The Auto Boys' QuestBraden, James A. (James Andrew)
General
The Auto Boys' Quest
Braden, James A. (James Andrew)
Automobiles -- Juvenile fiction; Young men -- Juvenile fiction
A member of this quartette of friends I am sure you will like is Paul
Jones--slight, slender, audacious. He has been in long trousers less
than a year. He wears his motor cap far back on his head and rakishly
low on one side. His sandy hair, thus quite prominently exposed to view,
is in a more or less tousled condition a greater part of the time. Of a
care-free disposition is young Mr. Jones, however, and the rumpled state
of his hair bothers him not at all. It was brushed this morning, and,
"Goodness, gracious! Can you expect a man's hair always to be just so?"
Why, probably not. Then again, a good deal depends on the "man."
Forgive a great deal to Paul. If he lacks something in general
refinement and polish as compared to the other boys, it is because his
advantages have not equaled theirs. Being an orphan, he has missed much
his friends have received, though Mrs. Wilby, his sister, and John
Wilby, her husband, have given the otherwise homeless lad the best their
limited time and means afford.
Dave MacLester is of still another type. Nearly as tall as Phil, he is
much heavier. He lacks the power of quick perception and quick movements
common to his three friends, but outranks any one of them in strength.
He is a dark-haired chap of Scotch descent and if he is just a little
slow, he is at least sure. His fault, if fault it may be called, is a
certain moodiness of disposition, apt to reveal itself at times in his
hopeless, pessimistic view of things. Maybe it would be more accurate to
describe this characteristic as his misfortune. He is at fault in regard
to it only to the extent that he neglects or fails to strive against his
naturally gloomy or irritated mental condition, and, so eventually grow
entirely away from it.
One interesting fact about all the boys is the bond of union among them.
Petty differences have arisen scores of times, of course; wordy
disputes have occurred less frequently; but for a long, long time the
four have been almost inseparable, both in work and in play, their
unwritten motto being, "the best interests of one are the best interests
of all." Unselfishly every pleasure is shared, and uncomplainingly in
every task and duty each fellow does his share.
The escape from the watchful eyes of Soapy Gaines and his followers with
the car and its load of baggage for this present expedition was brought
about only because each one of the four worked in faithful harmony with
the general plan. What this plan was, has already become apparent.
That the towing in of the Thirty to Knight & Wilder's garage was but a
pretense to throw the Trio off their guard, you have probably guessed
from the beginning. It would be interesting, perhaps, to hear at length
how Billy and Dave rushed the automobile to the home garage upon
receiving word by 'phone that the Gaines party had been lured into the
ball game and forgetfulness, but more important matters are waiting.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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