Chapter I: Front Matter

The Rambler Club’s
Motor Car

BY W. CRISPIN SHEPPARD

AUTHOR OF

“THE RAMBLER CLUB AFLOAT”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB’S WINTER CAMP”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB IN THE MOUNTAINS”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB ON CIRCLE T RANCH”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB AMONG THE LUMBERJACKS”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB’S GOLD MINE”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB’S AEROPLANE”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB’S HOUSE-BOAT”
“THE RAMBLER CLUB’S BALL NINE”

Illustrated by the Author

THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA
MCMXIII

COPYRIGHT
1913 BY
THE PENN
PUBLISHING
COMPANY

Introduction

The various adventures which have befallen Bob Somers and his fellow members of the club which the boys formed at Kingswood, Wisconsin, are related in “The Rambler Club Afloat,” “The Rambler Club’s Winter Camp,” “The Rambler Club in the Mountains,” “The Rambler Club on Circle T Ranch,” “The Rambler Club among the Lumberjacks,” “The Rambler Club’s Gold Mine,” “The Rambler Club’s Aeroplane” and “The Rambler Club’s House-Boat.”

Bob Somers, Dave Brandon and Tom Clifton, three members of the club, have reached Chicago, homeward bound after a trip up the Hudson. The characters of the boys are widely different. Bob Somers is strong and athletic, while stout Dave Brandon, inclined to take his ease on all possible occasions, can be remarkably active when circumstances demand. Tom Clifton, a trifle self-conscious, and sometimes allowing his enthusiasm to carry him away, is really not so vain as many think.

Dave Brandon, poet and historian of the club, who is chronicling the various incidents and adventures that befall them, feels that their present motor car trip will add but little to his book. A series of unlooked-for events, however, quite reverse this idea.

In the next book, “The Rambler Club’s Ball Nine,” is told the story of certain incidents at the Kingswood high school. Several of the best players have graduated, and in their attempts to reorganize the team the Ramblers find themselves involved in a stormy and exciting struggle.

W. CRISPIN SHEPPARD.

Contents

I. OFF TO WISCONSIN 9

II. THE FIRST LAP 20

III. THE “FEARLESS” 31

IV. THE CIRCUS 38

V. GEORGY, THE GIANT 45

VI. JOE RODGERS 59

VII. DESERTED 74

VIII. TOM AT THE WHEEL 88

IX. SPEEDING 104

X. THE CONSTABLE 112

XI. GETTING A JOB 125

XII. THE NEW BARKER 137

XIII. UNDER THE BIG TOP 150

XIV. THE WHALEBACK 169

XV. AN UNEXPECTED VOYAGE 178

XVI. TOM SCORES 189

XVII. ELEPHANTS 203

XVIII. A ROUGH TRIP 215

XIX. DAVE DOES SOME RIDING 229

XX. VIC TURNS UP 243

XXI. EXPLANATIONS 251

XXII. DAVE RESIGNS 259

XXIII. THE ARM OF THE LAW 279

XXIV. THE JUDGE INTERFERES 292

XXV. JOE’S CHANCE 301

Illustrations

PAGE

A CHORUS OF GOOD-BYES _Frontispiece_

“ARE YOU WORKING FOR THE CIRCUS?” 71

“STEAMER COMING,” HE ANNOUNCED 175

“LOOK OUT FOR YOURSELVES, BOYS” 201

HE SPRANG TO HIS PLACE 284

The Rambler Club’s Motor Car