The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-06-19
Saved By Truth,

Soule, TO 1elonS cell Tor HE. 1eC tnere
was a time when could have shed tears of
blood if that would have saved him; and
even now, when view tbs case in all its
surroundings, a cold shiver of horror creeps
over me. And when think what might
have been, and how it might all have
ended but for the honest candor and truth
expressed by friend Pierre to the detec-
tives who worked up the case against him,
l thank again and again that Being, who id
too wise to err and too good to be unkind,
for his wntchfulness over oil his creatures
on earth.
Pierre Soule was an operator in the en-
ploy of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, situated at Il, and for many
years my most intimate and trusted friend;
and was generally known among that class
of professionals as one of the fastest
writer's and receivers in that system of
signals.
So implicit was my confidence in him
that, when absent from the city, my bust
ness was always left in hi, care. 1t that
time was in the employ of an Eastern
exporter for the purchase and sale of
grain, stationed at H. / acted as
Western agent for Mr.. c., of Philadel-
phia and for many years all my messages,
numbering many thousand, and all iD
a., hnJ bo,,, raooiyaI ooJ tad
by Pierre Soule without error or break;
and SO it was l came to know and love him
as brother.
During the long summer evenings, for
want of pastime and excitement to beguiIe
the hours away, we used to indulge in the
innocent-as we considered it-playing of
cards "Casino," Don Pedro" "Old
Sledge," and the other games common with
cards, occupied our attention for time.
during evenings at my Office, we would
continue those fascinating games until one
evening, it was proposed by some one that
we should play draw poker"
The proposition was accepted by all, and
for many months it was no unusual circum
stance for party of us boys to eongre.
gate and indulge in this sxtravagant amuse
ment.
How well I recall the night on which tht
sequel of this story is based-and but fol
which it would never have been written
it was the night before Thanksgiving.
friend of mine, Harry Melville by name
meeting me on the street, had invited In,
into the Paris restaurant to lunch will
him.
We had just completed our evenings re
past and were debating the propriety O.
adjoining to some billiard hall for recrea.
ton, when tall individual, a stranger t.
myself, entered and accosted Harry. 4
brief conversation ensued, and in shor
time Harry came and informed me that tn
stranger was an old acquaintance O
his and had asked him for game of 'dray
poker" 10 this proposition 1 readily as
sented, and in less time than it takes IN
to indite this, we were all seated in m
Office, eagerly scanning the cards dealt o.
to us.
The game had probably been in progres
an hour, when, by certain signal on tn
door, we knew some of our companion
had seen the light and called to partic
pate in the game. On opening the door
was not surprised to meet my friend, Pierr
Soule. He Immediately took a seat wit
us, and soon was as deeply interested
the game as ourselves.
Not many hands had been dealt of
5 when Pierre and the stranger each pickle
up what is known in poker as two pal
each drew a card, and as it was Pierre
blind, the stranger had the first be
The stranger-who was called doctt
by my friend Melville, made a sma
, bet, and was in return raised by PIER
, quite large sum. The stranger studied
: moment, and in turn raised Pierre. I'll
latter drew from his pocket bank-no
= and called the play.
; "Ace full" coolly responded the do
! tor
e "That wins" rejoined Pierre; and Il
: doctor quietly pocketed the money.
That night after the game had ende
= Pierre said to me-
l. "That doctor imagnes he got the best
:, me, but he has not, for the note with whl'
e I called his last play was counterfeit, al
obtained by myself for the sole purpose
S blufing in draw poker"
1 was uneasy at the time, for fear som
; thing serious might come up regarding Il
+ affair, and SO expressed myself to Pierl
6 But he seemed to think that, even thoul
q the doctor ever found out the note W
base, he would console himself by thinking