Before Matt could get to the jail house, Doc had called him up to his office, as Jonas was coming to. Of course the store owner's health was paramount, but so was whatever information he could supply about the robbery and hoe he came to be being beaten, shot in the back and left for dead.
Matt looked down at Jonas' bruised and swollen face, "How are you doing?" he asked with concern in his tone. Jonas blinked and looked around him, trying to get his faculties, but once he saw the doctor and the pain in his shoulder rippled though his chest, he resigned to the fact that he was alive and in Doc's office. Jonas took his time in answering, "I hurt everywhere," he whispered. Not only was he angry, he was deeply embarrassed having been caught off guard like he was.
Matt nodded in understanding, "What can you tell me about last night?" he asked leaning slightly on the examination table.
Jonas tried to wet his lips, "Doc, can I have some water?" he asked. The doctor nodded and quickly poured the store owner a glass of water then assisted him with it by supporting his head and shoulder. Jonas looked somewhat more satisfied as he lay his head back down on the examination table, "I think I know who did it, but I can't be sure," he stated. "I thought I recognized the gun, but surely more than one model of that exists here in Dodge," he stated.
"What else?" Matt asked.
"There was only one man - strong. He caught me out side of the store, forced me in and took everything from the cash draw before prodded me out to the alley where he beat me and took everything of value," he lofted his head and looked down at his left hand, "I'm thankful he left my ring," he said, blinking his eyes. Matt nodding as he listened. "He then left me for a moment, maybe he was trying to count the money, and I tried to get away but that's all I can remember," he concluded.
Matt pursed his lips in thought, "That's good. It's more than I had before," he said and was about to leave when Jonas stopped him. "I sold a gun to a fellow yesterday morning when he and his friend were in my store. It could have been him, he but had his face covered," he said. Matt's mind immediately jumped to Farley Sutton and his friend Charlie Hayton, "Thanks Jonas. Get some rest," he said looking the weary store owner. He then looked at the doctor who nodded in approval.
Matt walked down the stairs and looked around the street hoping to get a glimpse of Sutton or Hayton, but neither man was to be seen. They were now higher on his list of suspects and thought to rise out to see Morgan Thompson. He started to walk toward the livery stable when he heard his name being called from up the street.
Abner Miles was shouting for him and running as quickly as his arthritic legs would carry him. Matt turned and strolled quickly to join Miles, "What is it?" he asked, allowing Abner to catch his breath.
The old man held out his hand holding the gold watch, "Its Jonas'" he huffed.
Matt picked the watch out of the pawnbroker's hand and studies it, "How do you know it's Jonas'?" he then asked as side from the engraving on the case.
"I've seen Jonas pull that out of his vest pocket a hundred times at out club meetings, so he could get home to Ellen on time," Miles stated. Matt's eyes narrowed, "Where did you get this?" he asked curtly.
"Two fellas came into my shop about half an hour ago and pawned it off for twenty dollars and he claimed he won it in a card game last night," Miles said. "They looked like drovers to me. I've never seen them around before," he added.
Matt was clearly upset as his eyes scanned the street further, "Did you get their names?" he then asked, looking Miles in the eyes.
Abner nodded, "Sutton. Farley Sutton," he said.
Matt's jowls clenched tight, "Thanks," he said looking back up to the doctor's office thinking about Jonas being back-shot. He left the pawnbroker standing in the middle of the street, "What about the money?" he called after the marshal who never responded.
Matt opened the door and walked back over to the store owner, "Jonas?" he tried to ask while controlling his emotions.
Jonas' eyes slowly opened. At first he looked at the doctor thinking it was him asking for him, but then his pale blue eyes looked over to Matt.
"Is this your pocket watch?" Matt asked holding the watch out for the store owner to take it. Jonas pulled it close to his face but without his eyeglasses he couldn't see it all that clearly, but he recognised the feel and the sound it made. He strained his eye that wasn't swollen and nodded, "Yes," he said. "That's my watch," he again relaxed.
Matt drew a breath, "Farley Sutton," he said looking at the doctor. Now Doc knew Matt had it in for Sutton after last year's incident, but he couldn't see Sutton doing something so stupid as to beat up the store owner for money and his watch. "Matt, you'd better slow this down. That doesn't make sense," the doctor cautioned.
Matt stepped close to the doctor, "According to Abner Miles, Sutton walked into his shop this morning to hock this watch, which he claimed to have won in a card game. Now what kind of game would play for watches?" he asked the doctor.
"Well you have me there," Doc said with a quick swipe of his hand across his moustache as he watched Matt leave the office. Doc sighed and went to check on Jonas who was once again unconscious.
Matt practically stormed down the stairs in search of Farley Sutton. He paused on the boardwalk in front for the closed general store, his eyes scanning the street when he stopped Sutton and Hayton entering the Dodge House Hotel. Matt drew a deep breath and walked with purpose across the street, and anyone that noticed, quickly moved out of the way.
Matt quickly entered the hotel and looked around – suddenly an air of unease came over the room as most patrons in the lobby could see that the marshal was looking for someone, and word of the brutal attack on Jonas from last night flamed a fire.
Matt walked to the desk, "Farley Sutton," he asked Howie in a hushed voice.
"Room three, top floor," Uzzell mumbled – he hated confrontation in his hotel.
Matt took the stairs two at a time and reached the hallway with Sutton's room. He looked around and wet his lips, ad he placed his right hand on his gun – he could hear the men laughing and all he could think about was Jonas laying on the table in Doc's office. He rapped the door hard with this left hand and the laugher stopped.
Farley looked at Charlie and shrugged, "I wonder who it could be," he said as he reached the door and opened it, to face the marshal. "Hi, marshal," his smiled weakened as Matt entered the room, "Drop your guns," he ordered, pulling his gun from his holster.
Sutton and Hayton frowned and looked at each other, not knowing what they had done, "Now marshal, I don't know what this is all about, but we've done nothing wrong." Sutton stated.
"Robbing a man and back shooting him is nothing wrong?" Matt growled as he spotted the new gun on the table.
"Now what on earth are you talking about? I mean if you want us to leave town because of last year we will, but back-shooting and robbery?" Sutton stammered.
Matt pulled the gold watch from his pocket, "This should serve to remind you," he snarled.
Charlie looked frantically over to his friend. Farley's jaw dropped open, "I won that in a card game," he sputtered.
"Uh, huh," Matt said. "Now drop your guns.
Farley looked over to Charlie, "I don't know what this is about," he said then looking back to Matt as he and Hayton lowered their gun belts to the floor.
"I guess then we have a lot to talk about," Matt motioned to the door with his gun. Both men were headed to the jail house.