The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-10
Mr. Hgginbotham's Catastrophe-By Nathaniel Havthor

bothams catastrophe. hinting-what tho ped
dler had discovered in his own dealings with
him-that no crusty old fellow. as close
as wise. His property would descend to q
pretty niece who keeping school in
kimballton
What with telling tho news for tho public
good and driving bargains for his own. Domini-
Gus was much delayed tho road that he
chose TO put up at tavern about Ave miles
short OF Parkers Falls After supper. lighting
one OF his prime cigars. he seated himself In
the barroom and went through the story of the
murder. which had grown fast that 1t took
him half an hour to tell There were many
as twenty people In the room. nineteen OF whom
received II all for gospel. But the twentieth
was an elderly farmer who had arrived horse
back a short time before and seated
In corner. smoking his pipe. When the story
was concluded. he up very deliberately
brought his chair right in front OF Dominicus
and stared MIN full in the face. putting out tho
V!lest tobacco smoke the peddlcr had ever
smelled.
""li make affidavit demanded he. In
the tone OF a country Justice taking an exam
nation. that old Squire Higginbotham. OF Kim
ballton. was murdered In his orchard the night
before last and found hanging his great pear
tree yesterday morningr
i tell the story heard IT, mister an.
sweEed Dominicus. dropping his half-burned
cigar. I don't say that tho thing done
90 cant take my oath that he murdered
exactly in that way"
But take mine" said the farne, ".h,,
II Squire Hissinbotham was murdered night be-
TOTO last drank glass OF bitters with his
neighbOr Of rrip
nc caiied me Into his store I was riding by
and treated ne and then asked me 10 do a i,t,ia
business for him on the road. Ho didn't seom
10 know any moro about his our -,,rsa. 80
did" ~
why. then 1t can't be a fact,- exclaimed
Dornin.cus Pike
i guess he'd have mentioned II II was ,s,d
the ola farmer and he removed his chair back
10 tho corner. leaving Dominicus quite down IN
the mouth " 80
Here was sad resurrection Of old .,r H,r.
6a6
In the conversation any more but co,,,o-ta5
n'"'seit with glass of gin and water and went
- oeo. "heEe all night long no dreamed Of
hanging on the St M!chaels pear tree
To avoid the old farmer Cwhom he 50 detested
that his suspension would have pleased him
better than Mr. Higsinbotham's) Do,nia.cus
rose IN the gray of the morning. put the little
mare into the green cart and trotted swiftly
away toward Parker's Falls The fresh breeze
the dewy road and the pleasant Summer dawn
revived his spirits. and might have encouraged
body awake TO hear It. but he met neither OK
team light wagon chaise. horseman or foot
traveller Till. just he crossed Salmon River
man came trudg.ng down IN. bridge With
bundle over his shoulder. she end Of a stick
Good morning mister" said the peddler
refining IN his mare II you come from Kim
ba!!ion or that ne!ghborhoot. maybe you can
tell ne the real fact about tais affair OF old
MT. H.gg. nbotham was tho old fellow actu-
ally murdered two or three nights ago by n
IE!shrnan and n.sse-T
Dominicus had spoken In too great hurry TO
deep ,nse Of nesro sood 6n h nmss. t aas
sudden question the Ethiopian appeared to
Change his skin. its yellow hue becoming a
chastity white. while. shaking and stanmerins
he thus replied:
NO. no. There coored man. 1t was
an Irishnan that hanged him last nigh. at
eight o'clock: came away seven His folks
cant have looked for him IN the orchard yet"
Scarcely had the yellow man spoken. when
he Interrupted himself and. though he seemed
weary enough before. continued his journey at
pace which would have kept the peddler's
mare on smart trot Domincus stared after
him IN great perple1ity II the rnurde. had not
been committed till Tuesday night who was the
prophet that had toretold st in all It's circum-
oothaUl's corpse were not yet discovered BY his
thirty miles distance. 10 know that he was
hanging in the orchard. especially as he had
left kinoallton before the unfortunate man
was hanged az all? These ambiguous c!rcum-
stances with the strangers surprise and ter
ror, made Domncus think OF raising hus-
and-cry after him as accomplish in the muir
DER. since a murder. Il seemed. had really been
pe-petraied
But let the poor devil CO." thought the ped
dier. ! don't want his black blood on nv head
and hanging the niger woudn', uahaor Mr.
Higginootham. Unhang the old gentleman? It,s
s!n know. but should hate 10 have him
come 10 HE second time give me the lie
with these meditations Domi nicus Pike drove
in'o the street Of Parke-'s Falls, which as
everybody knows. is thriving village az