Louis, that Larrabee was about to
marry a daughter of yours, and I took the first eastern bound train and
traveled night and day to get here in time to put a stop to the thing. 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.
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