The Motor Boys; or, Chums Through Thick and Thin

by Clarence Young

  Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

  "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 thegeneral title of "The Motor Boys Series."

  The motor-cycle of to-day is fast taking the place of the ordinarybicycle, and the automobile, or auto, as it is commonly called, istaking the place of our horses. This being so, it has occurred to thewriter to prepare a line of stories, telling of the doings of a numberof lively, up-to-date lads who at first own motor-cycles and later onbecome the proud possessors of a touring car.

  This tale before you, "The Motor Boys," is the first volume of theseries, telling of the doings of Ned, Bob, Jerry and their chums in andaround their home town. Some stirring races are mentioned, and also thewicked plots of some enemies to bring our heroes to grief. At the racessome fine prizes were put up, and Ned, Bob and Jerry did their best tocarry off the honors. In the meantime there was a mysterious robberyof a mill, and what the lads did to solve this riddle I leave to thechapters, which follow, to relate.

  This story of "The Motor Boys" will be followed by a second volume, tobe called "The Motor Boys Overland," and then by a third, "The MotorBoys in Mexico." I hope these volumes will please my boy readers.

  CLARENCE YOUNG. _January 9, 1906._

  THE MOTOR BOYS.