The Motor Girls at Camp Surprise

In Short

This classic piece of early 20th-century juvenile fiction follows the adventures of Cora Kimball and her friends, who retreat to a mountain bungalow for a summer of motoring and leisure. Their plans are derailed by a series of unsettling events: stolen automobiles, counterfeit tickets, and inexplicable disturbances inside their home. As they investigate the "haunted" property, the girls find themselves caught in a genuine criminal conspiracy. The story serves as a hallmark of the era's girl-detective genre, balancing traditional domestic expectations with the thrill of early automotive travel and independent problem-solving.

The Story

The story begins with the energetic Cora Kimball and her friends, Bess and Belle, navigating the winding roads in an automobile. The trip is marred when Cora’s car is brazenly stolen at a tea room by two suspicious men, a crime that coincides with the group’s arrival at their summer rental, "Camp Surprise." Upon reaching the bungalow, the girls find that the name is literal: they are plagued by mysterious noises, items being moved, and the persistent sensation that they are being watched.

The girls are joined by their friends—Jack, Walter, and Paul—who attempt to help solve the mystery. They initially suspect that local boys are playing pranks, but the persistent nature of the disturbances suggests a more sinister origin. Tensions mount when the girls discover a secret passage hidden beneath the floorboards of their bungalow, leading them deep into the mountainside. During an exploration, they accidentally trigger a mechanism that traps them inside a cavernous, dark tunnel, where they are confronted by an elderly criminal and his "half-witted" henchman, Bombee.

The criminals are revealed to be part of an organized ring responsible for distributing counterfeit theater and railroad tickets, using the remote bungalow's secret architecture as a base for their illicit printing operation. The "ghostly" noises the girls heard were, in fact, the sounds of the men moving their heavy equipment. While the girls are held prisoner, their male companions, having discovered the criminal activity through a dropped package of tickets on a nearby road, orchestrate a rescue.

In a dramatic climax, the police and the boys intervene. The criminals are apprehended—though some manage to evade capture—and the secret passage is permanently sealed. With the mystery solved, the "haunting" ceases, and the group finally settles into their vacation. They spend their remaining days enjoying the mountain scenery, celebrating their success with a chicken dinner, and basking in the local fame that the sensational news reports of their adventure brought them. The narrative concludes on a note of domestic peace, with the girls reflecting on their narrow escapes and anticipating future adventures.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins Cora and her friends enjoy a scenic drive that is abruptly interrupted by the theft of their automobile at a tea room. This initial loss sets a tone of unease, as the girls pivot to their mountain destination while remaining preoccupied by the missing vehicle.

The mystery deepens Upon arrival at Camp Surprise, the group encounters bizarre, unexplained phenomena, including furniture that moves on its own and phantom noises. They attempt to maintain their holiday spirit, but the persistent disturbances force them to investigate the bungalow’s history and structural oddities.

A secret revealed The group discovers a hidden door in the floor, which leads them into a dark, subterranean passage. This discovery transforms their lighthearted vacation into a dangerous encounter with a criminal element operating directly beneath their feet.

The resolution After being temporarily imprisoned, the girls are rescued by their companions, who have successfully linked the counterfeit ticket scheme to the bungalow intruders. The criminals are routed, the mystery of the "ghosts" is debunked as a human enterprise, and the group returns to a standard summer vacation routine.

The People

Cora Kimball serves as the story’s primary catalyst. She is confident, capable, and acts as the group's de facto leader, possessing a mechanical aptitude and a cool head under pressure. Her brother, Jack, provides the comic relief and contributes to the physical labor of the investigation, though he is often the target of his sister's sharp wit.

Bess and Belle Robinson are sisters who provide a contrast to Cora’s seriousness; Bess is frequently teased for her love of food and her plumpness, while Belle is prone to anxiety and "the vapors." Their reactions to the bungalow's disturbances often highlight the group's underlying fear.

The male companions, Walter and Paul, serve as the tactical support team. They are eager to assist, often taking the lead in physical confrontations or scouting missions, though they frequently rely on the girls' observations to piece together the puzzle.

Finally, the antagonists—the elderly man and his "pet" Bombee—represent the outside world of crime encroaching on the girls' sanctuary. They are characterized by a crude, menacing intelligence, acting as a foil to the girls' domestic and orderly lifestyle. By the end, the girls emerge as matured, more observant individuals, while the boys are humbled by the realization that their female friends are capable of handling dangerous situations on their own.

In Its Own Voice

"Two misses are as good as two miles," misquoted the bronzed girl at the wheel of the automobile, as she straightened the car on the long, shaded road.

Cora responds with a bit of defensive wit after nearly colliding with obstacles on the road.

"The bungalows and camps are rented, furnished, to whoever wants them."

Cora explains the history of the mountain resort where the girls intend to spend their summer.

"If they were spirits a stone wall wouldn't stop them," Paul said.

Paul attempts to offer a logical perspective to dismiss the girls' fears that the disturbances at the bungalow are supernatural.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book explores the tension between traditional domesticity and the modern spirit of the early 20th-century woman. The bungalow, intended to be a place of leisure and female refinement, becomes a site of intrusion, forcing the girls to abandon passive roles and actively defend their space. It asks whether the "surprise" of the unknown is an exciting challenge or a threat to be managed. The story posits that intelligence and cool-headed organization are the keys to restoring order in a world that feels increasingly chaotic. Ultimately, the book is a study of how young people navigate the boundary between childhood games and adult responsibilities, using the "mystery" as a framework to define their own competence.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical artifacts of children’s literature will find this book a charming, if dated, window into the past. It captures the specific, optimistic enthusiasm of the early automotive era, where a trip in a motor car was an adventure in itself. The prose is straightforward and episodic, making it an easy read for those interested in the evolution of the "girl detective" archetype.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes, particularly regarding the "half-witted" depiction of the character Bombee, which reflects the insensitive tropes of the early 1900s. The dialogue is often laden with the slang and mock-theatrical posturing common to the period's juvenile fiction, which may feel jarring or tedious to contemporary sensibilities. The book does not strive for deep psychological complexity, focusing instead on a straightforward, linear mystery. For those who appreciate the cozy, "summer vacation" atmosphere—complete with tea, picnics, and innocent romance—this book offers a pleasant, nostalgic experience. It is best read as a historical curiosity, a snapshot of a time when the world seemed vast, the roads were dusty, and the most exciting thing that could happen was uncovering a secret passage behind a pantry door.