Julia, in that green hat," observed Jerry. "Yes, -that's her," he went on. "I can tell by her laugh," he added, as a -merry peal floated over the green field. - -"Who are the girls with them?" asked Ned, who had no sisters, but who -was as fond of girls as they were of him. - -"There's Mollie Horton, who lives near me," said Ned. "She's jolly -enough. And Alice Vines. I don't know who the other one is." - -"That's Helen Gale," put in Bob. "I know her. She made that silk flag -with our foot-ball colors on last year for me." - -"Good for her!" exclaimed Ned. - -The girls soon came up, and there was merry talk for a little while. The -boys wanted to take the girls over and buy some ice-cream sodas. - -"We haven't time," objected Julia. "We want to get our seats before the -races begin. We don't want to miss a one." - -"You won't miss anything," assured Ned. - -"Oh but we might," interposed Alice. "And it is not every day we can -come to such a big event as this. If you boys want to get the sodas -afterward--" - -"Of course we will," broke in Jerry. And so they agreed to treat the -girls after the races. - -Not long after Pete had been left in charge of the cycles a man, -wearing a slouch hat, who had been but a few minutes before in close -consultation with Jack Pender, shuffled up to where Pete was lying in -the grass. - -"Arternoon, mate," said the roughly dressed man in a growling voice. - -"How do you do, I'm glad to see you," replied Pete, in his sweetest -tones. - -"What yer givin' us?" demanded the stranger. - -"Me? I gave you nothing, sir," replied Pete. - -"Come off your high perch then, an' talk United States," went on the -stranger gruffly. "My name's Bill Berry, what's yours?" - -"My name's Pete Bumps, I'm full of humps," recited Pete gravely. - -"You look it," commented Bill Berry. "But I say, mate," he went on, "how -would you like to go off and get a good smoke? Come, I'll pay for it?" - -"I'd like it first rate, but I must stay here quite late," said Pete. - -"Why so? Oh, I don't know," mocked Bill, falling into the eccentric mood -of his companion. - -"To guard the wheels against the steals," replied Pete. - -"Don't let that worry you," went on Bill, eagerly. "I'll stay here. You -go get yourself something to smoke, and take your time. I'll stand -guard while you're away." - -If there was one thing more than another that Old Pete liked, it was to -smoke. Usually he had to forego this pleasure because of lack of funds. -Now here was a chance to indulge. So, after receiving twenty-five cents -from Bill Berry, Pete started over to the grand stand, near which was a -booth where cigars and refreshments were sold. - -Bill looked narrowly about as soon as Pete was out of sight. There were -plenty of people around him, but no one seemed to be noticing what he -was doing. Quickly Bill pulled a wrench from his pocket and used it on -each of the three bicycles. Then he brought out a stick of something -black. - -"This graphite is well doctored," he muttered. "I guess it won't be -healthy for the chains." - -He rubbed a liberal supply on the chain of each wheel, and also on the -sprockets. Then he rapidly opened the tool bags on each machine, took -out the graphite he found there, and substituted some of his own. - -"I guess that will do the trick," he said softly. "And I guess I've -earned my two dollars, Jack Pender." - -He hurried off, mingled with the crowd, and a little later was in -conversation with Jack Pender. - -A little later Pete came hurrying back. He was smoking a cheap cigar, -and his pockets bulged with others. - -"Here you go, Bill, now smoke with a will," began Pete, when he drew -near where he had left his new friend in charge of the boys' bicycles. -"Why, he's gone," he went on, seeing the deserted mounts. "Wonder where -he went?" However, he did not give much thought to it, and went on -smoking happily. - -"Wheels all right?" asked Ned a few minutes after, as he, Jerry and Bob -came up. - -"Right as a fiddle, come high-diddle," recited Pete. - -"Hark! What's that?" asked Chunky suddenly. "Sounds like an -announcement." - -The three boys ran nearer the grand stand where the official announcer -stood. The man was using a small megaphone and went on to say that there -had been a slight change in the program, and that the race for those who -had never been in a contest before would be the first number instead of -the third. - -"Great Scott, Chunky! That'll mean you'll have to hustle for all you're -worth!" cried Jerry. "Here, get your wheel out, strip off your sweater -and get around to the track entrance and have your number pinned on." - -Jerry grabbed up his chum's wheel, while Ned assisted the lad in pulling -his sweater over his head. Then, cautioning Pete to keep a strict -look-out, the three boys ran with Bob to the track entrance. - -They were only just in time, and found a lot of other contestants ahead -of them. Bob received his number, and then, for the first time, thought -of his wheel. - -"Just spin it for me, to see if it don't need a drop more of oil," Bob -asked Jerry. "My hands shake so I can't undo the tool bag." - -Obligingly Jerry spun the wheels. The rubber-tired circle went around -swiftly for several turns, and then came a sudden slowing down. - -"That's funny," remarked Bob. "I had that all adjusted this noon." - -Jerry bent down and looked at the bearings. - -"The cones have been tightened," he announced. "Why I can feel the -friction," and he moved the front wheel slowly with his hands. - -"Try the back wheel!" urged Ned. - -Holding that clear of the ground Jerry spun it by placing his foot on -the pedal. There was a woeful squeak, and, after a few revolutions that -wheel, too, slowed down. Jerry rubbed his finger over the sprocket -chain. It came away black from the graphite, but mingled with the -blackness were many shining specks. - -Just then there came the crack of a revolver. - -"That means three minutes to the start," cried Bob. "What will I do? I -can't fix the wheel in that time!" - -"Some one's put iron filings in the graphite," announced Jerry, rubbing -the stuff between his fingers. "There's trickery here!" - -"And I'll lose the race!" cried Bob. "I know I have a good chance of -winning!" - -"Let me get my wheel!" exclaimed Ned. - -"It wouldn't do any good," interposed Jerry. "We haven't time to run -after them. Besides, the chances are our wheels are doctored too." - -"All ready, boys!" warned the starter. "Minute and a half more before -the final gun!" - -"I might as well quit," cried Bob. - -"Don't you do it!" said some one suddenly at his side. "Here, you take -my wheel. It's a racer, and I've just oiled it." - -As he spoke a boy, of about thirteen years, who had a slight acquaintance -with our three heroes, shoved a handsome new wheel over toward Bob. - -"Oh, thank you, Sam Morton," said Bob. "But don't you want it yourself?" - -"Not a bit," said Sam. "I'm not going to race. Take the wheel." - -"All right, I will," assented Bob. "And I'll square things with you -afterward, Sam. Some one has doctored mine. I--" - -But Bob did not have time to say any more. - -"Half a minute!" warned the starter. - -"Get on the track!" cried Jerry. - -"Line up! Do your best and win!" counseled Ned. - -"I will!" shouted back Bob, and the next instant he was lined up with -the others, waiting for the pistol shot that would start them off. - -"Crack!" - -A little puff of smoke, a sliver of flame, and a slight report. Then the -whirr of rubber tires on the track sounded like the wind rushing through -the trees. - -The race, while it was of much interest to the contestants and their -friends, was not very important to the general public. It was only a -mile sprint and there were ten starters. - -Bob's heart beat wildly at first and his wheel wobbled from side to -side. Then the fever of fear left him. He saw that he was not being left -behind and he picked up courage. He shut his teeth tightly, took a long -breath, and let out a burst of speed that carried him to within three -of the leader. - -There was a cheer at this, which gave him new courage, and he struggled -harder and harder. Gradually he passed two of those ahead of him. There -now remained but one lad between himself and the lead. He gave one quick -glance. - -"It's Jack Pender," he thought. "I know he's been in races before. But -I'm going to beat him." - -Once more Bob clenched his teeth and let out another burst of speed. But -he had a good rider to contend against. Jack, looking behind and seeing -the boy he hated, redoubled his efforts. - -The race was half done. Already several who had no chance had dropped -out. The struggle was between Bob and Jack. Bob could hear the band -playing, as if it was a mile away. He drew one long breath, threw into -his leg muscles another ounce of strength and then, with an effort that -surprised even himself he found that he was on even terms with Jack. - -"Confound you! What are you trying to do, beat me?" snapped Jack. - -"That's what I am." - -"Well, you're not going to!" - -Jack gave his wheel a sudden turn. His intention was to upset Bob. But -the latter was too quick for him. - -"Foul! Foul!" cried several who had seen the attempt. - -The two passed the post set an eighth of a mile from the finish, neck -and neck. Bob could see that Jack was almost winded. As for Bob, though -in distress he still had some reserve strength. - -Then, with a last final burst of speed, with a frenzied effort that sent -the blood singing to his head, Bob passed his rival, and came under the -tape a winner by two good lengths. - -"Hurrah!" cried thousands. - -"Hurrah!" cried Ned and Jerry, though Bob could not hear them. - -And Bob, almost tumbling from his wheel, felt happier than he ever had -in his life before. He had won the race. - -He could see Jack Pender scowling at him, but he did not mind that. - -"I didn't know you were an amateur, Jack," Bob heard one of the toady's -friends address him. - -"I'm not any more," laughed Jack. "That was my last amateur race. I'm -going in with the professionals on the next race, and I'm going to win." - -"You are if we let you," was the response. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE THREE MILE RACE. - - -As soon as Ned and Jerry had congratulated Bob, which they did with glad -hearts, they hurried from where they had watched him winning the race, -to the place where Old Pete had been left in charge of the wheels. - -"The chances are we'll find them doctored," said Jerry. "Only we'll have -an opportunity to fix them before our race, if they aren't too badly -tampered with." - -Bob returned the wheel he had won on to its owner, Sam Morton, and -offered to share the prize with him, but Sam would not hear of it. - -"I was only too glad to help you out," he said. "You ought to make a -complaint to the officers of the club about your wheel." - -"Wait until I find out who monkeyed with it," said Bob, "and I'll -take care of him without any complaint," and he doubled up his fist -suggestively. - -The three chums, Bob carrying his own disabled wheel, hurried to where -Pete was. They found that worthy consuming his third cheap cigar, -evidently in great enjoyment. - -Jerry and Ned made a hasty examination of their bicycles, and quickly -discovered something wrong with each. - -"The same scoundrel that tampered with Bob's was at ours," said Ned. -"Bearings tightened and steel filings in the graphite. Who was it, I -wonder?" - -"Say, Pete," began Bob, "did any one touch our wheels while we were -away?" - -"Not a one, my dear son," recited Pete with a wise air. - -"Here Pete, you drop that poetry and attend to business," said Bob, -somewhat sternly. "Were you here every minute since we left?" - -"I went over to get some cigars." - -"And who stayed with the wheels while you were away?" - -"Friend of mine. Bill Berry, fat as a cherry," replied Pete, unable to -resist the temptation to make a rhyme. - -"Look here--," started in Bob, fiercely, "I'll have to--" - -"That explains it," broke in Jerry. - -"Explains what?" asked Bob. - -"Explains who had a hand in this," went on Jerry. "You know Bill, who -isn't any too good a character about town, and Jack Pender have been -quite thick of late. Two or three times I've caught them whispering -together down to the post office." - -"Well, what of it?" - -"This much. 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. - -"He give me the money, now ain't that funny," sang Pete, without a -thought of the consequences of his act. - -"That's just it," agreed Ned and Bob, and they complimented Jerry on his -shrewdness. - -"Oh, that was easy enough to figure out," said the lad. "The question -is, can we get our wheels in shape for the race? We've got about half an -hour." - -The boys lost no more time in idle regrets. Tool bags were opened, -and with wrenches and screw drivers the three set to work adjusting -the bearings properly. Though this was a somewhat delicate task they -succeeded in about ten minutes. - -"Now to clean the chains," said Bob. "That graphite must all come off." - -"Kerosene oil is the best," suggested Jerry. "Hurrah!" he shouted. "This -will do!" and he set off on the run. - -In a few seconds he reached a lantern that was fastened on a pole, and -used, at night, to illuminate the driveway to the club-house. "This is -just what we needed," he said. "We'll borrow a little kerosene from the -lamp." - -The tin reservoir held more than was needed, and in another minute each -boy was busy cleaning his chain. - -"Now to put some fresh graphite on, and we'll be in good shape," cried -Ned, in high glee over the successful outcome of the plan. - -Jerry was the first to take his stick of lubricant from his tool bag. -As he did so he gave a start. Then he rubbed some of the black material -between his thumb and finger. - -"I thought so!" he exclaimed. - -"Doctored?" inquired Ned and Jerry nodded. - -"Iron or steel filings," he said. "Lucky there is plenty of graphite to -be had, or we'd be stuck." - -It did not take long to borrow from other cyclists some of the stuff, -and the chains were soon lubricated. The boys still had five minutes -before their race would be called. They spent the time in resting from -their hustling labors. They had fixed things just in time. - -In the meantime Noddy had been rather busy about the track. He prided -himself on being a sport and was seeking some one who would lay wagers -with him. He made several on various events, profiting by what Jack -Pender said were sure tips. - -"I wonder if we can't bet something on this race we're in?" asked Noddy -of his toady. - -"I don't see why not," assented Jack. "I think you have a good chance of -winning, with those three young cubs out." - -So Noddy busied himself, putting up what was a large sum even for a -youth whose father kept him liberally supplied with pocket money. As a -matter of fact Noddy went so deep into the betting that he had to lay -considerable of the money on "wind." That is he did not have in his -pocket the money he would have to pay if he lost. But then he did not -think of losing. - -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? Two to one he -doesn't win." - -"You're on. For how much?" - -"I'll lay you one hundred dollars to fifty dollars," said Noddy. - -"Done," assented Paul, and he made a memorandum of the wager. - -At last, after several events had been run off, during which our heroes -had been busy undoing the mischief worked to their wheels, the time came -for the race that meant so much to them. The announcer gave the word. -Ned, Bob and Jerry hastened around to the track entrance. Noddy and -Jack, with their wheels, were a few seconds behind them. - -"Well, they're on hand, I see," whispered Noddy. - -"Yes, they'll start, and that will be about all," replied Jack, with a -meaning smile. - -For a few minutes there was considerable work getting the dozen riders -correctly placed. Finally they were all lined up on the white mark, and -the starter raised his revolver. - -"Bang!" - -Off in the air lazily floated a little puff of smoke. Then the cyclists -were off like the wind. My! how they did go! - -Noddy Nixon, who, to give him the credit he deserved, was not a bad -sprinter, was in the lead. He was pedaling at top speed, for he knew -only by acquiring a big lead could he hope to win. - -There was an excited shout from the spectators as they saw the start of -the race, and realized that the favorite was left in the lurch. But if -Jerry was disconcerted, or if either Ned or Bob was, not one of them -showed it. After a few seconds Noddy glanced back. He was surprised to -see Jerry rather closer to him than he hoped to find him. - -"I thought you said the wheels would lag behind," said Noddy to Jack, -who was riding furiously beside him. - -"They must have discovered the trick and fixed things up," panted Jack. - -But there was no time to talk. It was to be a race to the finish. - -"I'll fix them, though," muttered Jack, letting up on his speed, which -had kept him beside Noddy, and dropping back a little to the rear. - -Aside from the three chums, and Noddy and Jack, there was no interest in -the race, for the other seven contestants were hopelessly in the rear. -Bob and Ned were on even terms, with Jerry somewhat ahead of them. - -"Go on, Jerry!" called Ned. "Beat the big bully!" - -"Don't either of you fellows drop out!" pleaded Jerry. "Try to win. -You've as good a chance as I." - -And then Jerry gave his attention to the task before him. It was no -light one. However, he, as did the other two boys, felt the bicycles to -be in good order in spite of the attempts at foul play. They were all -riding well. - -Noddy's advantage in age, his better muscular development, gave him a -big lead, however, and for the first mile the gap between him and Jerry -was scarcely shortened. Jack still hung on to his comrade's rear, ready -to play another dastardly trick when opportunity offered. - -During the second mile it was plain to all that Noddy was petering out. -His head bent lower over the handle bars, and foam, like white cotton, -could be seen on his lips. - -"I'm almost all in!" he gasped to Jack. - -"Keep up a little longer!" entreated Jack. "You'll win! Why, you've got -to win!" - -And, to save himself in more ways than one, Noddy felt he must succeed. -But how to do it was the question. His heart was beating like a -trip-hammer, and his head felt as if it would burst. - -He tried to develop another burst of speed, but, as he had said, he was -"all in." Slowly he felt, rather than saw, Jerry creeping up on him. -He knew that Jack was between him and his rival, however, and he hoped -something might happen. - -The crowd on the bleachers and on the grand stand nearly went wild as -they looked at the most exciting race so far that day. The favorite was -slowly but surely creeping up on the leader, and crowding him. - -"Go on Jerry!" cried hundreds who wanted to see the plucky lad win. "Go -on! Go on!" - -"Peg away, Noddy!" shouted one or two of the bully's friends, who had, -thanks to his tips or those of Jack, put their money up on him. "Keep -going!" - -But it was no use. The gap between Jerry and Noddy lessened. Ned and Bob -were close behind Jerry, and stood excellent chances of being at least -third and fourth. But there was Jack to be reckoned with as well as -Noddy, and Jerry knew this. He felt he must keep clear of Jack, for he -had seen the attempted foul when Bob was racing. - -Then, with a wildly beating heart, Jerry decided that the time had come -to make his final sprint. He had just started on the last half mile. He -grasped the handle bars with a firmer grip, shut his teeth hard and took -a long breath. The burst of speed he then let out amazed and delighted -the audience. There were wild cheers. - -Noddy looked back in despair. He saw that Jerry and Jack were on even -terms. Then something happened. The something that Jack had promised -to have up his sleeve. With a quick motion he sent his wheel, ever so -little over toward Jerry. The act was hardly noticeable on the stand. - -"Keep off!" cried Jerry, seeing what Jack had in mind. "Do you want to -have an upset?" - -"You never mind me!" snarled Jack. "I'll do as I please!" - -Again he gave his wheel a twist. He was now riding dangerously close to -Jerry. Noddy was barely a length ahead. There was a quarter of a mile to -go. - -"Keep back, do you hear!" yelled Jerry. - -"Keep back yourself!" retorted Jack. - -Then Jack deliberately fouled Jerry. He sent his front wheel against -that of his rival, intending to cause an upset. But he reckoned without -his host. Bob, who had, by a sudden sprint, approached nearer to Jerry -than Ned, saw what was up. Without an instant's hesitation Bob sent -his wheel crashing full into Jack's from the rear, and, amid a roar of -surprise and terror from the spectators, the two boys went down in a -heap on the track. - -"He's killed. They're killed!" cried scores. - -Jerry, with grim determination in his eyes, rode on, never looking back. -Noddy cast a frightened glance over his shoulder, and, when he saw what -had happened his heart grew faint. He nearly lost control of his wheel. -The little swerve he gave it was fatal to him. - -Like a flash Jerry dashed in, took the pole, and with a burst of speed, -that set the excited spectators into cheer after cheer, Jerry passed -Noddy, and won by a good five lengths. - -"Jerry wins! The favorite wins!" shrieked the assemblage. - -Though Bob was out of the race, by his own act of self-sacrifice in -saving Jerry, Ned had managed, by clever riding to escape the spill. He -saw his chance when Noddy looked back, and, with a fierce effort passed -the bully and came in a good second. - -Even the privilege of being third was denied Noddy. He lost control -of his wheel before he could cross the finish line, and one of the -stragglers in the race, who had been merely hanging on the tail end, -sprinted up and came in third, so that, for all their plans, Noddy and -his toady came to grief. - -There were congratulations after congratulations for Ned and Jerry. The -boys blushed almost like girls as they received the praises that sounded -in their ears. There was some talk of the spill, but when it was seen -that neither Jack nor Bob was hurt there was no further alarm. At first -Jack sputtered and threatened to complain that he was deliberately run -down. - -"Go ahead," said Bob coolly. "I saw what you tried to do to Jerry, and I -know something about Bill Berry." - -At that Jack and his bully friend sneaked off without a word. They felt -that it needed but a few words on the part of the three chums to get -them into trouble, and they were glad enough to escape as easily as they -did. - -"I appreciate what you did, Chunky," said Jerry. "You practically won -the race for me, and you had a good chance yourself." - -"I hadn't a chance in the world with you in it," replied Bob. "Besides I -won my race, so what did I want with another? I just had to run him down -to save you. I'm glad I did." - -"I won't forget it," exclaimed Jerry, warmly, as he grasped his chum's -hand heartily. - -And then the three boys, each one of whom had won a valuable prize that -day, gathered up their wheels and belongings and prepared to start for -home. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -A DEMAND FOR MONEY. - - -Probably there was no more disgusted person at the races that day than -Noddy Nixon. He was mad at himself, at Jack, and more than angry at Bob, -Ned and Jerry. He felt very bitter in his heart toward them, though it -was all his own fault. Another matter that troubled him was the money he -had lost on bets. - -"I'm in a deep hole," he muttered as he left the athletic grounds, "and -how to get out I don't know." - -For few of the tips that Jack had given proved good ones, and Noddy -had lost in all about two hundred dollars. This was more money than he -had possessed in some time, though an indulgent father kept him well -supplied. - -"Where's my father?" asked Noddy in surly tones as the maid answered his -ring at the handsome house on the hill where the Nixon family lived. - -"In his study, Mr. Noddy," answered the girl. - -"Now to beard the lion in his den," whispered the young man to himself. - -In answer to Noddy's knock--rather a timid, hesitating sort of a knock, -and not in keeping with the bully's usual bluster--Mr. Nixon bade his -son enter. - -"How are you, Noddy?" asked Mr. Nixon, who was fond of the young man, in -spite of his bad manners at times. - -"Pretty fair," was the answer. - -"Did you go to the races? Of course you must have, to judge by your -costume." - -"Yes, I went," replied Noddy. "I rode in one, just as a sort of -practice. I didn't try to win. I only wanted to get in form. But say, -father," he went on rapidly, "I need some money." - -"Money!" exclaimed Mr. Nixon, laying aside the book he had been reading, -and looking over the tops of his spectacles. "Money? Why do you know how -much you have had in the last month?" - -"Not so much," replied Noddy. - -For answer Mr. Nixon rapidly turned over the pages of a memorandum book. -When he came to a certain page he stopped and began adding up some -figures. - -"The total, since the middle of last month, when I began keeping the -account, to the present time, which is just about four weeks of time, -is three hundred and seventy-five dollars," said Mr. Nixon. - -"I had no idea it was so much," muttered Noddy. - -"And now you want more?" - -"I must have about two hundred dollars, father." - -"Two hundred dollars! Great Scott, young man! do you think money grows -on trees? What do you want with two hundred dollars? Are you going to -start in business?" - -"I need it to pay a few debts with," murmured Noddy. - -"I'm sorry," said Mr. Nixon, closing the book, "but I can't let you have -any more money now." - -"But father, I simply must have it." - -"You'll not get it from me, young man. I'm tired of handing you over -money to waste on foolishness." - -"Well, I'm going to have that money," retorted Noddy, speaking in an -excited tone. - -"Look here, young man," answered his father, "don't let me hear you -speak to me again like that. Remember you are not of age, and until you -are you are under my control. Remember also that you are not too big to -be whipped. I am inclined to think that would be a good thing for you." - -"I'd like to see any one try it," retorted Noddy impudently. - -"Leave the room! Leave the room, sir!" exclaimed Mr. Nixon, rising to -his feet, his face white with anger. "I do not want to lose my temper, -and act hastily. Leave the room at once," and he pointed to the door. - -Noddy, with a sullen and hateful glance at his parent, passed through -the portal. He slammed the door behind him, giving vent to the anger -that raged within him. After the young man was gone Mr. Nixon sank down -in a chair. He was trembling, and tears stood in his eyes. - -"To think that my oldest son should be so thoughtless of the respect due -me," he sighed. "I wish he was better. Perhaps if he had had to work -as hard as I did to make my fortune he would not be so wasteful. But I -simply can not let him spend any more money at present. It is for his -own good, but he can't seem to see it. Ah me! I wish he was a better -son." - -Noddy went to his room, put on another suit after doffing his bicycle -clothes, and then ordered one of the maids to get him something to eat. -After a hasty meal he left the house. - -"I wonder if I couldn't borrow some money from Tom Judson," mused Noddy, -as he reached the centre of the town, and proceeded along the streets -filled with people coming home from work. "He must be at the mill office -yet. I'll try, any how." - -Tom, the son of Amos Judson, who owned a large iron mill in Cresville, -was a young man whose acquaintance Noddy had made some time before. -Ordinarily Tom was well supplied with money. - -Noddy found Tom in the mill office. It was about closing time. - -"Hello, Tom!" greeted Noddy. - -"Hello, yourself!" responded Tom, genially. - -"Tom," went on Noddy rapidly, seeing there was no one within hearing, -"can you lend me three hundred dollars? I need it to pay a bill with in -a hurry, and I haven't time to go home. The governor would let me have -it for the asking. I'll pay you back in a couple of days." - -For answer Tom slowly turned one pocket after another inside out. - -"Dead broke!" he laughed. "Just paid my board bill and I can't get any -cash until Saturday night. Sorry." - -"So am I," joined in Noddy. - -"If you want to crack the safe there," went on Tom, pointing to an -old-fashioned one that stood in a corner, "you could get three hundred -dollars, and more. I saw dad put one thousand dollars in bills in there -a while ago. Some people paid their debts late this afternoon, and he -didn't want to go to the bank so near closing time. But I guess you -don't want to crack a safe, do you, Noddy?" - -"No," replied Noddy, with an uneasy laugh, as he left the mill office. - -"Good night," called Tom, as he proceeded to put his books away. Then, -seeing that the safe was closed, and locking the office door, he went -home. - -"Everything fails me," muttered Noddy. "But I simply must raise the -cash--somehow. I wonder--" - -But he hardly dared whisper even to himself the thought that came into -his mind. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -AT THE CLUB HOUSE. - - -Following the last of the races at the athletic grounds it was announced -that the Cresville Club would tender, that night, a reception to all -participants and their friends. There was to be a little entertainment -and refreshments would be served. The prizes would also be awarded. - -Bob and his sister Susie were going, Ned would be there and Jerry -Hopkins had promised to take Julia. Besides it was expected that a -number of boys and girls, friends of the three chums, would be present. - -When Bob, Ned and Jerry, with the two girls, reached the club house that -evening, they found a big crowd already there. - -"Oh, there's Alice Vines and Helen Gale!" exclaimed Susie, leaving her -brother and running over to where the girls stood. - -"Yes, and there's Mollie Horton!" exclaimed Julia. "I'm real glad she -came," and Julia ran from her brother and joined Mollie. - -"Well, it looks as if we'd have to paddle our own canoes," remarked -Jerry, with a laugh. "Deserted the first thing, after the glorious -victories we won, too." - -"Let's pretend we don't want to talk to them," suggested Ned. "That's -the surest way to bring the girls around," which holds true of old as -well as young girls, it may be said. - -"Come down stairs and I'll treat you all to ice-cream," invited Jerry. - -The boys were hurrying away, not looking in the direction of the girls, -when there was a flurry of skirts and a miniature cyclone descended -about the lads. - -"What's that I heard about ice-cream?" asked Julia, with a laugh, as she -ran up and grasped her brother by the arm. - -"Did you hear anything?" asked Jerry, in an innocent tone. - -"Yes, and I happen to have some sort of a vague recollection about a -promise of ice-cream sodas made by some one this afternoon," went on the -girl, laughing. "Do you boys recall anything about that?" - -"I guess the joke is on us, boys," said Bob. "Come along, girls, you -shall have the ice-cream." - -It was a jolly little party that gathered about the ice-cream tables. -They had almost finished one plate each, when a boy with light hair, -that never seemed to be combed, and blue eyes that twinkled like two -stars and a mouth that always seemed to be open, either while he was -talking or laughing, came up. - -[Illustration: IT WAS A JOLLY LITTLE PARTY THAT GATHERED ABOUT THE -ICE-CREAM TABLES.] - -"Hello girls! Hello fellows!" he exclaimed rapidly, and talking by -jerks. "Fine night--big crowd--lots of people--have some more cream?" - -"Easy, easy," pleaded Jerry. "You talk like a house afire, Andy Rush." - -"Rush by name--Rush by nature," spluttered Andy. "Come, what is it? -Ice-cream--candy cake--lemonade--pick the winner!" - -"Well, I guess the girls wouldn't object to some more cream," spoke Bob. -"As for me, ice-cream sort of palls after one big plate. I'll have some -lemonade." - -Andy joined the little party, and added to the fun. He never seemed to -stop talking, and he didn't seem to care whether any one listened. - -"Prizes going to be given out," cried Andy, presently, hurrying up -stairs. - -This was a signal for a general breaking up of the little party. As -each of the three chums came in for a prize they had to be near the -platform, where Mr. Wakefield, the athletic instructor of the club, -gave out the trophies. - -There was quite a jam of people in the main room of the club, where -seats had been placed to accommodate the assemblage. The boys found it -rather difficult to get near the platform, but finally succeeded. - -Bob's name was the first called. He blushed as he went forward to -receive a fine diamond scarf pin that was the first prize in the amateur -race class. - -After several other trophies had been given out came the turn of Jerry -to go forward and get the first prize for the three mile race. It was -announced that the winner of this could have his choice of any article -to the value of three hundred dollars. The money could not be given, as -that would put the winner in the professional class, Mr. Wakefield said. - -"We thought of giving a three hundred dollar piano as the first trophy," -said Mr. Wakefield, "but there is no obligation to take that, as it is -not purchased. Now, Jerry, what would you like?" - -"If it can be bought for that amount of money I'll have a motor-cycle," -replied Jerry after a moment's thought. - -"That's the stuff!" called Bob in such a loud whisper that it was heard -all over the room, and caused considerable laughter. - -"And a motor-cycle you shall have," said Mr. Wakefield, "the finest that -can be bought. I am glad you took that. It gives me a chance to say that -in the future the club intends having some motor-cycle races. Perhaps -you will compete, Jerry, and if you do I hope you will do your best." - -"Three cheers for Jerry Hopkins!" called some one, and they were given -with a will. - -"Your prize is not quite as optional as was Jerry's," said Mr. -Wakefield, when Ned came forward in answer to his name. "Still we hope -you will like it. I have picked out this for you," and he gave the boy -a magazine rifle of the most expensive make, a regular beauty, at the -sight of which Ned's eyes sparkled with joy. - -"Three cheers for Ned Slade!" shouted a voice at the back of the room, -and Ned was cheered until his face grew red with blushes. - -It was not long before all the prizes had been given out. Then followed -an entertainment. - -"Let's go back and sit with the girls," suggested Ned. The three chums -moved down the centre aisle, and found that the young ladies had -anticipated their coming and had saved seats for them. - -Mr. Wakefield sought out Jerry and whispered that his motor-cycle would -be ordered at once, and would probably arrive in the course of a couple -of weeks. - -"Isn't it queer," said Ned. "Do you remember that day how we were -talking about getting motor-cycles?" - -"I remember," replied Jerry. "But I didn't think I would have one so -soon. I wish you and Bob were going to get them now." - -"I'm going to see if I can't," said Ned. - -"Same here," came from the heavy-weight youth. - -The party, increased by late comers, was more jolly than before, and -laughter and jokes made the hours pass so pleasantly that when twelve -o'clock boomed out on the chiming time-piece of the club, there was a -chorus of cries from the girls. - -"Oh! How late it is!" almost screamed Mollie Horton. - -"And mother told me to be sure and be home by eleven," came from Alice. -"We must start, girls." - -The majority of boys and girls lived in the same neighborhood. They -paired off, as young folks will, when they approach the age of -sentiment, and by two marched down the now quiet streets of Cresville, -singing snatches of songs. It was a bright moon-light night, and the -young people enjoyed every moment of it. - -Ned, who had no sister to worry about, had asked permission to take -Alice Vines home. She lived some distance from the others, though -her route was the same as theirs for a little way. When it came time -for Alice and Ned to take another path, they bade their companions -good-night, and started off down the street together. Alice lived about -half a mile from the parting of the ways, and Ned thought the distance -all too short. - -"I've had a very pleasant time," said Alice, when she reached her gate. -"Thank you very much for bringing me home." - -"The pleasure was all mine, I assure you," said Ned with a gallant bow, -whereat Alice laughed. - -Then Ned started home alone. His way lay past the Judson iron mill, a -rather lonesome part of the town, but Ned did not care. Once he wished -he had brought his new rifle along, instead of leaving it at the club -house. Then he laughed to himself at his fears. - -After he had passed his father's store, which was in darkness, he came -to a part of the town where there were no street lamps. However the moon -gave considerable light. - -There were mysterious shadows, too, and once Ned thought one took on the -shape of a man sneaking around a corner. He came to a halt, his heart -beating wildly. - -"Pshaw! It must have been a cloud," he declared. - -A little later he came nearer the iron mill. It was located on the bank -of a river, and the rushing of the water sounded rather uncanny in the -lonesome night. Once more Ned started as he beheld a shadow glinting -along the street ahead of him. - -"That's no moon-shadow," argued the boy. "That's the outline of a man, -if ever there was one. And it looked for all the world like Bill Berry. -Well, I don't know's I'm afraid of him, and he certainly isn't of me." - -He walked on boldly, whistling to keep up his courage, though he would -have disputed that point had any one accused him. Then he came in full -view of the mill. Through the glass door of the office he caught sight -of a light. He gave a sudden start and hurried forward. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -NODDY AND THE SQUARE BOX. - - -"A light in the mill!" exclaimed Ned softly. "There must be something -wrong. I never saw one there before. Mr. Judson has no night watchman -either, unless he has gotten one in the last few days, which I doubt. I -wonder what's up?" - -In spite of the rather disagreeableness of the task Ned resolved to keep -watch for a little while and see what developed. - -He found a stone where he could sit down in the shadow and observe -events. For some time nothing happened. The little light glowed -steadily. Then it began to flicker and to move about. - -Suddenly, off to the left, Ned heard a sound. It was just as if some one -was walking along and trying to avoid making a noise. Only the breaking -of a little piece of wood now and then, or the rattle of a pebble, -showed that some one was moving. - -Ned crouched down behind the stone on which he had been sitting. He -peered forward, straining his eyes in the uncertain light to catch the -least glimpse of who ever was approaching. He started as he saw a man, -bending low so as to conceal as much of himself as possible, steal from -the yard of the mill and take up his position on the other side of the -street, about fifty feet from where Ned was concealed. - -"I'm almost certain that was Bill Berry," whispered Ned. "I'm positive -now that something wrong is afoot. Bill isn't out on a night like this -for any good. I wonder if I ought to run for help?" - -For some time Ned kept watchful eyes in the direction Bill, or the man -he supposed was him, had gone. He could see him, crouched all in a -heap, beside a stone, just as Ned himself was. And the man seemed to be -keeping a watch on the mill, exactly as Ned was doing. - -"Maybe there are robbers in the mill now," argued Ned, "and Bill is -keeping guard. I've a good notion to go and see if I can't find a -policeman." - -Once more Ned heard a movement in the direction of the mysterious -watcher. He looked and saw the man straighten up and look cautiously -about him. Then he saw him steal across the street, go up to the door -of the mill office, and peer in. - -"I wish I dared do that," thought Ned. "Then I'd know whether I'm making -a fool of myself, staying out like this when I ought to be in bed." - -For more than a minute Bill Berry, for Ned could see plainly now that -the man was the town bad character, stood and gazed into the mill -office. Then, apparently satisfied with what he had seen, Bill tip-toed -away and passed down the street and out of sight. - -"Now it's my turn," whispered Ned, and he moved forward. - -He looked up. The light was still glowing though faintly. Ned set his -foot on the first wooden step. As if it had been a signal agreed upon -the light went out suddenly, and the office was in darkness. - -"Queer!" exclaimed Ned. "I wonder if whoever is in there could have -heard me?" - -A moment's reflection, however, showed him this could not have been the -case. - -"Maybe they are watching and saw me," he argued. This made him feel a -little strange. To think that in the darkness, there might be evil eyes -watching his every movement was not a pleasant thought. He knew that -he could be seen from within the mill, though he himself could observe -nothing inside. - -"Might as well look in, though, now I'm here," he said to himself. - -So he boldly, but softly, went up the five steps, and, placing his hands -on either side of his face, to shut out the little light of the moon -that, now and then, straggled through the clouds, Ned peered anxiously -into the office. As he had feared he could distinguish nothing. It was -as black as the proverbial pocket. - -Ned walked down the steps. As he did so he thought he heard, from within -the mill, a sound, as if a door was slammed. He listened intently. - -"I guess I must have fancied it," he said. "I must be getting nervous. -That won't do. All the same I would like to have seen what Bill Berry -did when he looked in while the light was there." - -With this thought in mind Ned moved off. The iron mill took up quite a -large space of ground, what would be termed a city block, and there were -streets on three sides of it, besides a road along the river, between -the stream and the mill. A high fence surrounded all but the front -of the mill, though there were gates in it at intervals to admit the -workmen and teams. To get to his home Ned had to go to the farthest end -of the mill fence, and turn up a street there. He was walking toward the -corner, and was close to it, when he heard footsteps approaching. - -He hesitated a moment. Then he reflected that he had as much right to -be where he was as any one. The footsteps came nearer and nearer. Then, -as Ned proceeded he turned the corner, and came face to face with Noddy -Nixon! - -Just then the moon, which had been hidden by a cloud, came out brightly. -By its gleam Ned could distinguish the bully's features clearly. They -bore a look of mingled rage and fear. - -"Hello, Noddy," said Ned, resolving in spite of all that had taken -place, to speak friendly. "Fine night, isn't it?" - -"Look here!" burst out Noddy. "Are you spying on me? Can't I go to the -river to get some fish bait without having every young cub in Cresville -at my heels?" - -"I wasn't spying on you, as you call it," said Ned quietly, "and if you -think so the less I have to say to you the better off I'll be." - -"I've a mind to knock your head off," spluttered Noddy. "Just mind your -own business or you'll get into trouble, and it will be a kind you won't -like." - -Ned did not deem the remarks worthy of an answer. He turned and was -hurrying past. As he did so he noticed that Noddy held tightly under one -arm a small square box. It seemed to be made of wood. Catching Ned's -glance at what he carried, Noddy rapidly shifted the box until it was -hidden under his coat. Then, with angry mutterings, he hurried on. - -"Rather a queer sort of box to use for his fish bait," thought Ned. "I -wonder what he was up to, any how? And I wonder what that light in the -mill meant? I've had quite a few adventures to-night. Guess I'd better -get home before I meet with any more." - -So he walked rapidly on, and reached his house without further incident. -He soon fell asleep, to dream of being shut up in a small square wooden -box with a big fish, while Noddy Nixon, on a motor-cycle, was riding off -rapidly with the box under his arm. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -THE MILL MYSTERY. - - -"Have you heard the news--great excitement--big robbery--everybody -talking about it--hurry up!" - -It was thus Andy Rush greeted Ned the next morning as he stopped at the -latter's house on the way down town. Andy's hair was more disarranged -than ever, and his blue eyes fairly shone. - -"What's up?" asked Ned, who had come to the door in answer to Andy's -whistle, having been met with the flow of words that startled him. - -"Last night--midnight, I guess--Judson's mill--thousand dollars--great -excitement--safe blown open--money taken--detectives notified--I'm off -to see the fun--hurry up!" - -"Hold on!" called Ned. "I saw--I know--" and then he stopped. The memory -of what he had seen in the night; the light in the mill, the actions -of Bill Berry, and his meeting with Noddy Nixon, who carried a square -box; all this came to Ned in an instant. He was about to tell Andy, but -on second thought decided that he had better keep his own counsel, at -least, for a while. - -"Coming along?--no time to lose!" cried Andy. - -"I'll be down after I have breakfast," replied Ned, waving a farewell to -Andy, and returning to the house sorely puzzled. - -He ate his breakfast rapidly. He hardly knew what to do in reference -to what he had witnessed during his watch at the mill. After some -thought he decided to wait a little while, learn more particulars of the -robbery, and then relate everything to his father. - -In a little while Mr. Slade left the house and Ned soon followed. When -the lad reached the centre of the town it needed no one to tell him that -there was considerable excitement. In a small place like Cresville news -spreads quickly even without a daily paper. - -Ned soon found his chums, Bob and Jerry. - -"Have you heard about it?" demanded Ned. - -"Yes, Andy Rush told me," said Jerry. - -"And he told me, too," put in Bob. "That fellow is as swift as his name." - -"Did you hear any particulars?" demanded Ned. - -"It was an old-fashioned safe, according to what the policeman told -me," said Jerry, "and the burglars had little trouble in getting it -open." - -"Did they blow it apart?" - -"No, simply took a chisel and hammer and cut the lock out. The door was -only soft iron." - -By this time the three boys were near the mill. There was quite a crowd -about, and several policemen were on guard, preventing any one, but -those having business, from entering the establishment. - -"One side, please," called a man suddenly, coming up behind the three -chums. "I'm in a hurry." - -The boys turned aside, to give passage to a short, stout fussy man, who -seemed in a tremendous state of excitement. - -"That's Sheriff Blackwell," said Jerry. "I suppose he thinks the robbers -are here waiting for him to arrest them." - -There was really little news of the robbery to be had. Mr. Judson -related what particulars he knew to the police. - -"I had a little more than one thousand dollars on hand late yesterday -afternoon," he said to the officers. "Several people paid me some bills, -and, as it was late, I didn't go to the bank, but locked the money up in -the safe. I seldom do this, as the iron box is no match for burglars. - -"As far as I know the only persons who knew the money was in the safe -were my son and myself. I am sure neither he nor I told any one." - -"We must get right to work looking up clues," said the sheriff. - -But there were apparently no clues. As has been said, the door of the -safe was of soft iron. The robber, or robbers, had used a cold chisel -and a hammer, and cut out a section of the door around the big clumsy -lock. Then it was a comparatively easy matter to get at the cash. The -thieves had left nothing behind them that would throw any light on the -mystery. - -Having learned all they could, and seeing that there were likely to be -no developments at the mill, the three chums wandered up the street. All -the while Ned was busy thinking. Finally he said: - -"Boys, I've something to tell you. I want to ask your advice. It's about -the robbery. Come where we can find a quiet place." - -Soon the three chums were sitting comfortably beneath a big oak tree, -that cast a pleasant shade from the sun, which was already hot, though -it was early in the day. - -"Now, let's hear the yarn," said Chunky. - -Thereupon Ned told what he had seen while watching the mill the previous -night. - -"Well, I should say you did know something about the robbery," commented -Jerry. "Why didn't you tell this to the police?" - -"I did think of it," said Ned. "But I wanted to get some advice first. -You see the light may or may not have had a connection with the crime." - -"Yes, but it looks suspicious, seeing Bill Berry around," came from Bob. - -"Are you sure it was him?" asked Jerry. - -"As sure as I am that I'm talking to you now." - -"And are you just as positive that it was Noddy?" - -"Even more so. Wasn't I talking to him?" - -"And he said he had fish bait in the square box?" - -"He didn't exactly say so, but he intimated as much." - -"If it was fish bait, why should he try to hide it, as you say he did?" -asked Jerry. - -"That's what puzzles me," replied Ned. "I only wish I had seen what Bill -saw in the mill office when the light was burning." - -"Maybe Bill is the robber," suggested Bob. - -"I hardly think so," was Ned's opinion. "He may have had some connection -with it, and may even have known about it. But, in my opinion the person -who took the thousand dollars was the person who had the light in the -office, and that wasn't Bill." - -"Do you--do you think Noddy--er--Noddy took the money?" asked Bob in a -hesitating tone. He felt rather delicate about accusing an acquaintance, -even one so undesirable as Noddy, of a serious crime. - -"Well, I hate to think so, but it does look suspicious," said Ned. "He -certainly acted afraid because he met me." - -"Could any one get out of the office any way except going through the -front door?" asked Bob. - -"Yes," replied Ned. "There is a back door that goes out into the mill -yard. From the yard a person could pass onto the road along the river, -and then come up along the north side of the mill fence, on Peterson -street." - -"And it was at the corner of Peterson street and Maple alley that you -met Noddy, wasn't it?" - -"That's just where it was." - -There was silence for a few minutes among the boys. Each one was busy -with disagreeable thoughts. - -"Did any of you hear how the mill office door was opened?" asked Ned. - -"The lock wasn't forced on either the back or front door," answered -Jerry. "So I was told. The police think the robber used a skeleton key." - -"Then it comes right down to a question. Is Noddy Nixon guilty?" asked -Bob solemnly. - -"It's hard to decide," replied Ned. "I'd hate to accuse any one, even -when things look as suspicious as they do now. Do you think I ought -to tell the police? Perhaps they will arrest both Bill and Noddy on -suspicion." - -"You'd have to be a witness against them, and that would not be very -pleasant," suggested Jerry. "Besides their word would be as good as -yours in court, and you have no proof. I think the best thing to do is -to wait a while. If suspicion points more strongly to Noddy or Bill, -then you can come forward and tell what you know." - -"Then I'll wait a while," said Ned. "In the meantime we can, all three, -have an eye on Noddy and Bill. They may do something or say something -that would give us a clue." - -"There's another thing I don't believe any of us have thought of," came -from Jerry. - -"What's that?" - -"Why, you know, Mr. Nixon, Noddy's father, owns several shares in -Judson's mill." - -"Are you sure of that?" asked Ned. - -"Positive. I heard mother saying something about it the other day. It -seems the concern was made a stock company not long ago, and Mr. Judson -wanted mother to invest some of her money in it. He remarked at the time -that Mr. Nixon had taken ten shares of the stock, and thought it a good -investment." - -"That might or might not throw additional suspicion on Noddy," remarked -Ned. "If he knew his father was interested, financially, in the iron -mill, he hardly would take money that he knew might cause his father a -loss." - -"Well, all this talking don't bring matters any nearer a solution," said -Jerry, finally. "I think all we can do is to wait and watch." - -"And meet every day to compare notes," suggested Ned. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -THE QUEER BANK BILL. - - -It was the afternoon of the day the robbery of the mill was discovered. -Ned, after his conference with his two chums, had gone down to his -father's store. He wanted to talk to Mr. Slade about the prospects of -getting a motor-cycle. For, now that Jerry was about to get one, the -desire on Ned's part was all the stronger. - -While standing in the front of the big department establishment his -father owned Ned was surprised to see, passing on the other side of the -street, Noddy Nixon and Paul Banner. - -"That's queer," commented Ned. "I didn't know Noddy and Paul were as -chummy as that. They didn't used to have much use for each other." - -Then the idea suddenly came to him, that here was the very opportunity -he desired. He could follow Noddy and Paul, and see if he might learn -anything. - -The bully and the dude, as Ned could observe from time to time, did not -seem to be exactly in accord. At times they would almost come to a -halt, and dispute over something. Noddy seemed to be objecting to some -course of action proposed by Paul. - -"They must be going to the old wind mill," commented Ned, as he saw -Noddy and Paul turn down a street that led to an old-fashioned, and -deserted flour mill, that, in by-gone days, had been operated by wind -power. The mill was a good distance from the edge of the town, in the -centre of a big field. - -Sure enough that was the destination of the two young men. Ned was as -close after them as he dared to go. There was little risk of his being -noticed while he was on the streets, but, after leaving them there was -greater danger of detection for the trailer. - -"However," argued Ned, "as long as I know where they are going, I don't -need to keep so close after them. I can wait until they get to the mill, -and then I can go there too. By coming up from the back, where there are -no windows, which I can do by going through Hedges's Lane, they can't -see me." - -He approached the mill rapidly from the rear. As he came within hearing -distance he could distinguish voices. And they seemed to be disputing. -The ancient establishment was full of cracks and broken places, and the -noise from inside passed out freely. Nearer and nearer hurried Ned. At -last he reached the broad platform that ran all around the base of the -mill. He proceeded cautiously, taking care not to step in the big holes -that yawned here and there. He crept around to a place near the front -entrance to the old structure. Fortunately here he found where a board -had come loose, so that it afforded a good listening place. - -"I don't see what in the world you wanted to bring me all the way out to -this lonely place for, my dear chap," Paul was saying. - -"It's this way," Noddy was explaining. "I told you I was short of cash, -and had to ask you to wait until to-day to pay the bet I made with you." - -"But, my dear fellow," "Polly" expostulated, "why couldn't you pay me up -there in town, just as well?" - -"To tell you the truth," said Noddy, in a tone that would indicate to -any one who knew him that he was going to do just the opposite, "I -didn't want any one to see me paying you." - -"And why not, pray, my dear chap?" - -"Because I owe quite a few bets," replied Noddy. "I am going to -square them all up in a day or so, but if those I owe saw me paying -you they would all come down on me at once and I would be financially -embarrassed. I suppose you're ready to take the money now?" - -"Ready, nay, anxious, my dear chap." - -"Well, I had a little trouble in getting it," went on Noddy, not going -into particulars, however. "And here it is. Just one hundred dollars, -isn't it?" - -"Correct, my dear boy." - -"Ten fives are fifty," said Noddy, counting out some bills, "and twenty -is seventy. Twenty more is ninety, and that ten makes just the hundred." - -"Hold on here!" exclaimed Paul, when Noddy had come to the end of his -counting. "This bill doesn't look just right." - -"Which bill?" - -"This last ten dollar one. I never saw one like it." - -"Nonsense, that's all right," responded Noddy. "Let's see it." - -Paul passed it back. - -"Why, certainly it's good," Noddy said. "It's a state bank bill, instead -of a national one, that's all. Issued by the Merchants' Bank of Boston." - -"But what's that queer red mark on it?" - -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. He kept in hiding -for five minutes, however, fearing Noddy might return. At the end of -that time he ventured out. He saw Noddy and Paul almost across the field -and knew he was safe. - -Ned hurried back to town, going the same roundabout path he had taken in -coming. He hastened to Jerry's house and told him what had taken place, -and the two hunted up Bob and related the events to him. - -"Things are getting warm," commented Bob. - -"They are that," replied Jerry. - -"I wonder if one of us couldn't get a talk with 'Polly' Banner?" -suggested Jerry. "We might manage to get talking about queer bills, and -'Polly' would show us the one he had." - -"Suppose you try that," Bob said. - -"I'm willing," Jerry responded. "I'll take a walk down town now, and -maybe I'll meet him. You wait until I come back." - -Jerry resolved to first visit the club house of the athletic -organization, as he knew Paul spent a good deal of his time there. Sure -enough, he found Paul sitting at ease in a comfortable chair, smoking a -perfumed cigarette and reading a book. - -"I say, Paul," said Jerry, "you're not interested in old coins are you?" - -"Old coins? No, my dear chap; why should I be interested in old coins?" - -"Oh, I don't know. I was just wondering. Some people collect old coins, -and some stamps. I favor stamps, myself." - -"Now that you speak of it," said Paul, "I remember I have an old bill -about me. It's rather odd. Maybe you'd be interested in it." - -"Let's see," replied Jerry, thanking his stars that he was about to -accomplish his purpose so easily. - -Paul drew out the odd ten dollar note Noddy had given him. Just as Ned -had reported, it was an old style state bank note. And, in one of the -blank spaces on the reverse side some one had made a very elaborate -monogram of the initials H. R. C. - -"Quite a curiosity," observed Jerry, passing the bill back. - -"I think so," said Paul, puffing out thick clouds of smoke from his -Egyptian cigarette. "But I suppose there is no premium on it." - -"There might be," replied Jerry in as careless a tone as he could -assume. "If I were you I'd save it and see." - -"I will," said Paul. "I'll place it in the very back part of my wallet, -and I won't spend it until I see a coin catalog. That's an easy way to -make money." - -"Where did you get the bill?" asked Jerry. "Perhaps you can get more." - -"Noddy Nixon gave it to me," responded Paul. "I wasn't going to take it -at first, but he told me it was good." - -"Oh, I reckon it's good enough," answered Jerry. "Well, I guess I'll be -traveling. Good-bye, Paul." - -"Good afternoon, my dear chap," answered Paul, lighting another -cigarette. - -"I'll not forget how that bill looks," said Jerry to himself, as he -sought his two chums and told them what had taken place between Paul and -himself. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -THE MOTOR-CYCLE. - - -It was about a week after the foregoing events when Jerry received a -letter, bearing in the upper left-hand corner of the envelope the mark -of the C. H. & D. Railroad. - -He read the missive, which was short and to the point. Briefly it -informed Jerry that there awaited him at the freight office of the road -one motor-cycle, which he could have by calling and presenting the -enclosed way-bill. - -"Hurrah!" shouted the boy. "Three cheers for the Cresville Athletic Club -and Mr. Wakefield! Hurrah!" - -Jerry lost no time in calling for his two chums, and the three boys -hurried together to the freight depot. - -"What can I do for you boys?" asked Mr. Hitter, the agent in charge. - -"I come to get what that calls for," replied Jerry, handing over the -way-bill. - -"Oh, yes, one of them new-fangled bicycles that take a steam engine to -run 'em. Well, you'll find it down at the end of the platform," said Mr. -Hitter. "Now, be careful, and don't blow yourself up. Boys is dreadful -careless like," he muttered, as he went on with his work. - -Boxed in a big crate, at the end of the freight platform, the boys found -the motor-cycle. It was addressed in big letters to "Jerry Hopkins, -Esq.," and marked "With Care." - -"Shall I unpack it here or get it taken up to the house, crate and all?" -asked Jerry of his chums. - -"Oh, unpack it here. Then you can ride it home," said Bob. - -"I know about as much how to ride one as I would how to run a -locomotive," objected Jerry. "I've studied the catalogs, of course, but -I think I'd better start it up at home first." - -"Oh, go ahead, ride it home," put in Ned. "We can manage to find out how -it works, and we can get some gasolene over to the drug store." - -So, rather against his own calmer judgment, Jerry decided to do as his -friends wished. He borrowed a hammer from Mr. Hitter and soon the crate -was broken apart and the motor-cycle, in all its mechanical beauty, was -revealed. - -It certainly was a fine machine and had all the latest improvements. -There were two cylinders instead of one, insuring great speed; the tires -were large, and there was a large reservoir for gasolene. It was of the -latest make and not generally on the market as yet. - -"Here's a book that tells all about how to run it," said Bob, catching -sight of a pamphlet of directions. - -The boys read the directions over carefully. It seemed simple enough. -All there was to do was to put some gasolene in the tank, see that the -batteries gave a proper current, start the machine off, turn on the -gasolene, switch on the spark and ride off. - -"I'll get the gasolene," volunteered Ned. He ran over to the drug store -and came back with a can full. - -"Now try and see if there's a good spark," Jerry suggested. - -Satisfied that the batteries were in working order, Jerry prepared to -take his first ride. The street leading from the railroad depot was a -long straight wide one. - -"It's a good thing," commented Jerry, referring to the highway. "There's -plenty of chance to be run away with, and not damage anything. I can -ride clear to New York if I go far enough." - -"I wouldn't this time, though," said Bob. - -Jerry smiled. It was a rather dubious sort of a grin, to be sure. Much -as he wanted a motor-cycle, he knew there was a little risk in riding -one when he was not thoroughly familiar with it. However, he wasn't -going to back out. He got on the ponderous machine, which Bob and Ned -steadied for him. - -"Give me a little shove." - -Bob and Ned did so. - -"Work the pedals and get a good start," advised Bob. - -Jerry did so. Soon he was moving off at a fair speed, though, of course, -just as if he was on an ordinary bicycle. - -"Turn on the gasolene!" shouted Ned. - -"And throw in the spark!" called Bob. - -"Here she goes," Jerry yelled back. - -There was a series of sharp explosions, like a machine gun being fired -at top speed, and the motor-cycle, with Jerry aboard, started off. - -"Hurrah!" shouted Ned and Bob. - -Bang! Bang! Bang! the machine went, and soon Jerry was a quarter of a -mile down the road. - -"He ought to shut off the exhaust," commented Bob. "He can do that on -this machine. On some you can't." - -The two boys, thinking of nothing but motor-cycles and their chances of -getting them, passed down the road. Jerry was out of sight. In a little -while they espied a cloud of dust down the highway. It seemed to be -moving toward them. - -"Here comes Jerry, I guess," Bob said. - -"And he's moving like the wind!" exclaimed Ned. - -In a few minutes the dust cloud was nearer, and then the boys saw that -it was Jerry approaching at a rapid rate. His machine did not make -so much noise now. But, as he came nearer, Bob and Ned, who caught a -glimpse of his face, thought he looked a little worried. - -"Hold on! Can't you stop?" cried Bob, for Jerry was about to pass. - -"That's the trouble!" Jerry yelled as he whizzed past. "I can't seem to -shut off the power!" - -Then he was lost in a cloud of dust, going down the road in the opposite -direction. - -"Something's wrong!" Bob ejaculated. - -"He's forgotten which lever to pull!" exclaimed Ned. "If he don't look -out there'll be trouble." - -As he spoke Jerry came flying back. - -"Can't one of you do something?" he cried. "I'm afraid to take my hands -off the bars long enough to pull the levers again, and the last time I -yanked them I seemed to turn on more power. I'll ride down the road a -way and turn back. Think up something in the meanwhile!" - -"He's in a pickle!" exclaimed Ned. - -"I have it!" cried Bob. - -"What?" - -"The next time he comes past yell at him to ride around in a circle -until we can look in the book of directions on how to run a motor-cycle." - -And so, the next time Jerry whizzed by, with a comical worried look on -his face, Bob yelled: - -"Ride around us in a circle, Jerry. Make believe you're on the track. -Ned and I will look in the book and see how to stop you!" - -Jerry obeyed. Around and around he went, the machine kicking up a cloud -of dust. In the centre of the ring stood Bob and Ned, poring over the -pages of the book. - -"There it is!" cried Ned, pointing to something on one page. - -"What does it say?" asked Bob. - -"To stop the machine pull lever A and throw off B toward you three -notches," read Ned. - -"Pull lever A and throw off B toward you three notches!" Bob yelled to -Jerry. - -"Which is lever A and which is lever B?" asked Jerry. "They're not -marked on the machine." - -"That's so, I forgot that," admitted Ned. - -"What am I going to do?" begged Jerry. "Have I got to ride around like -this all night?" - -"What's in the name of Tunket is the trouble?" asked Mr. 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." - -"There's two levers," explained Bob. "One is A and the other is B, -according to the book. The trouble is they are not marked on the -machine, and Jerry don't know which one to pull." - -"Well, not knowing much about the case, I would advise him to pull 'em -both," said Mr. Hitter. "He can't be any worse off than he is now, and -maybe it'll stop him." - -"Good!" exclaimed Bob. "That's it. Why didn't we think of that?" - -"Why didn't we?" was all Ned could say. - -Then they both shouted to Jerry, who was still pursuing his weary round: - -"Move both levers, Jerry!" - -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. "This piece of wire ought to have been taken off. It was put -on temporarily when the machine was packed. See, it held the gasolene -lever and the spark one also, so they couldn't come back separately. -You had to pull them both at once to shut off the flow of fluid and the -current of electricity. It's a thing that wouldn't happen if we hadn't -been in such a hurry." - -"Well, it all came out right," said Jerry. "I'm going to ride the -machine home." - -And he did without further mishap, stopping and starting the motor -without trouble, now that the wire was off. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -MACHINES FOR BOB AND NED. - - -That night two very earnest lads implored two fathers to purchase -motor-cycles for them. As Bob and Ned were both sons of well-to-do -parents the matter was not much one of cost. - -"To tell you the truth," said Mr. Baker to Bob. "I'm a little afraid of -those machines. They are dangerous." - -"I'll be careful," pleaded Bob. - -"I know, but that's what every one says at first," objected Mr. Baker. - -At the same time the same sort of a conversation was going on in the -Slade household. - -"You say there's no danger," Mr. Slade was remarking in answer to Ned's -statement to that effect. "But I heard about Jerry Hopkins and his -experience this afternoon. It seems to me there was danger there." - -It was three days before the two fathers arrived at a decision. They -had consulted in the meanwhile, and Jerry's machine had been closely -examined. Bob and Ned had both taken turns on it, and showed that, after -a little practice, they could run it perfectly. Jerry, also, had become -quite expert. - -In the meantime the boys were so engrossed with the idea of motor-cycles -that they had almost forgotten about the mill robbery. They met, -according to appointment, under the tree in the woods, but there was -nothing new to tell. With the discovery of the queer bank bill, and the -knowledge that Paul Banner was saving it, the boys resolved to let the -matter rest for a while. - -The police and detectives, and even the fussy sheriff, had discovered -nothing, save that the money was gone, which every one knew. As for -Noddy, he did not act like a guilty person. Bill Berry had disappeared -for the time being. - -Noddy seemed to have plenty of money. He was careful not to apply to his -father again, however, and the source of his supply was a mystery except -to himself. In about a week Mr. Nixon, of his own accord, gave Noddy two -hundred dollars. - -"I hope you will spend it wisely, my son," he said. "It is wicked to -waste money, when so much good can be done with it." - -"I say, father," began Bob to Mr. Baker one evening, a little more than -a week after the time Jerry had received his prize motor-cycle, "have -you thought any more about that machine for me?" - -"I have made up my mind," went on Mr. Baker, with exasperating slowness, -"that you can not--" - -"Oh, father!" burst out Bob. - -"That you can not get along without one," finished the banker with a -laugh, "and so I have ordered one for you." - -"Thanks dad!" was all Bob could say, but the two words meant a good deal. - -At the same time, according to arrangement between Mr. Baker and Mr. -Slade, the latter was announcing to his son Ned, that he could have the -much-wanted machine. If there were two happier boys than Ned and Bob in -Cresville that night, no one knew where to find them. - -"We'll have lots of sport," said Bob. "I know of a dozen trips we can -take, that would be too long for a bicycle." - -Three days later the two motor-cycles came, and the chums could hardly -wait to unpack them. Bob's and Ned's machines were just like Jerry's -except in a few minor points. - -Jerry was delighted that his chums' machines had arrived. He got his -own out and soon all three were speeding down the road. In point of -fastness there was not much to choose from among the three motors. None -of the boys had risked running the cycles at top speed yet, and at the -half-way mark each one developed about the same swiftness. - -The boys rode for several miles. It was a pleasant day, with a bright -sun overhead, while an early morning shower had laid the dust. After an -hour's travel Bob said: - -"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm hungry." - -In a few minutes they stopped their motor-cycles in front of a big white -farm house, and walked up the path to the side door. - -On the porch they found a motherly looking woman churning. She smiled at -the sight of the three boys, and took off her apron, which was splashed -with butter-milk, as she came forward to greet them. - -"Good-afternoon," she said pleasantly. - -"We stopped to see if we could get something to eat," began Jerry. -"We're willing to pay for it, of course," he added, fearing the woman -might think they were tramps. "Anything will do. Some cookies, a little -milk or a piece of pie." - -"I guess I can fix you something," said the woman. "Hi! You Jason!" she -called in a loud voice. "Come and run this churn while I set out a lunch -for some visitors." - -In answer to her hail an old man shuffled around the corner of the house. - -"I'm comin'," he said in a quavering voice. "I'm a leetle mite slow, -'cause the rheumatiz catches me to-day, Alvirah. But I'm comin'." - -"It's my grand uncle," the woman explained to the boys. "He's almost -ninety years old, but he can churn as good as I can. Can't you, Jason." - -"I reckon so, Alvirah." - -While the farmer's wife bustled around to set out a simple meal for the -boys, the latter sat out on the porch watching old Jason chum. He moved -the dasher up and down, a queer chugging sound following each stroke. - -"How did you come, anyhow? Walk?" asked the old man presently. - -"On motor-cycles," replied Ned. - -"I didn't know they had them flyin' machines in working order yit," -exclaimed the old man. - -"Come on, boys," interrupted the farmer's wife. "I have a little -something here for you." - -The "little something" proved to be quite a meal. There was nice fresh -bread, with the best butter the boys had ever eaten. There was also -honey right from the bee hives, some rich milk, a plate of doughnuts and -cheese, and two big pies, one apple and the other peach. - -"This is very kind of you," said Jerry. "We didn't want you to go to all -this trouble." - -"I'm sure it's no trouble," replied the woman. "I'm glad you came along. -It's rather lonesome out this way. We don't often have company." - -The boys ate with a will. When they had finished there was not much left -on the table. - -"How much do we owe you?" asked Jerry, as he and his chums rose in -preparation to continue their journey. - -"Oh, I reckon ten cents will be about right," was the answer. But Jerry -insisted on paying twenty-five cents for each, and, after some argument, -the woman accepted it. - -Soon the boys were well on the road toward Cresville. They talked of -many things, and planned several trips in the near future. As they -turned into the main road leading to their homes they heard a chugging -sound behind them. - -All three came to a halt, dismounted, and sat down under a tree. Nearer -and nearer came the sound of the approaching motor-cycle. Then, in a -cloud of dust, a solitary rider whizzed past. - -"Did you see who that was?" asked Ned. "Noddy Nixon." - -"Are you sure?" - -"Positive. I heard the other day that he was going to get a machine. -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." - -"There's not much danger of his seeking our company," came from Jerry. -"He is not overfond of any of us." - -The three boys rested for a while beneath the tree and then, as the sun -sank, they mounted their cycles, put on good speed, and arrived home in -time for supper, bearing excellent appetites, in spite of the good meal -they had had at the farm house. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -A WILD NIGHT RIDE. - - -"I say, Jerry," began Bob, dismounting from his motor-cycle one -afternoon in front of his chum's house, "what do you say to a night -ride?" - -"You mean on our machines?" - -"Sure. Let's get acetylene gas lamps, that give a good light, and ride -over to Fallsburg and back. We can start in the evening and easily make -the round trip in five or six hours." - -Fallsburg was a town about the size of Cresville and forty miles distant -therefrom. The road between was a fairly good one most of the way, -and, by making a circuit involving about five miles more of travel an -excellent highway for the whole distance was available. - -It was decided to start right after supper, and the chums calculated -they could make Fallsburg in about three hours. They did not intend to -ride fast, and were out for pleasure rather than for speed. - -Without special incident the trip to Fallsburg was concluded. It was -nine o'clock when the boys reached the town, which was quite a lively -place. Considerable of a stir was caused when our three heroes rode in -on their machines, which were somewhat of a novelty there. - -"Hurrah! I see an ice cream sign!" exclaimed Ned, pointing down the -street. - -Little time was lost in getting to the store and after each had put away -a large plate of the frozen stuff the boys felt better. The tables in -the ice cream parlor were separated one from the other by large screens. -In the improvised apartment just back of where the three boys were -sitting, voices in low conversation could be heard. - -"Are you sure Noddy will be there?" was the cautious inquiry that came -to the ears of our heroes. At the sound of that name all three started. - -"He'll be there if his machine doesn't break, which it has an unpleasant -habit of doing lately," a second voice said. - -"And do you think he'll bring the money?" - -"He'd better if he knows what's good for him," was the answer. "He's put -me off long enough." - -"The old house by the cross-roads is the place, ain't it?" asked the -party who had first spoken. - -"That's it, and if Noddy don't show up he'll hear from me in a way he -won't like." - -"Come on," whispered Jerry to his chums. "Let's get out of this before -those men see us." - -Quietly the three boys left the ice cream parlor. They did not speak -until they were in the street. - -"What do you suppose they were talking about?" asked Ned. - -"I don't know what the subject was," replied Jerry, "but I venture to -say the person they meant was our acquaintance, Noddy Nixon." - -"And he's evidently expected to pay over some money to-night," added Bob. - -"At the old house at the cross-roads," put in Ned. "I'll bet I know -where they mean." - -"Where?" asked Jerry. - -"Don't you remember that old tumbled-down place we passed about three -miles outside of this town? Near the blacksmith shop?" - -"You mean right after we crossed the river?" inquired Jerry. - -"That's it." - -The same thought was in the minds of all three. Bob was the first to -mention it. - -"Let's go out there and see what we can learn," he said. "It is on our -way home, and we have plenty of time." - -"There may be some danger," objected Jerry. - -"Nonsense. We have as much right there as any one. All we have to do is -to stop off from our motor cycles as we pass. No one can object to that." - -After some further conversation it was agreed to do this. The boys -wandered about the streets a while longer and, as it was nearing eleven -o'clock, they thought they had better start. They found their machines -in proper order, and soon were moving slowly out of town. - -"There's no use being in too much of a hurry," advised Bob. "Probably -Noddy won't meet the men there much before midnight, and it lacks half -an hour of that now." - -A little later the three boys came in sight of the deserted house. -Lonesome and uncanny enough it looked, the moonlight making mysterious -shadows here and there. - -"Go easy," spoke Ned. "No need to tell them we are coming if by any -chance they are there." - -Silently the boys dismounted from their cycles, leaned the machines up -against the fence a short way from in front of the house, and crept up -through the long grass that filled the yard of the old vacant structure. - -"Hold on!" cried Bob suddenly. - -All three came to a halt. - -"What is it?" whispered Jerry. - -For answer Bob pointed toward a shed at the side of the house. In it -could be seen a light gleaming. - -"Are they in there?" asked Jerry. - -"No, but some one's motor-cycle is," replied Bob. - -Foot by foot the three boys made toward the dark and deserted house. -They had circled half way around it, and, coming to the rear, were -suddenly brought to a halt by a sliver of light shooting out from some -crack. - -"Hold on!" exclaimed Bob. - -They stopped and looked toward the light. It came from the kitchen -window, which was closed by broken shutters through a splintered slat of -which the gleam came. On tip-toes the three boys crept under the window. -They peered into the room, and the sight that met their eyes made them -start in surprise. - -Seated around a rough table, on which stood a lighted candle stuck in a -bottle, were three figures. One was Bill Berry, the other was a stranger -and the third was Noddy Nixon. The stranger was holding a pistol to -Noddy's head, and seemed to be threatening him. - -Bill Berry was looking on, and taking no part in the proceedings, -evidently. Then, as the boys watched, they saw Noddy, plainly in fear of -the man with the weapon, pull from his pocket a roll of bills. - -He gave it to the stranger, fairly throwing it at him in a rage. Then -the man with the pistol, smiling in a satisfied way, put up his weapon. -Noddy was saying something, for the boys could see his lips moving, but -they could not hear the words, for the window was closed. - -"Queer doings," whispered Jerry. - -At that instant Ned, in an endeavor to see better, leaned a little -forward. A piece of board he was standing on broke with a loud crash, -and he toppled forward, hitting the window shutter with his elbow. - -Like a flash Noddy, Bill and the strange man leaped to their feet and -gazed in the direction of the window. - -"Quick! Light out of this!" exclaimed Bob. "They will be after us in -another minute!" - -Sure enough, after a moment's hesitation, Noddy ran toward the door with -the intention of going outside and seeing who had made the racket. - -"Hurry!" whispered Bob hoarsely. "To the motor-cycles!" - -The three boys lost no time. Hastening on in the darkness they stumbled -and ran to where they had left their machines. - -As they reached them they heard a door opened, and footsteps in hot -pursuit. - -"Who is it?" they heard Noddy's voice inquiring. - -The boys rolled their motor-cycles out in the road. They leaped into the -saddles, started off, and in another instant had turned on the power and -were off down the highway leading to Cresville. As they whizzed past the -house, in which several lights now gleamed, they heard Noddy cry: - -"Confound them! I'll fix them for spying on me!" - -At the same time they heard the explosions that indicated that Noddy had -put his motor cycle in operation. - -"The race is on!" cried Ned. - -And a race it was to be. They were about thirty-five miles from -home. There was a good road, and, with the moon high up now, it was -well lighted. The acetylene lamps on the machines also gave good -illumination. In a few minutes the motors of the three boys were humming -on half-speed. - -Behind them, borne on the night wind, could be heard the puffing of the -motor-cycle in pursuit. But the three chums had a start of several -minutes, which counted much. - -"Look behind and see if you can see his lamp," said Ned. - -"Not a gleam," reported Bob, after a hasty glance. - -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." - -Noddy was now within an eighth of a mile. His speed was increasing. -Suddenly he called: - -"Whoever you are, stop, or I'll shoot!" - -"He don't know who we are, anyhow," said Jerry. - -"I'm going to fire!" shouted Noddy. - -"This is getting exciting!" cried Ned. - -"He is only trying to scare us," exclaimed Bob. - -Then came a loud report. - -"That wasn't a revolver!" exclaimed Jerry. "It sounded as if one of his -tires burst. That's it!" he added a second later, as he looked back. -"Noddy has had an accident. I guess this race is off!" - -True enough, the front tire on Noddy's machine had collapsed. He was -forced to stop, and, as the boys sped on they could hear him faintly -calling after them. The three chums reduced the speed of their motors, -but did not stop, and soon they were out of sight and hearing of Noddy. - -"Well, we certainly had an adventure," came from Ned. "I wonder what it -was all about?" - -"We'll find out some day," was Jerry's opinion. - -Then, once more they took up their journey, and reached Cresville -without further happening, arriving just before daylight. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -ADVENTURES ON THE ROAD. - - -"Want to take a ride with me?" asked Bob of Ned, one morning, about a -week following the exciting night ride. "Father wants me to go over to -Franklin to take a message to the bank there." - -"Sure I'll go. And we'll ask Jerry. Wait until I get my machine, and -I'll be with you." - -The two boys were soon puffing along their motors to Jerry's house. He -joined them and all three started off for Franklin. - -The ride was a pleasant one. It was rather warm, but there was a cool -breeze, that was added to by the speed at which the boys rode. Franklin -was about twenty miles from Cresville, and was a village of good size. -The boys had some friends there, and intended calling on them before -returning. - -They reached Franklin without mishaps. Bob transacted the business his -father had sent him on, and then the boys voted that a meal would not be -out of place. - -"Well, I guess we'll have to be starting back," said Bob at length. -"Father will want to know how I made out with his matter." - -Ned and Jerry were agreeable, and they mounted their machines and were -soon on the homeward journey. - -They had gone perhaps ten miles when, on making a sudden turn in the -road, they came face to face with a countryman who was driving a rather -spirited horse. At the sight and sound of the machines the animal reared -up in the air. The boys stopped their motors, but the horse would not -be quieted. Even the sight of the cycles seemed to madden the brute. In -spite of the efforts of the countryman the horse continued to rear and -prance. Then the steed made a sudden turn, and, with a cracking sound, -one of the carriage shafts broke. - -"Now ye've gone and done it!" yelled the driver, seeming to fly in a -rage. "Ye'll have to pay for this." - -"We're very sorry," began Jerry, "we didn't intend to cause any trouble." - -"That's always the way with peesky boys," went on the countryman. "I'll -have the law on ye for this! You wait until I get out." - -The horse, having done what damage he could, seemed to be satisfied, and -quieted down. The driver dismounted and tied the animal to a fence, and -then proceeded to examine the broken shaft. - -"Busted clean off," he announced in an ugly tone. "It'll cost five -dollars to get it fixed. You'll have to settle." - -"That's right, make 'em pay!" exclaimed a voice from the bushes that -lined the road side, and, to the surprise of the three boys, Noddy Nixon -stepped out into view. - -"I intend to," said the countryman. - -"They've no business on the road in their machines, frightening horses," -went on Noddy with a grin. "The roads are for carriages." - -"Well, I like your nerve, Noddy Nixon!" exclaimed Jerry hotly. "We have -just as much right on the road as this driver has. And you've got a -motor-cycle yourself." - -"That's none of your business," remarked Noddy in a surly tone. "You -cubs frightened this man's horse, and he has a right to demand payment. -Don't let 'em get away until they pay," Noddy added to the driver. - -"I don't intend they shall," was the answer. - -"Look here!" exclaimed Bob. "We never said we didn't intend to pay, but -it's none of your business, Noddy." - -"Don't give me any of your lip," the bully roared. "I've been wanting -to thrash you for some time, and now I have a good chance." - -"Go ahead, if you think it's healthy," said Bob boldly. "I'm not afraid -of you." - -"If you fight him, you'll have to fight me," said Jerry, coming forward -and standing beside Bob. - -"Yes, and me also," said Ned. - -"I guess I'll have to take a hand then," said the countryman. "I want -pay for my broken shaft. If I can't get it in money I'll take it out of -your hides." - -"If you touch us I'll make a complaint and cause your arrest," said -Jerry. - -"Who's talking about arrests?" asked a gruff voice, and, from the bushes -whence Noddy had made his appearance Bill Berry stepped out. - -At the sight of him Noddy grinned, and moved closer to Bob. - -"That's big talk for a small boy," Bill went on with a laugh. "What's -the row, Noddy?" - -"Oh, these young cubs frightened this gentleman's horse, the animal -broke a shaft, and they won't pay for it." - -"That isn't true," cried Bob. "We never refused to pay for the damage." - -"Make 'em pay!" cried Bill, slapping his hand on his thigh with a sound -like a pistol shot. "Make 'em pay!" - -In a fit of passion Noddy aimed a blow at Bob. The boy dodged it -cleverly, and shot out his fist toward Noddy's face. He only landed -lightly on the bully's nose, but that, with the overbalancing caused -when he missed his mark, sent Noddy down in a heap. - -"I'll make you pay for this!" he fairly screamed as he scrambled up. - -He rushed at Bob. Ned and Jerry ran up and were about to aid their chum. - -"Let me attend to him alone!" pleaded Bob. - -"I'll fix you!" screamed the bully. - -Once more he aimed a fearful blow at Bob, but the latter merely stepped -to one side, and once more Noddy went down, without having been hit. He -arose with his mouth full of dust. - -At that instant the countryman's horse, probably frightened by the noise -and shouts, reared on its hind legs, broke the strap that fastened him -to the fence, and galloped off down the road. - -"Consarn ye! There goes my best horse!" cried the countryman, losing all -interest in the fight. "Five dollars to whoever catches him!" - -"I'm going to have a try for that!" exclaimed Bill, setting off down the -road on a swift run. "Five dollars don't come my way every afternoon!" - -"I'll sue ye for this!" yelled the countryman, shaking his fist at the -boys before speeding down the highway after Bill in pursuit of the -horse. "I'll have the law on ye!" His coat tails streamed in the wind as -he raced away. - -Noddy had stopped mid-way in his rush at Bob as the horse broke loose. - -"Well, are you going to fight?" asked Bob coolly. - -But Noddy's desire for battle seemed to have left him suddenly. He -realized that he was no match for the three, or even for two, of the -boys. - -"I'll get square with you for this," he muttered as he slunk away in the -bushes. "I've several scores to settle with you three cubs." - -"Better settle 'em here and now," advised Jerry. "It's a good chance." - -"You just wait," was all Noddy would say. Soon he disappeared in the -shrubbery. - -"Well, I thought for a while there was going to be trouble," said Bob, -with a laugh. "Noddy certainly seemed mad." - -"Well, I don't see any need of staying here any longer," said Ned at -length. "It doesn't seem as if the countryman or Bill would come back. -If that man with the horse wants any pay let him call and collect. He -didn't treat us very nicely. As for Noddy, I guess he's far enough off -by now." - -"I wonder what he was doing out this way?" asked Bob. - -"Yes, and lately Bill Berry is always with him," commented Ned. - -"They're up to no good, you can be sure of that," was Jerry's opinion, -in which the others shared. - -Then, mounting their motor-cycles, the three boys made good speed home, -meeting with no more fractious horses and puncturing no more tires. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -A FIRE AND A DISCOVERY. - - -"Fire! Fire! Fire!" - -Loud shouts of this dreadful alarm, mingled with the ringing of bells, -the tooting of whistles and the hurrying of many feet awoke Jerry -late one night, three days after the encounter in the road with the -countryman and his skittish horse. - -"Fire! Fire! Fire!" yelled men and boys hastening down the street. - -"Where's the blaze?" asked Jerry, throwing open his window and calling -down to those running past. - -"Judson's mill!" was the cry. "Looks like a big fire!" - -Jerry looked in the direction of the mill, and saw a glare in the sky. - -"I'm going!" he exclaimed. - -"Oh Jerry, you might get hurt," objected Mrs. Hopkins. - -"I'll be careful, mother," replied the boy, rapidly dressing. - -On his way to the blaze he met Ned, who had also been awakened from his -sleep by the alarm. The two boys hurried toward the mill, to which point -it seemed as if every one in Cresville was hastening. The glare in the -sky grew brighter. - -"Here comes one of the engines!" cried Ned, as the apparatus dashed -past. It was one of two new steamers recently purchased. - -"Hurry up, and let's see it work!" called Jerry, and the boys increased -their run. - -"How'd the mill catch fire?" panted Ned. - -"I--didn't--hear," answered Jerry, breathing hard. - -In a little while they were at the scene of the blaze. 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." - -The boys made room and were now joined by Bob. - -"Can we go in?" asked Jerry. "We'll keep well back." - -The gate in front of which they stood gave access to the mill yard, at a -point quite a distance from the fire. - -"I guess it won't do any harm," answered the fireman who was a good -natured man. "But keep well back in case the walls fall. We don't want -any one to get hurt." - -"We'll be careful," promised Jerry, and the boys followed the -fire-fighter within the gate, helping him drag the hose, which was -twisting and turning like a snake trying to get loose, so strong was -the water pressure. - -At last the fury of the fire seemed to have spent itself. The flames -died down and all that remained to do was to wet down the ruins -thoroughly to prevent any sparks from flying to other departments of the -mill. The blaze had been confined to the building where it started, and, -in spite of the excitement over it, the damage had been small. - -"I'm glad it didn't get into my office," remarked Mr. Judson, the mill -owner, who had arrived on the scene soon after the fire started. "All -my valuable books and papers would have been destroyed." - -"Yes, you got off pretty lucky," said the chief. - -"Thanks to the hard work you and your men did," Mr. Judson replied. "I -won't forget it, I assure you." - -"We only did our duty," responded the chief modestly. "It's our business -to put out fires." - -There was not much more of interest to see, and the three boys, as did a -number of others, began to think of going home. - -Ned, Jerry and Bob started from the mill yard. As they passed a pile of -lumber near the gate Ned gave one of the boards a careless kick. There -was a rattling sound and a small round object rolled out at his feet. - -"What's that?" asked Jerry. - -"Look's like a tin can," observed Bob. - -Ned picked it up to examine it better, for it was now quite dark, the -fire giving only a faint glow. - -"Look at this!" Ned cried, holding out the object. - -"It's a burglar's dark lantern!" exclaimed Bob. "I saw one just like it -that the police took from a thief. It is over to police headquarters." - -"Wonder who put it there?" asked Jerry. - -"It's hard to--" began Ned, and then he stopped. Dropping to his knees -he reached his hand into the hole from whence the dark lantern had -rolled. He groped around a few seconds and then drew out his hand. - -"I've found 'em," he said. - -"What?" asked Jerry. - -"The things I was looking for," and Ned held up to view in the faint -gleam from the burned building a cold chisel and a hammer. - -"What are they for?" asked Bob, not seeing the connection of the dark -lantern and the tools just found. - -"These are the things the mill safe was robbed with," replied Ned. "The -lantern made the light that puzzled me that night I came past, and with -this cold chisel and hammer the lock was cut out. The thief must have -hidden the things under the boards as he ran away with the money. It was -on his route as he passed out of the gate." - -"This mill robbery seems to follow us," observed Jerry. "Every once in a -while something about it crops out." - -"Yes," commented Ned. "I saw the robbery being committed, or rather I -was there while it was being done, we learned about the queer bank bill -and Noddy's connection with it, and now we have discovered the tools -that were used." - -"All we need to do next is to recover the money," said Bob. - -"And find the thief," said Ned. - -"I fancy that won't be difficult to do," added Bob. "If Noddy--" - -"Hush!" exclaimed Ned, "some one is coming! Let's get out of here!" - -Hurriedly Ned hid under his coat the lantern, the hammer and chisel, and -the three boys passed out of the mill yard. - -"What are you chaps doin' here?" demanded a rough voice, and Bill Berry -shuffled up, looking sharply at first one and then another. - -"We were watching the fire," replied Ned politely. "Any objections, Mr. -Berry?" - -"You boys better keep away from here," growled Bill. "I reckon Mr. -Judson don't want another robbery." - -"What do you mean?" demanded Jerry. "Do you mean that we robbed the -mill?" - -"Well you might and then agin you mightn't," mumbled Bill. "I ain't -sayin' as how you did, and I ain't sayin' as how you didn't. You'd -better move on." - -"We've as much right here as you have, Bill Berry," said Bob. "We're -ready to go and we're going; all you may say wouldn't move us, as long -as Mr. Judson didn't object to our being here." - -"That'll do for you," muttered Bill, as he shuffled away. - -"Did you catch the horse and win the five dollars?" inquired Jerry, -referring to the countryman's fractious steed that ran away. - -Bill's only answer was a growl. - -"Come on, let's get home and go to bed," suggested Bob. - -"Take good care of those tools," warned Jerry. Ned promised to do so; -and there the talk came to an end. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -NED UNDER SUSPICION. - - -It was quite early in the morning some days later when Bob called at -Jerry's house. - -"Hello, Chunky!" greeted Jerry as he came to the door, having finished a -bountiful breakfast. "What's up now?" - -"Thought maybe you might like to take a ride off in the country," -replied the stout youth, panting a bit from having to push his motor up -the little incline leading to his chum's front door. - -"Nothing would suit me better," said the male representative of the -Hopkins family. "Where is it to this time?" - -"What do you say to a trip over to Limestone Creek? We can go fishing." - -"I'm with you. Ned will go, of course?" - -"Yes, he is waiting." - -Mrs. Slade, on Ned's request, had the cook put up a basket of bread and -butter, some cake and cheese, which Bob fastened to his machine. Then, -the fishing tackle having been stowed away on Jerry's motor the three -chums started off. - -Limestone Creek was a stream about ten miles from Cresville. It was a -noted fishing place, and many a fat chub or speckled trout had been -pulled from the sparkling waters. It was a hot August day, but the boys -did not mind the burning rays of the sun. Part of the way they rode -along under big trees that gave a refreshing shade, and occasionally -there was a little breeze to cool them off. - -"Here we are," cried Jerry at length as he turned his machine from the -main road, into a narrow path that led through a green field to the -brook. "This way to the fishing banks!" - -"Yes, and if you yell that way all the fish will be scared away," -expostulated Ned. "Make a little less noise if you want any luck." - -"Good idea," chimed in Bob. He soon had the lines in shape, and -then, taking out his knife, cut a slim willow pole that would serve -excellently for fishing. The others followed his example, and soon all -three were sitting on the grassy bank, while the cork floats bobbed -lightly in the swirl of the eddy which formed the "old fishing hole." - -Luck was good with the young disciples of Isaak Walton, and they soon -had a dozen choice fish among them. Then, as the sun was high in the -sky, and it was hot sitting on the bank, the boys adjourned to the shade -of the tree where they had left their cycles. - -"Now for dinner!" cried Bob. - -"Let's draw lots to see who makes the fire, who cleans the fish and who -cooks them," suggested Ned. - -Ten minutes later an appetizing aroma filled the summer air. - -"Ah! Maybe that ain't good!" cried Bob. - -"Beats restaurants all to pieces!" was Ned's opinion. - -Then with the bread and butter they had brought along, with the -seasoning for the fish, fresh crullers and cheese, the whole washed down -with water from a clear cool spring near by, the boys made a meal that -even a king might have envied. - -Dinner over they lolled lazily beneath the trees until the sun was low -in the west. Bob proposed a walk along the creek as he wanted to see if -there were any evidences of musk-rats nests in a certain place. - -"Will it be safe to leave the machines here?" asked Jerry. "Some one -might come along and ride off with them." - -"It would take more than one person to get away with all three," Bob -said. "But we can take out the spark plugs, and unless the thieves have -duplicates along they won't get very far." - -Removing the plugs, the boys walked along the stream for half a mile. -They found no musk-rats nests, and Bob, remarking that they could come -back another day and make a better search, proposed a return trip. - -It did not take long to reach the places where they had left their -machines. The spark plugs were put back, and, after finishing what few -crullers remained, the three boys trundled their motors out into the -path. - -"Here goes for home!" cried Ned, as he vaulted into his saddle. He got -his cycle started by foot power and then attempted to throw the power -on. Nothing but a faint sound of air being exhausted from the cylinders -responded. - -"Something's wrong!" cried the boy. - -At the same time the other two discovered that their machines would not -work. Again and again they tried but with no result. - -"Some one has cut the wires!" exclaimed Bob. "You can see where they -split the insulation, shoved it to one side, broke the copper, and then -put the insulation back to cover up the mean trick." - -"You're right!" exclaimed Ned. "I'd like to catch the fellow who did it." - -Suddenly Jerry darted over toward the tree beneath which the cycles had -been standing. He stooped down and picked up something which he looked -at closely. - -"I fancy this will give us a clue," he said, showing a knife with an -opened blade, to which there clung some of the insulation from the -copper wires. - -"Whose is it?" asked Bob. - -"It has the initials N. N. on it," replied Jerry. - -"And there's only one person around here who has a name with those -letters," put in Bob. - -"There might be more," said Jerry, inclined to be cautious, "but I -happen to remember that Noddy Nixon had a knife like this. I saw him use -it once." - -"This is his first move in getting square, as he would call it," -ventured Ned. - -"Still it is only circumstantial evidence against him," reasoned Bob. -"And we had better have more before we accuse him." - -"Of course," agreed Ned. "I think--" - -"Which of you boys happens to be Ned Slade?" interrupted a voice, and -the boys turned to see a short, stout fussy man gravely regarding them. - -"Ah, I thought so," he remarked as Ned gave an involuntary start. "Then -you are the one I want to see." - -"What for?" asked the owner of the name. - -"Well--er--I don't like to speak of it in public." - -"I haven't anything to conceal," spoke Ned. - -"Then if you haven't I haven't," said the little man. "I'm Sheriff -Blackwell of Peterstown, and I want to talk to you about a robbery." - -"What! Not the robbery of Mr. Judson's mill?" asked Ned, greatly -excited. "Why I--" - -"Now I may as well warn you right now, that whatever you say will be -used against you," said the sheriff. "Now that I've done my duty in -giving the warning, go ahead if you want to." - -"But you--you--why you surely don't think I robbed the mill?" asked Ned, -flushing with shame at the thought. - -"Very good, but you can't get anything out of me, young man," said the -sheriff with a wise nod. "I cut my eye teeth years ago. You'll have to -come with me, at least for a while. I reckon you can get bail." - -"Bail! Come with you! What do you mean?" asked Ned, while his two chums -stood looking on, not knowing what to do. - -"Look here," began the fussy little sheriff. "You were at the mill on -the night of the robbery, weren't you?" - -"I--er--that is I was--er--" - -"Of course," said the sheriff. "I knew you were. And you never said -anything about it when we were hunting for clues, did you?" - -"I told my two chums, Jerry and Bob, here," said Ned. - -"That's right," chimed in Jerry, and Bob nodded his head in assent. - -"I'm acting on information and belief," went on the sheriff. "Certain -knowledge has come to me from a man who saw you at the mill on the night -of the robbery. It looks as if you might know something about it, that -is, who did it, and who has the money. I might add that suspicion points -strongly to you." - -"To me?" - -"Yes. Can you give us any clue that would indicate that some one else -might be involved?" - -Ned hesitated an instant. He looked quickly at Jerry, who shook his head -slightly, to indicate to Ned to have nothing to say about having seen -Noddy. - -"I can't give you any information," said Ned slowly. - -"Then you'll have to come with me," went on the sheriff. - -"May I ask," inquired Ned, "who told you that I might be the guilty -person?" - -"A gentleman of Cresville, named William Berry." - -"Bill Berry!" exclaimed Ned. "I--" and then he stopped. - -"I didn't lose any time," the representative of the law continued. -"I drove over from Peterstown this morning. By judicious inquiries I -learned you and two other boys had come over here. I followed. The law -knows no delays. Are you ready to come?" - -"I have my motor cycle with me," said Ned. "Can I go on that?" - -"If I let you ride your machine will you promise to go slow, and not try -to escape? I'll drive along in my carriage." - -"I'll promise," said Ned, the deep flush not having left his face. - -"Then we'll consider that arranged. Come on." - -Slowly, and in depressed spirits, greatly in contrast to the gaiety -with which they had arrived, the three boys trundled their machines, -the wires of which had been quickly repaired, to the road. The sheriff -untied his horse, got in the carriage, and cautioning Ned to run his -machine at reduced speed, followed the boys who felt very little -inclined for talk. They were so worried that they left their fish behind. - -Eventually Cresville was reached. Ned, much as he was humiliated by his -technical arrest, knew he could easily prove his innocence. But he felt -that the mystery of the mill robbery was deepening. - -"I'll go right to your house with you," said the sheriff to Ned. "We -will have a talk with your father, and I have no doubt we can come to -some understanding." - -Mr. Slade was surprised, incensed and puzzled by turns when the fussy -little sheriff in charge of Ned called on him. The arm and majesty of -the law soon explained what had taken place. - -"This Mr. Berry is sure he saw your son at the mill," repeated the -sheriff. - -"I wouldn't depend too much on Berry's word," said the merchant. - -"I was at the mill that night," exclaimed Ned. Then he related what he -had seen, all about the queer light, the presence of Bill Berry, and the -finding of the tools and dark lantern. He only refrained from mentioning -Noddy's name, since he did not feel justified in bringing him in, no -matter what his suspicions were concerning the bully. - -"Great Snakes and little fishes!" exclaimed the sheriff, when Ned had -finished. "I wish I had known this at the time. I guess we'll have to -hold you, as a witness, at least, my boy." - -But Ned's father had sufficient standing in the town to render -unnecessary any formal proceedings in holding Ned, and the sheriff -departed without his one-time prisoner, on Ned's promise to give -evidence when wanted. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -PLANS FOR A MOTOR-CYCLE RACE. - - -"Well, Ned," said Mr. Slade when the sheriff had gone, "you came close -to getting into trouble. Why didn't you mention to me something about -seeing the light in the mill." - -"I thought of it," replied the boy, "but after I talked it over with -Bob and Jerry we decided it was better not to say anything about it. -Besides, I haven't told all yet." - -"What? Is there more to tell?" - -"Yes. I saw some one besides Bill Berry at the mill that night." - -"Who?" - -"Noddy Nixon," and then Ned told of meeting Noddy with the box of bait, -as the bully had called it. He also related what the three boys had -planned to do in keeping watch of Noddy, and of the odd bank bill. - -"I think it would have been wise to tell some older person of all this," -commented Mr. Slade. "Still I appreciate that you did not want to cast -suspicion on any one. And, as you say, it is only a vague suspicion as -yet. Noddy may be as innocent as you. I would like to know more of this -Bill Berry." - -"He knows who robbed the mill," said Ned. - -"What makes you think so?" - -"Because he was looking right in the office door when the light was -visible." - -"If he knew why should he cast suspicion on you?" - -"I don't know, unless it is to draw attention from some one else." - -"You mean Noddy?" - -Ned nodded his head affirmatively. - -"Think no more about it; at least for the present," advised Mr. Slade. -"I will see to the legal end of it, and take care you are not again -annoyed by the sheriff unless it is necessary to give evidence. I would -urge you and your two chums to keep quiet about this." - -The boy promised, and both Bob and Jerry agreed to say nothing of the -latest development in the mill robbery mystery when Ned had told them of -the outcome of the sheriff's act. - -For several days after this it was so hot that the boys stayed quietly -at home instead of taking trips on their machines. Toward the end of -the week, however, there came several heavy thunder showers that cooled -the air, laid the dust, and made traveling pleasant. It was on Saturday -afternoon that the three chums went for another short spin. - -Coming back they stopped at the Athletic club house. Leaving their -wheels in charge of the caretaker they went to the refreshment room to -have some soda and ice cream. - -"I say, what's this?" exclaimed Ned, catching sight of a large notice -fastened on the wall. "Come here Chunky and Jerry. This looks as if it -was meant for us." - -Rapidly the three boys read an announcement that the Cresville club -had decided to hold a grand motor cycle meet, open to competitors of -all classes and all makes of machines, not over two cylinders in size. -There were to be three prizes. The first was to be optional with the -winner and of the value of two thousand dollars, the second one thousand -dollars and the third five hundred dollars. Articles worth these amounts -would be given, it was stated, and entries would be received until -within a week of the race, which was to be on September 20. - -"What do you think of that, Chunky?" asked Ned. - -"It seems to hit us in the right spot," replied the heavy-weight youth. -"I'm going to enter." - -"So am I," came from Ned and Jerry in a chorus. - -"Wouldn't it be great if one of us could win the first prize?" inquired -Jerry. "Think of getting something worth two thousand dollars." - -"I wonder what I'd take if I won?" asked Bob of no one in particular. - -"I think we have as good a chance of winning as any one," proceeded -Jerry. - -"I don't doubt it," agreed Ned. - -"Then let's agree," and Jerry's face was serious, "that if any of us -captures that first prize we'll select an automobile touring car." - -"An automobile?" exclaimed Ned. - -"A touring car?" cried Bob. - -"Certainly. Why not? 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. - -"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." - -"And there isn't the least doubt but what you'll win," exclaimed a -mocking voice suddenly. - -The boys turned, to behold Noddy Nixon grinning at them. - -"Not the least in the world," went on the bully in tantalizing tones. -"In fact I don't see why they hold any contest at all. The club might as -well give you boys all three prizes. It would save a lot of work." - -"Look here--," began Bob, but Ned placed a quieting hand on his shoulder. - -"Don't reply to him," said Ned. "It may make trouble." - -"You think because you won a little race a while ago that you can go in -a big one," went on Noddy. "But you'll find that this is a different -matter." - -"I suppose you're going to enter?" asked Jerry. - -"Is it any of your business if I do?" inquired Noddy. - -"None at all," replied Jerry. "Only if you do decide to start in the -races you might find this handy, in case you had to cut any wires, you -know," and he handed Noddy the knife with the initials N. N. that the -boys had found the day their cycles were disabled in the field. - -"What's that?" asked Noddy, not seeing at first what it was that Jerry -held toward him. - -"It's a knife that I think belongs to you," said Jerry. "It has been -used to cut wires with," he went on, "and it may come in handy for that -purpose again." - -"I don't know what you mean," Noddy responded, but a deep blush dyed his -face and he looked very uncomfortable. - -"Then you don't care to claim this?" asked Jerry as he saw Noddy turn -aside. - -"It isn't mine; why should I?" Noddy asked in turn, though the boys knew -he was telling an untruth. - -"Very well," Jerry said, replacing the knife in his pocket as Noddy -hurried from the room. - -"He's a cool one," commented Ned. - -"That's what he is," assented Bob. "If he only knew all we know he would -act differently." - -"But it's not time to say anything yet," counseled Jerry. "We must go -slow." - -The boys resumed their talk about the coming motor cycle races. They -discussed the questions 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. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -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." - -"I was thinking of that myself," Jerry remarked. "What would you say to -a pretty long trip, say one hundred miles? We could run to Huntsville, -which is about sixty miles from here as I figure it, stay there all -night, and come back the next day. That would give us good practice." - -"Sounds as if it might do," was Ned's opinion. "Let's go over and talk -to Bob about it." - -Eight o'clock the next morning saw them assembled in Bob's yard, for it -had been agreed to start from his house. The last touches were given -the machines and, at a signal from Jerry, the trip was begun. - -"Where are we going to stop for dinner?" asked Bob, when they had been -riding about an hour. - -"There he goes," said Jerry in a pretended complaining voice. "I never -did see such a fellow! You'd think he was all stomach." - -"Why," began Ned soberly, "Jerry and I had about made up our minds that -we'd go without dinner. It will be good training and you need it you -know, Chunky." - -"Oh!" groaned the stout youth. "Oh dear! If I had known that I wouldn't -have come along. I can't go without my dinner." - -There was silence for a little while, broken now and again by a deep -sigh from Bob. Jerry and Ned had all they could do to keep from -laughing, but they managed to keep their faces serious. - -"Let's speed up a bit," suggested the stout boy, after a time. - -"What for?" asked Ned. - -"Dinner time will come and pass quicker then," explained the hungry one. -"Maybe we won't notice it at all. But I surely will be glad when supper -time comes." - -"No, we agreed to run slowly," Jerry remarked, "and we must stick to our -plan." - -Bob sighed but said nothing. On and on they rode, along pleasant -highways, under big shady trees, up hill and down dale. At last, when -the sun was almost at the zenith, they came to the top of a hill that -led down into a pretty valley. - -In the centre of the vale, which was surrounded on all sides by green -wooded hills, nestled a village. - -"That's the town of Montville," said Jerry. "We are half way to -Huntsville now." - -"Are we going to stop here?" asked Bob, a note of hope coming into his -voice. - -"What for?" inquired Ned, winking at Jerry. - -"I--er--thought--er--we--" began Bob. - -"Own up! It was dinner you were thinking of, now wasn't it Chunky?" - -"Yes, it was," admitted Bob in desperation. - -Jerry and Ned laughed outright. - -"I don't see anything so very funny," exclaimed Bob, who was not in the -best of humor. "If you had the appetite I have you wouldn't want to -laugh." - -By this time the boys had reached the village and were riding through -the streets. People turned to stare at them, but the chums were used to -that by this time. They steered past a hotel. - -"Ah! Um! Doesn't that smell good!" cried Ned, tilting his nose high in -the air and sniffing vigorously. "I'll bet they have ham and eggs!" - -"Just what I was wishing for," groaned Bob. "I'm going to have my -dinner, training or no training, race or no race," and, with a -determined look he got off his machine. - -"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Bob's two chums. - -"I wondered how much longer we could keep up the joke," Jerry said, when -he had ceased chuckling. "You were easy, Chunky." - -"Then we are going to have dinner?" asked Bob, all his ill humor gone. - -"That's just what we are, Chunky, my boy!" exclaimed Jerry. "We were -only fooling you." - -They all sat down to a bountifully spread table a little later, and Ned -and Jerry were almost sorry for the anguish they had caused their chum, -when they saw, by the quantity of ham and eggs he consumed, how really -hungry he had been. - -Dinner over, the three boys sat about on the hotel piazza for an hour. -They were plied with questions as to the working of their machines by -about a score of boys and youths who had gathered to see the motors -operated, Jerry kindly went into details and entertained the little -audience for some time. - -"Well, I think we'd better be going," said Jerry to his chums at length. -"It's two o'clock and we can just about reach Huntsville by night." - -"You're goin' t' git ketched in a storm," said the hotel keeper. - -"Think so?" inquired Jerry. - -"I know it." The man pointed to where a bank of dark clouds were -accumulating in the west. "Thunder storm coming as sure as guns is guns." - -"Well, we'll ride on, and if we have to take to shelter I guess we -can find it," Jerry said. "We don't mind a little rain. We're out for -practice." - -"Well, good luck to ye," called the hotel man after the three boys, as -they rode down the village street. "Stop in agin when ye're in this -direction." - -For a time it seemed as if the prediction of the storm was not going to -be verified. The bank of clouds grew no larger, and the sun still shone. -The boys speeded up a bit as they struck a stretch of good road. - -"Hark! What was that?" asked Ned. - -"Sounded like thunder," replied Jerry. - -There was no doubt of it a minute later, for the distant rumble of the -sky-artillery could easily be distinguished. The wind, which had died -away, began to blow stronger, and the clouds spread over the heavens and -were blacker. - -"It won't break for half an hour," was Ned's opinion. "We can ride on -through a little rain, but if it gets too bad we can turn into some -barn." - -In less than fifteen minutes the first drops splashed down. The rumble -of thunder grew louder, and there were vivid spurts and tongues of -lightning leaping across the black vapor masses. - -Crack! sounded a report so loud that it seemed as if lightning had -struck near by. For a moment there was no apparent increase in the fury -of the storm. Then came a flash so bright that it seemed as if the whole -heavens had been lighted up. It was followed by a terrifying crash that -fairly shook the earth, and then came a deluge of water that almost hid -the three boys one from another as it poured down from the clouds. - -"We'd better get out of this!" cried Jerry. "It seems to be getting -worse. Put on full speed! I saw a house a little way ahead. We'll stop -there until this is over!" - -Ned and Bob could just hear Jerry through the noise the storm made, -though the boy was shouting at the top of his voice. - -The storm was at its height now. The lightning seemed incessant, and -the thunder claps followed one after the other so closely that it was -a continual roar. The wind was a regular gale, driving the rain with -stinging force into the faces of the riders. - -"Here we are!" yelled Jerry presently. "Turn in!" - -Dimly through the rain Ned and Bob could see their chum steering through -a drive-way alongside of a white house on the left of the highway. They -followed him, and soon found themselves in front of a barn, to which the -drive-way led. - -"Hurry up inside!" Jerry called. "And bring the machines in with you!" - -The motors were stopped and three drenched boys trundled them into the -shelter of the barn, the doors of which Jerry had found unlocked, and -had managed to open. - -"Whew! This is a storm!" exclaimed Ned, wiping the water from his eyes. - -"Storm! I should say so--terrible--fearful! Worst one in twenty-one -years! Hundreds of people struck! Houses burned! Barns blown over! -Awful! Awful! Hello! Bob, Ned and Jerry! Where'd you come from? Glad to -see you--come in--shut the door--get up in the hay and dry off--this is -the worst ever!" and then the voice, that had uttered all this in one -breath stopped, and the three chums who had started in surprise as the -torrent of words began, turned to behold their friend Andy Rush. - -"Well, how in the world did you get here?" asked Jerry, taking off his -cap and wringing the water from it. - -"On a visit--my Aunt Jane lives here--nice lady--she'll be glad to see -you--lots to eat--I'm having a fine time--came out here to feed the -horse--storm came up--I didn't want to get wet--say how'd you get here?" - -"The same old Andy," murmured Ned to Bob. "He'll beat the storm for -wind." - -"We were going to Huntsville on our motors," Jerry explained, "and we -got caught in the deluge. Do you suppose your aunt will mind if we stay -here a while?" - -"Not a bit--glad to have you--Whoop! That was a cracker--bet it struck -the house!" cried Andy, as a louder clap of thunder than usual fairly -shook the barn. - -Andy ran to the door and peered through a crack in the direction of the -house. - -"Nope, it's all right," he called, in a sort of disappointed tone. "No -damage done--but say--I'm glad you happened to strike this place--how's -things in Cresville? I've been here a week--fishing--riding -horses--milking cows--lots of fun--can't you stay a few days--I know a -dandy place to fish--catch big suckers--chub--Aunt Jane will give you -lots to eat--whoop!" - -Andy could not seem to keep still. He hurried around in the barn, and, -to give vent to his feelings he crawled up on a high beam, and jumped -down in a big pile of hay. - -The three chums were laughing so they could hardly speak. When they -ceased Jerry thanked Andy for the invitation, but said they had made -other plans. - -"But you can stay all night," suggested Andy, calming down a bit. "The -roads will be bad after this storm. You can go to Huntsville in the -morning. It's only ten miles from here." - -The idea appealed to the boys. The storm showed no signs of stopping, -and they knew it would be impossible to go on while it lasted. As Andy -had said, they could proceed in the morning, and there was no special -need of reaching Huntsville anyhow, except that they wanted to carry out -the arrangements they had made, and make a trip of over a hundred miles. - -The evening was pleasantly spent in talking, singing and playing games. -Andy's uncle wanted the three chums to remain over a day or two, but, -though they thanked him for the invitation they decided to push on the -next morning, complete their scheduled trip, and then return home. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -A LEAP FOR LIFE. - - -"Hurrah!" cried Andy the next morning, bursting into the room where the -three chums had slept. "Hurrah! It's a fine day! Rain all stopped--sun -shines--sorry to see you fellows go--come again!" - -"Take it easy," advised Jerry. "We're very much obliged to you, Andy, -for providing this fine shelter for us. Wish you were going along." - -"So do I--can't though--got to stay here another week--help run the -farm--maybe I'll be a farmer some day--whoop!" - -In spite of the storm, which had been an unusually severe one, the roads -were in fairly good shape. Now and then a stretch would be reached where -speed had to be slackened but, by picking their way, the machines were -pushed along at a good rate. Huntsville was reached in about two hours, -and the boys left their machines in charge of a store keeper while they -walked about the town viewing the sights. - -There was not much to be seen, and they had come more for the sake -of saying they had ridden the distance than from any other reason. -Purchasing a few souvenirs for the folks at home, and buying some -sandwiches in case they might not find a convenient eating place, the -boys prepared for the return trip. - -"We'll take a little different way on our back trip," said Jerry. "I -know a road that goes past a fine waterfall that's worth seeing." - -The falls were about fifty feet high, and, with the jagged rocks over -which the water flowed, and the trees on either side, made a picture -well worth beholding. - -The boys stopped for half an hour, watching the leaping, falling water, -which possessed a peculiar fascination. Then, as they still had most of -their trip before them, Jerry suggested they had better start. - -They had not yet turned into the road leading to Cresville, from which -they had diverged in order to visit the falls, when riding along a -rather lonely stretch of the highway, the boys came in sight of a white -house, with no other residences near it. As they came opposite a man -suddenly ran from the front door. He seemed greatly excited. - -"Stop!" he called to the boys. "Stop, for Heaven's sake." - -There was so much anguish in his tone that the boys knew something must -have happened. - -"What is it?" asked Jerry, riding up to the front gate and dismounting. - -"It's my wife! She has just been taken very sick and I'm all alone here. -I need a doctor, but I dare not leave her to get one, and I have no one -to send. I saw you coming down the road and I thought maybe you would -help me!" - -"Of course we will," replied Jerry heartily. "Where does the doctor -live? I'll ride after him." - -"His house is about two miles from here," said the man. "It's the first -one after you cross the white bridge. Oh! Hurry, and tell him to be -quick! I'm afraid my wife is dying! Tell him to come to Mr. Johnson's! -Oh! What shall I do!" and the unfortunate man showed so much distress -that the hearts of the boys were touched. - -"Don't worry," Jerry advised. "I'll make good time. Ned and Bob will -stay with you. Maybe they will be of some help." - -Springing into the saddle, Jerry started his machine and soon had it -going at a good rate. Because of the condition of the roads, which were -not in the best of shape, he dared not push the motor to the limit. Ned -and Bob followed the man into the house, willing to do what they could. - -Meanwhile Jerry rode on. A turn of the road soon hid the lonely farm -house from sight. The grade was up hill for a way, and the machine did -not make such good time. - -"I must hurry," reasoned the boy. "I hope I find the doctor at home." - -In a few minutes Jerry had come to the top of the hill. At the foot of -the slope, which was about half a mile in extent, the boy saw a white -bridge, that spanned a narrow but swift running stream. - -"Here goes!" cried Jerry. He was about to coast at half speed down the -hill when a voice suddenly called: - -"Stop!" - -"I can't!" shouted back Jerry. "I'm hurrying for the doctor!" - -The boy turned to see who had warned him, and saw a farmer hurrying -across the field toward him. Something in his manner caused Jerry to -dismount. - -"You can't get across the bridge!" cried the man. "It's broken. If you -ride down that hill you'll be killed! I stopped you just in time!" - -Jerry felt his heart sink. - -"The rains made the creek rise," explained the man. "The farther span of -the bridge was carried away last night. There's a sign just this side of -it warning people, but if you rode down on that lickity-split thing I -knew you'd never see the sign until it was too late." - -"I'm much obliged to you," said Jerry. "But I must cross that stream. A -lady back there," pointing in the direction he had come, "is dying. I'm -after the doctor." - -"That's bad," said the man. "But I don't see how you're going to do it." - -"Is the missing span of the bridge too wide for me to jump across?" -asked Jerry, a sudden idea coming into his head. - -"It's fifteen feet," replied the man. "That's too much for you I reckon. -And if you didn't make it you'd be killed, for the current is very -swift, and the creek is full of rocks." - -"Can't we get planks and bridge the gap?" asked the boy in desperation. -"Something must be done." - -"I'm on my way to get men to mend the break now," the man said. "But it -will take some time." - -"Isn't there another bridge near here?" - -"Not one within five miles either way," was the answer. "I'm very sorry, -my boy. Is the sick woman any relation of yours?" - -"No, her husband stopped me as I was riding past the house with my two -chums, and begged us to hurry after a doctor." - -"Well, I'll go after some planks," said the man, "but it may take two -hours to get 'em here. I'll have to hunt for 'em." - -Slowly Jerry rode his motor down to the white structure that spanned the -now swollen and swiftly running stream. As the man had said the last -span of the bridge, on the side farthest from Jerry, had been carried -away. It was the part which had extended from the shore to the stone -abutment. - -The boy carefully examined the ruined bridge. There were planks on the -floor, but they were firmly spiked down, and none of them seemed long -enough. To leap the gap was a feat beyond Jerry's ability, though a -professional jumper might have done it. - -"If the stream wasn't so swift I could swim it," the boy murmured. "But -it's too risky. Besides, even if I get over, I wonder how the doctor is -to come back? Though I guess I can manage that. He can bring some planks -with him, and walk over on them. That part will be all right if I can -only get across." - -But Jerry had to admit that the problem was a difficult one to solve. He -looked at the bridge with sorrow in his heart as he thought of the man -waiting anxiously for the doctor. - -"I simply must get across!" exclaimed the boy. - -As he walked to the edge of the structure, looking in vain for a plank -that would serve, Jerry noticed a strange trick that the water had -played. In tearing away the far span the timbers that remained resting -on the stone abutment had been loosened. This caused the middle of what -was left of the bridge to sag, or dip down to considerable degree. - -All at once a daring thought came to Jerry. He looked at the sagging -bridge, at the gap where the span was missing, and at the angry waters -that swirled between him and the other shore. Then he turned and looked -back at the hill which came to an end right at the bridge. - -"I have it!" cried the boy, his eyes shining with excitement. "If I only -dare do it! I will do it!" - -He hurried back to where he had left his motor cycle. He started it in -motion and rode slowly back up the hill which he had just descended. -Any one seeing him, and not knowing his plan might have thought he had -given up in despair. But Jerry was not that kind of a boy. - -When he looked at the broken and sagging bridge he had suddenly thought -of a trick he had seen performed in a circus that had exhibited in -Cresville. This was where a man on a bicycle had started down a steep -incline of boards to accomplish what was billed as "A Leap For Life!" -The incline was broken about three-quarters of the way down, making a -gap. Just before the gap was reached there was a dip, or curve in the -incline. Across the gap the incline was continued at a slight angle. - -The principle on which the feat was performed was, that the man on the -bicycle, rushing down the incline, would get momentum enough to shoot -across the gap. To prevent the wheel and rider from falling from the -attraction of gravitation while it was flying across the space, the end -of the incline was curved upward. This served to shoot the machine and -man into the air, and overcame, for the time necessary to speed across -the gap, the pull of the earth. - -And, in a crude way, Jerry saw before him all the elements that went to -make up the trick as it is performed in many circuses. - -The hill made the incline. The sag in the middle of the bridge, and the -little rise at the further abutment, gave the necessary upward curve -that would throw Jerry and his motor far enough into the air to prevent -him tumbling into the stream. The missing span was the gap corresponding -to the one in the inclined plane of boards, and the road on the farther -shore would make a good landing place. - -"I guess I can do it as well as that man in the circus!" exclaimed -Jerry. "It's a risk, I know, but I can't stay here and wait two hours -for that man to bring the planks." - -He was soon at the top of the hill. He looked around to see if any one -was in sight to aid him in case he failed. But the roads were deserted. - -"I must put on full speed," thought the boy. "I'll need all the momentum -I can get." - -He turned his machine to face down the slope. For a moment he hesitated -as he looked at what was before him. But, steeling his heart, and -uttering a short prayer, he leaped into the saddle. - -"Here I go!" thought Jerry. He turned the motor to full speed, and soon -was racing down the hill at a fearful pace. "There's no stopping now!" -he murmured. - -How the wind sang in his ears! The motor fairly hummed beneath him, and -the big tires threw up a shower of mud. On and on rushed the boy! Nearer -and nearer he came to the broken bridge. He heard a shout behind him but -he dared not turn to see who it was. - -He was twenty feet from the spot where the road ended and the bridge -began. He wanted to shut his eyes, but he knew he must guide the motor -with a firm and steady hand. He gripped the steering bars with all his -might. There was a whizz as the rubber tires struck the wooden planking -of the bridge. Jerry felt himself going down as he reached the sagging -middle of the broken structure. - -Then, like a stone fired from some ancient catapult, he felt his machine -rise under him, shoot up into the air, and sail across the gap. - -[Illustration: HE FELT HIS MACHINE RISE UNDER HIM.] - -For one instant Jerry looked down at the black swirling waters below -him. Then with a terrific thud he felt himself land on the road across -the missing span. - -He had made the leap for life and succeeded! - -So swiftly was the machine going that even the shock of the landing -in the road beyond the broken bridge did not check it. On and on it -rushed until Jerry, whose breath had been almost shaken from him by the -concussion, turned off the power. - -"But I must not stop!" cried the boy. "I'm safely across, and I've got -to get the doctor!" - -So turning on the power again he sent the motor flying down the road. -Three-quarters of a mile further he came to the first house. There was a -sign on it: - - DR. JOHN RAND. - -"Is the doctor in?" gasped Jerry, barely able to stand as he leaped from -his machine and rang the bell which was answered by a woman. - -"Yes, right in his office," was the answer. - -"Tell him he's wanted at once! Mrs. Johnson is dying!" - -"But I can't get across the bridge; it is broken," said Dr. Rand, who -had come from his office in time to hear Jerry's message. - -"I got across," exclaimed the boy. "Quick, doctor! You must hurry! Take -a long plank along and you can get over the gap!" - -"But if I did get across, how am I to get my horse over? He can't walk a -plank," objected the medicine man. "It will take a long time for me to -walk to Mrs. Johnson's." - -Once more it looked as if Jerry had failed. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -JERRY AND THE DOCTOR. - - -"I don't see how I can get there in time to be of any service," Dr. Rand -went on. "I'll start and walk of course." - -"I have a better plan!" cried Jerry suddenly. "Hitch up your horse, and -bring two planks along." - -"But, my boy, you can't get a horse and carriage across on two narrow -planks." - -"I'm not going to try," responded Jerry. "Please do as I say, doctor. -We must lose no time. Get the planks and hitch up, please. I'll get you -over the bridge." - -Soon the rig was ready. The boards stuck out ahead and behind the -carriage, in which the doctor seated himself with his driver. While -the boy rode his machine to the bridge the doctor urged the horse to a -gallop, and soon the structure was reached. - -"Now what is your plan, Jerry?" - -"I'll show you, sir. Quick, get out the planks and lay them over the -gap." - -The driver soon had the two boards in position. They formed a narrow and -not very steady temporary bridge over where the black water showed below -the missing span. - -"Can you walk across, doctor?" inquired Jerry. - -"I guess so, my head is pretty steady," was the reply. - -"Then cross, and I'll follow with my machine," said the boy. - -It took the doctor but a few seconds to cross the planks, carrying his -medicine case. Then Jerry, pushing his machine on one plank, and walking -on the other, joined the physician. - -"Tell your driver to come back for you in about two hours," suggested -Jerry. "If the lady is going to get better I guess you can safely leave -by that time." - -"Well, you seem to have the matter all planned," said the doctor -smiling, as he called the order to his driver. "But still I don't see -how I am to get to Mrs. Johnson's unless I walk." - -"You're going on my motor cycle," said Jerry. "You can stand on the back -step, and hold on to me. This machine will carry two." - -"All right," agreed the physician. "I must take the risk, I guess." - -"Well, you won't be taking any more of a risk than that youngster did, -doc," interrupted a voice, and the man who had warned Jerry came up. He -had several planks with him. - -"I watched him shoot across that gap," he went on, "and it made me -shiver. I thought sure he'd be killed. I hollered at him to wait, as I -had some planks, but I guess he didn't hear me." - -"I heard somebody, but I couldn't stop," Jerry said. - -"And do you mean to say you leaped across that missing span?" asked the -doctor. - -"That's what he done, doc," said the man. "It was as nervy a thing as I -ever seen, and I never seen it outside of a circus." - -"It wasn't anything," said Jerry modestly. "I had to get across, and -that was the only way. But we are wasting time. Come on, doctor." - -So, with a nervous dread in his heart, the physician got on the rear -step, and clasped Jerry about the shoulders. - -"Give us a start," Jerry asked of the countryman, for the boy found -it hard to pedal the machine up grade with the added weight of his -passenger. - -The shove gave the motor start enough so that Jerry could turn on the -power, and then he rode off, bearing the much-needed physician. In a -comparatively short time they reached the Johnson house. - -"Oh, I'm so glad you came, doctor!" exclaimed the woman's husband. "I'm -afraid you're too late though." - -"We'll see," said the physician cheerfully, as he dismounted from the -rather uncomfortable step and hurried into the house. - -While the doctor found that Mrs. Johnson was in much pain and suffering, -he soon discovered that she was not in danger of immediate death, though -her symptoms were alarming enough to cause herself and her husband much -fear. The physician was able to afford some relief, and in about an hour -the woman was much better, and, so the physician said, on the road to -recovery. - -"But I only got here just in time," the physician remarked. "If she had -suffered from such great pain much longer it would have weakened her -heart so that the results might have been serious. You owe a great deal -to this brave boy, Mr. Johnson. Only for him, and for his ingenuity in -getting me here, the case might have had a different ending." - -"I realize that," said the man, "and I can't thank him enough. The other -two boys aided me also. I don't know what I would have done without -them. They helped me heat water and in other ways. I am sure I'll never -forget it." - -After seeing that his patient was as comfortable as possible the -physician said he would return home. - -"I'll send you as far as the bridge in a carriage," proposed Mr. -Johnson. "That is if one of these boys can drive you and bring the rig -back. I don't feel like leaving Mrs. Johnson yet." - -"I'll drive," volunteered Ned. - -So he hitched up a horse and soon the doctor was ready to go, saying he -would call again the next day. - -"You boys had better stay here all night," invited Mr. Johnson. "I'll be -glad to have you, and it's so late now you can't get to Cresville." - -"What will our folks say?" asked Bob. "You know they might worry if we -didn't come home." - -"There is a telegraph station not far from my house," put in Dr. Rand. -"A message can be sent to Cresville from there." - -So it was arranged. Ned drove the doctor back, and found that in the -meantime the bridge had been repaired so that the passage was safer, -though a horse could not be driven over it. The physician promised to -send the message to the boys' parents, and, leaving Ned, Dr. Rand walked -across the planks, got in his own carriage and drove home, while Ned -made his way back to Mr. Johnson's. - -The sick woman continued to improve and soon was much better. Mr. -Johnson secured the services of some women neighbors who were brought -to his house by Ned in the carriage, and arrangements were made for the -boys to spend the night. - -The next morning Mrs. Johnson was so much better that she insisted on -sitting up and having a talk with the three boys, whose coming was so -fortunate for her. She had high praise for them, especially for Jerry, -who blushed like a girl. - -"I hear you all come from Cresville," said Mrs. Johnson. "Isn't that -where a mill was robbed not long ago?" - -"Some one took one thousand dollars from Mr. Judson's place," answered -Ned, wondering what was coming. - -"I think the thieves must have got some of my money." - -"Your money? What do you mean?" asked Ned. "I thought it was all Mr. -Judson's." - -"It was. I mean that I paid a bill at the mill the afternoon of the -night the robbery took place. Mr. Judson took my money, together with -some other that he had in a box, and locked it all in the safe. It was -quite late, and he said that he would not have time to go to the bank." - -"Oh!" cried Ned. "Then some of the money you paid was taken, for it was -the very money that Mr. Judson didn't take to the bank that was stolen." - -"Then there ought to be a clue to the thief," went on Mrs. Johnson. - -"How?" asked Jerry. - -"Because with the money I paid was a queer looking bill," said the -woman. "It was from some Massachusetts state bank, instead of a national -note, and it had a funny mark on it." - -"Do you remember what that mark was?" asked Ned, while the other boys -waited in breathless silence. - -"I remember it very well," said Mrs. Johnson. "There was a monogram -of three letters. I recall them very distinctly because they were the -initials of my brother's name. He is dead, so of course he could not -have put them on the bill, but some one with the same initials did." - -"And what were the letters?" asked Jerry. - -"They were H. R. C.," was the answer. - -The boys, who recalled the initials on the queer bill that Paul Banner -had received from Noddy Nixon, were too startled to reply. They did not -know what to say. - -"That certainly ought to furnish a clue," said Jerry at length, making -a sign to Ned and Bob to say nothing. "But the police do not know that; -or, if they do, they have made nothing of it." - -"I think I'll write and tell them," said Mrs. Johnson. "It seems a shame -for Mr. Judson to lose all that money." - -"Perhaps that would be a good plan," Jerry said quietly. "What was the -value of the queer bill?" - -"It was a ten dollar note," replied Mrs. Johnson. - -After some further conversation the boys, finding there was nothing -more they could do, decided they had better start for home. They were -prevailed on, however, to remain for dinner and, shortly after that -meal, the doctor having come in the meanwhile and pronouncing Mrs. -Johnson out of danger, the three chums motored to Cresville, where they -arrived at dusk. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -CLOSING THE NET. - - -"Well, things seem to be narrowing down," said Ned the next day, when he -called on Jerry. "Rather odd, that information about the queer bank bill -coming out, wasn't it?" - -"It certainly was," agreed Jerry. "I want to get another look at the -note Paul has. Suppose I hunt him up this afternoon?" - -"Good idea," commented Ned. - -Accordingly Jerry looked up the dapper "Polly," and, after a general -conversation, managed to turn the talk to odd coins and bank bills. - -"Do you remember that queer bill you showed me one day, not long ago?" -asked Jerry. - -"I do," replied Paul. - -"Have you got it yet?" - -"No, my dear boy, I have not," answered Paul, lighting one of his -perfumed Egyptian cigarettes. - -"What--what did you do with it?" asked Jerry, fearing lest the clue he -hoped for had gotten away from him. - -"I--humph! That's queer, I forget now what I did do with it. Oh, yes! I -remember now. Some young chap, a friend of yours I guess, asked me to -sell it to him. He said he thought there was a premium on it. He gave me -eleven dollars for it. I made one dollar, so I was satisfied. You know -you said you were going to see if the bill had any value, but I guess -you forgot it." - -"I did, for a fact," said Jerry, sorry now he had not remembered to do -as he had promised. "But who has the bill now?" - -"I forget the boy's name I sold it to," Paul said in reply, "but he -talks very fast, is always in a hurry, and doesn't seem to have time to -breathe." - -"Andy Rush, I'll bet a cooky," cried Jerry. - -"That's the name. I thought first it was Andy Hurry, but I remember now, -it was Rush. It's the same thing." - -"Pretty nearly," agreed Jerry. "Well, I'll be going I guess." - -In due time Andy Rush returned from his visit to his aunt. Jerry heard -of his home-coming and soon hunted up the rapid chap. - -"Did you get home all right?" burst out Andy as soon as he caught -sight of Jerry. "My but that was a storm--wish you could have stayed -with me--I had jolly fun--the horse ran away with me--I got chased -by a bull--fell in the ditch--sprained my wrist, and got kicked by a -cow--whoop!" - -"I say Andy," broke in Jerry, anxious to get on the subject that -interested him, "have you a queer bank bill that you got from Paul -Banner?" - -"I have!" exclaimed Andy. "I gave him a dollar extra for it. I -thought it might be valuable--no go--bill is just like any other--no -premium--I'm out a dollar--too bad!" - -"I'll buy it from you for just what you gave for it," said Jerry -eagerly. "I want it for a particular purpose. Will you sell it?" - -"I sure will!" cried Andy. "I don't like to lose money--here it is--glad -you spoke--I would have spent it in a week." - -Jerry, who happened to have the necessary amount with him, passed eleven -dollars over to Andy, and received the odd ten dollar note. - -Bidding the boy who was always in a hurry a good-bye Jerry left. As -soon as he was where he could not be observed he examined the bank note -closely. It tallied exactly with the description given by Mrs. Johnson, -just as Jerry had expected it would from his former view of it. - -When Ned told his father of the latest developments Mr. Slade said he -would take the matter under advisement. At his direction Jerry handed -over the queer bill, Mr. Slade paying what the boy had expended for it. - -"I will keep it," said the merchant, "until the time comes to use it. -Meanwhile you boys had better say nothing about the matter." - -It was three days later when the chums, having gone for a short ride -on their motors, stopped one afternoon at a little wayside refreshment -booth, where the proprietor had cakes, candy, ice cream and soda water -for sale. - -While the boys were eating their refreshments in the shade of a canvas -awning the owner of the stand had put up, a horse and carriage, rapidly -driven, passed along the road. - -The driver pulled his beast up quickly as he came opposite the booth, -and jumped out. - -"Hi, Bill," he called to his companion, who was in the carriage. "Come -here and we'll wet our whistle. I'm as dry as a chip." - -"It's Noddy Nixon, and Bill Berry is with him!" exclaimed Jerry. "I hope -they don't bother us." - -"You're not afraid, are you?" asked Ned. - -"Not a bit, but I don't want a row here." - -Noddy did not appear to notice the three boys. He ordered some lemon -soda in a blustering tone, and when he paid for it pulled out quite a -roll of bills. - -"Where'd you get all the money?" the boys heard Bill ask Noddy. - -"Oh, I had a little and Jack Pender loaned me the rest," said Noddy with -a laugh. "Jack's a soft mark. He'd give me all he had." - -"I wish I could find some one as accommodating," said Bill with a -chuckle, as he drained his glass. - -"Come on!" cried Noddy. Then he cast a look over to where the chums -were sitting. He started to walk toward them and seemed about to say -something. - -"Keep quiet!" the boys heard Bill advise Noddy, at the same time -grasping him by the arm. "Don't raise a row with those cubs again. They -know too much now!" - -"All right!" growled Noddy. "I'd like to punch their heads, though." - -Then he and Bill got in their carriage and drove away at a rapid pace. - -"Punch our heads!" muttered Bob. "I'd like to see him try it. He's -always talking of it. Why doesn't he do it?" - -"I guess he knows it wouldn't be healthy," said Jerry. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -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. It will be different when there are twenty riders on a -narrow track, each one wanting to get inside." - -Ned and Bob agreed that it would be the very thing needed. Accordingly -the next morning, early, saw the three boys at the track of the -Cresville Athletic Club. Though it was little more than eight o'clock -the chums found about a dozen riders with their motors "warming-up" -on the banked oval. The explosions of the numerous gasolene engines -sounded like a miniature battle. - -"If any one challenges you to a little sprint, accept it," said Jerry to -Ned and Bob, "but don't attempt to win." - -"Why not?" asked Ned, always ready to take sides. - -"Tell you later," was all Jerry had time to say, for just then two young -men rode up to our heroes. - -"What do you fellows say to a little sprint for a few miles around the -track," inquired one young man, who wore a blue sweater. - -"Just a practice warm-up," put in the other, who was attired in a pair -of pink racing trousers. "It's rather dull going around this way, you -know." - -"We don't mind a little race," said Jerry. "Just for fun, however." - -"Of course. What sort of a start do you prefer, flying or from a -standstill?" - -"Flying will suit us," Ned put in. - -"All right. Come on, we'll ride around once together, line up at the -judge's stand, and make a four-mile circuit." - -This was agreeable to the boys and they prepared for the start with -their unknown rivals. They all came up to the line opposite the judges' -stand in good formation. - -"Go!" shouted the youth in the blue sweater. - -Each contestant turned more power into his motor and the machines -whizzed around the track in good time. It was easy to see that the two -strangers were trying to get a "line" on the speeds of the motors of the -three chums. - -Both of the youths who had been so anxious for the sprint watched with -eager eyes every motion of Bob, Ned and Jerry. But the latter, under -the direction of Jerry, did not operate their motors at top speed. This -was what the strangers wanted. They desired to see just how fast the -machines of the Cresville boys could go, so as to know what sort of -competitors they would have when the big event came on. - -All the efforts of the two schemers to get either of our three heroes to -"make pace" for them failed. Bob, Ned and Jerry just went around easily, -sometimes taking the lead, and again dropping behind. The impromptu race -was finally ended with the motors running about three-quarters speed, -and Jerry and Ned just a little in the lead. - -"You two win!" cried the youth in the blue sweater. "Pretty good -machines you have there." - -"They'll do," agreed Jerry, determined that the strangers should not -find out that they had been suspected. "And we went at a pretty good -clip, while it lasted." - -"No doubt," commented the lad in the blue sweater. Plainly the two -plotters were disappointed. They had not succeeded in taking the -speed-measure of the three chums. - -The track was now well filled with those practicing for the coming race. -More than a score were scooting around on their machines. Few motors -were as fine and complete as those of the three chums and not many had -the double cylinder improvement. - -"Shall we go around again?" asked Ned. - -"I think we'd better," counseled Jerry. "That sprint was nothing. What -we most need is to ride in a big crowd and not lose our nerve when we -think there is going to be a collision." - -"I hope there will be no smash-ups," came from Bob. "If I thought that I -wouldn't go in." - -"There will not be any if you are careful," advised Jerry. "Just keep -your wits about you and mind your steering. Poor steering is responsible -for more accidents than anything else." - -"What do you suppose those two chaps wanted to see how fast we could go -for?" asked Bob. - -"They wanted to know just what sort of opposition they might count on," -replied Jerry. - -"I don't think those fellows gained much," said Ned. - -"Me either," commented Jerry. "Another thing we must look out for is a -'pocket.'" - -"What's that?" asked Bob, who was not very well up on racing terms. - -"You'll see in a minute," said Jerry. - -He speeded up his motor. 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. - -He pretended to be trying to get more revolutions from his motor, but, -in reality he was throttling down the gasolene and advancing the spark, -which made the reports quicker but which did not increase his speed. - -The bunch of a dozen riders soon surrounded Jerry. He continued to speed -away, but in a few moments he found himself in the apex of a "V" shaped -gathering of contestants. They were ahead and on either side of him; a -veritable pocket, from which there was no way out so close were the -riders bunched. As soon as Jerry would try to pass any one the others -would crowd in front and prevent it. - -Finally Jerry shut off the power of his machine, and with a laugh at the -efforts of those who thought they were fooling him, he came to a halt, -and dismounted. - -"Smart kid, that," commented one of the older riders. "Up to snuff!" - -"Thinks he is," growled the youth in the blue sweater. "He and those -other two with him fooled me a while ago. 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. - -"There's a faster machine than ours," called Jerry. - -"Yes, and do you see who's riding it?" asked Ned. - -"No. Who?" - -"Jack Pender." - -"Is that Noddy's machine painted over?" - -"No, it looks like a new one," said Ned. "Yes, it is a new one," he -added as he got a closer view of the motor which swept by at that -instant. - -"If he goes in the race we'll have to look sharp if we want our touring -car," Jerry remarked. - -Jack Pender did not seem to care to have anything to say to the three -chums, and neither did they seek to speak to the bully's toady. Bob, Ned -and Jerry rode together around the track for several minutes, while Jack -occasionally passed them, making swift speed. - -"Guess I'll go off and get some dinner," Jerry announced finally. He was -opposite the gate by which riders left the track and steered for it. He -looked and saw Jack coming toward him, but noted that the latter would, -in the natural course of events, pass behind him. - -"Look out there! What's the matter with you?" cried Jack in sudden -anger. Jerry glanced around in time to see the rider of the red machine -steering directly for him, having left his course to do so. A collision -was imminent, and only by a skillful handling of his machine did Jerry -so manage that Jack only struck the rear wheel with his front one. - -"What are you trying to do?" cried Jerry. - -"What are you up to?" retorted Jack. "You got right in my way!" - -"And I say you deliberately left your path to try and run me down!" -cried Jerry. - -"It's false!" exclaimed Jack, getting off his motor. - -"It is not, and I'll leave it to any one who saw it," spoke Jerry -sharply. He was very angry. - -"That's right; you had plenty of room to pass him," said a quiet dark -man, who had been making several rounds of the track. "I don't know -either of you, but the man on the red machine is to blame." - -"Mind your own business!" snapped Jack. - -"Look here, my young friend," said the dark man, as he got off his -machine and came close to Jack. "I would advise you to be a little more -careful of your language and your conduct. You were either foolishly -or deliberately careless in this matter. This track is for gentlemen, -remember." - -"What affair of yours is it?" asked Jack with a growl. - -"I am one of the directors of the club, and I will most certainly make -it my affair, if necessary." - -Jack had nothing more to say, and turned off the track with his -loud-puffing machine. - -"Did he damage your motor any?" asked the man of Jerry. - -"I guess not," was the answer. - -"If you want to make a complaint to the club I will be a witness for -you," went on the director of the organization. - -"No, I had rather drop it now," replied Jerry. "I thank you, just the -same." - -"He and Noddy make a nice team, don't they?" inquired Ned, he and Bob -having followed Jerry from the track. - -"Well, I suppose it comes natural for them to be mean," replied Jerry. -"The only thing to do is to avoid trouble, but not to give in too much." - -"I wonder if he is going in the race with that red machine? If so we'll -have to hustle," commented Ned. - -"That's what races are for," said Jerry, with a smile. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -JACK PENDER'S TRICK. - - -It was on Saturday, when they had once more gone to the track for -practice, that the boys had another encounter with Noddy Nixon and Jack -Pender. The three chums had been making several rounds, and, as it was -rather warm, had left the oval and gone to lie down in the shade of some -trees. Their machines they had left in the rear of the club house, not -far away. - -"Do you know what I think we ought to do?" asked Bob as he reclined at -length in the grass, chewing a straw. - -"What new plan have you on foot now, Chunky? 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. "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." - -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. - -"You haven't any of you one chance in a hundred," said Noddy decidedly. -"Some of the best motor cyclists in the country are going in the race." - -"I guess we stand as good a chance as any one," put in Ned. "This isn't -like bicycle riding. A great deal depends on the machine, and we have -good ones." - -"I tell you none of you can win." - -"You wait and see," advised Jerry. - -"Do you want to back your opinion with any money?" asked Noddy. "If you -do, say the word and I'll bet you any amount." He pulled out quite a -roll of bills. - -"We don't bet," returned Jerry quietly. - -"Oh! I suppose you're afraid you'll lose," came with a sneer. - -"No, it isn't that," went on Jerry, looking the bully square in the eye. -"We don't bet on principle, but we do think we'll win, and, if we did -bet it would not be with you, Noddy Nixon." - -"Do you mean to say I'm not good enough to bet with?" demanded Noddy, -advancing toward Jerry. - -"I didn't say that, but you can take my remark any way you choose," -replied Jerry. - -"And I'll take it that you want to insult me!" exclaimed the bully. - -"Very well." - -"And I allow no one to insult me without paying for it," proceeded -Noddy, in a blustering tone. "You'll have to fight me." - -"Look here!" exclaimed Jerry. "You seem to want to pick a quarrel, Noddy -Nixon. Let me tell you I'm not afraid of you. I don't want to fight, -but, if I have to you'll be the first to cry 'quits.' I'm not anxious -to fight, but I'm not going to run away." - -"Nor I!" cried Ned and Bob. - -"You can fight us all, one after the other," suggested Ned. - -"You mind your own business; I wasn't talking to you," called Noddy, now -thoroughly angry. - -"The business of one of us is the business of all of us," replied Jerry -with a laugh. "Better be careful Noddy." - -The bully growled out something in reply, and cast a glance over his -shoulder. He gave a start as he did so, and then, turning quickly made -off on his machine. Jerry looked in the direction Noddy had peered. - -"We'd better be getting over to our machines," said Jerry suddenly. "I -thought I saw some one moving about near them." - -"Only boys watching to see how they work," said Bob, who felt too -comfortable to move. - -"I'm going over to see who they are, though. Looks like a pretty big -boy, and I don't want my machine put out of gear when the race is only -four days off." - -"That's so, those youngsters might get something out of kilter," agreed -Ned, springing up. - -He and Jerry went over to where the motors had been left. The cycles -were surrounded by a crowd of small boys, but, as Jerry had remarked, -one of the lads seemed to be well grown. Suddenly the group of -youngsters parted and a tall youth came from their midst. He glanced in -the direction of Jerry and Ned, and then, with a quick motion, broke -into a run. He hurried around the corner of the club house and, the next -instant there came the sound of a motor cycle in motion. A second later -a red machine was observed moving off in the distance. - -"That was Jack Pender!" cried Jerry. - -"That's who it was!" agreed Ned. "And he was up to some trick, I'll bet." - -"If he's damaged my machine he'll pay for it," vowed Jerry. - -The two boys, who were joined by Bob in a little while, reached their -machines. The crowd of small lads who had not gone watched the three -chums as they made a careful examination of their wheels. - -"That fellow said he was fixing them," volunteered a little boy in short -trousers. - -"What fellow?" asked Ned. - -"The one that just went away from here. He had a wrench and screw driver -and he was doing something to the engine." - -"Who was he?" asked Jerry, wanting to make sure. - -"I know! It was Jack Pender!" exclaimed another of the small boys. - -Jerry was the first to finish the examination of his motor. - -"Well, he's fixed mine all right!" he exclaimed, straightening up. "He's -taken off part of the carburetor and the motor is no good until I get a -new one." - -"He's done the same thing to mine!" cried Ned, just discovering the -damage which had been done. - -"And to mine," added Bob. - -"Boys, this is very serious," said Jerry when he had drawn his two chums -out of hearing of the group of small boys. "The machines can't run -without those parts." - -"But can't we easily get them?" asked Bob. - -"We could in New York, or Boston or some large city," said Jerry. "But -have we time to send? To-day is Saturday, the race takes place Thursday. -We can't get word to any supply store until Monday morning, and it's a -question whether we would receive the parts in time." - -"We can telegraph," said Bob. - -"Even that takes time. Jack Pender laid his plans well for this trick. -He means to keep us out of the race!" Jerry said. - -"Can't we get the parts in Cresville?" asked Bob. - -"Not a store keeps them that I know of," replied Jerry. "I'm afraid -we're done for. Most likely Pender broke the parts and threw them away." - -"No, we're not done for!" exclaimed Ned. - -"Why not?" - -"Because I'll ride into Boston to-night and get the new parts!" - -"But none of our machines can be run," objected Bob. - -"I'll borrow Mr. Wakefield's," said Ned. "He'll lend it to me when I -tell him how the case stands!" - -"Hurrah!" exclaimed Bob. "You're the stuff Ned!" - -"I doubt if you can do it," objected Jerry. "There is no moon to-night, -and the roads are hard to find." - -"I'm going to try," insisted Ned. "Jack Pender shall not keep us out of -the race if I can prevent it!" - -"Well, hurry and find Mr. Wakefield," urged Jerry. "There's no time to -lose. Bob and I will see to your machine and you can start at once." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -THE RIDE TO BOSTON. - - -Ned found Mr. Wakefield, the athletic instructor, in the gymnasium of -the club house. The boy hastily told him of the trouble, not however -mentioning Jack's name. - -"And, Mr. Wakefield," said Ned, in great distress, "if we can't get -those carburetor parts we can't race." - -"I'll do all I can to help you," said Mr. Wakefield. "Take my machine -and welcome." - -Ned really had quite a task before him. It was a long ride to Boston, -and there would be no moon. Besides the roads were not of the best. It -was after four o'clock when he secured Mr. Wakefield's machine, and a -half hour was lost in oiling it up, and seeing that it was in shape for -the lengthy trip. - -"I do not know whether to let you go or not," said Mr. Slade, when Ned -broached the subject to him. - -"I really must go, father," and Ned spoke so earnestly that Mr. Slade -was more than half persuaded. - -"Well, I suppose it is hard to have to think of giving up the race," he -said at length. "And it seems to be the only way to do. So you may go, -but be very careful." - -"I will," promised Ned. - -He prepared himself for the trip, and was about to start from his house, -where he had taken Mr. Wakefield's machine, when Bob and Jerry came -along. They had wheeled their motors to their houses, and brought Ned's -with them. - -"Are you off?" asked Jerry. - -"Just ready to start," was the reply. - -"You ought to be able to get the parts in any automobile store," said -Jerry. "The only bad feature of the trip will be coming home. I wish I -was going along." - -"Well, I haven't any time to lose," said Ned, "so here goes!" - -He leaped into the saddle, started the machine off by means of the -pedals and soon was puffing down the road. - -The start was made about half past five o'clock, on a pleasant -afternoon. The sun shone through a hazy mist, and, though it had been -warm, it was cooler now. Because it was of an earlier pattern, Mr. -Wakefield's machine was not as speedy as any of the boys', and Ned -realized he would have to be longer on the journey than if he had his -own fast motor. - -"But I'm in luck to be able to get any machine at all," he said to -himself. - -For the first ten miles Ned had no trouble, as he was familiar with the -road. He had been riding over an hour when he came to a small village -which, he learned by inquiry, was thirty miles from the big city. - -He rode out of the little town, and then, coming to a place where -several roads branched off was puzzled which one to take, as there was -no sign posts. No house was near and no one seemed to be traveling. - -"I'll take the middle road," thought Ned. "It's trusting to chance, but -it's all I can do." - -He had ridden perhaps four miles when he met a farmer driving a bony -horse attached to a dilapidated wagon. Poor, thin and old as the horse -was it seemed frightened at the sight of the machine, and inclined to -rear on its hind legs and bolt. - -"Is this the road to Boston?" asked Ned, knowing he had little time to -waste in talk, however pleasant it might be. - -"Wa'al ye kin git to it this way, but it'll take ye a long time. Ye're -going in a opposite direction. Ye'd oughter taken the left hand road -back there at the forks." - -"Thanks," said Ned, briefly, turning his machine in readiness to go back -and take the right road. - -"Hold on! Maybe I can make some kind of a trade with ye for that -threshing machine ye got!" called the old man, but Ned, with a friendly -wave of his hand, started back to regain the right road. - -He resolved to be more careful next time in taking roads where there -was more than one. So, when he again reached places where the highways -diverged he waited until some one came along, or he went back to the -last house he had passed, and inquired. - -He rode on for two hours longer. It was getting a little dusky now -because of the clouds, and Ned began to fear he was in for a storm. He -wished he was at his destination, for, if worst came to worst, he could -stay in Boston all night, and start back in the morning. But he soon -saw evidences that he was nearing some large city. Houses became more -frequent, and every now and then he would pass through some settlement -or good sized suburb. Then, off in the distance, he descried the Hub -City. - -"There's Boston!" he cried. "Now for an automobile or motor store." - -Getting on to good roads he speeded his machine up as fast as it would -go, which was not overly rapid, and was soon riding through the streets -of the historic city. - -He kept his eyes open, and presently saw an automobile shop. The man was -just closing up. - -"Wait a minute!" called Ned. "Hold on! I want to get something!" - -"You'll have to be quick," said the man. - -Ned lost no time in telling what he desired. - -"Here's what you want," said the dealer. "We got some new ones in -to-day." - -"Thanks," said Ned fervently, as he paid for the articles. He stowed the -precious parts safely away in his pockets. Then he began to think of -supper. It was nearly ten o'clock, but he found a small restaurant open, -and made a hasty meal. Then, lighting his own acetylene gas lamp, which -he had brought along in place of the oil affair Mr. Wakefield carried, -the boy prepared for his homeward trip. - -This was a very different thing from riding along in the afternoon -and early evening. If he was in doubt of a road he could find plenty -of persons to ask. But after dark every one seemed to go to bed, as -he noticed when he passed from the immediate Boston suburbs into the -country. Several times Ned had to get off his machine and, with his lamp -for a torch, hunt around for a sign post to tell him which road to take. - -Once he came to where three roads divided. He could find no friendly -pointing finger to tell him which one to take, and there was not a house -in sight. The last residence he had passed was half a mile back. He did -not relish going on the wrong highway until he met some one to set him -right, nor did he want to retrace his journey. - -"If only some one would come along now," he murmured. - -By dint of making inquiries at many farm houses Ned managed to cover -about twenty miles of his homeward trip. Then, as it grew later, the -friendly lights that shone from the lonely road-side residences went -out, and Ned began to think his trip was going to be a rather unpleasant -one at the close, although it was still fairly clear. He did not like -to awaken people up to ask them about the road, and it was evident that -nearly every one in the country had gone to rest. - -It was very dark. His gas lamp gave a brilliant thread of light -directly in front of him, but that was all. It was quiet, also, save -for the chug-chug of his motor. Now and then an owl would hoot, and the -sound, strange and weird, seemed to chill Ned's blood, though he knew -what it was. - -Once again the old trouble of coming to two roads, and not knowing which -to follow, confronted him. It was close to midnight, and the country was -so deserted that for the last two miles he had not passed a house. Nor -did he know how far in advance he might have to go before reaching one. - -"Shall I go to the right or left?" Ned asked himself. "I'll trust to -luck, I'll toss a stone up, and take the road it falls nearest to." - -He had dismounted from his wheel, and, standing at the fork of the -roads, tossed a pebble into the air. It fell on the left path. - -"The left it is!" He got on his machine, rode about a quarter of a mile, -and then, with a loud noise his rear tire burst. It came with such -suddenness and gave Ned such a shock that he nearly tumbled from the -motor. - -"Here's luck!" he exclaimed. He quickly discovered that the break was a -bad enough one to mend in daylight to say nothing of attempting it in -the darkness. - -"I guess I'm booked to stay here all night," the boy said. "If I could -find a farm house near by I'd ask to stay there." - -But he did not feel like pushing the heavy motor along the road in a -search. - -"It's warm, and I can stay out all night," Ned thought. "I'd like to get -in shelter though." - -He paused in the middle of the dark road and looked about him. Off to -the left were fields. - -"Looks like a lot of hay in that meadow," he told himself. "If it is -that will be just the thing to crawl into and go to sleep." He walked -closer and peered at the dark objects that had attracted his attention. -He climbed the fence, and discovered that his surmise was right. - -Pulling and hauling the motor he got it through the bars. Then, -selecting a big mound of the fragrant dried grass, Ned made a hole in -it, crawled in, curled up and, in spite of his queer bed, was soon sound -asleep. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -GETTING BACK HOME. - - -The sun was shining in through the chinks of the mound of hay the next -morning when Ned awoke. - -"What! Why! Where in the world am I?" he exclaimed. He had slept so -hard, because of the fatigue of his ride, that he could not remember -where he was. - -"Oh I know now," he said, at length, as the recollection of his -experience came to him. - -He stretched, rolled out of his fragrant bed and, brushing the wisps of -hay from his hair, stepped out into the glow of the sun. His first care -was to feel in his pocket to see if the carburetor parts, that had cost -him all his trouble, were safe. They were all right, and then Ned began -to think of breakfast and getting home. He feared his parents would be -worried over his absence. - -"Doesn't seem to be a very thickly settled locality around here," -observed Ned, taking a survey and seeing nothing but fields and woods -in the distance. "I guess I'm in for a long walk for breakfast. And -I've got to push that motor. I can't fix the tire with what tools I have -along. Well, there's no help for it, and I suppose it will give me a -good appetite." - -He found Mr. Wakefield's motor where it had been left, covered with hay -to keep off the dew. Ned rolled it out into the road and then, hearing -the musical tinkle of a brook near by, he bethought that a wash and a -drink of cool water would not come amiss. - -He found a clear sparkling little meadow stream. It raced and bubbled -its way over the white pebbles, and between banks of green grass and -moss. - -"That looks good," thought Ned, as he stretched out at full length on -his face and took a long drink. Then he found a shallow little basin, -scooped out of a stone where the water formed a pool, and there he -washed and felt much refreshed. - -"I'm still in the dark as to whether I'm on the right road or not," -thought Ned. "But it's daylight now, and I might as well keep going this -way until I meet some one to inquire of." - -So he started off. He was hungry and wished very much for something to -eat. It was no fun pushing the heavy motor cycle along the dusty road, -but Ned dared not leave it behind on the highway for fear something -might happen to it. - -He had gone about a mile, perhaps, when down the road he saw a farm -wagon, to which was hitched a team of horses, approaching. - -"Here comes some one at last," Ned thought, "and I may get a lift." - -"Hello bub!" exclaimed the driver of the horses, a jolly-looking -blue-eyed farmer, when the wagon came opposite Ned. "Had a smash up?" - -"No, only a tire broken," replied the boy. "But can you tell me whether -this is the way to Cresville?" - -"Well, you could get there on this road, but it's about five miles out -of your way. Is that where you want to go?" - -"It's where I live," Ned answered. "I went to Boston yesterday, and on -my way back last night I lost my way, my machine broke, and I had to -sleep in a hay stack." - -"I see you did," observed the farmer. "Some of the grass is in your hair -yet." - -Ned hastily removed the traces of his recent bed. - -"But if you're going to Cresville," went on the man, "I can give you a -lift. I'm going within three miles of there." - -"I'd be much obliged if you would," spoke Ned. - -"Well, pile your machine in back there, and climb up on the seat," was -the invitation, and Ned did so. - -"You don't happen to know of any restaurants around here, do you?" he -asked the driver. - -"No, nothing open on Sunday." - -"Sure enough, it is Sunday!" cried Ned. "I'm so upset I'd about -forgotten it." - -"Sleeping in the hay instead of your bed sort of put you off the track," -suggested the farmer. - -"That's what it did," agreed Ned. - -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. But here you are. This is as far as I go on your way. If you -take that road," pointing to where one branched off from the highway -the wagon was on, "you'll come to Cresville. Sorry I can't take you all -the way, but it's only three miles." - -"I'm much obliged to you for the lift," said Ned, getting the machine -out of the wagon, and bidding his new acquaintance good-bye. - -Leaving the motor cycle at a house on the outskirts of town, Ned reached -home about noon, and found his parents much alarmed. Jerry and Bob were -at his house, and there was talk of organizing a searching party. - -"Did you bring the carburetor parts?" asked Jerry. - -"I did!" exclaimed Ned, as he passed them over. - -"They're all right," announced Jerry, after an inspection. "From now on -we must take care not to leave our machines out of our sight. But what -did you do with Mr. Wakefield's motor?" - -Ned told where it was. Then he had a bath, and got ready for dinner. -After the meal, which his chums ate with him, Ned went and told Mr. -Wakefield what had happened to the motor. The latter was not alarmed for -the safety of his machine, and it was arranged that one of the employees -of the club could drive over for it on Monday. The rest of the day the -boys spent quietly, anxiously waiting for the morrow when they might -again try their motors. - -Bright and early on Monday each boy was fitting the new carburetor parts -to his cycle. The apparatus fitted perfectly and soon all three were -spinning down the road at a good speed. They rode for several miles -and were about to turn back, on Jerry's proposal to go to the athletic -track, when they heard the noise of an approaching motor. - -The next instant a machine turned the corner of the road, and came -toward them. All three of the chums started as they saw that the rider -was Jack Pender. Hardly knowing what they were doing, Ned, Bob and -Jerry spread themselves out across the highway so that Pender could not -pass. On his part he was so surprised that he shut off the power of -his machine and came to a stop, just as the three chums, who had done -likewise, dismounted. - -"Well?" observed Jerry quietly. "I've been wanting to meet you, Jack." - -"Don't you dare to touch me!" exclaimed Jack. "If you do I'll have you -arrested." - -"You're a nice one to talk about having people arrested," went on Jerry. -"I've a good mind to shake you!" - -"What did I do?" asked Jack, looking very uncomfortable. - -"You know well enough what you did. Tried to fix our machines so they -wouldn't work by taking off the carburetors. That's what you did." - -"I didn't mean to," said Jack. "I was just--just turning them and they -came off." - -"You'd ought to be made to pay for the damage you did," put in Ned. "I -had to go all the way to Boston for new parts." - -"I haven't any money," whined Jack. - -"You have enough to lend to Noddy Nixon," put in Bob, remembering that -day when they had met Noddy at the soda-water booth, and the bully had -boasted that Jack loaned him money. - -"I never lent Noddy any money!" exclaimed Jack. - -"He said you did!" exclaimed Jerry. - -"Well, he tells--what business is it of yours any how?" Jack interrupted -a statement he was going to make. "I don't have to tell you anything -about my affairs." - -"No one asked you to," Ned put in. "All we want is for you to let us and -our machines alone." - -"I think a good thrashing is what he needs," said Jerry, with mock -severity, standing his machine against Ned's and advancing toward Jack. - -"Oh no! Please don't!" begged the young coward. "I'll never do anything -again. Please don't lick me! Noddy Nixon made me do it! Don't touch me, -and I'll tell you everything!" - -"Everything about what?" asked Jerry. - -"About--about the--the mill robbery!" exclaimed Jack. - -"What do you know of it?" asked Ned in amazement. - -"I don't know very much, but you watch Noddy Nixon about six o'clock -to-night," replied Jack. "There," he burst out, "I promised I wouldn't -tell, but he's always getting me in trouble and never helping me out." - -Then, before the boys could stop him, Jack Pender turned his machine in -the opposite direction, leaped into the saddle and was soon moving off -swiftly down the road. - -"Shall we chase him?" asked Ned. - -"No, let him go," replied Jerry. "We gave him a good scare, and, -besides, we want to be on hand for something else." - -"What?" - -"We want to watch Noddy to-night." - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -NODDY'S QUEER ACTIONS. - - -For a few moments after Jerry had spoken neither Ned nor Bob knew what -to say. Events had happened so rapidly, and they seemed on the verge of -such a discovery, that they were startled. Jerry alone kept cool. - -"What do you think Noddy will do?" asked Ned. - -"I might make a dozen guesses and not hit it," Jerry replied. "We can -only wait and watch." - -"Shall we do it together?" inquired Bob. - -"Hardly that," spoke Jerry. "If he saw three of us on his trail he would -probably suspect something. I have a plan." - -"What is it?" asked Ned. - -"You know there are only three ways Noddy can take after he leaves his -house," said Jerry. "He can go up town, down town or he can take the -road that leads out to the old wind mill." - -"That's so," came from Bob. - -"Now my idea is that we all three ought to keep watch," went on Jerry. -"If he goes up town Ned can follow him. If he goes down town Bob can -take up the trail and if he goes out to the old mill I will go after -him." - -"All right," Jerry said. "That settles it. Now for home." - -Little talk was indulged in. Each of the three chums felt that something -of importance was to happen and their thoughts were too busy for -conversation. In due time the boys separated, had their dinners and -suppers, and shortly before six o'clock met by appointment in the post -office, which was a block from Noddy's residence. - -"Now remember," said Jerry. "If he goes up town you are to follow, Ned. -Bob, it's your turn if he goes down, and if he takes the road to the old -mill I'll follow." - -They had long waits, for it was nearly nine o'clock before Noddy crept -quietly from the rear door in the darkness of the night. He did not know -that three pairs of sharp eyes watched his every movement. Peering on -every side of him the bully quickly made his way to the street. Then, -after a moment's hesitation he started rapidly off in the direction of -the old mill. - -"Here goes!" said Jerry, who was on the look-out. - -Like a shadow he glided from his hiding place and was after Noddy. He -kept a sufficient distance in the rear so that he would not betray -himself by the sound of his footsteps. It was quite dark, for there was -no moon, but the stars were bright. - -"I wonder what he wants out here?" thought Jerry. "Is he going to meet -some one?" - -To his surprise he saw Noddy, having halted in front of the deserted -mill, enter the dark and uninviting place without hesitation. - -"Ugh! I wouldn't care to go in there alone," thought Jerry. "It looks -spooky!" - -He dared go no closer than the dilapidated fence that surrounded the -structure. Crouching there in the shadow, he looked toward the mill, to -discern what went on. No one seemed to be waiting for Noddy, nor did the -bully show by his actions that he expected any one. Shortly after he had -entered the place Noddy struck a light, as Jerry could see. It flickered -and moved about some, but seemed to be kept in one room. Then, in a few -minutes, the light went out, and Jerry heard footsteps approaching down -the gravel walk that led to the main entrance of the mill. - -"He either went there to get something or hide something," Jerry -reasoned. "If it was to hide something I may discover what it was. If -it was to take something I have very little chance of success." - -Still hiding in the shadow of the fence Jerry waited until Noddy had -passed some distance down the road. - -"I don't fancy going into that place very much," observed the boy, "but -it's got to be done." - -Considerably against his inclinations, Jerry took the dark path leading -to the old mill. He started at every sound, and when an owl hooted in a -nearby tree the boy jumped as if some one had yelled at him. - -With beating heart he made his way into the deserted place. It was as -dark as a pocket and the boy struck a light. - -"If I only had a candle," he wished. - -Hardly had he formed the thought when, glancing down, he saw a short wax -end on the floor. He picked it up. - -"This is the light Noddy had," reflected Jerry. - -He lighted the wick, and the illumination somewhat dispelled the gloom. -With eager eyes he scanned the place. Moving about he held the candle up -where it would give a good light. But nothing rewarded his search. From -side to side he went. Then he held the light close to the floor. He had -gone over almost every foot of surface and found nothing. - -"I guess it's a wild-goose chase," thought Jerry. "But I'm sure Noddy -did not go out of this room. I watched the light. Hello! What's that?" - -He had suddenly struck his foot against a board that projected somewhat -above the others in the floor. - -"Queer I didn't notice that before," said Jerry. He lowered the candle -carefully. "Looks as if it had been moved lately," he went on. - -Thrusting his fingers beneath the edge of the board Jerry gave a strong -pull. The plank did not budge. He tried again without success. At the -third attempt, however, his strength availed, and he felt the piece of -flooring suddenly yield. So quickly did it come from its place in fact -that Jerry fell backward, knocking out his candle and leaving himself in -utter darkness. - -Quickly searching in his pocket the boy found his matches, struck a -light and ignited the candle end. Then, with swiftly beating heart he -peered down into the hole he had disclosed. He was rewarded by seeing -a small wooden box, half covered with dirt and rubbish. With trembling -fingers Jerry drew it forth and held it close to the light. It was a -square wooden receptacle with a hinged cover. - -"It's the box that was stolen from the mill with the thousand dollars in -it!" exclaimed Jerry. - -He raised the cover. If he had had any doubts about his find they were -dispelled when he saw the contents of the box. It was half filled with -papers, seemingly of no value, but bearing the name of Amos Judson. -There were receipts, notes, bills and memoranda. But there was no trace -of the money. - -"I'll take this away," said the boy, "and have a talk with Ned and Bob -about it. I think--" - -There came a sudden sound that startled the lad. It was as if some one -had stepped on the platform outside of the mill. Jerry quickly blew out -his candle. Then, as he heard an owl hoot, he knew it was the bird that -had made the noise, and breathed easier. - -Not stopping to relight the candle, but replacing, as best he could in -the darkness the plank, so the hole would not be noticed on a casual -inspection, Jerry hurried from the mill and made a quick trip to Ned's -house. He felt that matters were now at a crisis. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -NODDY NIXON CORNERED. - - -As late as it was Jerry found his two chums anxiously waiting for him. - -"Well?" asked Ned. - -"Here is something," replied Jerry, showing the box which he had -concealed under his coat. He told how he had found it and the three -chums examined the contents curiously. - -"What had we better do?" asked Bob. - -"I'll tell you what I think," spoke Ned. "We ought to tell father. He -will know what to do." - -Mr. Slade was plainly surprised at some of the disclosures made, for, -though he knew most of the circumstances, he was not acquainted with all -of them. The boys had forgotten many details in their previous recitals, -and, of course, the finding of the box was the latest occurrence. - -"I must say you boys have sifted this thing out pretty well," said Mr. -Slade. "You have a great deal more information than have the police." - -"What had we better do about it?" asked Jerry. "You see we are at a -sort of stand-still now." - -Mr. Slade thought for a few minutes. - -"Here is what I would do," he said at length. "I would contrive to have -a talk with Noddy Nixon, all three of you. I understand he is a sort of -bully, but if the three of you are together there is nothing to fear -from him. - -"Once you get him alone somewhere you can tell him just what you know, -and show him how everything points to him as the person who robbed the -mill. It may be that the information will overwhelm him, and he will -own to everything. Again, he may be innocent of everything, and able to -explain all of his acts satisfactorily. In that case you will be glad -that you made no public complaint." - -After a little thought the boys voted this was the best thing to do. -They arranged to send Noddy a note asking him to meet one of them in a -secluded place the next day, and all three chums promised to be on hand. - -Early the next day the three boys met again. In accordance with the -arrangement of the night before, Jerry had sent a note to Noddy, asking -the bully to meet him near the old wind mill. - -"Come, for the matter is of great interest to you," the note had said, -and Jerry had signed no name. Ten o'clock was the hour set, and quite a -while before that time the three boys were at the dilapidated structure. - -"I think you two had better stay inside," said Jerry to Bob and Ned. -"But remain where you can see and hear everything. I'll be out here when -Noddy comes." - -It was a few minutes after ten when Jerry saw Noddy coming up the path -that led to the main mill entrance. No sooner had the bully caught sight -of Jerry than he started, and seemed about to turn back. - -"Don't go!" called Jerry. "Did you get my note?" - -"Did you write that?" - -"I certainly did." - -"What's it all about?" growled Noddy. "If you're fooling me you'll wish -you hadn't." - -"I guess you won't think it's much like fooling," replied Jerry. "In the -first place, have you ever seen this before?" - -He suddenly held out the wooden box he had found hidden in the mill. At -the sight of it Noddy started. - -"Where--where did you get it?" Noddy gasped. - -"Right here, in this mill," was the answer. "I took it out of a hole in -the floor last night, right after you had been here. It has some papers -in it from the Judson mill." - -Noddy started again. His face was pale, and he trembled. His hands -twitched nervously. - -"What--what else?" he whispered. - -"You might as well tell everything," said Jerry. "Ned saw you coming -from the mill on the night of the robbery with this box under your arm. -You said it had fish bait in it. We know how thick you were with Bill -Berry, and how he tried to have the blame cast on Ned. And we know -something else." - -"What?" - -"That you paid a bet to Paul Banner shortly after the robbery." - -"Supposing I did?" - -"Just this, we have--or, rather I have--one of the bills you gave to -Paul." - -"Well, what of that?" asked Noddy, trying to maintain a brave air. - -"Only this. It was a ten dollar bill, issued by a state instead of a -national bank, and it had the initials H. R. C. on it in red ink. We -have learned that this bill was paid to Mr. Judson on the afternoon -before the robbery, that it was placed in the box--this box--that was -stolen from the safe." - -"Supposing some one gave that bill to me before I gave it to Paul?" -asked Noddy. - -"If you can prove that it will be a good thing for you," Jerry went -on. "We have no desire, Noddy, to fasten this on you, but Ned must be -cleared and the robbery mystery ended. Tell me who gave you the queer -bank bill?" - -But Noddy kept silent. - -"On the night of the mill fire," Jerry went on, "we found the hammer and -chisel that were used to cut the safe open, and also the dark lantern. -If anything more is needed, Bill Berry will--" - -"If Bill Berry tells that he saw me in the mill--!" cried Noddy, and -then he stopped. - -"We may need Bill's testimony," Jerry said. "You see we have nearly -everything, Noddy. What have you to say?" - -Noddy said nothing for a few minutes. He seemed ill at ease. Then he -burst out: - -"I may as well confess! You cubs have spied on me to good advantage. I -had to take that money! I needed it to pay my debts. I heard Tom Judson -say it was in the safe that afternoon. I knew the old iron box was -easy to crack. I had no trouble to get in, and I began work. When I -was almost through I looked up, and saw Bill Berry looking in at me. I -offered to go shares with him if he would keep quiet, and he did. Then, -after a while he said another man, a chum of his, had seen me also, and -I had to give him money. He would have shot me if I hadn't. It was one -night in a lonely house." - -Jerry nodded. He well remembered that night. - -"Then," went on Noddy, "Bill suggested throwing the blame on Ned, -because he was around the mill that night. It didn't work, however. -Now, I guess the game is up. What are you going to do?" - -"We'll have to consider," Jerry replied. - -"We? Who is we?" asked Noddy. - -"Bob, Ned, and myself." - -"Are they here?" - -"They heard it all. We needed several witnesses," was the answer. - -"Give me one day more," pleaded the bully. "I may be able to pay the -money back then." - -"I'll see what the others say," replied Jerry. "Come out, Ned and Bob." - -The two boys came from their place of concealment. Noddy did not appear -to notice them. - -"You heard what he said," spoke Jerry, "what do you say?" - -"One day more will do no harm," said Bob, who felt a little compassion -for Noddy, unfriendly as the bully had always been. - -"All right," said Jerry, and Ned nodded in assent to the stout boy's -proposal. "We will say nothing for another twenty-four hours, Noddy. -Meet us here at this time to-morrow and we will decide what is to be -done." - -"I will," replied Noddy as he hurried away. - -"Well, I'm glad that's over," remarked Jerry. "I hated to do it, but I -felt it ought to be done. Now to go and tell Mr. Slade that Noddy has -confessed, and see what's to be done to-morrow." - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -NODDY NIXON'S MOVE. - - -When Mr. Slade had been informed of the outcome of the interview with -Noddy, he said the boys had acted with caution and wisely. - -"We will see if Noddy intends to settle and pay back the money," said -Ned's father. "If he does not it is only right that his father should be -informed, also the sheriff and Mr. Judson." - -There was nothing to do but to wait until the next day. The three chums -spent some time in wondering what Noddy would do. Then Ned exclaimed: - -"Say, we're forgetting all about the race. Here it is Tuesday. The day -after to-morrow we'll have to make a try for that touring car, and we -ought to be practicing." - -"Yes, and our wheels need overhauling," suggested Jerry. "I'm going to -put in new batteries. Don't want to run any risk of the motor missing -explosions when we're on the track, you know." - -This was voted a wise precaution, and the motor boys separated, to go -home after their cycles, agreeing to meet in the afternoon on the track -for practice runs. - -Through a good part of the afternoon they went around and around at -moderate speed, testing their motors thoroughly and practicing the -turns. Others were doing the same, and no especial attention was drawn -to our three heroes. - -Along about five o'clock, most of the other prospective contestants -having gone off, Jerry suggested it would be a good time to give the -three motors a friendly trial. Accordingly a flying start was made from -the judges' stand, and each of the three boys soon had his cycle going -at almost top speed. - -At first there seemed to be little to choose from among them. They -hung well together at the start, and then Ned began to forge ahead a -little. He had acquired more momentum than the others, perhaps, or the -difference that exists in two motors made exactly the same, gave his -wheel one or two more revolutions a minute than Jerry's or Bob's. - -"Are you on full speed?" asked Jerry at length. - -"No," replied Ned and Bob. - -"Turn on all the power you can," was the suggestion. "Let's see what we -really can do on the track." - -The muffled explosions at once became more rapid. The wheels whizzed -around the track faster and faster, and Jerry and Bob began to creep up -on Ned, who was leading. Then they passed him, and he was half a length -behind. Again Jerry forged in front of Bob, and it seemed that the prize -motor was going to prove the fastest. - -But a careful eye could see that Bob was beginning to regain his lost -ground. The distance between his wheel and Jerry's lessened until, after -two more rounds Jerry and the stout youth were riding exactly on a line. -Ned was perhaps a length behind. - -"I guess this will do," called Jerry. "Shut down!" - -Slowly the motors ceased their rapid explosions, and after another turn -of the track the three boys came to a halt and dismounted. - -"We're pretty evenly matched," said Ned. "My machine didn't do as well -as I expected though." - -They separated, arranging to be on hand at the old mill at ten o'clock -the following morning, to clear up the last of the mill robbery mystery. - -"Jerry, I wish you would take this message over to Mrs. Northrup's for -me," said Mrs. Hopkins to her son, after supper that evening. "I want -her to come and do some sewing for me." - -"All right, mother," responded the boy. - -"Are you going on your machine?" asked his sister. - -"No, sis. I don't want to run any chance of puncturing a tire after -dark. It's too near the race for that. I'm going to walk." - -Off Jerry started. Mrs. Northrup lived in a cottage about a mile from -Mrs. Hopkins. She was a widow who went out dressmaking. To get to her -house Jerry had to pass the handsome residence of Mr. Nixon. - -He looked at it as he went by on his way to deliver the message. There -seemed to be no one about, and Jerry wondered if Noddy was at home, and -what he was doing. Mrs. Northrup was in, and, as she wanted to write a -reply to the note Jerry had brought, he had to wait a few minutes. Then -the widow asked him all about himself and his family, and inquired about -the coming race, which she had heard Jerry was interested in. - -So, though the boy had meant to stay but a short time, he was there the -better part of an hour, and, when he had the answer to his mother's note -and was on his way back, it was nine o'clock and quite dark. - -As Jerry came in front of the Nixon residence he was surprised to see no -lights in the house. - -"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?" - -There was a side street, rather narrow and seldom used, which extended -along the Nixon property to the left. It passed close to the automobile -shed, and a drive-way had been constructed to enable the machine to be -taken out into the side roadway if desired. - -Having nothing particular to hurry him, and being of a curious turn of -mind, Jerry decided that he would walk down the narrow thoroughfare -and look at the new automobile shed, which he had not seen at close -range. Accordingly he turned from the main street and soon found himself -opposite the shed. He stopped to look at it, and, as he did so, he heard -voices in conversation. At the same time the flicker of a light through -a crack in the shed door could be seen. - -"I wonder if it's thieves trying to steal the machine," thought Jerry. -"Guess I'll watch a little while." - -He took a position behind a tree where he could see what went on without -being observed. The voices in the shed grew louder. - -"I tell you I will take it!" some one exclaimed. - -"That's Noddy," said Jerry softly. - -"I know what I'm doing," Noddy went on, seemingly in answer to an -objection from some one whose words Jerry could not distinguish. "You -can come along if you want to, or stay behind." - -Jerry shrank closer behind the tree. There was a glare of light as the -shed door was opened, and in the beams the boy could distinguish the -form of Bill Berry. That he and Noddy were planning some new escapade -was evident. - -"Is it all right?" asked Noddy, sticking his head out of the door. - -"Yes." - -"Come on then," went on the bully. "Put out the light. We've got to -escape in the darkness. It's a good thing the folks are away to-night. -Well, here is where we leave Cresville behind, and those three cubs that -got me into this trouble!" - -Jerry heard the sound of the motor car being cranked up. Then, as he -waited in the darkness, he saw the big touring machine glide out of the -shed under Noddy's guidance. - -"Jump in, Bill!" called the youth, and Berry did as requested. - -Noddy threw in the gear clutch, and the machine rolled slowly down -the inclined drive-way to the street, right opposite Jerry, who still -crouched behind the tree. - -"He's running away in his father's automobile!" Jerry exclaimed softly. -"I wonder if I ought to give an alarm?" - -[Illustration: "HE'S RUNNING AWAY IN HIS FATHER'S AUTOMOBILE!" JERRY -EXCLAIMED, SOFTLY.] - -The motor car was now turning out into the main thoroughfare. It bore no -lights and made scarcely any noise. - -"No," thought Jerry. "Let him go. It may be better that way." - -And so Noddy, afraid to face the consequences of his confessed crime, -fled from his home. Pondering over what would be the outcome on the -morrow, Jerry went home and to bed, resolving to get up early and tell -his chums what he had seen. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. - -THE GREAT RACE. - - -"Have you heard the news--great excitement--big robbery--Mr. Nixon's -automobile stolen--Noddy kidnapped--terrible--awful--whoop!" - -Andy Rush let out the above avalanche of words as he met Ned the next -morning, as the merchant's son was on his way to see Jerry. - -"What's all that, Andy?" - -"Last night! Somebody kidnapped the auto and rode off in -Noddy--fearful--terrible--I mean some one kidnapped Noddy and rode off -in the auto! I'm all excited!" - -"I can see that without being told," remarked Ned. "But can't you calm -down a bit and explain." - -Andy tried but it was hard work. Ned gathered that something out of the -ordinary had happened. As soon as he could leave Andy he hurried to -Jerry's house. - -"Have you heard the news?" asked Ned. - -"About Noddy and the auto?" - -"Yes." - -"I was there when it happened." - -"You don't mean it! Tell me all about it!" - -Thereupon Jerry did. He had no sooner finished than Bob appeared and -wanted the particulars. - -"Have you told any one about this?" asked Ned. - -"Only you two." - -"Then we'd better go and tell father. He expects us to meet Noddy again -at ten o'clock to-day." - -The three chums called on Mr. Slade. He was greatly surprised at what -Jerry had to tell, and he agreed that no especial good would have come -from Jerry having given an alarm at the time. - -"I must see Mr. Nixon and explain the situation to him," said Mr. Slade. -"The sheriff had better be told also. You boys might as well come along, -to give certain details." - -In a little while the three boys, with Mr. Slade, were in the drawing -room of the Nixon home. Mr. Nixon, looking worn and pale, greeted them. -Mr. Slade went over the whole story, occasionally calling on one or the -other of the boys as to certain facts. He told the circumstances from -the time Ned saw the light in the mill until the happenings of the -previous night, when Jerry saw Noddy run away in the automobile. - -"I am deeply grieved at my son's conduct," said Mr. Nixon. "It is a -bitter blow to me. I thank you Mr. Slade, and you boys also, for being -so considerate as not to publish the story broadcast. I have shame -enough without that. - -"I shall pay back the thousand dollars Noddy took. I will ask you, Mr. -Slade to be a witness to that transaction. As far as the automobile is -concerned, that was my property, and, in order to save my son from being -branded as a double thief, I here and now make him a present of the -machine. So he is in something that belongs to him. I only hope he comes -back, for I love him in spite of his faults. - -"I agree with you, Mr. Slade, that the sheriff must be informed. It is -only due Ned, to clear him of all suspicion, though any one who knew -him would be sure he was never guilty. That is all that can be done, I -believe. When I pay Mr. Judson the money he has lost he will have no -reason for proceeding against my son. This ends the mill robbery mystery -forever I hope. Once again I thank you all for your consideration." - -Mr. Slade quietly motioned for the boys to withdraw and Mr. Nixon was -left alone in his grief and sorrow. That afternoon Mr. Slade accompanied -Noddy's father to Mr. Judson and the stolen money was repaid. The mill -owner agreed to begin no legal proceedings against the misguided young -man. Nor was there any charge against Bill Berry, though Mr. Nixon said -he wished Noddy was out of the bad man's influence. When the sheriff was -told of the circumstances and informed that the case had been settled he -announced that he was satisfied. - -"I always did like the looks of you, Ned," he remarked, "and I was sorry -to arrest you, but duty is duty, you know, as the elephant said when he -squirted water in the face of the man who stuck a pin in him." - -The boys did not quite see the connection, but decided to let it go at -that. The sheriff, who had called on Mr. Slade, at the latter's request, -went off, and said the case was ended as far as he was concerned. - -"And now to get ready for the race to-morrow!" cried Jerry. "Everything -is straightened out, and we only have to think of winning. Hurrah!" - -Each one was up bright and early the next morning, though the races -did not start until two o'clock in the afternoon. It was a beautiful -September day, just cool enough to take the temper from a warm sun, and -with only a light breeze blowing. - -Somehow the morning passed. The boys made one trip to the grounds -without their machines, and found men busy raising the banks at the -turns of the course, so that there would be less danger to the riders. -The turns were banked with wood, although the track itself was a hard -dirt one. - -Though it seemed hours and hours until the hands of the clock approached -the "two" mark, they did eventually. Shortly before one o'clock, -however, the boys were at the track. Old Pete Bumps was there ahead of -them, having been sent over by Mr. Baker. - -"Here we all be, happy and free," said Pete, as he greeted the boys. - -"Here, just stay near the machines," said Bob. "And mind, don't go away -from them, no matter if some one offers you a pipe, cigars, tobacco and -matches." - -"That I will not, I will stay on the spot," said Pete, gravely. - -"My, what a crowd!" exclaimed Ned. - -And indeed there was a big gathering. The grand stand was almost -filled, and the bleachers completely, while hundreds stood up all the -way around the oval track. There were many ladies and gentlemen, club -members and citizens of Cresville, besides any number of boys and girls. - -The Cresville Athletic Club was a well known one, and the big prizes -offered for the motor-cycle race had attracted riders from all over the -state. There were thirty starters, and, as the track was not wide enough -for them all to line up at once it had been decided to get them away in -three batches of ten each, the second squad to start off after the first -finished, and the third after the second. - -The boys made quick work of getting into their racing togs. Then, with -fifteen minutes to spare before the five minute warning gun would send -all practicers from the course, they went out on the track. They found -their machines were working to perfection, and each one, in his secret -heart, hoped he would win the coveted first prize. - -It seemed no more than a few minutes before a gun went off, and a man -with a megaphone began shouting to have the track cleared. People -scurried for their seats, and there was a tense feeling in the air, that -always precedes a test of strength and endurance. Riders hurried from -the course to give a last drop of oil to their machines. Late coming -contestants were busy pinning their numbers on their shirts, and, -altogether there was a scene of confusion. - -Though it was the largest race the three chums had ever been in, they -kept cool. They had all their arrangements made, and soon, with all the -other riders they were called to the judges' stand. They were briefly -told of the rules, and then lots were drawn to determine in what squad -the riders were to start off. - -Ned, Bob and Jerry each drew different numbers. Ned was to start off -with the first batch, Jerry with the second, and Bob with the third. - -In this way it would not be known until the very last squad had finished -who had won, and thus interest would be maintained until the end. - -"Bang!" another shot was fired. It indicated that the races would start -in two minutes. - -"Go in and win, Ned," advised Jerry as he and Bob left their chum with -the riders of the first batch. - -"The same to you!" exclaimed Ned. - -"Line up!" called the starter, and the ten riders mounted their -machines, which were held for them by men engaged for the purpose by the -club. There was a moment of suspense! - -"Go!" shouted the starter, at the same time firing his revolver. - -The riders, shoved off by those who held the machines, pedaled -furiously, and then, having sufficient momentum, started the motors. It -sounded as if a battery of gatling guns had gone into action, for most -of the contestants, in an endeavor to lighten their cycles, had taken -off the mufflers, and the wild cheer that was given by the spectators as -the batch started off was drowned to the contestants by reason of the -gas explosions. - -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. Another burst a tire and had to withdraw. Ned managed to pass -one of the men in front of him, but by that time some one had come up -from the rear, and he still found himself third. - -Suddenly, as he passed the judges' stand, he heard a revolver shot, and -saw a red flag waved. It indicated that there were two laps more. - -On the eight riders swept like the wind, and, a quarter of a mile from -the finish, one of the riders in front of Ned began to slacken speed. -His batteries had failed at the last moment, and Ned rushed past him, a -good second in the first squad. - -"Fine!" exclaimed Jerry as he and Bob rushed up to congratulate him. "I -only hope I do as well!" - -"I want to see you do better," said Ned. - -Little time was lost in getting the second detachment off. Again the -explosions sounded and the air was rent with cheers. Jerry had secured a -good start, but he had not made more than two laps before he was aware -that a plan to get him into a pocket was being made. He tried to avoid -it but he was pitted against racers of skill, most of them grown men. - -Once inside the fatal "V" shaped formation of riders Jerry gave the race -up for lost. His machine was going almost at top speed. He managed to -get directly behind the fourth man in the left leg of the "V," and hung -there, hoping some chance might offer. He knew he could make a good -record if he was allowed to escape. - -Then, when there was but a mile of the race left, there came a chance. -The man behind whom he was riding burst a tire. He fell from his machine -and there would have been a serious smash-up had not Jerry quickly and -skillfully turned aside, shot through the gap made by the missing fourth -rider, and, swinging away from the pole a bit, taken his place second -from the leader. Jerry threw his motor on to full speed. The man in the -lead had his there already. - -Jerry was hopeful. There was one lap more and his machine was working -like a charm. He was but ten feet behind the leader, whose cycle was -working to the limit, and Jerry saw that he was slowly but surely -forging ahead. - -Then one of those things happened that come so unexpectedly and so -inexplainably to gasolene motors. Jerry's suddenly refused to work. -The explosions ceased. He worked the pedals frantically, but it was of -no use. The batch of riders swept past him, and he saw with regret and -chagrin that he was distanced. - -"There goes my chance!" he said sorrowfully as he dismounted and pushed -his machine from the track. "All our hope is in Bob now!" - -No sooner was the second squad of riders out of the way than the third -batch came hurrying on the track. They were lined up, the pistol -cracked, and away they went. Ned and Jerry, who had found a good place -to watch, strained their eyes for a sight of Bob. - -"He's close to the front!" cried Ned. - -"No, he's away to the rear," said Jerry, and so it proved. - -By some mischance Bob was third from the rear as the riders swept around -on the first lap. - -"He doesn't look discouraged," said Jerry. "Maybe he is running his -motor slow, and trying to keep out of a pocket." - -"I hope so," grunted Ned. - -With the exception of two riders well to the fore, and Bob and two -others in the rear, the contestants were pretty well bunched. For -several laps no one gained an advantage. One man tried to steal up, but -he was promptly pocketed and lost whatever chance he had. - -"Why doesn't Bob do something? There are only two miles more!" groaned -Ned. - -"Watch him!" cried Jerry suddenly. "I believe he's been hanging back on -purpose, so as not to get in a pocket." - -Ned gazed with straining eyes. Certainly Bob seemed to be increasing his -speed. He was sixth from the last. Another lap was reeled off. Bob crept -up two more places. - -"Bang!" went the gun. The red flag was waved. There were two more laps -and the race would be over. - -"He's got to do something quick now!" exclaimed Jerry. - -"And I'll bet he's going to do it!" exclaimed Ned as Bob swept past, a -look of determination on his face. - -Then, while the big crowd looked on, almost holding its breath, -something happened. Bob turned the levers of his machine with a quick -motion. He shot forward on his machine as an arrow leaves a bow. Outside -and around the bunch of riders he swept! Past the two confident leaders -he went! Up ahead to the very front he forged while a mighty shout went -up! - -"If he can only keep it!" cried Ned, and his voice had something of -agony in it. - -And keep it Bob did. He held his place the rest of that lap and during -the next, though he was close pressed, and swept across the line a -winner! - -"He wins this heat! I wonder if he wins the race!" cried Jerry. - -Their doubts were set at rest a minute later. The announcer, with his -big megaphone invited silence with uplifted hand. - -"Race won by Robert Baker!" he shouted. "Second was Timothy Wilson, and -third William Jones. Time of the winner--" - -But the crowd never stopped to hear what the official time was. With -wild shouts, with the tossing of hats and canes in the air, they cheered -again and again for Bob. - -"He's won the race! He's won the race!" cried Ned jumping about and -slapping Jerry on the back. "Now for our touring car!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. - -A TRIP OVERLAND PROPOSED. - - -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 just grand!" cried Alice Vines. - -"Oh, I felt like jumping up and down when you won," came from Mollie -Horton. - -"I never saw anything more exciting," put in Helen Gale. - -And all three of the young ladies looked as if they wanted to hug the -winner of the contest. - -But Bob had no desire to be made a hero of, and dodged those who would -have done him public honor. He slipped to one side, and managed to join -his two chums. - -"Fine!" cried Jerry. "However did you do it?" - -"I just took it easy until they thought I had no speed in my machine," -answered Bob, smiling. "Then, when I saw a chance, I let it out. I'm -sorry you and Ned didn't win though." - -There were other races to come, bicycle events, a running contest and a -test against time by an automobile, but the boys wanted to get off by -themselves and talk matters over, so they went to the dressing rooms, -donned their street clothes, and, Jerry's machine having been fixed, all -three motors were left in charge of Pete Bumps. - -The boys found a quiet corner of the grand stand and sat down to talk. - -"Do you still think you'll ask for an automobile?" inquired Ned. - -"Sure. That is if father will let me have one, and I don't see why he -will not." - -"If you get it we'll have some jolly fun," spoke Jerry. "Think of what -we could do with it! Why, we could even make a trip overland!" - -"That's what we'll do if our folks will let us," agreed Bob. "Think of -going across the United States in a touring car!" - -The athletic contests were soon over. Mr. Wakefield spied Bob in the -grand stand. - -"You'll have to come out of that," he cried with a laugh. "We want you." - -"What for?" asked the boy. - -"The winners are to be formally announced in the club house, and their -certificates are to be awarded. Come along!" - -Rather against his will, for he did not like to be shown off before -a crowd, Bob went. His two chums followed. The main room of the club -house was filled with people who had witnessed the races. At the sight -of Bob they set up a cheer, and the boy would have escaped had not Mr. -Wakefield gently detained him. - -Then came the announcements of the prizes, and the statement that Bob -had come in first, and won the grand trophy, which was to be anything he -might select at a cost of two thousand dollars. - -"And here is a certificate to that effect," said Mr. Wakefield, handing -him an engraved card. "When you make up your mind what you want, let me -know and you shall have it." - -"I know about what I want," said Bob, "but I'll have to ask my father -first." - -Bob's father had not had time to go to the races, it being impossible -for him to leave the bank, and Bob made up his mind to ride down to the -institution and tell the banker the result of the contest. He promised -to meet his chums a little later, and let them know how Mr. Baker -regarded the automobile project. - -"Well, are the races over?" inquired the banker when his son came into -the private office. - -"Yes, sir." - -"How did you make out? Come in tenth or last?" - -"I won." - -"You don't mean to tell me you got first prize! 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. - -"Well, what did he say?" asked Ned and Jerry, when the stout youth -joined them a little later. - -"I think he'll let me have it," replied Bob, with all a boy's -positiveness. - -"Then hurrah for the trip overland!" cried Ned. "Make way for the Motor -Boys in their mad rush across the continent!" How the boys got their -coveted auto, and how they went on a long trip, wherein they had many -adventures, will be told in the next volume, to be called "The Motor -Boys Overland, Or, A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune." - -In it Bob, Ned and Jerry will continue their adventures and, also, will -be told how they took part in a mad race across the mountains to the -gold mines, and how they met their old acquaintance, Noddy Nixon. - -The boys got a taste of the pleasures of riding in an automobile that -afternoon. After Bob's announcement of what he thought his father's -decision would be they strolled about the town. As they were turning a -corner they saw a big touring car approaching. - -"Why, it's Mr. Wakefield!" exclaimed Jerry. "I didn't know he had a -machine." - -"I wish he'd ask us to take a ride," spoke Ned. - -The car came nearer, vibrating with the power of its motor. Then it -slowed down, ran close to the curb and stopped. - -"Hello, boys!" exclaimed Mr. Wakefield. "Want to go for a spin?" - -"Do we!" exclaimed Ned. "We were just wishing you would ask us. But I -didn't know you had an automobile." - -"I only got it to-day," explained the athletic instructor. "I purchased -one some time ago, and have been taking lessons in how to run one in -Boston. They sent my car out to-day but I didn't get a chance to try it -until now because of the club races. Come on! Jump in!" - -The three boys lost no time in complying. Bob got in the front seat with -Mr. Wakefield, for he thought if he was to have an auto he had better -learn as much about how to run one as he could. Jerry and Ned were in -the back. Off they started and made good speed. - -"We'll go out in the country a way," said Mr. Wakefield. "I know a nice -pleasant road." - -Soon the car swung into a broad highway shaded by big trees through -which the sun, that was beginning to sink into the west, shone faintly. -On and on they went for several miles. Then as the evening shadows -were beginning to fall, Mr. Wakefield turned his car toward Cresville, -which was reached all too soon for the boys, who had enjoyed their ride -greatly. - -"Thanks!" they chorused as they alighted. "It was great!" - -"Glad you liked it," returned Mr. Wakefield. "I will take you again, -some time." - -"If we only had a car like that!" sighed Jerry, and Bob and Ned echoed -his wish. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX. - -AN IMPORTANT LETTER--CONCLUSION. - - -It was a week after the race before Mr. Baker fully made up his mind to -let his son have the automobile. Before announcing his decision he had a -talk with Mr. Slade and with Mrs. Hopkins. - -"It isn't so much letting Bob and his chums have the auto," said Mr. -Baker, with a smile, "as it is what they will do after they get it." - -"That's so," admitted Mr. Slade. "Still they are pretty careful boys, -and their experience with the motor cycles has been good training for -automobiling for them." - -When Bob was informed of the decision he could scarcely keep from -jumping up in the air and giving an Indian war-whoop. He raced off to -tell his chums. - -"It's all right! We get it! Dad just told me! The automobile--touring -car--we'll take a lot of trips--start next week--whoop!" Bob shouted. - -"You're as bad as Andy Rush!" exclaimed Ned. - -"I feel like him!" cried Bob. - -Little time was lost in notifying Mr. Wakefield of the boys' decision. - -"I'm glad you took that," he said. "I know where I can get a fine, -strong, serviceable touring car for the amount of the prize." - -"And will you order it at once?" asked Bob eagerly. - -"By the next mail," promised the instructor, with a laugh. - -The three chums strolled down the main street of Cresville, their -happiness showing on their faces. They passed the post-office, and Jerry -happened to think of a letter his mother had given him to mail. He -stepped inside and, after dropping the envelope in the slot, looked in -the family box to see if there was any mail. There was one missive, and, -when the clerk had handed it out, Jerry saw that it was addressed to -himself. It was postmarked New York. - -"I wonder who can be writing to me from there," he said. - -He tore open the envelope and took out a small folded paper. It bore no -date and began abruptly. - - "TO JERRY, NED AND BOB: You cubs are responsible for me - being an outcast. You drove me away from home, and forced me to - come here. I will not forget it, and some day I shall square - accounts. _Look out for me!_ It will not be well if we meet. - NODDY NIXON." - -"Well, I like his nerve!" said Jerry, after he had read the letter over -a second time. "As if we made him take that money. Look here!" he called -to Ned and Bob, showing them the letter. - -They were much surprised at the veiled threats contained in the missive. - -"I wonder what he thinks he can do to us?" asked Ned. - -"How does he come to be in New York?" asked Bob. - -"He probably went there in his father's--I mean in his own--automobile," -said Jerry. "That isn't much of a trip for a big car." - -"Well, I guess we will not let the letter worry us," went on Bob. - -"I wonder if when we happen to be touring the west we will meet with -Noddy?" said Ned, presently. - -"And I wonder if he'd really try to do anything to us," put in Bob. - -"Don't talk about it," said Jerry. "We are comfortable now, don't worry -about the future." - -And then the three chums went home, to wait as patiently as possible for -the automobile to arrive. They did not know what was ahead of them, but, -as Jerry said, what was the use of borrowing trouble? The future looked -rosy indeed. - - -THE END. - - - - -_The Motor Boys Series_ (_Trade Mark, Reg. U. S. Pat. Of._) - -_By Clarence Young_ - -[Illustration] - -Cloth. 12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid - - - =THE MOTOR BOYS= - _Or, Chums Through Thick and Thin_ - -In this volume is related how the three boys got together and planned to -obtain a touring car and make a trip lasting through the summer. - - - =THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND= - _Or, A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune_ - -With the money won at the great motorcycle race the three boys purchase -their touring car and commence their travels. - - - =THE MOTOR BOYS IN MEXICO= - _Or, The Secret of the Buried City_ - -From our own country the scene is shifted to Mexico, where the motor -boys journey in quest of a city said to have been buried centuries ago -by an earthquake. - - - =THE MOTOR BOYS ACROSS THE PLAINS= - _Or, The Hermit of Lost Lake_ - -Unraveling the mystery surrounding an old hermit and a poor boy. - - - =THE MOTOR BOYS AFLOAT= - _Or, The Stirring Cruise of the Dartaway_ - -In this volume the boys take to a motorboat, and have many adventures. - - - =THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE ATLANTIC= - _Or, The Mystery of the Lighthouse_ - -How the lads foiled the bad men who wanted to wreck a steamer by means -of false lights is dramatically related. - - - =THE MOTOR BOYS IN STRANGE WATERS= - _Or, Lost in a Floating Forest_ - -Telling of many adventures in the mysterious Everglades of Florida. - - - =THE MOTOR BOYS ON THE PACIFIC= - _Or, The Young Derelict Hunters_ - -The derelict was of great value, and the hunt for it proved full of -perils. - - - =THE MOTOR BOYS IN THE CLOUDS= - _Or, A Trip for Fame and Fortune_ - -The boys fall in with an inventor and invest in a flying machine. After -a number of stirring adventures in the clouds they enter a big race. - - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - - - - -_New Alger Books_ - - - JOE, THE HOTEL BOY - _Or, Winning Out by Pluck_ - - By HORATIO ALGER, Jr. - - =Illustrated, 12mo. Cloth, 60 cents= - -[Illustration] - -This is one of the last stories penned by that prince of all juvenile -writers, Horatio Alger, Jr., and is one of his best. It describes the -adventures of a youth brought up in the country by an old hermit. When -the hermit dies the boy obtains work at a nearby hotel, and later on -drifts to the city and obtains a position in another hotel. There is a -mystery concerning the lad's identity and likewise the disappearance of -a certain blue box, but in the end all terminates satisfactorily. - - - BEN LOGAN'S TRIUMPH - _Or, The Boys of Boxwood Academy_ - - By HORATIO ALGER, Jr. - - =Illustrated, 12mo. Cloth, 60 cents= - -[Illustration] - -This story was penned by Mr. Alger some years before his death, but has -never appeared in book form. Ben was a city newsboy, rather rough, but -with a heart of gold. He did a great service for a good-hearted farmer, -and the latter took Ben home with him. The lad had never been in the -country before, and his eyes were opened to a new world. Then the youth -was sent to a boarding school, where he made his way to the front amid -many difficulties. Mr. Alger's charm as a juvenile writer is so well -known it is needless to mention it here, and this story is in his best -vein. - - -_CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK_ - - - - - _The Jack Ranger Series_ - - _By Clarence Young_ - Author of the Motor Boys Series - -=Cloth. 12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid= - -[Illustration] - - - =JACK RANGER'S SCHOOLDAYS= - _Or, The Rivals of Washington Hall_ - -You will love Jack Ranger--you simply can't help it. He is so bright -and cheery, and so real and lifelike. A typical boarding school tale, -without a dull line in it. - - - =JACK RANGER'S SCHOOL VICTORIES= - _Or, Track, Gridiron and Diamond_ - -In this tale Jack gets back to Washington Hall and goes in for all sorts -of school games. There are numerous contests on the athletic field, and -also a great baseball game and a football game, all dear to a boy's -heart. The rivalry is bitter at times, and enemies try to put Jack "in a -hole" more than once. - - - =JACK RANGER'S WESTERN TRIP= - _Or, From Boarding School to Ranch and Range_ - -This volume takes the hero and several of his chums to the great West. -Jack is anxious to clear up the mystery surrounding his father's -disappearance. At the ranch and on the range adventures of the strenuous -sort befall him. - - - =JACK RANGER'S OCEAN CRUISE= - _Or, The Wreck of the Polly Ann_ - -Here is a tale of the bounding sea, with many stirring adventures. How -the ship was wrecked, and Jack was cast away, is told in a style all -boys and girls will find exceedingly interesting. There is plenty of fun -as well as excitement. - - - =JACK RANGER'S GUN CLUB= - _Or, From Schoolroom to Camp and Trail_ - -Jack, with his chums, goes in quest of big game. The boys fall in with a -mysterious body of men, and have a terrific slide down a mountain side. - - -CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - - - - -_The Dorothy Dale Series_ - -_By Margaret Penrose_ - -=Cloth. 12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid= - - -=DOROTHY DALE: A GIRL OF TO-DAY= - -Dorothy is the daughter of an old Civil War veteran who is running a -weekly newspaper in a small Eastern town. When her father falls sick, -and the newspaper property is in danger of going to pieces, the girl -shows what she can do to support the family. - - -[Illustration] - -=DOROTHY DALE AT GLENWOOD SCHOOL= - -More prosperous times have come to the Dale family, and Major Dale -resolves to send Dorothy to a boarding school to complete her education. -At Glenwood School the girl makes a host of friends and has many good -times. But some girls are jealous of Dorothy's popularity, and they seek -to get her into trouble in more ways than one. - - -=DOROTHY DALE'S GREAT SECRET= - -A splendid story of one girl's devotion to another. Dorothy's chum ran -away to join a theatrical company. What Dorothy did, and how she kept -the secret, makes a tale no girl will care to miss. - - -=DOROTHY DALE AND HER CHUMS= - -A story of school life, and of strange adventures among the gypsies. -Dorothy befriends a little French girl and also a gypsy waif, in a -manner sure to touch the hearts of all readers. - - -=DOROTHY DALE'S QUEER HOLIDAYS= - -Relates the details of a mystery that surrounded Tanglewood Park. There -is a great snowstorm, and the young folks become snowbound, much to -their dismay. - - -CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - - - - - Transcriber's Notes: - - --Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_); text enclosed - by equal signs in bold face (=bold=). - - --Punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently corrected. - - --Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. - - --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved - (e.g. motor-cycle/motor cycle and ice-cream/ice cream). - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Motor Boys, by Clarence Young - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTOR BOYS *** - -***** This file should be named 42461.txt or 42461.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/4/6/42461/ - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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