The Motor Boys | Page 6

get the sodas
afterward..."
"Of course we will," broke in Jerry. And so they agreed to treat the
girls after the races.

Not long after Pete had been left in charge of the cycles a man, wearing
a slouch hat, who had been but a few minutes before in close
consultation with Jack Pender, shuffled up to where Pete was Lying in
the grass.
"Arternoon, mate," said the roughly dressed man in a growling voice.
"How do you do, I'm glad to see you," replied Pete, in his sweetest
tones.
"What yer givin' us?" demanded the stranger.
"Me? I gave you nothing, sir," replied Pete.
"Come off your high perch then, an' talk United States," went on the
stranger gruffly. "My name's Bill Berry, what's yours?"
"My name's Pete Bumps, I'm full of humps," recited Pete gravely.
"You look it," commented Bill Berry. "But I say, mate," he went on.
"how would you like to go off and get a good smoke? Come, I'll pay
for it?"
"I'd like it first rate, but I must stay here quite late," said Pete.
"Why so? Oh, I don't know," mocked Bill, falling into the eccentric
mood of his companion.
"To guard the wheels against the steals," replied Pete.
"Don't let that worry you," went on Bill, eagerly. "I'll stay here. You go
get yourself something to smoke, and take your time. I'll stand guard
while you're away."
If there was one thing more than another that Old Pete liked, it was to
smoke. Usually he had to forego this pleasure because of lack of funds.
Now here was a chance to indulge. So, after receiving twenty-five cents
from Bill Berry, Pete started over to the grand stand, near which was a
booth where cigars and refreshments were sold.

Bill looked narrowly about as soon as Pete was out of sight. There were
plenty of people around him, but no one seemed to be noticing what he
was doing. Quickly Bill pulled a wrench from his pocket and used it on
each of the three bicycles. Then he brought out a stick of something
black.
"This graphite is well doctored," he muttered. "I guess it won't be
healthy for the chains."
He rubbed a liberal supply on the chain of each wheel, and also on the
sprockets. Then he rapidly opened the tool bags on each machine, took
out the graphite he found there, and substituted some of his own.
"I guess that will do the trick," he said softly. "And I guess I've earned
my two dollars, Jack Pender."
He hurried off, mingled with the crowd, and a little later was in
conversation with Jack Pender.
A little later Pete came hurrying back. He was smoking a cheap cigar,
and his pockets bulged with others.
"Here you go, Bill, now smoke with a will," began Pete, when he drew
near where he had left his new friend in charge of the boys' bicycles.
"Why, he's gone," he went on, seeing the deserted mounts. "Wonder
where he went?" However, he did not give much thought to it, and
went on smoking happily.
"Wheels all right?" asked Ned a few minutes after, as he, Jerry and Bob
came up.
"Right as a fiddle, come high-diddle," recited Pete.
"Hark! What's that?" asked Chunky suddenly? "Sounds like an
announcement."
The three boys ran nearer the grand stand where the official announcer
stood. The man was using a small megaphone and went on to say that

there had been a slight change in the program, and that the race for
those who had never been in a contest before would be the first number
instead of the third.
"Great Scott, Chunky! That'll mean you'll have to hustle for all you're
worth!" cried Jerry? "Here, get your wheel out, strip off your sweater
and get around to the track entrance and have your number pinned on."
Jerry grabbed up his chum's wheel, while Ned assisted the lad in
pulling his sweater over his head. Then, cautioning Pete to keep a strict
look-out, the three boys ran with Bob to the track entrance.
They were only just in time, and found a lot of other contestants ahead
of them. Bob received his number, and then, for the first time, thought
of his wheel.
"Just spin it for me, to see if it don't need a drop more of oil," Bob
asked Jerry. "My hands shake so I can't undo the tool bag."
Obligingly Jerry spun the wheels. The rubber-tired circle went around
swiftly for several turns, and then came a sudden slowing down.
"That's funny," remarked Bob? "I had that all adjusted this noon."
Jerry bent down and looked at the bearings.
"The cones have been tightened," he announced? "Why I can feel the
friction," and he moved the front wheel slowly