He deemed it advisable, however, not to be too positive as to
the date of the direful fact, and also to be uncertain whether it were
perpetrated by an Irishman and a mulatto, or by the son of Erin alone.
Neither did he profess to relate it on his own authority, or that of
any one person; but mentioned it as a report generally diffused.
The story ran through the town like fire among girdled trees, and
became so much the universal talk that nobody could tell whence it had
originated. Mr. Higginbotham was as well known at Parker's Falls as
any citizen of the place, being part owner of the slitting mill, and a
considerable stockholder in the cotton factories. The inhabitants felt
their own prosperity interested in his fate. Such was the
excitement, that the Parker's Falls Gazette anticipated its regular
day of publication, and came out with half a form of blank paper and a
column of double pica emphasized with capitals, and headed HORRID
MURDER OF MR. HIGGINBOTHAM! Among other dreadful details, the
printed account described the mark of the cord round the dead man's
neck, and stated the number of thousand dollars of which he had been
robbed; there was much pathos also about the affliction of his
niece, who had gone from one fainting fit to another, ever since her
uncle was found hanging on the St.
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