Show boyack visits V ifsits the CEN TUR Y 0 of f PR PROGRESS 0 GRESS an account of most amazing future farmer achievement another tire gives way leaving wilson at the break of day the party moved on westward across kansas the cook truck pulled out some time in advance of the others and it was planned to proceed to oakley tor for dinner but just east ct cf park kansas the cook truck was crippled by blowing out a tire alter after considerable delay a tire from one of the busses was made to tit fit and the party proceeded on to park where much to their surprise and relief a tire fire of the required size site was in stock the tire was purchased and put on the truck and the party moved on westward As mentioned in an earlier chapter no coats or sweaters were taken which left the boys illy clad tor for the I 1 in which they found themselves for the rain beat down in torrents and a chill wind swept down from the which chilled the weary travelers travel cis to the bone however they reached in an admirable manner and all proved them themselves seles men in every respect A meal on the street Arv arriving iving in oakley somewhat later than had been anticipated the party formed in their marching order and paraded about the streets which served to warm them up as well as sharpen their appetites the advisor had arrived in oakley ahead of the main party and finding no place dry I 1 enough for the preparation and serving of a meal aneal lia had I secured permission from the mayor to use a side street which was paved for the servin serving of a meal As building a tire fire was out of the question a restaurant owner was approached and very kindly furnished enough liot hot water for or cocoa and dish washing leaving their camp ground in good condition not only had boma become traditional by the time the boys boya reached oakley but stood them in j stead as an ordinance in oakley pio habited camping on any public t street upon producing a favorable comment which had been made by an illinois paper the mayor consented to allow the party the use of one block of paved street and the meal was served without delay A flood avoided after the meal had been served the street policed and garbage disposed of the party continued on its way travel became more difficult as each mile of detours was traversed at a snails pace at times it was possible to make only a few miles an hour and tile the fury of the storm which had been missed due to the delay of 0 the j blowout tire became more and I 1 more apparent from the treacherously rutted detours it could be noticed that mat in many places what had been the highway was burled buried under several feet of water and in every low place evidence of floods were common one shudders to think what tho the consequences might lave have been haid had the party boon been cau caught ht in one of the many manti ravines down which water had so recently rushed it seemed certain that the th liand hand of providence was playing a part in the events of the trip after a heart breaking grind over almost impassable roads it seemed a lellot to be speeding over a good hard surfaced highway once more and in due course of time the party arrived in goodland where they were to spend the nt ht the sun had at last won its ita conflict with the clouds and shown theer cheerfully fully j in the western sky A wonderful time Gc odland seema an a aate name for the heaven at w which aich the party had arrived not only wa was the sun shining warm and pleasant but there were friends to grett greet the travelers the american legion again camo fourth with presented boys with a wonderful meal and dry sleeping quarters qu artere the party led by chief boyack formed on malt main street and followed the american lesion commander to the lair fair grounds when exhibits were being set up for the western kansada fair in 0 one end of a monster pavilion the meal was served after which the tea boys spread their blankets on the concrete floor anil and then wore were the guests of 0 the american legion at a free picture I 1 1 how after the show the lads lade returned t to their beds and slept roundly until the morning before leaving Goodla Good larri ryd the tha american lesion lelon provided the th party with a splendid breakfast bre aMaat antl ami then wished them god speed after f the rucks hwd left the me mayor of goodland approached th the advisor with many flattering remarks on the tha splendid conduct of the boys although they had slept among trays baskets and bohoi of fruits and vegetAble a none had been touched the mayor stated that he bo was doubtful whether there was another group of boys to bo be found who were so BO highly considerate of others to be sure the advisor was justly proud of hla his splendid char charges es leaving goodwill in high spirits all went well tor for some time when suddenly a tire on harold Dud dudlets dudleys leys bus gave way and a stop WAS waa made by the entire party until repairs wera made tho wether arwas was cloudy and rather cold but the spirits of the party were running high for each I 1 hour loul they were getting closer to home soon after the tire was repaired the party was proceeding rapidly when a cheer went up and soon all eyes were straining to catch a glimpse of the rocky mountains which wore were faintly visible to the west while the travelers felt more at home the distance yet to be traversed seemed almost too great and the trucks seemed to slacken their speed although they were pushing rapidly forwald for waid after crossin crossing the colorado kansas state line things went smoothly until in the after noon the party reached denver where the night was to be spent the advisor driving ahead of the party met with more difficulty in securing a camp site than at any place on en the entire trip the city officials and police department turned a deat deaf ear to the pleas tor for a camp site and things begun to look bad however while the party was stopped at a service station trying to decide what to do the commander coni mander of 0 one of the denver posts of the american legion noticed the banners on the busses and offered his assistance and it was only a short time until the party was as camped on a large estate some three miles east of denver harold and jim dudley hail had been looking forward to visiting denver for sometime as they had bad planned to visit their sister who was in training in one of the hospitals there so as soon as the boys arrived at the camp grounds they left and proceeded up town where they spent the blat with friends and relatives supper was soon over and the lads turned in early impatiently awaiting the dawn of another day continued vest next week wed |