Like fire among dry stubble ran the news of this fearful event through Cedarville. The whole town was wild with excitement. The prominent fact, that Willy Hammond had been murdered by Green, whose real profession was known by many, and now declared to all, was on every tongue; but a hundred different and exaggerated stories as to the cause and the particulars of the event were in circulation. By the time preparations to remove the dead bodies of mother and son from the "Sickle and Sheaf" to the residence of Mr. Hammond were completed, hundreds of people, men, women, and children, were assembled around the tavern and many voices were clamorous for Green; while some called out for Judge Lyman, whose name, it thus appeared, had become associated in the minds of the people with the murderous affair. The appearance, in the midst of this excitement, of the two dead bodies, borne forth on settees, did not tend to allay the feverish state of indignation that prevailed. From more than one voice, I heard the words, "Lynch the scoundrel!" A part of the crowd followed the sad procession, while the greater portion, consisting of men, remained about the tavern. All bodies, no matter for what purpose assembled, quickly find leading spirits who, feeling the great moving impulse, give it voice and direction. It was so in this case. Intense indignation against Green was firing every bosom; and when a man elevated himself a few feet above the agitated mass of humanity, and cried out: "The murderer must not escape!" A wild responding shout, terrible in its fierceness, made the air quiver. "Let ten men be chosen to search the house and premises," said the leading spirit. "Ay! ay! Choose them! Name them!" was quickly answered. Ten men were called by name, who instantly stepped in front of the crowd. "Search everywhere; from garret to cellar; from hayloft to dog-kennel. Everywhere! everywhere!" cried the man. And instantly the ten men entered the house. For nearly a quarter of an hour, the crowd waited with increasing signs of impatience. These delegates at length appeared, with the announcement that Green was nowhere about the premises. It was received with a groan. "Let no man in Cedarville do a stroke of work until the murderer is found," now shouted the individual who still occupied his elevated position. "Agreed! agreed! No work in Cedarville until the murderer is found," rang out fiercely. "Let all who have horses saddle and bridle them as quickly as possible, and assemble, mounted, at the Court House." About fifty men left the crowd hastily. "Let the crowd part in the centre, up and down the road, starting from a line in front of me." This order was obeyed. "Separate again, taking the centre of the road for a line." Four distinct bodies of men stood now in front of the tavern.