I hope I'm not too late." "What do you know of the man ?" asked Mr.Ross steadily and looking Gordon full in the eye, but with a paling cheek.
"Know of him?
that he made all his money by gambling; that he is a murderer." The last word was spoken low and close to the listener's ear.
Mr.Ross started back--horrified--deadly pale.
"Gordon! do you know whereof you affirm ?" he asked low and huskily.
"I do; I had the account from one who was an eye-witness of the affair.

He is dead now, and I do not suppose it would be possible to prove the thing in a court of justice; but nevertheless I assure you it is true.
"It was thirty years ago, on a Mississippi steamer, running between St.
Louis and New Orleans, that the deed was done.
"Larrabee, then a professional black-leg, was aboard, plying his trade.

My informant, a man whose veracity I could not doubt, was one of a group of bystanders, who saw him (Larrabee) fleece a young man out of several thousand dollars--all he had in the world--then, enraged by some taunting words from his victim, pull out a pistol and shoot him through the heart, just as they sat there on opposite sides of the gaming table; then with his revolver still in his hand, threatening with terrible oaths and curses, to shoot down any man who should attempt to stop him, he rushed on deck, jumped into the river, swam ashore and disappeared in the woods." "Horrible, horrible!" groaned Mr.Ross, hiding his face in his hands.

"And this murderer, this fiend in human form, would have married my daughter!" he cried, starting up in strong excitement.

"Why was he suffered to escape?
Where is he now ?" "The whole thing passed so quickly, my informant said, that every one seemed stunned, paralyzed with horror and fright till the scoundrel had made good his escape; beside there were several others of the same stamp on board--desperate fellows, probably belonging to the same gang--who were evidently ready to make common cause with the ruffian.
"That part of our country was, you know, in those days, infested with desperadoes and outlaws." "Yes, yes; but what is to be done now?
I shall of course send a note to Larrabee, at his hotel, telling him that all is at an end between him and Gertrude, forbidding him the house, and intimating that the sooner he leaves the vicinity the better.