"Even the gutter is too low for you!" Babette was stunned, overwhelmed with shame. His cruel insult drove home the appalling lengths to which this Mississippi gambler would go to mend his wounded pride. He would ruin her family...and herself in the process. Suddenly she felt she had no choice. Her hand touched the cold steel of the derringer in her pocket. Defiantly she pulled the weapon out into the open. "You are not fit to live!" she cried, and leveled the gun at the man she loved... ...and squeezed the trigger. Inside cover: It was Mardi Gras, and anything could happen! And to Babette, the most wonderful thing did. She fell deeply and hopelessly in love. But she was an innocent girl from one of New Orleans' finest families—rich and proud. He was a riverboat gambler who trifled with women and took pleasure in relieving foolish spendthrifts of their money. Surely their love had no future. And yet...so great was their attraction for each other that they began to believe they could overcome all obstacles. But there was one thing they hadn't expected—blackmail!