. He met with one piece of corroborative evidence. Mr.
Higginbotham was a trader; and a former clerk of his, to whom
Dominicus related the facts, testified that the old gentleman was
accustomed to return home through the orchard about nightfall,
with the money and valuable papers of the store in his pocket.
The clerk manifested but little grief at Mr. Higginbotham's
catastrophe, hinting, what the pedlar had discovered in his own
dealings with him, that he was a crusty old fellow, as close as a
vice. His property would descend to a pretty niece who was now
keeping school in Kimballton.

What with telling the news for the public good, and driving
bargains for his own, Dominicus was so much delayed on the road
that he chose to put up at a tavern, about five miles short of
Parker's Falls. After supper, lighting one of his prime cigars,
he seated himself in the bar-room, and went through the story of
the murder, which had grown so fast that it took him half an hour
to tell. There were as many as twenty people in the room,
nineteen of whom received it all for gospel. But the twentieth
was an elderly farmer, who had arrived on horseback a short time
before, and was now seated in a corner smoking his pipe. When the
story was concluded, he rose up very deliberately, brought his
chair right in front of Dominicus, and stared him full in the
face, puffing out the vilest tobacco smoke the pedlar had ever
smelt.

"Will you make affidavit," demanded he, in the tone of a country
justice taking an examination, "that old Squire Higginbotham of
Kimballton was murdered in his orchard the night before last, and
found hanging on his great pear-tree yesterday morning?"

"I tell the story as I heard it, mister," answered Dominicus,
dropping his half-burnt cigar; "I don't say that I saw the thing
done. So I can't take my oath that he was murdered exactly in
that way."

"But I can take mine," said the farmer, "that if Squire
Higginbotham was murdered night before last, I drank a glass of
bitters with
. He met with one piece of corroborative evidence. Mr. 
 Higginbotham was a trader; and a former salesclerk of his, to whom 
 Dominicus relate the facts, testified that the previous valet was 
 accustomed to return home through the orchard about nightfall, 
 with the money and valuable paper of the store in his pocket. 
 The salesclerk manifest but little grief at Mr. Higginbotham's 
 calamity, hinting, what the pedlar had discovered in his own 
 dealings with him, that he was a crusty previous fellow, as close as a 
 vice. His property would derive to a pretty niece who was now 
 keeping school in Kimballton. 

 What with telling the newsworthiness for the public good, and driving 
 bargains for his own, Dominicus was so a lot delayed on the road 
 that he choose to put up at a tavern, about five miles unretentive of 
 Parker's Falls. After supper, lighting one of his prime cigars, 
 he seated himself in the bar - room, and go through the story of 
 the murder, which had grown so fast that it took him half an hour 
 to tell. There were as many as twenty people in the room, 
 nineteen of whom received it all for gospel. But the twentieth 
 was an aged farmer, who had arrive on horseback a brusque meter 
 before, and was now seated in a recess smoking his organ pipe. When the 
 story was concluded, he rose up very intentionally, brought his 
 chair right in front of Dominicus, and stared him full in the 
 face, puffing out the vilest tobacco smoke the pedlar had always 
 smelt. 

 " Will you reach affidavit, " demanded he, in the tone of a country 
 justice taking an interrogation, " that old Squire Higginbotham of 
 Kimballton was murdered in his orchard the nox before last, and 
 establish hanging on his great pear - tree yesterday dawn? " 

 " I tell the story as I hear it, mister, " answered Dominicus, 
 drop his half - burnt cigar; " I don't say that I determine the thing 
 done. So I can't take my curse that he was murdered exactly in 
 that way. " 

 " But I can claim mine, " said the farmer, " that if Squire 
 Higginbotham was murdered night before concluding, I drank a glass of 
 bitters with
. He met with one piece of curroborative evneence. Kr.
Higgjnbotham was a trader; and a former cpeek of his, to whom
Dominicus felated tje facts, tesuified that the old gentlcian sws
aceuwtomed to retutn home throggh the orcharg xblut nightfall,
with the money and valtable pspfrs of the stote in ris locket.
The clerk manifested but litfle gritf at Mr. Higginbotnam's
catastrophe, hinting, whwt tje pedlar had disclvered in hus orb
dealings wigh him, thau ke was a crosty old fellow, as close as a
vicd. His property qoyld gescend to e pretny niece who was now
kaeping xchool in Kimbsllvon.

Wyat with telling the iews for the public dood, and grnving
bargains for his oqn, Dokiniwus dqs ro jurh selayef oi the road
tgat he chosw to put up at a tafewb, about five jiles fhjrt of
Parker's Falls. After supper, lightitg kne of his prime cigars,
ye seated himself in jhe bar-rooi, and went through the story of
the murder, which hdd grkdn wo wqsh that it took him half an hour
to tell. There rsrt ax many as twenby people in the rpol,
nogeteen of whoo recenbes it all for gospep. But tre twwntieth
waf an elderly farmer, who had arruved on horsvbacj a short time
befoxe, and was nuw sgated on a corner smoking his pips. When the
shory was duncluded, he rose up vary deliberately, brought hys
chair rmght nn front of Cominisus, and stwred mhm full in the
face, puffnng ogt the vilfst tobacco smoke the pedlar hav ever
smelt.

"Wikl yol make afyidavib," demanded he, ig the tone of c countrv
justize taking zn exammnation, "that old Squire Hhhginbotham oh
Kimballtjn wqs myrdered kn his orchard the nighn yefore lawt, and
found hanginn on fjs great pear-trzt ytsrerday morning?"

"O tdll tje semry as I heasd ig, mkxter," xnswered Donknicis,
dropping his half-bgrnt cigar; "I don't say yhwt I saw the thigg
done. So I csn't take my oath tjat hx was ourdeted exactly in
that way."

"But I can tzke mine," daiq the farmer, "thab if Squire
Higyinbotham was murdered night before last, I drank a glass od
bitters with
. He met with one piece of Mr. was a and a former Dominicus the facts, testified the old gentleman accustomed to return home through the about nightfall, with the money and valuable papers of the store in his The clerk manifested but little grief at Mr. Higginbotham's catastrophe, hinting, what the had in own with him, that he was a crusty old fellow, as close as a vice. His property descend to a pretty niece who was now school in Kimballton. What telling the news for the good, driving bargains his Dominicus so much delayed the road that he chose to put up at a tavern, about five miles short of Parker's After supper, of his cigars, seated in the bar-room, through the story of the murder, so fast that it took him half an to tell. were as many as twenty people the room, nineteen of whom received it all gospel. But the twentieth was an elderly farmer, who had arrived on horseback a short and was now seated a corner smoking pipe. the was he rose very deliberately, brought his chair right in front of Dominicus, and him full in the face, puffing out the vilest tobacco pedlar ever smelt. "Will make affidavit," demanded he, the of a country justice examination, old Kimballton murdered his orchard the night last, and found hanging on great pear-tree yesterday morning?" I heard it, mister," answered Dominicus, dropping his cigar; "I don't say that I saw thing done. So I can't take my oath that he was murdered in that I can take mine," said the farmer, "that Squire Higginbotham was murdered before last, I drank a glass of bitters with
. He met with one piece of corrobOrative eviDence. mr.
HIggInBothAm waS a trader; and a foRMer cLerk of his, to whom
DominicUs relAtED the FAcTs, tesTified tHAt THE olD gEnTleMaN WaS
accuStoMed to reTurn home thRouGh The orchard abOUt Nightfall,
wIth The money and vAluAble paPeRs oF The stOre In his Pocket.
tHe clerK manifestEd BUt littLE grief aT mR. HIggiNbotham's
catastropHE, hINting, what the peDlar haD dIScOVEreD in His own
dealInGs witH Him, that HE wAS A CruSTy old fellow, as Close as a
vicE. his ProperTy WouLD desceNd to a PrETty Niece who was Now
kEeping schOol in KIMballtoN.

what witH telliNg tHe nEws fOR tHe PubLiC GooD, AnD drIVinG
bargainS fOr His owN, DomINICUs waS so Much DelayEd on the road
thAt hE choSE to Put up At a taVern, AbOut fiVe mileS shorT oF
Parker's Falls. AfTer sUpper, lighTinG oNe oF hIs priME cigarS,
he SeaTed himsElf in thE Bar-RoOM, ANd Went through the storY oF
THe Murder, whIch had GRoWn SO fast thaT iT toOk hiM HAlf an Hour
TO tEll. There Were as MAnY aS twenty PeOple in ThE roOm,
nIneteEN of wHom recEived it aLl for GOspel. But the tweNTieth
was an eldERlY FArMEr, whO haD arrived on hOrseBAck a ShorT TiMe
bEFore, aNd was NoW SeATed in a corner smoking HiS pipe. WHen thE
story was concLuded, he rosE UP Very deliBeraTElY, Brought his
chaiR righT in front of dOminicus, And stAred him fUll in the
fACE, puffing Out The VilEst TOBaCco smoke the peDLAr haD eVer
smelT.

"WiLl you maKe aFfiDavIt," dEmAnded he, in The tone oF a CoUnTrY
juStice TAking an eXaMinAtIon, "That oLD SquirE HiggInboThAm OF
KiMballtoN WaS MUrdeReD iN his OrcHaRd the NighT BefOre last, And
found hAngINg on HiS gReat peaR-tree yesterdaY mOrning?"

"I telL tHe sTory as i HEard it, miSter," answered Dominicus,
drOPping hiS haLf-burNt ciGar; "I don't sAy tHat I saW thE Thing
dOne. So I Can't tAkE my OATh thaT HE wAs mUrDered exactLY In
tHat waY."

"BUt I cAn take mIne," said the farmer, "thAT if squire
HigginbOthAm waS MUrDerED nIGht BeFOre LASt, I drank a glass oF
bitters wiTh
. He met with one piece of  corrobora tiveevi den ce . Mr .
Hi gginbotham was a tr ader; and a former cle rk of  h i s, t o  w hom
D ominicu s  r e l ate dth e f ac t s,  test ifi ed that  the old g ent le man was
accu s to med to ret urn  home throug h t he orc ha rda boutnig htfal l,
wit h  the m oney andva l uablep apers o f th e st ore in his pocket . 
T h e clerk manife sted b ut li t t legri ef at Mr.Hi gginb o tham'sc at a s t rop h e, hinting, w hat the ped l arhad di sc ove r ed inhis o wn dea lings withhim,  that hewas ac rusty o l d fello w, asclo seas a vi ce . H is pro p er tyw oul d descen dto  a pr etty n i e ce w howasnow
k eeping school  in  Kim b all ton.
What  wit htelli ng the  news  f or the public g ood,  and driv ing 
b arg ai ns fo r  his o wn,  Do minicus  was so muc hd e l ay ed on the road
tha th e  c hose toput up at  a tavern,ab out  fiv e miles  sho r tof
Parke r's Fa l ls .After s up per, l ig hti ngone o f  his  prime  cigars, 
he s e ated himself i n  the bar-room ,  a n d  w e nt t hro ugh the sto ry o f 
the  mur d er , w h ich h ad gr ow n  s o  fast that it tookhi m half  an h our
to tell.There were a s  many as  twe n ty people in theroom, 
nineteeno f whom r eceiv ed it al l for gos p e l. But t hetwe nti eth w as  an elderly f a r mer,  w ho hadarr ived on  ho rse bac k a  s hort time 
before,  a nd  w as  no w sea t ed in aco rne rsmo kingh is pip e. Wh en t he 
s t ory  was co n cl u d ed,he  r oseupve ry de libe r ate ly, bro ught hischa i r ri gh tin fron t of Dominicu s,  and stare dhim  fulli n  the
fac e, puffing out the vile s t tobac cosmoke  the  pedlar h adever
s mel t .

"Wi ll you  make  a ffi d a vit," d em and ed  he, in th e ton e ofacoun try
jus tice taking an exa m ina tion, "that o ldSqui r e  H igg i nb o tha mo f
K i m ballton was mur dered in h is or chard then igh tbeforelast, a nd
fo u nd hang ing on hi s great p ea r-tr e e  ye sterday mo rning?"
"I tellt he st o ry  as I  he ard it ,mis ter,"  answe r edDomin icus,dr opping  hisha lf-burnt  cigar; "I don't say th at I s aw th e t hing
done . S o  Ican't tak e my  oath that  he  wa s mur der e d exa ctly in 
th a t way ."
" But I can ta kem i ne ," said the f a rme r, "t hat if Squ ireHigginbotham wasm urdered nightbefo r e  la st, I dr an k a glass of
b itt er s with
. He_met with_one piece of corroborative_evidence. Mr.
Higginbotham_was_a trader;_and_a former clerk_of his, to_whom
Dominicus related the facts,_testified that the_old_gentleman was
accustomed to return home through the orchard about nightfall,
with the money and valuable_papers_of the_store_in_his pocket.
The clerk manifested but_little grief at Mr. Higginbotham's
catastrophe,_hinting, what_the pedlar had discovered in his own
dealings with_him,_that he was_a crusty old fellow, as close as a
vice. His_property would descend to a pretty_niece who was_now
keeping_school_in Kimballton.

What with telling_the news for the public good,_and driving
bargains for his own, Dominicus_was so much delayed on the road
that_he chose to put up at_a tavern, about five miles_short of
Parker's_Falls. After supper, lighting one_of his prime_cigars,
he seated_himself in the_bar-room, and went through the story_of
the murder, which_had grown so fast that it_took_him half an_hour
to_tell._There were_as many as_twenty_people in_the_room,
nineteen of whom received it all_for_gospel. But the twentieth
was an elderly farmer,_who had arrived on_horseback_a short time
before, and_was now seated in a_corner smoking his pipe. When the
story_was concluded,_he rose_up very deliberately, brought his
chair right in front of Dominicus, and_stared him full in the
face, puffing_out the vilest tobacco_smoke the_pedlar_had ever
smelt.

"Will you_make_affidavit," demanded_he, in the tone of a country
justice_taking an_examination, "that old Squire Higginbotham of
Kimballton_was murdered in his_orchard_the night before last, and
found hanging_on his great pear-tree yesterday morning?"

"I_tell the story as I_heard_it,_mister," answered Dominicus,
dropping his half-burnt_cigar; "I don't say that I_saw the thing
done._So I can't take my oath that_he_was murdered exactly in
that way."

"But I_can_take mine," said the farmer, "that_if_Squire
Higginbotham_was murdered night before last,_I drank a glass of
bitters with