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.