Ted Strong's Motor Car

In Short

Published in 1915, this juvenile western action serial follows Ted Strong, leader of the Moon Valley Ranch outfit, as he navigates the changing landscape of the American West. Facing cattle rustlers, train robbers, corrupt townfolk, and ruthless outlaws, Ted uses his fists, quick wit, and government authority to maintain order. Alongside comedy sidekicks, skilled cowgirls, and loyal friends, Ted tackles frontier mysteries that span from wild round-ups to automobile chases. It endures as a vivid artifact of early twentieth-century dime-novel entertainment, capturing a pivotal moment when the traditional range collided with modern technology.

The Story

The narrative opens at the Moon Valley Ranch, where the cowboy crew indulges in lighthearted banter and horseplay. The rustic calm vanishes when the young ranch leader, Ted Strong, and his companions are drawn into the troubles of nearby towns. After attending a local benefit dance, Ted and his friends face ambush and hostility from local hoodlum Wiley Creviss and train robber "Skip" Riley. Discovering that townfolk harbor deep resentment toward ranch owners, Ted realizes that law enforcement alone cannot preserve order. As a special government officer, Ted is tasked by the local marshal with solving the high-stakes robbery of the Soldier Butte bank, where federal funds were stolen.

The pursuit of the robbers leads Ted and his right-hand man, Bud Morgan, to St. Louis. There, Ted plunges into a dangerous urban underworld. Caught in a deadly shootout alongside Chief of Detectives Desmond, Ted helps eliminate a notorious gang of crooks, including "Big Bill" Minnis, while the slick outlaw "Checkers" escapes in a getaway automobile. During the ordeal, Ted rescues Scrub, an orphaned boy living on apples, who becomes a loyal companion. reuniting with Stella Fosdick, Kit, Ben Tremont, and Carl Schwartz at their St. Louis hotel, Ted leads the group back West via train.

Along the journey, trouble continues to follow the Moon Valley outfit. They encounter Checkers and his accomplice in a red motor car near Green River. Ted tracks the car into a dark ravine, only to fall into a wire trap set by Checkers. Captured and bound, Ted relies on his friends to keep the search alive. Meanwhile, at a cow camp, Stella enters a high-stakes horse race against an old swindler named "Pap" Norris and his fake jockey grandson. Riding the deceptively fast horse Chiquita, Stella wins the contest and secures a magpie pony. Kit later tracks down and captures Pap Norris after surviving a gunshot wound.

Returning to their range, the cowboys realize hundreds of cattle have vanished under the watch of a crooked night foreman, Sol Flatbush, who is secretly allied with the notorious rustler Shan Rhue. After Bud fires Flatbush at gunpoint, the crew discovers that Stella has been kidnapped and taken to the outlaw stronghold known as the "Hole in the Wall." Ted tracks the rustlers, dramatically rescues Stella from a thundering cattle stampede, and recovers the stolen herd. Though Shan Rhue escapes into the hills, leaving a defiant note behind, his gang is arrested, and Ted is commended by Washington authorities for restoring peace.

How It Unfolds

A quiet evening shattered The boys of Moon Valley Ranch joke about Carl’s garden-destroying pig and prepare for a local benefit dance. Their return from town is marred by a violent ambush that leaves a carriage horse dead and exposes a rift between townspeople and ranch hands.

Infiltrating the city underworld Ted travels to St. Louis on government business to recover stolen bank funds tied to train robbers. He survives a bloody apartment shootout alongside city detectives and takes in Scrub, an impoverished street orphan.

Trapped in the ravine While tracking the elusive outlaw Checkers and his red motor car near Green River, Ted falls into a tripwire trap. He is bound by thongs and handed over to Checkers' henchmen in a dark canyon.

A fairground victory At a western cow camp, Stella Fosdick steps up to ride the old Mexican racehorse Chiquita in a rigged competition. She beats an old swindler's entry, winning a prized magpie pony for herself.

Unmasking the range thieves Ted's outfit discovers a massive reduction in their cattle herd and realizes night foreman Sol Flatbush is driving stock off to rustlers. Bud Morgan confronts Flatbush at gunpoint and chases him off the property.

Rescue at the stampede Stella is abducted by Shan Rhue's outlaw band and held near the Hole in the Wall hideout. Ted rides into a terrifying cattle stampede, snatching Stella from her falling horse and securing the herd.

The People

• Ted Strong: The noble, brave leader of the Moon Valley Ranch broncho boys and a government officer. He wants to enforce justice, protect his friends, and recover stolen property. Facing deadly ambushes, tripwire traps, and criminal gangs, he remains composed and brave, ultimately earning praise from federal authorities.
• Bud Morgan: Ted’s fiercely loyal, plain-spoken second-in-command. He wants to protect the ranch's stock, poke fun at his companions, and hand out instant justice to crooks. Standing up to hostile gunmen and dishonest rustlers, he stays quick with his six-shooter and devoted to Ted.
• Stella Fosdick: A spirited, skilled young woman living at the ranch. She wants to prove her skill on horseback and pull her weight in danger. Overcoming insults, rigged horse races, and an abduction by outlaws, she demonstrates remarkable courage and riding ability.
• Carl Schwartz: A well-meaning German ranch hand whose thick accent and bad luck make him a target for banter. He wants to raise his garden cabbages and do his duty on watch, though his tendency to fall asleep leads to comedic friction.
• Checkers: A smooth, cold-blooded robber and fugitive who favors checked suits and motor cars. He wants to secure stolen loot and eliminate anyone who tracks him. Through cunning traps and automobiles, he repeatedly evades capture.
• Shan Rhue: A ruthless rustler and ringleader of range thieves. He wants to strip the Moon Valley Ranch of its stock. Though his gang is captured, he narrowly escapes justice, leaving behind a bitter vow to return.

In Its Own Voice

"I'll jest bet yer a million dollars ter a piece o' custard pie yer don't," said Bud Morgan, rising from the lounge where he had been resting after a strenuous day in the big pasture.

Bud's colorful dialect and casual banter set the easygoing tone of life inside the Moon Valley Ranch house.

"A 'rent rag,'" said Ted, "is a bit of slang that means this: The word 'rag' is the slang for a public dance."

Ted patiently explains the local slang to Stella, showing his role as the calm mediator of the group.

"You're all right! Stick close!" It was the reassuring voice of Ted, who, at the imminent risk of his own life, had ridden out and plucked her from the jaws of death.

During a terrifying stampede, Ted's decisive action saves Stella from being trampled by frantic cattle.

What It's Really About

Underneath its breathless pulp action, the novel explores the changing identity of the American West at the turn of the twentieth century. It examines the tension between traditional open-range culture and modern developments like automobiles, telegraphs, and growing towns. The book presents a clear moral binary: honest, hardworking ranch hands represent integrity and loyalty, while urban crooks and rustlers represent corruption and deceit. It emphasizes the power of male camaraderie and mutual trust in overcoming lawlessness. Additionally, through characters like Stella Fosdick, it celebrates resourcefulness and physical capability regardless of gender, showing that survival on the frontier requires grit, courage, and quick thinking from everyone.

Why Read It Today

This book offers a lively, nostalgic journey into early twentieth-century American juvenile fiction. Readers who enjoy classic pulp adventures, historical westerns, and fast-paced serials will appreciate its energetic narrative momentum and unpretentious charm. It provides a fascinating historical snapshot of an era when cowboys, six-shooters, and horse races shared the page with early motor cars, city detectives, and train robberies.

Modern readers should be prepared for period conventions that reflect the era of its publication in 1915. The text features heavy, exaggerated dialect spelling—particularly in Carl's heavily accented dialogue and Bud's broad cowboy vernacular—which can take a few pages to get used to. Stereotypical depictions of minor characters, casual violence, and melodramatic plot twists are prominent throughout. Despite these dated elements, the story maintains a genuine warmth, rich period flavor, and an infectious sense of fun that keeps the action moving briskly from start to finish.