Richard Bonner
The Boy Inventors and the Vanishing Gun
"The Boy Inventors and the Vanishing Gun" by Richard Bonner is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows two inventive teenage cousins, Jack Chadwick and Tom Jesson, who are engaged in the exciting world of invention and adventure. The boys live in Nestorville, near their father's estate, where they create various machines, including a unique vehicle called the Flying Road Racer, and encounter eccentric inventors while grappling with rival forces that seek to undermine their efforts. At the start of the novel, the boys are busy repairing their Flying Road Racer when they receive a telegram from renowned inventor Pythias Peregrine, signaling that he will visit them. As they prepare to meet him, they witness an aëroplane approaching, which they suspect belongs to Mr. Peregrine. Soon after he arrives, Peregrine reveals he requires their help developing a revolutionary invention—a "vanishing gun" designed for military use—while also introducing conflicts with rival inventors and unexpected adventures, setting the stage for the challenges to come. The opening effectively establishes the protagonist's dynamics, their inventive spirit, and a hint of the urgency brought by mysterious foes.