Doc studied the poster and the specific dates that the circus was to be in each town, "You know, I think I read about this circus the other day, in the newspaper," Doc pointed at the paper in front of him to make his point.

"Oh?" Matt replied with in question as his eyebrows arched upwards.

"Yeah," Doc ticked his head, "they were booted out of some place in Missouri a month or so ago," Doc said while twisting his mouth in thought. "I'm sure it's the same out fit," he grunted before he sipped from his beer mug.

"How do you know that is the same one Henry Haggen joined?" Matt asked.

"If I remember he was with that Paddy's Travelling Circus and was fired," Doc leaned on the bar and thought.

"Yes, but Paddy fired Henry and he found that lout Wilberforce Graham," Kitty added.

"Right," Matt added. "But I kicked Graham out of Dodge and Henry was going to stay with Hootie, wasn't he?" Matt asked.

Doc nodded, "He did for a bit, but then wanderlust got him again. The last time I spoke with Hootie, she said that Henry and that monkey of his had joined up with O'Hara's Big Top Circus," Doc ticked his head as he was certain he had his facts straight. "It think that was over two years ago," Doc concluded.

Matt frowned, "And you seem to recall something about O'Hara's circus, do you?" Matt leaned on the bar while studying the doctor's face. He could tell Doc was still thinking through facts. Doc's eyes shifted to Matt's – the doctor nodded, "yeah, but I just can't remember what it was," Doc twisted his mouth in thought.

"Was it to do with Henry?" Kitty asked.

"I can't recall," Doc said. "I'm sure I'd remember if a Haggen was involved!" he snorted with a grin on his face. Kitty looked at the doctor with a bemused look on her face.

Matt shook his head, "Well, I can't just stop them from coming here," he said. "Are you sure you can't remember what happened in Missouri?"

"Just give me a few minutes to think about that," Doc said as he drew his left hand across his moustache.

"Well don't take too long," Matt stated. "I need to calm Festus down," he said.

"Poor Festus," Kitty added.

"Poor everyone!" Doc quipped. Matt looked over to Kitty who also wore a perplexed look on her face. Matt knew there was bound to be trouble, and it looked like there was no immediate way to stop it. His only hope was to control it. "When is that circus due in Dodge?" he asked the doctor who was still studying the poster.

Doc was deep in thought. "Doc?" Matt asked.

Doc looked up, "What?" he said in a somewhat indignant manner, "I'm thinking don't you know!" he huffed.

"Well try not to hurt yourself," Matt snorted.

Doc's eyebrows knitted together as he drew a deep breath, "So, what is it?" he sputtered while looking at the marshal.

"What's the arrival date on that outfit," Matt asked as he tried to lean over the doctor's shoulder to look at the poster.

"Well it's right there, for Pete's sake," Doc pointed at the date printed on the bottom of the poster. Matt mumbled something. Doc shifted his look to the marshal, "What?"

"Nothing," Matt stood straight and then winked at Kitty, "Let me know when you remember what it is that you are trying to remember," he said as he began to leave the saloon. Doc watched Matt leave and then turned his attention to the redhead behind the bar, "What's so funny?"

Kitty smiled, "Don't let it worry you, Doc. Matt just called you a curmudgeon," she giggled. Doc frowned, "He should talk," the doctor grumbled.

Doc continued to ponder about the newspaper article while looking at the circus poster. Kitty had refilled his beer mug, as she figured the doctor was going to stay at the bar until he remembered what he was trying to remember. Doc narrowed his eyes in thought and then the popped open, "That's it!" he exclaimed almost causing Kitty and Sam to jump.

"What's it?" Kitty asked as she composer herself.

"A rogue elephant!" Doc said clicking his fingers.

"A what?" Kitty asked.

"The newspaper reported that an elephant went on a rampage. It said the animal somehow broke free of its chains and ran amok through Anderson, Missouri," Doc ticked his head.

'Oh, my," Kitty looked at the doctor and then over to the barkeep who wore an equally bemused look on his weathered face.

Doc took a long drink from his beer, "If I remember, that elephant ended up in the town's water hole and they had one heck of a time getting him out!" Doc laughed.

"Well, I wouldn't laugh too hard, Doc. That could happen here too!" Kitty reminded the doctor that the circus was coming to Dodge. Doc's facial expression changed from humourous to serious in a heartbeat. "You have a point," the doctor stated.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Matt stepped up onto the boardwalk in front of the general store, "Oh, hello marshal," Wilbur Jonas smiled and stopped placing apples in the basket on the shelf out in front of the store.

"Mr. Jonas," Matt said as he paused figuring that the store owner wanted to chat about something - he always did.

"Have you seen Festus?" Jonas asked.

"Yes. Why?" Matt asked.

"I asked him yesterday if he would take an order out to the Miller place. You know Herb can't get around on that leg of his," Jonas stated.

"Yeah, Doc told me how badly he cut it," Matt said. "Anyway, I think Festus is down at the jail house. I'll see that he runs that load out for you," Matt smiled.

"Thank you, marshal," the store owner resumed that he was busy doing. Matt turned and continued his journey toward the jail house to find his deputy.

Matt as crossed Front Street, he wove his way through the busy traffic of wagons, horses and pedestrians. He stepped up onto the boardwalk in front of the jail building and opened the door, "Festus?" he called out when he didn't see the hill man.

"I ain't comin' out!" Festus hollered from one of the holding cells at the back of the building. He'd locked himself in and threw the keys out onto the floor.

Matt pushed opened the wooden door, "What are you doing in there?" Matt said as he picked up the rink of keys.

"Protectin' myself!" the deputy's voice was more tinny than usual.

"From what?" Matt asked as he unlocked the iron-bar door and pulled it open.

Festus pulled the door shut again, "From that cousin of mine!" Festus exclaimed. "You'll jist have to get Newly to help you out," he said through the bars.

"The circus isn't here yet! And further more, you promised Mr. Jonas you would deliver some things out to the Miller's place," Matt stated with an air of dissatisfaction with Festus' actions.

"Wall, golly-bill, Matthew. You know what happens every time Henry comes to Dodge!" the deputy flapped his hands in the air as he wandered in circles within the cell.

"Yes I do, but I can't have half the citizens of Dodge in a panic before anything happens. If anything happens," Matt scolded the hill man while he stood tall and folded his arms across his chest.

Festus' shoulders slumped as he realized that Matt wasn't going to let me hide way for the next few days. Matt pulled the door open again and watched the beleaguered deputy walk past him out into the main office. Matt followed the deputy and just as he reached his desk, the door opened and Doc Adams stepped into the office.

Matt lowered himself into his chair, "You look like the cat that ate the canary," he said while looking up at the doctor.

"Humph," Doc grunted as he walked over and stood in front of the marshal's desk. "I wouldn't be so smug, if I were you," Doc said.

Huh?" Matt countered.

"I remembered why that circus was run out of town," Doc said as he ran his hand over his moustache and looked over to Festus. The hill man looked like a wild animal that had be caught and wanted to bolt out the door.

"Why?" Matt asked.

"Somehow and elephant got loose and rampaged through the town," Doc's eyes narrowed at Festus.

"Matthew, I'm tellin' ya," Festus started to back out the door, "trouble is comin'!" he sputtered before he turned and ran. Both Doc and Matt exchanged glances, "Hard-luck Henry," they said in unison.