Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1906-08-16
THE
SULTAN'S
DRAFT
By GEORGE DALTON.

just his thoughts to what had Just hap
pened, and to what should be said first.
"Confound it, Hazleton," broke out De
Loss, 81 didn't intend to see the amount
of that check 1t huttered my way and
couldn't help it. l had no curiosity
and j never dreamed it was for such a
stunning amount.
Never mind, De-" returned Hazleton,
as he arose to 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. 81 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 long time
to tell you the story of the Sultans
Draft"
"The Sultan's Draft!' exclaimed De
Loss; "the amount was princely. l knew
you had done WE'LL but
ooh, Pm not speaking of the check.
You didn't suppose | would, even if
were rich enough, give nearly $4,000 to
the solicitor for the refugee fund? Z"
Hazleton chuckled with pure joyousness.
81 don't believe I have made enough yet
to play that much against the Unspeak-
able Turk At any rate, l know
wouldn't if it 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, we have been through
a lot since we were boys, but you weren't
in on this deal 1t was when the panic
caught me. For weeks l hung on by my
.eyelids while l tried to pull my business
through. How / came out of it never
told you, and you may be sure Oshkosh
didn't, not he Yes, old Oshkosh
Raudebaugh, dead and gone to glory,
peace to his great, big soul! He was
at the bottom of it. 1t 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 me an overdratt
at his bank for far more than my stand
ing would warrant. Unexpected things,
one after another, dropped on me- Bills
payable were fired into me without
mercy, like bullets, and bills receivable
were fired back TO me, as worthless as
paper wads. All the resources had
were strained to the uttermost to make
one dollar fill the need of five. AT last,
after careful figuring, l found that
must 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 it would
be done; if not, and | had to let go, 1t
was only fair he should know it and his
bank should have the advantage of put
ting in its claim first.
Il went down to the bank as blue as
that pennant over there on the hotel"
went on Hazleton. Oshkosh and went
through the business together, canvasslng
it bit by bit; the good old dog did his
best to figure it out, but it seemed too
tough proposition.
"Sorry for you, James, my boy ne
kept saying as he studied it, but it looks
very bad. Fifteen thousand dollars
thirty davs-thirty - and he'd look at
me, and I'd nod my head.
1--WE sat long time thinking it over,
Oshkosh totally lost in it and checking
off the things he was going over in his
mind with his pencil on the blottlng pad
"'l'his bank is going to save you II
it can, James, my son; but I'm afraid
nothing can be done
CAT this oracular drone my heart
went up and then sank down, though
not so far down as it had been. Alter
bit Raudsbaugh looked up slyly
"Don't you know somebody, James,
you can draw on?
"'What, for fifteen thousand dollars!
Nobody
"'Ths is too serious for me to joke
about, Mr. Raudebaugh.'
"'James, son, don't you know some
body you may draw on, somebody away
off--a long way off?
Oshkosh began to fairly purr his
temptation, and for moment my hope
leaped tip as | caught his idea and The
breath of relief, it would give.
"'Somebody in Thibet, or Archangel,
or up the CongoS
"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 alurement like siren, and l,
though sick with dread of its criminal
trickery sweetened to the idea
"'No, but I mean it, coaxed the old
man. Now, suppose | draw
dr-a-a-a-w-' and while sulked in the
despairng collapse that followed my sec
ond and better Judgment of the thing
although l was even then paying debts
like mad in my imagination on the money
this impossible possibility might give me
for few days-Oshkosh scratched away
on block OF drafts. He finished and
tossed it before me on the extension Leaf
of his desk.
st was draft on the Sultan of
Turkey for fifteen thousand dollars at
sight
"'sign it, sign it, Raudebaueh urged /;
in five minutes you shall have the money
to your credit This will be the cleverest
piece of check-kiting ever done
81 signed it before | knew it, making
kind of plunge of it and with feel
ing of gamble on liberty and life at a
throw
q buried my face in my hands when
the old man went out to the counting
room with the condemned draft TO be
passed to my credit. Heaven only knows
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