Schermerhorn stood out front of the Long Branch and sighed, "I'll have to keep Casper under wraps," he said to himself as he looked around the street which was slowly winding down from the day. He spotted the store owner out in front if the general store and decided to talk to the man to see what his take was on the robberies.
The old man tugged gently on his waistcoat and walked across the alley toward Wilbur Jonas, "Good evening, sir," Schermerhorn smiled.
Jonas looked up from the bushel basket of apples he was moving back into his store. The store owner stopped what he was doing and stood up to face the preacher, "I'm not sure I believe in your imps or not, but there has been two thefts since you have been in Dodge," Jonas challenged Schermerhorn.
"I assure you that if my imps are in anyway responsible, I will take full responsibility for their actions," the old man said reassuringly.
"Ha!" Jonas snorted. "Just like you took control of Festus, I bet," Jonas said shaking his head and bending to pick up the basket.
"Now there is no call for that," Schermerhorn growled.
Jonas slowly stood up and looked at the old man in the eyes, "I don't trust you or your magic medicine show," he said in a low calm voice.
Schermerhorn frowned, "I see," he said in a huff.
"I'm glad you do," Jonas concluded as he again stooped down to get the basket of apples before turning away and leaving Schermerhorn standing out front of his store.
The reverend scowled at the store owner, "That might just cost you a little more, Mr. Jonas," he said under his breath before turning away and heading back to the caravans; the old man scowled all the way back.
Casper sat with a few other members of the travelling magic medicine show, and noticed Schermerhorn's demeanour as he approached the camp, "I don't think things went well," the little man said as he sipped some mash from the enamelled tin cup.
"Someone is in for it," one of the performers said in a hushed voice.
Schermerhorn walked toward the small group while they remained seated around the camp fire for warmth and company. Slowly the old man lowered himself on the crate he had occupied earlier in the evening, "There will be more imps," he said starring into the fire. "And these ones will pack a wallop," he said sternly lifting his eyes to Casper.
Casper knew what Schermerhorn meant and slowly nodded.
"I need you to lay low for a while too, Casper," the old man said. "The marshal and the deputy believe they are tracking a young boy for this afternoon's robbery. I don't want them to connect you to it," he stated. Again Casper nodded.
"What about the other robbery?" Casper finally asked.
"The store owner is suitably upset, but he, I think, will have an occasion to be even more so," Schermerhorn's eyes narrowed. "He told me to my face that he doesn't trust me or my show," he said with a quick tick of his head. "I guess I need to make a believer out of him," he smiled and looked back at the fire.
Casper made a face in thought, "He seemed to be a reasonable man," the little man said, "He might be hard to change," Casper said.
"I suspect so, but I think I can get around that," Schermerhorn smiled. The old man then looked over to one of the other men sitting at the fire, "Red, I want you to find out more about what is at the shipping office," he said and Red nodded. His eyes then shifted to another man, "Cedric, I'd like for you to pay Mr. Jonas a visit tomorrow and have a good look around at what he has in his store. I'll make plans after that," Schermerhorn smiled wickedly.
The man nodded, "Considerate it done," he smiled as he sipped on the mash.
"Dodge won't know what hit it in two days time," Schermerhorn slowly stood. "Don't stay up too late," he said looking at his men. "We have a lot of work to do tomorrow," the old man said as he turned toward his caravan for the night.
Schermerhorn glanced back over his shoulder once he stepped up into his wagon. He noted that the men were talking amongst themselves, and if he knew them the way he did, they were discussing their chores for the next day. With a satisfied smiled, the old man closed the door behind him and went to bed.
Matt strolled up Front Street and reached the general store just as Jonas locked the door, "I hope you made sure the back door is also locked," Matt couldn't help but take a poke at the store owner.
Jonas turned and looked flustered, "Certainly I did. I checked it three times, but now you've made me paranoid," the store owner said as he inserted his key back in the door.
"I'm sure you did." Matt smiled and patted Jonas on the shoulder. "I was just joking with you," he stated.
"Well, it isn't that funny," Jonas snapped back.
"I know. Sorry," the marshal said with an impish grin on his face. "Come over to the Long Branch and I'll buy you a drink," he offered.
Jonas twisted his lips in thought; "Alright, sure," he finally said and put his keys back into his coat pocket. Slowly a smile curled under his white moustache.
The two men made idol talk as they walked to the saloon until Matt got to the part about the robbery, "I still don't have any leads on that youth we're looking for," Matt said as he stepped through the swing door of the Long Branch. He heard Jonas sigh behind him.
Doc and Kitty looked up at the door, watching Matt and Jonas walking toward them, "It doesn't look like Jonas' demeanour has improved any," Kitty stated.
"He'll be like that until Matt get to the bottom of the robberies," Doc added with a slight tick of his head. Kitty agreed before welcoming the men to the table, "Good evening," she smiled up into the faces of Matt and then Jonas.
"Anything on the robbery suspect," Doc asked Matt, but before Matt had a chance to answer, Jonas shook his head no.
"I've even gone out to some ranches and asked around," Matt stated. "Who ever did it must still be in town," the marshal concluded.
"It sure is peculiar," Doc said as he looked down into his empty glass. "You would think that a youngster would be more interested in candy sticks than watches and necklaces," the physician commented.
Jonas' eyebrows lifted, "You have a very good point there, Doc," he said looking across the table to the doctor and then to Matt.
"Well, I've thought about that too, Doc. But if that youngster was taught or told to steal more expensive things, that is what he'd target," Matt said.
Jonas frowned, "Damn. I thought we were on to something," he sighed. Kitty patted the store owner on the forearm and then motioned to Sam to bring more glasses and a bottle to the table. Sam nodded.