The handbills of the selectmen would cause the commitment of all the vagabonds in the State , the paragraph in the Parker 's Falls Gazette would be reprinted from Maine to Florida , and perhaps form an item in the London newspapers , and many a miser would tremble for his moneybags and life on learning the catastrophe of Mr. Higginbotham . The pedler meditated with much fervor on the charms of the young schoolmistress , and swore that Daniel Webster never spoke nor looked so like an angel as Miss Higginbotham while defending him from the wrathful populace at Parker 's Falls . Dominicus was now on the Kimballton turnpike , having all along determined to visit that place , though business had drawn , him out of the most direct road from Morristown . As he approached the scene of the supposed murder he continued to revolve the circumstances in his mind , and was astonished at the aspect which the whole case assumed . Had nothing occurred to corroborate the story of the first traveller , it might now have been considered as a hoax ; but the yellow man was evidently acquainted either with the report or the fact , and there was a mystery in his dismayed and guilty look on being abruptly questioned . When to this singular combination of incidents it was added that the rumor tallied exactly with Mr. Higginbotham 's character and habits of life , and that he had an orchard and a St. Michael 's pear tree , near which he always passed at nightfall , the circumstantial evidence appeared so strong that Dominicus doubted whether the autograph produced by the lawyer , or even the niece 's direct testimony , ought to be equivalent . Making cautious inquiries along the road , the pedler further learned that Mr. Higginbotham had in his service an Irishman of doubtful character whom he had hired without a recommendation , on the score of economy . `` May I be hanged myself , '' exclaimed Dominicus Pike , aloud , on reaching the top of a lonely hill , `` if I 'll believe old Higginbotham is unhanged till I see him with my own eyes and hear it from his own mouth . And , as he 's a real shaver , I 'll have the minister , or some other responsible man , for an endorser . '' It was growing dusk when he reached the toll-house on Kimballton turnpike , about a quarter of a mile from the village of this name . His little mare was fast bringing him up with a man on horseback who trotted through the gate a few rods in advance of him , nodded to the toll-gatherer and kept on towards the village . Dominicus was acquainted with the toll-man , and while making change the usual remarks on the weather passed between them . `` I suppose , '' said the pedler , throwing back his whiplash to bring it down like a feather on the mare 's flank , `` you have not seen anything of old Mr. Higginbotham within a day or two ? '' `` Yes , '' answered the toll-gatherer ; `` he passed the gate just before you drove up , and yonder he rides now , if you can see him through the dusk . He 's been to Woodfield this afternoon , attending a sheriff 's sale there . The old man generally shakes hands and has a little chat with me , but to-night he nodded , as if to say , ` Charge my toll , ' and jogged on ; for , wherever he goes , he must always be at home by eight o'clock . '' `` So they tell me , '' said Dominicus . `` I never saw a man look so yellow and thin as the squire does , '' continued the toll-gatherer . `` Says I to myself tonight , ` He 's more like a ghost or an old mummy than good flesh and blood . ' '' The pedler strained his eyes through the twilight , and could just discern the horseman now far ahead on the village road .
He seemed to recognize the rear of Mr. Higginbotham , but through the evening shadows and amid the dust XXXXX the horse 's feet the figure appeared dim and unsubstantial , as if the shape of the mysterious old man were faintly moulded of darkness and gray light .
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