The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-08-19
THE
SULTAN'S
DRAFT
BY GEORGE DALTON.
By GEORGE DALTON.

nened and 10 what should be said first
oConfound it, Hazleton" broke out De
Loss. II didn't intend to see the amount
~ kat check. 1t huttered my way and
couldn't help it. ! had no curiosity
and | never dreamed it was Tor such a
stunning amount
oNeyer mind, De" returned Hazleton,
80 he arose to stand before the window
With his hands in his pockets, while ne
III his eve far down the many-storiedi
business Pueblo on the opposite SIDE OF
the Street gorge. II didn't mind your
seeing it," He wheeled about ana restea
his hand on his friends shoulder NC
Loss. it's been on my mind a long time
to tell you the story OF the Sultan ;
Draft" n.
aThe sultan's Draftw exclaimed DE
Loss "the amount was princely. knew
YOU had done well, but
ooh. I'm not speaking Of the checK,
You didn't suppose | would, even II /
we're rich enough, give nearly $4,000 70
the solicitor for the refugee furd
Hazleton chuckled with pure joyoussness
II don't believe | have made enough YET
n NAV that much against the Unspeak--
able Turk At any rate, know !
wouldn't if it were not for the sultan 5
aThe sultan's Draft! In heavens
name what do you mean by the Sultan 5
Draft7" cried De Loss.
aWel. De Loss, we have been through
lot since we were boys, but you weren
IN an This deal. 1t was when the pane
rgught me. For weeks ] hung on by my
eyelids while tried to pull my business
fLrouqh. How | came out OF 1t ! never
told YOU. and you may be sure Osnkosn
d;dnt not he. Yes, old Oshkosh
Randcbangh, dead and gone to glory
neace to his great, big soul lie was
# tbe bottom Of it. 1t was tricky, and II
was awfully risky, but old man kaude-
bauah-God bless hin-gavee me inc
chance, and with American gall and gooa
luck | did the rest. t.
oshkosh had allowed me an overdratt
N his bank for far more than my stand
mo would warrant Unexpected things,
one after another, dropped on me. Bus
navable were fred into me without
mercy. like bullets, and bills receivable
were fired back to me, as worthless as
oaoer wads. All the resources | mad
were strained to the uttermost to make
one dollar fill the need Of five. AT last
after careful figuring, | found that
rnust have fifteen thousand dollars before
thirty days or go up.
"Raudebaugh, you know, De. always
treated me like his son, and | knew II
he could do anything to help me 1t woula
he done; If not, and ] had to let 90,
was only fair he should know 1t and his
bank should have the advantage OF put
ting in its claim first -
a went down to the bank as blue as
+hat nennant over there on the hotel,
went on Hazleton. Oshkosh and / went
through the business together, canvassing
il hit by bit; the good old dog did his
hest to figure it out, but 1t seemed 100
tough a proposition. !,
"9Sorry for you, James, my boy, ne
bent saving as he studied it, but II looks
verv bad, Fifteen thousand dollars
thirtv days-thirty - and he'd look at
me. and I'd nod my head.
"We sat long time thinking It over,
Oshkosh totally lost in It and checking
off the things he was going over IN ms
mind with his pencil on the blotting pad;
"This bank is going to save you u
il can. James, my son; but I'm AFRAID
nothing can be done.
"sAt this oracular drone my heart
went up and then sank down, though
not so far down as it had been. Alter
\ Bit Raudebaugh looked up slyly.
"'Don't you know somebody, James,
-. ca,, Jrau IN y
"'What, for fifteen thousand dollars :
Nobody
about. Mr.. Raudebaugh.
"James, son, don't you know some
body YOU may draw on, somebody away
off--a long way OFT
Oshkosh began to fairly purr. ms
tenotation. and for moment my nope
leaped I'D as | caught his idea and The
breath OF relief it would give.
"'Somebody in Thibet, or Archangei
or up the Congo? o..
"The sporting spirit that had been NJ,
dormant second self, or had been bouio
and captive through a long HE OF bust
mess integrity ragged in him on the mere
Thought Of a flyer. | tell you. he ialrly
sang his allurenent like siren, and
though sick with dread Of its crimina
trickery. sweetened to the idea. :,
"No, but l mean it, coaxed the Ole
man. Now, suppose draw
dr-a-a-a-w-' and while ! sulked IN th'
despairing collapse that followed my sec
ond and better judgment Of the thing
although | was even then paying deot'
like mad in my imagination on the none,
this impossible possibility might give me
for few days-Oshkosh scratched away
on a block OF drafts. He finished and
tossed It before me On the extension lea
OF his desk.
1T was a draft on the Sultan o.
Turkey for fifteen thousand dollars a
sight.
Sign It. sign it, Raudebaugh urged
m five minutes YOU shall have the none
20 vour credit. This viii be the oleYeres
niece OF check-kiting ever done.
u signed it before ! knew i, MAXIM
Kind of plunge Of il and with 2 feel
irp IF a gamble on liberty and life at
throw.
Il buried my face in my hands who
the old man went out TO the counting
room with the condemned draft 90 b
passed to my credit. Heaven only know
What the clerks thought.