The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-23

existed. not by honest industry, but by
the gaming table. Among them was
Young man Of striking appearance who
had served in France as sous-oftlcer IN
a hussar regiment had gone the pace
ruined himself, and finally drifted out
TO San Francisco, where he became the
hanger-on Of the gambling table
Louis lie Marronais was a strikingly
handsome specimen Of the Partisan OF
his class. 1t did not take him very long
To gain the confidence Of the old French
man. who cOnhded 10 him the story or
his life. II was not a very eventful one.
He was a member Of an old French fam
ily. and could use, II he pleased. title
which dated back 10 Charles the Bold.
lie had been ruined by the extravaganza
OF his Younger brother and was living
on the income OF a little property in Brit
fany. which he had saved from the
wreck. Irene was his only child, and he
fdolized her. For her sake alone, he
wanted 10 be rich. He wanted to take
her back 10 France and -einstate her in
the position 10 which her rank entitled
her.
The ex-hussar won the old man into
the belief that his only chance OF getting
rich was through gambling. 50 night
after night old Lascant was found at
the FL Dorado or some other gambling
hell, losing his money under the direction
OF the arch mentor. one night Irene
followed him 10 bring him back. and her
first visit was a fateful one Tom Mon
roe, a Kentuckian, one OF the widest
and most reckless Characters of that
period, admired her, and swore that she
should become his property.
IN
dents that led up to the scene, which
was related TO me by an eye witness.
1t is sufficient to say that To Marronais
had convinced the old Frenchman that
Monroe would stake $4,000 against the
hand Of Irene. If he won she was 20
become his wife; but IL he lost, the money
was TO become the Frenchmans property,
and Irene was free to bestow her at-
fections wherever she pleased. Irene
was informed of this proposition, and she
looked resigned and rather amused at
the transaction.
The eventful night arrived. Monroe
the old man, Louis Irene and friend
and countryman of the host were the
only inmates OF the little room The
game was ecarte, and the cards which
Louis had marked. lay upon the table.
The old man got the deal. Monroes
certified check for 1000 was placed in
the custody OF the hussar The old man
marked the king in the first deal, and
when the packed changed hands he had
tho best of the game. The play went
on, and in the last hand Monroe scored
every point.
Irene is mine," shouted the Kentuck-
ian. reaching for his check.
At this moment the lights were dashed
out and Monroe fell to the floor from the
stroke OF some heavy instrument. The
only disinterested spectator OF the scene
fled from the room. The next morning
there was no sign OF life in the old house,
and in the evening when the milkman
knocked. heard a grooming from the in
side. He forced his way into the house
and discovered the wrecked Kentuckian
bound hand and foot. Monroe, avowlng
murder rushed the next morning TO the
banking house. The check had been
cashed by an individual who answered
the description Of the hussar. The other
actors in this startling scene was never
heard OF. Nothing in the house was dis
turbed. not even the girls wearing APP
parel, and the incident became a portion
OF this strange history Of old-time gamb-
ling in San Francisco.-San Francisco
News Letter.