[Illustration: A CHORUS OF GOOD-BYES] 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 [Illustration] 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