Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends
 Motor Stories Thrilling Adventure Motor Fiction No. 2, March 6, 1909

by Stanley R. Matthews

"Motor Matt's Daring; or True to His Friends" by Stanley R. Matthews is a thrilling adventure novel written in the early 20th century. It follows the brave and talented young protagonist, Matt King, known as "Motor Matt," as he navigates through a series of exciting escapades involving deceit, rivalry, and the pursuit of a valuable mining claim. The story is set against a backdrop of western adventure, showcasing themes of friendship, loyalty, and the quest for justice. At the start of the story, we meet Matt and his friends as they deal with a comically disastrous incident involving an old man named Welcome who tries to ride a runaway motor-cycle. This humorous scene establishes the tone and camaraderie of the characters. However, the narrative quickly introduces more serious stakes as Matt retrieves a mysterious letter dropped by a nefarious gambler named Dirk Hawley. This letter reveals that Matt's friend Chub's father, a prospector, has found a potentially lucrative mining claim but is in danger from Hawley's schemes. As Matt and Chub set out to protect the claim, the plot thickens with encounters of villainy, including rivalry from Dace Perry and the threat of losing the claim to dishonest means, setting the stage for a high-stakes adventure.