Matt signed, "I just wish we knew why Mr. Wilson, here, killed himself."
Doc Adams walked solemnly to the door and sighed, "I suspect he killed Seth," he looked back at the other men.
"But why?" Doc Baker asked.
Matt stepped forward, "That may never be found out now," he stood next to Doc Adams.
The Dodge City doctor then spotted something that caught his eyes, "Matt, look," he pointed to Wilson's boots.
"What?" Matt asked as he looked at the boots but clearly not knowing what the doctor meant.
"Blood," Doc Adams said as he picked up one of Wilson's boots, "and enough of it to be consistent with such a brutal stabbing, wouldn't you agree, Doctor Baker?"
Baker walked over to Doc Adams and picked up the other boot, "It certainly is. That's an awful lot of blood and it's not that old either," Baker pointed out.
Matt looked at the boots and then to both doctors, "So you both think Tucker killed Seth?"
"I'd testify to that fact. That document has a missing corner, which was on the victim's body, and will all this blood…"
"I think its time we had a talk with Mr. Mason," Matt said sternly.
Sheriff Smith agreed, "Lets ride over to his place right now. It's the Reverend's only chance," Smith said as he walked out the door.
"I couldn't agree more," Baker said and followed the sheriff.
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Hank tried to quell the flames, but they were too strong and eating ferociously at the old wood in the factory.
Reverend Alden fought against the ropes and was almost free before his chair toppled sideways. Hank looked over his shoulder through the smoke and watched the preacher struggling to get free. ÒBrian dropped the singed blanket and ran over to Alden's side.
Sheer panic where on both of their faces, and even Hank had difficulty untying the rope as the flames crept even closer. Alden didn't have to tell Hank to hurry it up, the man was doing his best and finally succeeded.
Hank pulled Alden to his feet and the two men raced to a door at the far side of the room. Hank slammed his shoulder into the door several times but it wouldn't budge. He didn't realize that a large wooden crate had been placed against years earlier. He looked at the Reverend with his eyes wide open, "What do we do now?" he yelled as the roar of the fire and crashing timbers filled the room.
Another large beam crashed down blocking their way to the front of the factory. Reverend Alden looked around the factory through the smoke and spotted another door, "Over there," he choked on the smoke and pulled Hank away from the closed door.
The men scurried to the other door and as they approached it another burning timber crashed down clipping Hank and sending him sprawling to the floor. Alden stopped in his tracks and turned back to help Hank. He kicked at the timber that pinned ÒBrian to the floor. O'Brian's face wore a desperate look as he tried to push the lumber away as the flaming end crept close to him.
Reverend Alden didn't have much success at moving the timber but he had to help Hank. His intense blue eyes scanned the area and found a canvas sheet which he used to halt the flames from moving further up the wood - it wasn't much but bought him some time fore him to find something to pry the timber up enough for Hank to pull himself free.
Revered Alden knelt down next to Hank, "Hank, are you all right?"
Hank groaned, "I think my leg is broken," he looked down at the beam that fell on him.
Alden almost cursed, "Hang on. I have to find a way to lift that timber," the Reverend said as he stood looking around for something to use as a pry-bar.
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Sheriff Smith led Matt, and the two doctors back to town to confront Wallace Mason and tell him that it was Tucker Wilson who killed Seth, and not the Reverend Alden.
As the men got closer they could see the glow in the sky, "Matt look!" sheriff Smith pointed, "Something big is on fire!"
Matt looked at the sheriff, "Mason gave us twenty-four hours, so we can deal with him later. Lest see what's burning," Matt spurred his horse, followed by the others.
The sound of the fire bells could be heard in the distance.
The men soon arrived at the factory to find Wallace Mason sitting on a crate watching the fire.
Matt quickly stepped down off his horse and walked toward Mason. Mason stood quickly and drew his gun on the marshal. Matt stopped, "What's going on here?" he growled at Mason.
"I'm just finishing what I started!" Mason laughed manically as he glared at Matt.
"Good Lord!" Baker said as he stepped down, "I bet this is where he was holding Reverend Alden!" the doctor walked forward and gapped at the inferno.
"Is that true?" matt snapped.
"That doctor is a bright man!" Mason continued to laugh.
Matt balled up his fist and move swiftly toward mason knocking the gun from his hand and then he hit Mason with a hard right, knocking him to the ground.
Sheriff Smith, Doctor Adams and Doctor Baker searched for a way into the building, but the flames were too intense.
Matt pulled Wallace Mason to his feet and grabbed him gruffly by the lapels of his vest and shook him violently, "You better be a praying man because Reverend Alden was entirely innocent in the murder of Seth!"
Mason's eyes were wide with trepidation, "I don't believe you!" he stammered.
"Then maybe you'd like to explain why Tucker Wilson had this on him tonight!" Matt yelled at Mason and showed him the deed. "The corner of this document was found on Seth's body. Tucker Wilson's boots are covered in blood and both doctors here; agree that it was Tucker that killed Seth. He had the height and the strength to stab Seth the way he was. Not the Reverend!" Matt growled and continued to shake Mason.
Mason's mouth hung open; "I don't believe that Tucker would have done that." he gulped, "you're lying to me! I saw the Reverend with the knife!"
Matt was so angry he hit Mason again sending him to the ground. The marshal looked over to sheriff Smith, "Get this, this, scum out of here!" he ordered the sheriff.
The fire brigade arrived and men quickly unrolled hoses and began to pump the water onto the fire when a large section of the front wall and roof collapsed forcing them back.
Doctor Baker's eyes filled with tears, as he feared the worst. Doc Adams placed his hand on the doctor's shoulder and squeezed it gently, "I'm sorry, Hiram," his own voice choked with emotion. Baker drew his hands up in prayer in front of his mouth praying that his friend was safe, but the situation looked grim. The night sky was glowing oranges and reds, as sparks drifted up into the blackness.
Matt, Doc Adams, and Doc Baker continue to watch as the firemen tried again to battle the flames. Matt lowered his head. He'd grown to really like the Reverend and he realized that he let the man down.
Firemen were running everywhere trying to contain the blaze. Matt drew a deep breath and stopped one of the men that looked like he was the captain of the brigade, "Pardon me," Matt said.
"What is it?" the man was clearly in a hurry.
"There was at least one man inside the building. We don't know his whereabouts," Matt informed the captain.
"Mister, if anyone was in there, I wouldn't give them a snowball's chance in hell. Sorry," the captain said solemnly before returning to what he was doing.