The Marshall republican., 1906-08-17
H
DRAFT
BY GEORGE DALTON.
BY GEORGE DALTON.

N11 taAt .hAt tAa ~ n
silence that was urging each man to adj
just his thoughts to what had just hap
pened. and 10 what should be said first.
"Confound Il, Haaleton," broke out DE
Loss, Il didn't intend to see the amount
Of that check. Il huttered my way and
I couldn't help Il. l had no curiosity
and ] never dreamed II was for such a
stunning amount.
"Never mind, De" returned Hazleton,
as he arose q stand before the window
with his hands in his pockets. while he
ran his eye far down the many-storied
business Pueblo on the opposite side OF
the street gorge. Il didn't mind your
seeing IT," He wheeled about and rested
his hand on his friends shoulder. DE
Loss, it's been on my mind a long time
to tell you the story OF the Sultan's
Draft"
The Sultan's Draft" exclaimed De
Loss; the amount was princely. i knew
you had done well, but
"Oh, I'm not speaking Of the check
You didn't suppose ! would, even II /
were rich enough, give nearly $4,000 10
the solicitor for the refugee fund.-
Ha,ie,on chuekled with pure j%oyousness.
Il don't believe I have made enough yet
TO play that much against the Unspcak-
able Turk Al any rate, know i
wouldn't II Il were not for the Sultan's
Draft"
The Sultan's Draft In heavens
name what do you mean by the Sultan's
Draft" cried De Loss.
well, De Loss, VIC have been through
a lot since we were boys, but you weren't
in on this deal. II was when the panic
caught me For weeks ] hung on by my
eyelids while I tried 10 pull my business
through. How ] came out OF Il never
told you, and you may be sure Oshko,h
didn't. not he. Yes, old Oshkosh
Raudebaugh, dead and gone &c. glory,
peace TO his great, big soul He was
al the bottom Of Il. Il was tricky, and 1t
was awfully risky. but old man Raude-
baugh-God bless him-gave me the
chance. and with American gall and good
luck ] did the rest.
Oshkosh had allowed inc an overdraft
al his bank for far more than my stand
ing would warrant. Unexpected things,
n after another, dropped on me. Bills
payable were fred into me without
mercy, like bullets, and bills receivable
were fired back 10 me, as worthless as
D wads. All the ] had
were strained TO the uttermost 70 make
n dollar hii the need OF FIVE. At last,
after careful figuring. found that i
must have fifteen thousand dollars before
thirty days or 20 up.
"Raudebaugh, you know. DE. always
treated me like his son, and ] knew II
he could do anything TO help me Il would
be done; II not, and ! had 10 let go. Il
was only fair he should know IL and his
bank should have the advantage OF put
ting In Its claim first,
Il went down 20 the bank as blue as
that pennant over there on the hotel
went on Harleton. Oshkosh and ! went
through the business together, canyassing
Il Bit by bit; the good old dog did his
best TO figure Il out, but II seemed too
tough 4 proposition. 80,
"Sorry for you, James, my boy he
kept saying as he studied Il, but Il looks
ye.y bad. Fifteen thousand dollars
thirty days--thirty - and he'd look at
me, and I'd nod my head.
I'VE sat a long time thinking Il over,
Oshkosh totally lost in Il and checking
of the things he was going over In his
mind with his pencil OF the blotting pad.
This bank is going TO save you ~
il can. James. my son; but I'm afraid
nothing can be done
"'At this oracular drone my heart
went up and then sank down, though
not so far down as il had been. Alter
. bit Raudgbaugh looked up slyly.
Don't you know somebody. James,
you can draw onr -.
"'vhst. for fifteen thousand dollarsV
Nobody
This Is too serious for me to joke
about, Mr.. Randebaugh,'
flames, son, don't you know some
body you may draw on, somebody away
of-a long way orr
Oshkosh began to fairly purr his
temptation, and for a moment my hope
leaped up as caught his idea and The
breath OF relief il would give.
Somebody in Thibet, or Archangel
or up the Congor -,
The sporting spirit that had been his
dormant second self. or had been bound
and captive through a long life OF bust
ness integrity, ragged in him on the mere
thought Of a flyer. ] tell you, he fairly
sang his allurement like a siren, and !
though sick with dread OF its criminal
triekery, sweetened TO the idea
"'No, but ] mean IT, coaxed the old
man. Now, suppose draw--I
dr-a-a-a-w- and while | sulked in the
despairing collapse that followed my sec
ond and better judgment OF the thing
although I was even then paying debts
like mad In my imagination on the money
this impossible possibility might give me
for a few days--Oshkosh scratched away
on q block Of drafts. He finished and
tossed il before me on the extension Leaf
of his desk. i
at was a draft on the Sultan Of
Turkey for fifteen thousand dollars at
sight. ~,
L.Sign II, sign IT, Raudebaugh urged;
in five minutes you shall have the money
10 your credit. This viii be the cleyerest
Of check kiting eve done.
r signed It before ] knew i, making
! kind of plunge of il and with a feel
na n Z gamble on liberty and life at a
brow.
4 buried my face in my hands when
lie Old man went ont to the counting
oom with the condemned draft to be