CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE GREAT RACE.
"Have you heard the news--great excitement--big robbery--Mr. Nixon'sautomobile stolen--Noddy kidnapped--terrible--awful--whoop!"
Andy Rush let out the above avalanche of words as he met Ned the nextmorning, 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 inNoddy--fearful--terrible--I mean some one kidnapped Noddy and rode offin the auto! I'm all excited!"
"I can see that without being told," remarked Ned. "But can't you calmdown a bit and explain."
Andy tried but it was hard work. Ned gathered that something out of theordinary had happened. As soon as he could leave Andy he hurried toJerry'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 andwanted 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 againat ten o'clock to-day."
The three chums called on Mr. Slade. He was greatly surprised at whatJerry had to tell, and he agreed that no especial good would have comefrom 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 drawingroom of the Nixon home. Mr. Nixon, looking worn and pale, greeted them.Mr. Slade went over the whole story, occasionally calling on one or theother of the boys as to certain facts. He told the circumstances fromthe time Ned saw the light in the mill until the happenings of theprevious night, when Jerry saw Noddy run away in the automobile.
"I am deeply grieved at my son's conduct," said Mr. Nixon. "It is abitter blow to me. I thank you Mr. Slade, and you boys also, for beingso considerate as not to publish the story broadcast. I have shameenough 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 isconcerned, that was my property, and, in order to save my son from beingbranded as a double thief, I here and now make him a present of themachine. So he is in something that belongs to him. I only hope he comesback, for I love him in spite of his faults.
"I agree with you, Mr. Slade, that the sheriff must be informed. It isonly due Ned, to clear him of all suspicion, though any one who knewhim would be sure he was never guilty. That is all that can be done, Ibelieve. When I pay Mr. Judson the money he has lost he will have noreason for proceeding against my son. This ends the mill robbery mysteryforever I hope. Once again I thank you all for your consideration."
Mr. Slade quietly motioned for the boys to withdraw and Mr. Nixon wasleft alone in his grief and sorrow. That afternoon Mr. Slade accompaniedNoddy's father to Mr. Judson and the stolen money was repaid. The millowner agreed to begin no legal proceedings against the misguided youngman. Nor was there any charge against Bill Berry, though Mr. Nixon saidhe wished Noddy was out of the bad man's influence. When the sheriff wastold of the circumstances and informed that the case had been settled heannounced that he was satisfied.
"I always did like the looks of you, Ned," he remarked, "and I was sorryto arrest you, but duty is duty, you know, as the elephant said when hesquirted 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 atthat. 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. "Everythingis straightened out, and we only have to think of winning. Hurrah!"
Each one was up bright and early the next morning, though the racesdid not start until two o'clock in the afternoon. It was a beautifulSeptember day, just cool enough to take the temper from a warm sun, andwith only a light breeze blowing.
Somehow the morning passed. The boys made one trip to the groundswithout their machines, and found men busy raising the banks at theturns 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 harddirt one.
Though it seemed hours and hours until the hands of the clock approachedthe "two" mark, they did eventually. Shortly before one o'clock,however, the boys were at the track. Old Pete Bumps was there ahead ofthem, 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 awayfrom them, no matter if some one offers you a pipe, cigars, tobacco andmatches."
"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 almostfilled, and the bleachers completely, while hundreds stood up all theway around the oval track. There were many ladies and gentlemen, clubmembers and citizens of Cresville, besides any number of boys and girls.
The Cresville Athletic Club was a well known one, and the big prizesoffered for the motor-cycle race had attracted riders from all over thestate. There were thirty starters, and, as the track was not wide enoughfor them all to line up at once it had been decided to get them away inthree batches of ten each, the second squad to start off after the firstfinished, and the third after the second.
The boys made quick work of getting into their racing togs. Then, withfifteen minutes to spare before the five minute warning gun would sendall practicers from the course, they went out on the track. They foundtheir machines were working to perfection, and each one, in his secretheart, hoped he would win the coveted first prize.
It seemed no more than a few minutes before a gun went off, and a manwith a megaphone began shouting to have the track cleared. Peoplescurried for their seats, and there was a tense feeling in the air, thatalways precedes a test of strength and endurance. Riders hurried fromthe course to give a last drop of oil to their machines. Late comingcontestants 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, theykept cool. They had all their arrangements made, and soon, with all theother riders they were called to the judges' stand. They were brieflytold of the rules, and then lots were drawn to determine in what squadthe riders were to start off.
Ned, Bob and Jerry each drew different numbers. Ned was to start offwith 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 finishedwho had won, and thus interest would be maintained until the end.
"Bang!" another shot was fired. It indicated that the races would startin two minutes.
"Go in and win, Ned," advised Jerry as he and Bob left their chum withthe riders of the first batch.
"The same to you!" exclaimed Ned.
"Line up!" called the starter, and the ten riders mounted theirmachines, which were held for them by men engaged for the purpose by theclub. 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, pedaledfuriously, and then, having sufficient momentum, started the motors. Itsounded as if a battery of gatling guns had gone into action, for mostof the contestants, in an endeavor to lighten their cycles, had takenoff the mufflers, and the wild cheer that was given by the spectators asthe batch started off was drowned to the contestants by reason of thegas explosions.
Ned handled his machine well, and secured a good place, about third fr
omthe front. He quickly had his motor going at full speed, and he wasdelighted to see that he was increasing his lead over the man behindhim. He was slowly creeping up on the man ahead of him, when the latterlooked back. Then he turned on a little more power, and slowly drew awayfrom Ned. The boy knew, then, that there was at least one machine fasterthan his.
Around and around the track the riders went. They took the turns atdangerous speed, and one man had a spill that put him out of thecontest. Another burst a tire and had to withdraw. Ned managed to passone of the men in front of him, but by that time some one had come upfrom the rear, and he still found himself third.
Suddenly, as he passed the judges' stand, he heard a revolver shot, andsaw 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 fromthe 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, agood second in the first squad.
"Fine!" exclaimed Jerry as he and Bob rushed up to congratulate him. "Ionly 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 theexplosions sounded and the air was rent with cheers. Jerry had secured agood start, but he had not made more than two laps before he was awarethat a plan to get him into a pocket was being made. He tried to avoidit 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 raceup for lost. His machine was going almost at top speed. He managed toget directly behind the fourth man in the left leg of the "V," and hungthere, hoping some chance might offer. He knew he could make a goodrecord 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 machineand there would have been a serious smash-up had not Jerry quickly andskillfully turned aside, shot through the gap made by the missing fourthrider, and, swinging away from the pole a bit, taken his place secondfrom the leader. Jerry threw his motor on to full speed. The man in thelead had his there already.
Jerry was hopeful. There was one lap more and his machine was workinglike a charm. He was but ten feet behind the leader, whose cycle wasworking to the limit, and Jerry saw that he was slowly but surelyforging ahead.
Then one of those things happened that come so unexpectedly and soinexplainably to gasolene motors. Jerry's suddenly refused to work.The explosions ceased. He worked the pedals frantically, but it was ofno use. The batch of riders swept past him, and he saw with regret andchagrin that he was distanced.
"There goes my chance!" he said sorrowfully as he dismounted and pushedhis 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 thirdbatch came hurrying on the track. They were lined up, the pistolcracked, and away they went. Ned and Jerry, who had found a good placeto 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 aroundon the first lap.
"He doesn't look discouraged," said Jerry. "Maybe he is running hismotor 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 twoothers in the rear, the contestants were pretty well bunched. Forseveral laps no one gained an advantage. One man tried to steal up, buthe was promptly pocketed and lost whatever chance he had.
"Why doesn't Bob do something? There are only two miles more!" groanedNed.
"Watch him!" cried Jerry suddenly. "I believe he's been hanging back onpurpose, so as not to get in a pocket."
Ned gazed with straining eyes. Certainly Bob seemed to be increasing hisspeed. He was sixth from the last. Another lap was reeled off. Bob creptup two more places.
"Bang!" went the gun. The red flag was waved. There were two more lapsand 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, alook 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 quickmotion. He shot forward on his machine as an arrow leaves a bow. Outsideand around the bunch of riders he swept! Past the two confident leadershe went! Up ahead to the very front he forged while a mighty shout wentup!
"If he can only keep it!" cried Ned, and his voice had something ofagony in it.
And keep it Bob did. He held his place the rest of that lap and duringthe next, though he was close pressed, and swept across the line awinner!
"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 hisbig megaphone invited silence with uplifted hand.
"Race won by Robert Baker!" he shouted. "Second was Timothy Wilson, andthird William Jones. Time of the winner--"
But the crowd never stopped to hear what the official time was. Withwild shouts, with the tossing of hats and canes in the air, they cheeredagain and again for Bob.
"He's won the race! He's won the race!" cried Ned jumping about andslapping Jerry on the back. "Now for our touring car!"