The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-06-07


 0ughly, as beftted one of his honorable character, was not satisfied with, as he thought, disposing of Kirby's physical existence, but considered it his pleas urable duty to effectually ruin what ever little reputation had survived dur ing the others downward career.
 Kirby. presumably fatally wounded, had been carried ashore by Bunce at the next landing, and, in those days shooting and stabbing affrays emanat- ing from card games being only too common, but little attention had been paid to the affair. Cameo Kirby was notorious the length of the river, and such an abrupt and tragic termination of his career had not only been fire Quently and cheerfully predicted, but was, moreover, expected of all such members as graced his questionable profession. Indeed, for them a sober and respectable death would have been considered bad form. Among the gam bling profession there existed certain code, which in a manner served to link those at the top, who. like Kirby and Bunce, wooed fortune honestly, to the Moreau type, gracing and disgracing the lowest rung in the gamblers social ladder. This code, if so it may be termed, was an understanding to the effect that in no instance, howev CT great the provocation, should the law be invoked. Wrongs, fancied or au- thentic, were to be redressed solely by the bearers thereof. the joint office of judge and executioner being vested in each separate and distinct individual
 In view of this accepted understand ing, Larkin Bunce had accordingly made no mention of the fact that a probable murder had been committed, and, the passengers and steamship off, cials dismissing it as a gamblers quar- rel, which was none of their affair, no stigma or notoriety was attached to the good Colonel Moreau, who, claiming to be an old and valued friend of MT. Randall, had gone to the latter's state room and braZenly assumed charge of the body. Bunce's laconic statement was too pitifully true, for the old plant CT had effectually ended his life.
 Again referring to Colonel Moreau's happy faculty of doing all things well, 1t was quite characteristic that to com plete his revenge against Cameo Kirby he now did not hesitate to assume charge of MT. Randalls body, did not hesitate to meet the son of the man for whose death he had been directly and shamefully responsible, for young Tom Randall had ridden over to the Plaquemine landing in order to greet his father, while over at the old home stead all was hustle and excitement in honor of the masters homecoming.
 AnxiOusly Tom Randall waited to see the jovial and we'll known figure of his father march down the gang plank, waited to catch a glimpse of the familiar and weather beaten green portmanteau which the planter always carried. The moments passed Other and numerous passengers stepped ashore, to be eagerly welcomed ant claimed by their own, hut John Ran Hall was not among them. A curiou and seemingly rregnant hush had siit ceeded the landing of the freight, aa
 off somewhere in the darkness .chil
 whimpered shrilly. The boys nerve were set on edge. Perhaps his fathc. was having a farewell talk with the captain and would come daShing out at the last moment with all his old dis regard for time and place. 1t was time the bell was changing, the signal fol backing away, for by now the landing of passengers and freight appeared tt