It was a cool autumn day up on Boot Hill as Matt stood staring down into the open grave. The new marker was tossed aside, the coffin opened and there was no body inside the pine box. He hooked his thumbs over his gun belt, "What do you make of that, Doc?"

Doc shook his head while looking into the dirt hole, "Darnedest thing I've ever seen," the physician drew his hand across his moustache before he looked up to Matt. "I just can't figure it out. We only buried Mrs. Cooper yesterday," Doc ticked his head and screwed his finger into his ear as he looked down at the empty grave. "What are you going to do about it, Matt?"

Matt twisted his mouth in thought, "I don't know," he looked around, "I haven't seen any tracks to speak of that I could follow."

Doc shook his head, "Maybe Festus can find something," Doc said as he watched the deputy combing the fields around the Boot Hill Cemetery.

"Maybe," Matt agreed, "Let's go and talk to Percy Crump to see if there's been anyone suspicions hanging around his work," he nudge Doc who was still watching the hill man.

Doc looked back to Matt, "Sure. That's a good plain Matt. To be honest, I don't think I could stand here much longer and watch my hard earned taxes at work!" he scoffed and followed Matt to his horse. With another look around, Doc climbed up into his buggy and sat down. He was trying to figure out why anyone would steal a body from a cemetery. He shook his head as he flicked his reins and Popcorn lurched forward.

The lawman and the town doctor pulled up in front of Percy Crump's Furniture and Undertaker's business. Matt stepped down out of his saddle and waited for Doc who took his time climbing down from his buggy. Percy saw the two men, "Marshal? Doc?"

Matt stood in the doorway of the building, "I guess you've heard by now," Matt said as he then stepped into the showroom with Doc in tow.

Percy nodded, "It's criminal!" he said in his strange way. His demeanor and voice were creepy enough not to mention his job. Matt nodded, "I know. You haven't had any unusual people stopping by or watching your business, have you?"

Percy wiped the wood stain from his hands, "No, marshal. Well at least not that I've noticed," he shrugged. Matt liked the undertaker. He was one of few men in town that would back him regardless of the situation. Despite his job, Crump was a decent man and believed in justice and God. Matt supposed the later was a necessity for the job he did.

"Have you any clues, marshal?" Crump asked as he wiped the cloth in his hand over the table top he was staining.

Matt sighed, "No, but Festus is still looking for tracks up near the cemetery. Perhaps he'll come up with something tangible," Matt smiled. "I'll let you get back to work," the marshal smiled and turned to the door. Doc looked unimpressed, "That got us far," he grunted.

"Well, what did you want me to do?" Matt inquired.

"Oh, I don't know, but there has to be something!" Doc grumbled as he walked back to his buggy.

Matt pursed his lips, "I know one thing we can do," he smiled.

"What?' Doc asked gruffly.

"Go see Kitty," matt's eyes sparkled.

Doc shook his head, "One day you'd better marry her, or I will!" he huffed as he climbed back up into this seat on the buggy. "I'll take my rig to the livery and meet you there,"

Matt smiled, "I'll have Kitty get a drink ready for you."

Doc cold only smiled as he flicked his reins and turned his horse down Front Street to the livery stable.

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Festus walked Ruth into his stall and watched Doc bring his buggy into the stable, "Doc?"

"Oh, hiya, Festus. Did you find anything?" the doctor asked as he stepped down from his rig.

Festus shook his head no, "I looked a nearly every blade of prairie grass up there on that hill and didn't see a blamed thag!" the hill man's twang was strong when he was disappointed.

Doc sighed, "We want to talk to Percy Crump and he hasn't a clue either."

Festus leaned over Ruth haunches, "What gets me, Doc, is why would anyone dig up someone that was dead?"

Doc didn't have an answer, "You know Festus. At his point your guess is as good as mind," he ticked his head. Festus shook his, "Sick, that's what it is. Plain ol-dy sick," he pulled his saddle off of his mule.

Doc smiled. He knew Festus well enough to know that this kind of thing upset him. The hill man had deep feelings, "Festus, once your done there, come over to the Long Branch. I'm going there now to meet with Matt and Miss Kitty," he said as he stepped to the door.

"Sure Doc," Festus stated and continued with Ruth.

Doc turned and started up the street and stepped up to the broadwalk which fronted several businesses including the general store. Doc stopped and looked in to the store to see Wilbur Jonas working on his books. Doc then took it upon himself to ask the mercantile owner a few questions as he seemed to have the pulse of the town at his fingertips, "Jonas," he said as he stepped down into the store.

"Oh, hello, Doc," Jonas said while looking up over his glasses. "Is there something I can do for you today?" he slowly stood straight and watched Doc.

Doc moved closer to the counter where Jonas stood, "Have you sold any shovels lately?"

"Shovels?" Jonas repeated.

"Yes, shovels. You know, for digging?" Doc motioned.

"Well, Doc. I know what a shovel is, but I haven't sold a shovel in months! No one is digging at this time of year," the store owner had a point. "Why? Is something wrong?"

Doc looked up at Jonas, "What? You haven't heard?" he said with surprise.

"No! What, Doc?" Jonas moved out from behind the counter and looked at Doc.

"There's been a grave robbery," Doc said in a hushed voice. Jonas' mouth dropped open, "That's down right despicable!"

Doc nodded, "That's one way to put it," he turned to leave and then stopped and turned back to face Jonas, "If you hear or seen anything, let me or Matt know, okay?"

"Oh, I will Doc. You can count on me," he smiled weakly as he couldn't get the thought of someone stealing a body out of his mind.