Festus crashed through the swinging doors of the Longbranch, glared around the room, then pounded on the bar. "Sam! Gimme a bottle'a whiskey!" The bartender brought a bottle and a glass and Festus pulled the cork with his teeth and spit it across the room. He poured a shot, gulped it down, and snarled, "That ain't no proper drinkin' whiskey! Ain't you got no more Tow's Lightnin'?"
Kitty had observed the hillman's behavior thus far without saying anything, but now she approached him and asked severely, "Festus, what in the world is the matter with you?"
He whipped around so fast she felt an instant of alarm, but then he hung his head. "Oh, Miss Kitty, I don't mean to be unmannersome. I just come from that...that marshal's, and I'm so mad I could smoke a pickle."
Kitty looked at Sam. "Can you get us some coffee?"
"I don't have any made but I could go to Delmonico's."
"That's fine, Sam." The bartender left and she patted Festus on the shoulder. "Now why don't you sit down and tell me about it. What's this about Matt?"
"Ain't nothin' to tell, Miss Kitty." The hillman slumped against the bar. "He locked up Alibi tighter'n a tick and he's holdin' him for the judge."
He reached for the bottle of whiskey and Kitty laid a gentle hand on his arm. "Festus, why don't you wait for the coffee? Getting drunk isn't going to help your cousin. Come on, let's go sit down."
He allowed her to lead him to a table and when she reached for a chair he pulled it out for her. Sam came back in with a pot of coffee, the three Dooleys slinking behind him. They gathered at a table next to the door while the bartender brought the coffee to Kitty.
She smiled at him. "Thanks, Sam."
He smiled back. "You're welcome, Miss Kitty."
He went back to the bar and Kitty poured a cup and handed it to Festus. "There you go, Festus."
The hillman took a swallow, then set the cup down and said miserably, "Miss Kitty, right now I'm feelin' lower'n a snake what's been through a wringer. Here my cousin comes to me for help and now he'll prob'ly get a year in jail..." He slammed his hand on the table. "I cain't even take over for him 'cause the marshal got all Alibi's personals in his desk and he says he's keepin' everythin' there till the trial. Says it's ev'dence and he won't turn it loose till the judge can eyeball it and then mebbe I can have it." Festus' voice rose angrily. "That judge ain't gonna be here for two weeks and I tolt him that'd be too late but he didn't pay me no heed a'tall!"
Kitty did her best to soothe Festus as Sam watched from the bar. Unnoticed, the Dooleys slipped out the door.
