The Motor Boys were the heroes of a popular series of adventure books for boys at the turn of the 20th century.

Here is a brand-new line of stories for you, to be issued under the general title of "The Motor Boys Series." The motor-cycle of to-day is fast taking the place of the ordinary bicycle, and the automobile, or auto, as it is commonly called, is taking the place of our horses. This being so, it has occurred to the writer to prepare a line of stories, telling of the doings of a number of lively, up-to-date lads who at first own motor-cycles and later on become the proud possessors of a touring car.

Here we have the second volume of "The Motor Boys Series," a line of books relating to the doings of some bright and up-to-date youths, on wheels, at home and abroad. In the first volume of the series, called "The Motor Boys," the writer told how Bob, Ned and Jerry won several important races, including that which brought to them a much-wished-for prize, a grand touring car.

"Now then, are you all ready?" inquired a voice in a hoarse whisper. "Galloping grasshoppers We're as ready as we ever will be, Jack Ranger " replied one from a crowd of boys gathered on the campus of Washington Hall that evening in June. "Nat Anderson, if you speak again, above a whisper," said Jack Ranger, the leader, sternly, "you will have to play 'Marching Through Georgia' as a solo on a fine tooth comb seven times without stopping "

"WELL, she is smashed this time, sure " exclaimed Jerry Hopkins, to his chums, Ned Slade and Bob Baker. "What's smashed?" asked Ned. "Who's the letter from'?" for Jerry had a slip of paper in his hand. "It isn't a letter. It's a telegram." "A telegram " exclaimed Bob. "What's up, Jerry?" "She's smashed, I tell you. Busted, wrecked, demolished, destroyed, slivered to pieces, all gone " "Who?" "Our motor boat, the Dartaway "

Mingled with the frantic tooting of an automobile horn, there was the shrill shrieking of the brake-band as it gripped the wheel hub in a friction clutch. "Hi, Bob Look out for that ox cart ahead " exclaimed one of three sturdy youths in the touring car.

"There's a German on the ground Get him " The sun glistened on scores of polished bayonets, as sturdy figures, clad in olive drab, which matched in hue the brown of the earth, sprang from their trenches and rushed forward. "Put some pep into it Lively now Get the Germans "