The Hanging

Chapter 3

Festus Haggen hunkered outside the connecting door to the jail cells, ear pressed close, eye squinting so hard he thought his eyeball might pop plumb outta his head, while he tried in vain to hear what ol' Doc and William Lucius had to say to each other inside. Dadblame it all, but that prisoner was as tight-lipped as a wayward preacher the day after a rootin' tootin' sportin' house bender. Lucius wouldn't tell why in the world he had kilt his own partner for love nor money. And Festus wasn't havin' a bit o' luck hearin' anything a'tall through that blasted wooden door, other than their words was gettin' a mite heated. Why in tarnation would Doc be a' arguin' with their prisoner?

"Festus!"

Festus jumped like a scalded cat. He shore could hear his own name hollered through that heavy door, especially when it was Doc a bellerin' like an old mule. "Hold yer horses!" he shouted peevishly back at Doc. Doc must be ready t' leave. And he was fit to be tied, as usual.

With a great jangling of keys and spurs, Festus retrieved Doc from William Leland Lucius's cell and escorted him out into the office.

Festus eyed Doc curiously, then tentatively ventured, "Doc..."

Doc quickly held up a hand and refused to look Festus in the eye. "Don't ask me anything, Festus, because I can't tell you anything."

"But, Doc, I was just a wonderin'..."

Doc held up both hands, and Festus could see the frustration writ plainly on his face. "I can't, Festus. I wish I could. But I can't..."

Festus watched his old friend shuffle out of the office and onto Front Street without another word or nary a backward glance.

-FoH-

As Matt strode down the boardwalk to the Marshal's office, he noticed Doc leaving and heading back to his own place. By the expression on his face, Doc was pretty unhappy about something. Sighing deeply, Matt fingered the yellow slip of paper in his hand again before angrily stuffing it into his vest pocket and walking on into the jailhouse.

When he entered he found Festus absently moving a broom around the floor, stirring up more dust and dirt than he was sweeping away. "Festus, why don't you put that thing away and fix us some coffee?" His tone allowed his deputy to know he wasn't in too good a mood.

Festus placed the broom against the wall and obediently went about stoking the stove and preparing the pot. "Matthew," he said as he worked. "I got me an idee that ol' Doc knows more about that yahoo in there than he's a lettin' on."

Matt glanced at the wooden door leading to the cells then back to his deputy with interest. "Did Doc say anything? I mean, did he tell you what he and Lucius talked about?"

"Naw," Festus grumbled. "He wouldn't tell me nary a word. Just claimed he couldn't say a dadblame thing."

Matt nodded. "Yeah, that's about what I thought. He won't talk to me either. I wish he would. It might make my job a little easier."

"What do ya mean by that, Matthew?" Festus asked, turning to look at the worried expression on the lawman's face.

"I just got a wire today, Festus," Matt answered gravely. "Judge Brooker won't be able to hear this case cause he's already got a major trial going on in Hays. Sheriff up there caught the Brady gang and they're holding all their trials up there."

"Ain't that the gang what's been raiding and robbing banks up thataways?" Festus asked, remembering the name.

Matt nodded. "Yeah it is. It seems each one of them has a lawyer and each lawyer is demanding a separate trial for his client. Judge Brooker is sending Judge Blint here and wants me handle the job of prosecution since he and the district prosecutor will be tied up in Hays."

Festus looked mournfully over at his friend. He knew how Matthew felt towards such things. "Wahl, cain't we trundle ol' Lucius back there up to Hays anyways and let 'em sit in their hoosegow till them other trials is over?"

Matt regretfully shook his head. "Nope," he answered resignedly. "Mr. Lucius back there is demanding a speedy trial and Judge Brooker is granting him that request. Judge Blint will be here in a couple of days and whether I like it or not, I'll have to prosecute him."

-FoH-