The rival bicyclists

At the time of which we write Joe was not quite fifteen years of age. He had been born in a little town in Ohio called Rayford’s Run, but ere he was seven years old his parents...

He knew a number of farmers in the district, and felt pretty certain he could get a turnout from one or the other of them, especially when he made known that he wanted to take h...

The tramp did not mean that he should be captured. The summer was at its height, and during this portion of the year tramps hate to be sent to jail.

In vain Mr. Burns protested that Joe might be innocent. The hot-headed jeweler would not listen, and the upshot of the matter was that Joe was marched to the justice’s house.

“I’ll fix him for it!” grumbled Lemuel, but instead of advancing upon Joe, who stood on guard and ready to administer a good thrashing to the bully, he backed away, mounted his...

Lemuel’s words rang most unpleasantly in his ears. Would they convict him when the trial came off? Would they really send him to jail? The thought was fearful. His fair name wou...

Many of the boys shook their heads at this. They believed Joe could whip the bully with two hands, but when it came to one hand only they were doubtful.

The next day on account of the damage to the chimney, which was almost completely demolished by the lightning, there was no school and Joe and Sam Anderson got together and went...

More especially was he willing to help Lemuel when one day our hero pitched into him for beating a little boy on the way to school. The little boy was lame, and Joe became so an...

Sam and Larry were the last to leave, and then it was with the understanding that they were to meet at our hero’s house before five o’clock in the morning.

Of course the boys intended to stop at the well for a drink. The opening had no buckets to it, and the boys had to dip down with an old tin can to get water.

An old woman known as Apple Mary, who sold fruit and candy throughout the district, was in the hands of two cowardly footpads, who were trying to rob her of her hard-earned savi...

Joe knew that many people contended the same thing--to this day some will not believe that a so-called “curved” ball can be pitched--but he stuck to what he thought true.

The church was on the outskirts, and had a steeple of wood and iron. In the steeple were several windows, and on the top was a gilded weather vane, reaching six or eight feet in...

“He will not be locked up,” said Will’s father. “I will pay the damages. If you see him, tell him to come home at once, as his mother is worried.”

The two spent a most enjoyable time at Charley’s relative’s house, but knowing their parents might be anxious concerning them, should they hear of the railroad smash-up, they re...

As we know, Dick Burns had been quite seriously injured on the road and during the time that Joe was playing ball had been unable to go out on his wheel.

The lawyer was much interested, for the time for Joe’s trial was close at hand. As we know, he intended to defend Joe, not only for the boy’s sake, but also on account of Dick.

For over a minute Joe was too weak to speak. The awful danger through which he had passed now dawned on him fully, and he arose trembling from head to foot.

More than once the wind sent the smoke swirling about his head. At such times all he could do was to hold his breath and wait until the wind changed.

He directed that several men carry the big boy to the drug store. Here Lemuel was placed on a couch, and the doctor went to work on him, while a number of men, including Mr. Joh...

“All right, lads, I’ll stick to my word. If you can pull Dan Risley, Mike Farrell and Peter Gibson over the line in a tug of war you shall have the best outfit to be bought in G...

A few days later the Rushers played another game of ball, this time with a nine from Greenpoint. As Dick Burns was now well again he played at second base, while Joe took his ol...

“It don’t amount to a great deal, but it is enough to worry one,” went on Washton. “Last week I lost a silk handkerchief, and to-day my cardcase with six cents in stamps is gone.”

He had traveled through the West and made a fair sum of money. He was now training for a race in Boston, and after that intended to go to Europe.

Then Joe tackled the second man, Clover. But Clover was an old rider, and was not to be beaten so easily. For a lap and a half he rushed on, just a wheel’s length ahead.

Joe and Dick took supper with their new friends at the clubhouse. It was an elegant layout, and it is needless to say that our hero did full justice to what was set before him.

“I ain’t forgot how ye saved my henroost, Joe,” he said. “An’ I ain’t likely to forgit it. They tell me you air a downright good wheeler an’ makin’ money. I wish ye success, I d...

The matter was talked over for several weeks, and finally Mr. Johnson decided to make the venture, and a store was opened, with Paul and Joe in charge. Mr. Johnson was not to gi...

Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well. As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down...

They passed the creek and made the turn toward the gypsy’s squatting place, but no barn came to view. By this time their sweaters were pretty wet and the rain was running over t...

The days flew by, and business at the Johnsons’ store continued to grow better and better, until the entire family felt that they were on the high road to prosperity.

Joe would have gone into the store with his brother, but the whole family realized that it was the lad’s riding and acquaintanceship with wheelmen that brought in a good share o...

“Yes, he has taken cold, and complains of heart cramps. I do not know what to do. I have tried several things, but none of them seem to do any good.”

For some time past the forest fires had been raging heavily in the dense growth to the northwest of Lockport, but as they were kept pretty fully under control but little apprehe...

The midnight prowler was Lemuel Akers. His coat was buttoned tightly about his neck, his hat was pulled over his eyes, and a handkerchief was tied partly over his face.

The curve nearly caused our hero to lose his life. But he held fast, and a second later dropped in through the open side door and right on top of Akers.

He wanted to win. It meant much to him--money, fame, and better business for the family; for if he won Joe was to become the representative of one of the largest wheel concerns...