Matt sat and listened to Reverend Royden Schermerhorn as he told the marshal about his healing show and his wonder medicine. Matt had heard just about enough, "So you are telling me that these imps are the bad souls you removed from people and that you lock them away and only use them as demonstrations," the marshal stated.

"Now you understand," Schermerhorn smiled and patted Matt on the knee.

Matt ticked his head, "Well, not entirely and I doubt that the folks of Dodge are going to believe it either," he stated.

"They had better. Your deputy set them loose and until I find them there will be trouble," Schermerhorn warned.

Matt frowned, "I'm sure I can handle it," he said as he stood, as much as he could in the caravan. "I'll see myself out," the marshal stated as he looked the reverend in the eyes. Clearly Schermerhorn was angry with the marshal's lack of credence in what he had just told him. "I've warned you marshal. You will have trouble on your hands," Schermerhorn said while trusting his right index finger into the air.

Matt opened the door and looked back at the old man, "I'll take the chance," he stated as he stepped down from the caravan.

Festus didn't see Matt as he was busy whittling a stick; it was the sound of the door closing that got the deputy's attention, "Matthew?" he said as he quickly stood up from the wooden crate he was sitting on.

"Let's go Festus," Matt strongly suggested and began to walk back to town.

Festus folded his pocket knife and slipped it into his vest pocket and quickly caught up to the marshal, "What happened in there?" he asked as he thumbed over his shoulder toward the caravan.

"I'll tell you once were away from here," Matt said as he quickly looked over at the hill man. Festus made a face and didn't particularly like the fact that Matt wasn't telling him anything right away. Festus frowned and walked quietly back to Dodge with the marshal.

Wilbur Jonas was out in front of his store when he spotted the marshal and deputy walking up the street. He wasn't entirely sure what to make of the looks on their faces, so he stopped sweeping the boardwalk and waited until they got closer.

Matt saw the store owner and paused, "I better talk to Jonas," he said to Festus as he began to walk toward the general store.

"Well, Matt, that did you find?" Jonas asked straight out.

Matt drew a deep breath, "Not much I'm afraid," he said casting a look over his shoulder to the end of town where the large white tent was almost erected.

"And what does that mean? What about my cufflinks?" Jonas sputtered as he pointed back into his store.

Matt held his right hand up and stopped the store owner from asking any more questions.

Jonas grew flustered.

"I actually didn't get a chance to ask Schermerhorn about the cufflinks. I still think someone else stole them and, Jonas, I will find out who did," Matt said. There was an edge to the marshal's tone that Jonas knew well enough to leave alone, "Fine," he said and with a huff continued to sweep the boardwalk in front of his store.

Matt glanced over to Festus and ticked his head toward the Long Branch Saloon. Neither man said anything as they walked away from the general store. "Imps," Jonas grunted as he looked and watched Matt and Festus step through the swing door of the establishment.

Kitty and Doc remained at the table they sat at. Both of them looked up as Matt and Festus walked across the floor, "So?" Kitty asked as Matt stopped next to her. Festus had already eased onto the chair Jonas vacated.

Matt shook his head and shrugged, "There isn't much to say. Schermerhorn is sticking with this imp story," the marshal said as he slowly lowered himself onto the chair next to Kitty. He pushed his hat back, slightly on his head.

"Imps my foot!" Festus snarled from across the table.

"What about Jonas' cufflinks?" Doc asked.

Matt huffed, "I'll find out who stole them," he stated. "In the mean time I don't want mass panic about these so called imps. If any of you hear of anyone talking about them brush it off as a carnival hoax," he stated.

Doc dew his hand across his moustache, "That might be easier said than done, Matt," he added a tick of his head.

Matt looked at the doctor who wore a strange look on his face, "Why do you say that, Doc?" he grunted at the doctor noting his lack of support.

"You know how folks are. They jump on and off the band wagon all the time. You could see it in their eyes while Schermerhorn's wagons rolled down Front Street. They are hungry for something and being how it is autumn, they'll seek what entertainment or whatever you want to call it to tide them through the winter," Doc stated.

"Doc's right, Matt," Kitty chimed in. "How often does a show like that come through Dodge?" she shrugged. "These people will swallow it all," she said.

Matt frowned, "I don't know what kind of a show he puts on, but he sure has a cast of characters working for him. They've already set up a large tent at the edge of town," he said.

"How long is he planning on staying?" Kitty asked.

"He says how ever long it takes to find the imps," Matt half laughed. "He said they are the bad souls of people he's healed," he stated and shook his head.

"Bad souls of people he's heal!" Festus repeated with his eyebrows lifting to the sweatband of his ragged hat.

Matt nodded, "That's what Schermerhorn said," he stated while looking at the deputy.

"Matthew, if them imps are real, and they are bad souls, we're in for a heap of trouble!" the hill man stated with certainty.

Kitty's eyebrows knitted together, "Festus, you look worried!"

The hill man nodded, "And ifin' you knew, you'd be worried too," he said as he stood up from the table, poking his right index finger onto the table top. "I better find out just what these imps look like," stated. "We can't have them in Dodge!" he stated while flailing his arms around out of sheer panic.

Doc, Matt and Kitty exchanged looks as they watched the deputy squawk all the way out to the street.

"What on earth is that all about?" Doc asked as he looked over to Matt and drew his hand across his moustache followed by a tick of his head.

"I don't know, but I know for a fact he's not going to get anything from Schermerhorn," Matt sighed.