THE CAR AND THE CUP
The Breton-Melville car, driven by the Speedwell brothers, was not forty
seconds behind the big maroon automobile at the start. The latter was
perhaps five hundred yards ahead; but she never gained on the Speedwells
a yard during the run that followed.
Olin City was somewhere about a hundred and eighty miles from the spot
where the Greenbaugh Seminary boys had obstructed the road. The two
cars—the maroon and the drab—raced over the highways to Olin City in
just four hours.
Just before reaching Olin City the two flying autos passed a machine
that had suffered a blow-out. It was number seven. Chance and Burton
Poole were out of the car working as rapidly as they could to adjust a
new tire.
Billy had something else to think of, and he did not even yell at
Chance. The fact that they had passed number seven, after all Chance had
done to try and retard them, was a small matter now.
The three desperate criminals ahead must be apprehended. They came to
the Olin City line and the maroon car still kept on with but slightly
reduced speed. The first policeman they saw held up a warning hand to
them. Then he leaped into the middle of the road as Dan and Billy roared
down upon him.
“Get him aboard—quick, Dan!” advised the younger brother. “Then we’ll
see if we can’t overtake those scoundrels.”
Dan was already shutting down. The car had not quite stopped when the
police officer leaped aboard.
“Say, you boys! We’ll have to stop you if you can’t obey the law,”
declared the officer.
“How about that car ahead?” demanded Dan.
“They got away from me.”
“We can catch it for you, if you say so,” said Billy, grinning. “And it
will be a great catch, too. Those fellows, I believe, robbed the
postoffice at Farmingdale night before last.”
“You don’t mean it!” exclaimed the policeman.
“Indeed I do,” said Dan, earnestly. “At least, my brother and I are
positive that they are the men who robbed the Farmers’ Bank of Riverdale
and committed another robbery in that town.”
“The motor car thieves!” exclaimed the policeman. “You don’t mean it?”
“We do. We’re sure of it.”
“Wait! Let those two other men get aboard,” said the officer, beckoning
to two brother officers standing on the corner. When the men had hopped
into the tonneau, the first officer said:
“Now let her go. If you can catch that big car, do it. Never mind the
law—smash it to flinders!”
The maroon automobile had slowed down a good bit. The criminals were not
desirous of getting arrested for breaking the speed law. And when Dan
brought his car close up behind the maroon painted machine, and the
biggest policeman leaped into the thieves’ car, the latter believed they
were arrested merely for an infringement of the city ordinance.
“We will fix this up all right with the judge, officer,” said the leader
of the gang. “The court is sitting—yes?”
“I reckon so,” said the cop. “But we’ll run over to the chief’s office
first. I shouldn’t be surprised if _he’d_ like to see you.”
The three criminals exchanged glances. They might have shown fight there
on the public street, but Dan steered his machine around the maroon car
and headed it off. The chauffeur had to stop. The three officers each
seized their man and—the arrest was made!
It then became necessary for the boys to go to the office of the chief
of police, too. The delay was considerable, but after hearing the story
of the Speedwells the commander of the Olin City police force worked
quickly.
He called up the Riverdale Bank over the long distance ’phone and Mr.
Crawley and Mr. Baird went sponsor for the Speedwell brothers. They were
therefore allowed to depart, for the criminals would have to be
extradited from this state to the one in which the first crime had been
committed.
Burton Poole’s car—and others—had gotten ahead of the Speedwell boys by
this time and they had but an hour more to run that day. They whirled
out of Olin City, however, in a cloud of dust and made Breckenridge
Station, thirty-two miles on the road, in that hour.
When they registered with the timekeeper in Breckenridge they were seven
hundred and forty-nine miles over the course. There were two hundred and
fifty-nine miles between them and the Compton Motordrome.
“And the worst of the running yet to come,” said Dan. “How many cars did
he say were ahead of us?”
“Thirteen have gone on, having from fifteen minutes to two hours to run
on to-day’s record. And here comes a slew of them up the street,” said
Billy.
Indeed, there was a larger number of cars in Breckenridge that night
than there had been at Greenbaugh at the end of the previous day’s run.
In the morning the cars had to be started ten minutes apart as they were
at the beginning of the endurance test. And it was raining—a fine,
penetrating drizzle—that made the traveling most unpleasant. The wheels
skidded, too, and the best car in the race could not make time over the
slushy roads.
Besides, the second climb of the mountain chain was just ahead. The
Speedwells struck it an hour before noon. Half way up the steep ascent
they passed number seven—stuck in the muddy ruts. Chance and Burton were
floundering around, trying to pry out their heavy car.
“This isn’t any fun!” shouted Poole, recognizing the Speedwells. “But
how did you manage to catch up to us again?”
“We never would have escaped Chance Avery’s friends outside of
Greenbaugh if he’d had his way!” cried Billy in reply. “But now I tell
you what it is, Burton: It looks to me as though we were seeing you for
the last time in this race. Fare thee well!” he added with a mocking
smile.
“You’d better not crow too loud, youngster,” growled Dan. “We don’t know
what may happen to us yet.”
But nothing could convince Billy now that they hadn’t got Poole’s car
beaten. Their own lighter machine worked much better on the heavy road.
There were ten cars in advance of them when the Speedwells reached the
pass through the hills and started down the incline which ended at the
plain on which Riverdale, Compton, and neighboring towns were built.
With seven of these cars they caught up at Lorillord at the end of their
fourth day’s run. They were then seventy-two miles from Compton. The
three cars ahead were respectively sixty-eight miles, fifty-nine miles,
and fifty-six miles from the end of the endurance run.
“If it clears off before morning, we’re beaten,” said Dan, with
confidence. “But our car is a regular mudlark. If it keeps on raining we
may plough through and catch up to all three of those other cars.”
“Suppose they wait till it clears off before they start to-morrow?”
suggested Billy.
“If you’ll read your little book you’ll find that isn’t allowed. There’s
only fifteen hours’ recess allowed between the end of one day’s run and
the beginning of another.”
The boys were first up in the morning. The weather bureau reported no
hope of a change in the falling weather; but the other autoists at the
hotel hesitated to set forth early.
Not so, however, Dan and Billy. They had overhauled their car as usual
the night before. They were well acquainted with the stretch of road
before them. At seven o’clock they wheeled out before the hotel, took
the time from the starter, and whirled away, spraying the mud on either
side from under their wheels, in a wide fan.
Only one of their rivals was on the road before them, and Dan and Billy
raced and passed that car within the first fifteen minutes, and did not
see it again until it reached the Compton Motordrome.
There was one car, however, that kept close on their trail. They heard
it frequently and sometimes caught glimpses of it; but it was so far
away that neither Dan nor Billy could identify it. They, however, feared
this speedy car. Indeed, although they knew now that they would arrive
first at the end of the run, they were not sure that they would have won
this glorious race.
It was with fear and trembling that they passed over the line, ran into
the big arena and saw their time marked up on the board: A thousand and
eight miles in forty-three hours and four minutes.
The car behind them shot into the motordrome and proved to be Mr.
Darringford’s.
“I believe I’ve beat you, boys!” he cried, leaping out of his car.
But the time keeper announced his time as forty-three hours, fifteen
minutes, twenty-four seconds.
“I declare!” laughed the gentleman, “it will be nothing to brag of, no
matter who wins the gold cup. The weather was against fast running
yesterday and this morning. Here comes another!”
It was number seven. The heavy car rolled in beside the Speedwells’ and
came to a groaning halt. It was nearly shaken to pieces. Chance had
certainly punished his partner’s auto hard during those last few miles.
But to no purpose. Their time was forty-four hours flat, and there were
several cars that beat number seven. Burton came and shook hands warmly
with Dan and Billy, while Chance sneaked away.
“I just found out about what Chance did to you back at Farmingdale,”
Burton said. “I want you to know that I had nothing to do with any such
mean business—nor did I know he put his friends at the seminary up to
holding you back on the road. Mr. Briggs was at the hotel we stopped at
last night and he had the whole story—and about your capturing the motor
car robbers, too. I hope you’ve won the race. I’d like to have beaten
you if I could have done so fairly; but Chance and I get through with
each other right here and now—believe me!”
It was some time before the uncertainty regarding who had captured the
race was over. Finally however, it was shown beyond doubt that the
Speedwell boys were the winners. The nearest car to their record had
made the distance in forty-three hours, nine and one-half minutes. Among
the first few cars it had been a remarkably close race.
Dan and Billy went home by train and carried the handsome gold cup with
them. The little speech Mr. Briggs made, praising their pluck, and
particularly their bravery, made the ears of the boys burn. Their
capture of the motor and bank robbers had been printed in the papers and
Dan and Billy were lionized not a little when they got home.
The Riverdale _Star_ again had a long story in it about them. And the
editor ran a picture of their Breton-Melville car, too. The boys could
have sold the auto at a fancy price had they so desired.
“I don’t know but we’re foolish not to take the offer,” said Billy. “We
might get a cheaper car, and own a motor launch beside. And I would love
to have a launch by next spring.”
But one day Mr. Baird, the bank cashier, sent for them. The boys learned
that the three motor thieves had been convicted of the robbery of the
bank, and had received sentences aggregating thirteen years.
“The Farmers’ Bank has put to your joint account, boys, the sum of five
hundred dollars,” the cashier told them. “We do not claim that that
entirely repays you for your work in identifying the robbers and causing
their arrest. Mr. Crawley and I both feel we are still your debtors,”
and he shook the boys’ hands warmly.
This unexpected windfall perhaps explains why our readers who have
become interested in the adventures of Dan and Billy can follow their
history further in the next volume of this series, to be entitled, “The
Speedwell Boys and Their Power Launch; Or, To the Rescue of the
Castaways.”
Dan and Billy remain true to their speedy automobile and to their
beautiful Flying Feather motorcycles; but they have conquered swift
locomotion on the land; now they long to try their fortunes on the
water. And having proved themselves to be courageous, industrious and
honorable we may believe thoroughly in their future success.
THE END
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE BOYS’ OUTING LIBRARY
_12 mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full color.
Price, per volume, 65 cents, postpaid._
THE SADDLE BOYS SERIES
BY CAPT. JAMES CARSON
[Illustration]
The Saddle Boys of the Rockies
The Saddle Boys in the Grand Canyon
The Saddle Boys on the Plains
The Saddle Boys at Circle Ranch
The Saddle Boys on Mexican Trails
THE DAVE DASHAWAY SERIES
BY ROY ROCKWOOD
Dave Dashaway the Young Aviator
Dave Dashaway and His Hydroplane
Dave Dashaway and His Giant Airship
Dave Dashaway Around the World
Dave Dashaway: Air Champion
THE SPEEDWELL BOYS SERIES
BY ROY ROCKWOOD
The Speedwell Boys on Motorcycles
The Speedwell Boys and Their Racing Auto
The Speedwell Boys and Their Power Launch
The Speedwell Boys in a Submarine
The Speedwell Boys and Their Ice Racer
THE TOM FAIRFIELD SERIES
BY ALLEN CHAPMAN
Tom Fairfield’s School Days
Tom Fairfield at Sea
Tom Fairfield in Camp
Tom Fairfield’s Pluck and Luck
Tom Fairfield’s Hunting Trip
THE FRED FENTON ATHLETIC SERIES
BY ALLEN CHAPMAN
Fred Fenton the Pitcher
Fred Fenton in the Line
Fred Fenton on the Crew
Fred Fenton on the Track
Fred Fenton: Marathon Runner
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THE WEBSTER SERIES
By FRANK V. WEBSTER
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[Illustration]
Mr. WEBSTER’S style is very much like
that of the boys’ favorite author, the late
lamented Horatio Alger, Jr., but his tales
are thoroughly up-to-date.
Cloth. 12mo. Over 200 pages each. Illustrated.
Stamped in various colors.
Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid.
Only A Farm Boy
_or Dan Hardy’s Rise in Life_
The Boy From The Ranch
_or Roy Bradner’s City Experiences_
The Young Treasure Hunter
_or Fred Stanley’s Trip to Alaska_
The Boy Pilot of the Lakes
_or Nat Morton’s Perils_
Tom The Telephone Boy
_or The Mystery of a Message_
Bob The Castaway
_or The Wreck of the Eagle_
The Newsboy Partners
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Two Boy Gold Miners
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The Young Firemen of Lakeville
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The Boys of Bellwood School
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Jack the Runaway
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Bob Chester’s Grit
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Airship Andy
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High School Rivals
_or Fred Markham’s Struggles_
Darry The Life Saver
_or The Heroes of the Coast_
Dick the Bank Boy
_or A Missing Fortune_
Ben Hardy’s Flying Machine
_or Making a Record for Himself_
Harry Watson’s High School Days
_or The Rivals of Rivertown_
Comrades of the Saddle
_or The Young Rough Riders of the Plains_
Tom Taylor at West Point
_or The Old Army Officer’s Secret_
The Boy Scouts of Lennox
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The Boys of the Wireless
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Cowboy Dave
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THE BOMBA BOOKS
BY ROY ROCKWOOD
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[Illustration]
_Price per volume, 65 cents, postpaid_
_Bomba lived far back in the jungles of the Amazon with a half-demented
naturalist who told the lad nothing of his past. The jungle boy was a
lover of birds, and hunted animals with a bow and arrow and his trusty
machete. He had a primitive education in some things, and his daring
adventures will be followed with breathless interest by thousands._
1. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY _or The Old Naturalist’s Secret_
In the depth of the jungle Bomba lives a life replete with thrilling
situations. Once he saves the lives of two American rubber hunters who
ask him who he is, and how he had come into the jungle. He sets off to
solve the mystery of his identity.
2. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AT THE MOVING MOUNTAIN _or The Mystery of the
Caves of Fire_
Bomba travels through the jungle, encountering wild beasts and hostile
natives. At last he trails the old man of the burning mountain to his
cave and learns more concerning himself.
3. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AT THE GIANT CATARACT _or Chief Nascanora and
His Captives_
From the Moving Mountain Bomba travels to the Giant Cataract, still
searching out his parentage. Among the Pilati Indians he finds some
white captives, and an aged opera singer who is the first to give Bomba
real news of his forebears.
4. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY ON JAGUAR ISLAND _or Adrift on the River of
Mystery_
Jaguar Island was a spot as dangerous as it was mysterious and Bomba was
warned to keep away. But the plucky boy sallied forth and met adventures
galore.
5. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY IN THE ABANDONED CITY _or A Treasure Ten
Thousand Years Old_
Years ago this great city had sunk out of sight beneath the trees of the
jungle. A wily half-breed and his tribe thought to carry away its
treasure of gold and precious stones. Bomba follows.
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THE BOY RANCHERS SERIES
BY WILLARD F. BAKER
_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors_
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[Illustration]
_Stories of the great west, with cattle ranches as a setting, related in
such a style as to captivate the hearts of all boys._
1. THE BOY RANCHERS
_or Solving the Mystery at Diamond X_
Two eastern boys visit their cousin. They
become involved in an exciting mystery.
2. THE BOY RANCHERS IN CAMP
_or The Water Fight at Diamond X_
Returning for a visit, the two eastern lads learn, with delight, that
they are to become boy ranchers.
3. THE BOY RANCHERS ON THE TRAIL
_or The Diamond X After Cattle Rustlers_
Our boy heroes take the trail after Del Pinzo and his outlaws.
4. THE BOY RANCHERS AMONG THE INDIANS
_or Trailing the Yaquis_
Rosemary and Floyd are captured by the Yaqui Indians but the
boy ranchers trailed them into the mountains and effected the rescue.
5. THE BOY RANCHERS AT SPUR CREEK
_or Fighting the Sheep Herders_
Dangerous struggle against desperadoes for land rights brings out
heroic adventures.
6. THE BOY RANCHERS IN THE DESERT
_or Diamond X and the Lost Mine_
One night a strange old miner almost dead from hunger and hardship
arrived at the bunk house. The boys cared for him and he told
them of the lost desert mine.
7. THE BOY RANCHERS ON ROARING RIVER
_or Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers_
The boy ranchers help capture Delton’s gang who were engaged in
smuggling Chinese across the border.
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THE BASEBALL JOE SERIES
BY LESTER CHADWICK
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[Illustration]
1. BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS
_or The Rivals of Riverside_
Joe is an everyday country boy who loves to
play baseball and particularly to pitch.
2. BASEBALL JOE ON THE SCHOOL NINE
_or Pitching for the Blue Banner_
Joe’s great ambition was to go to boarding
school and play on the school team.
3. BASEBALL JOE AT YALE
_or Pitching for the College Championship_
In his second year at Yale Joe becomes a varsity pitcher.
4. BASEBALL JOE IN THE CENTRAL LEAGUE
_or Making Good as a Professional Pitcher_
From Yale College to a baseball league of our Central States.
5. BASEBALL JOE IN THE BIG LEAGUE
_or A Young Pitcher’s Hardest Struggles_
From the Central League Joe goes to the St. Louis Nationals.
6. BASEBALL JOE ON THE GIANTS
_or Making Good as a Twirler in the Metropolis_
Joe was traded to the Giants and became their mainstay.
7. BASEBALL JOE IN THE WORLD SERIES
_or Pitching for the Championship_
What Joe did to win the series will thrill the most jaded reader.
8. BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD
_or Pitching on a Grand Tour_
The Giants and the All-Americans tour the world.
9. BASEBALL JOE: HOME RUN KING
_or The Greatest Pitcher and Batter on Record_
Joe becomes the greatest batter in the game.
10. BASEBALL JOE SAVING THE LEAGUE
_or Breaking up a Great Conspiracy_
Throwing the game meant a fortune but also dishonor.
11. BASEBALL JOE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM
_or Bitter Struggles on the Diamond_
Joe is elevated to the position of captain.
12. BASEBALL JOE CHAMPION OF THE LEAGUE
_or The Record that was Worth While_
A plot is hatched to put Joe’s pitching arm out of commission.
13. BASEBALL JOE CLUB OWNER
_or Putting the Home Town on the Map_
Joe develops muscle weakness and is ordered off the field for a
year.
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THE COLLEGE SPORTS SERIES
BY LESTER CHADWICK
_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in Colors_
_Price per volume, $1.00, postpaid_
[Illustration]
_Mr. Chadwick has played on the diamond and on the gridiron
himself._
1. THE RIVAL PITCHERS
_A Story of College Baseball_
Tom Parsons, a “hayseed,” makes good on the scrub team of
Randall College.
2. A QUARTERBACK’S PLUCK
_A Story of College Football_
A football story, told in Mr. Chadwick’s best style, that is
bound to grip the reader from the start.
3. BATTING TO WIN
_A Story of College Baseball_
Tom Parsons and his friends Phil and Sid are the leading
players on Randall College team. There is a great game.
4. THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN
_A Story of College Football_
After having to reorganize their team at the last moment,
Randall makes a touchdown that won a big game.
5. FOR THE HONOR OF RANDALL
_A Story of College Athletics_
The winning of the hurdle race and long-distance run is
extremely exciting.
6. THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS
_A Story of College Water Sports_
Tom, Phil and Sid prove as good at aquatic sports as they
are on track, gridiron and diamond
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Transcriber's Notes
Italicized phrases are presented by surrounding the text with
_underscores_. Boldface phrases are presented by surrounding the
text with =equal signs=. Small capitals have been rendered in full
capitals.
Punctuation has been standardized. Minor spelling and typographic
errors were corrected silently, except as noted below.
Table of contents, chapter 1 title - changed "Manoeuvers" to
"Manœuvers" to be consistent with other usage in the book
page 28 - changed "re-action" to "reaction"
page 80 - changed "re-painted" to "repainted" to be consistent with
other use of "repainting" and "repainted" in the book
page 167 - changed "XII" to "XXII"