Festus walked along the boardwalk and was met by Barney from the telegraph office, "Festus. This just came in for you. It's from the Marshal." Barney handed the slip of paper over to the deputy. Festus took the telegram and looked at it, "If Doc were here, he'd help me read it..." Festus said as he rotated the paper in his hands hoping to make some sense of the words.

Barney shook his head, "Doc is right, you should learn to read in your position as deputy." The telegraph agent whisked the paper from Festus' hands and looked at it. "It says," Barney cleared his throat, "Doc at KSP. Heading home now. Must talk about trial. Stop." Barney sighed, "So Doc is in prison..."

Festus frowned, "Surely sounds like it," he said as he took the telegraph back from Barney, "Miss Kitty outta know..." the deputy said as he slowly walked away.

It was nearing nine o'clock in the evening and the summer's twilight sky was dimming as the Dodge City deputy walked up the boardwalk to the Long Branch Saloon. Festus paused outside the swing doors and listened to the laughter and chatter that came from within. Normally he'd pop through the doors and find Kitty and likely Doc engaged in a conservation of sorts - usually something well out of his league but he never cared as long as he was with his friends. Festus sighed as he finally pushed through the doors. The weight of the telegram seemed to slow him with each step as he dreaded the thought of Miss Kitty reading it.

Sam was leaning on the long bar talking to Kitty when he spotted Festus, "What's wrong with Festus?"

Kitty looked up from her drink and her eyebrows arched, "I don't know, but it looks bad..." she added as her eyebrows relaxed. Kitty walked from the end of the bar, where she usually stayed and met Festus part way, "Festus, you look terrible."

Festus looked up into Kitty's blue eyes, "I feel terrible too, Miss Kitty." Slowly Festus handed the telegraph to Kitty. "Barney says this is from Matthew."

Kitty looked over to Sam who had moved down the bar opposite Kitty and Festus, "What's it say, Miss Kitty?" the barkeep's baritone voice was filled with concern. Kitty looked up to Festus before she opened the paper up to read it. Somehow she already knew. Kitty slowly opened the telegram and gulped as she read it. Sam still leaned over the bar and strangely the Long Branch Saloon had fallen silent. Kitty turned to the bar and wept into her hands - she just could believe all this was happening to Doc.

Sam looked over to Festus who stood awkwardly in the middle of the floor, "It's about Doc, isn't it?" the barkeep asked about the contents of the message. Festus nodded and turned to leave, "Don't go, Festus. Please..." Kitty said through her tears. A lump formed in the deputy's throat, "I'll stay Miss Kitty..." he moved next to her at the bar and gently place his weathered hand on her forearm in a show of support while she continued to sob.

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Sarah Williamson sat in the living room of the farm house and stared at the floor where her husband died. It was an odd feeling for her, as she really just wanted more freedom to do things and yet Tobias' old world ways forbade her to do anything like that. She hated him in the end for that, but not enough to see him dead - or did she - that is what puzzled her the most. If it wasn't for Doc's visits over her so-called aches, she may have done him in herself. A shiver ran up her spine as she thought of Doc and the trial. She saw the looked of distraught on the doctor's face. However, she then remembered Josh and his threats. Her stomach flipped in confusion and she pulled her hands to her mouth and cried.

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The head guard spoke to Doc and told him how things were run at Kansas State Penitentiary. It was known as the Auburn System or "silent system" where inmates would eat together, work together and then sleep in their own cells. The inmates were also put to hard work on constructing the limestone dinning hall and were not, under any circumstances allowed to talk to one another - not even to the guards. Eye contact was also forbidden. The guards communicated with the inmates using cane-like sticks, called tapping sticks. Each tap and the number of taps meant something. Everywhere the men went would be in a lock step where each inmate held the shoulder of the one in front and marched at close steps. The guard also said the Warden, Henry Hopkins, was a caring man and appalled harsh punishment unless it was due. He warned the doctor that the routine was somewhat monotony and that the rules of discipline were rigid and strictly adhered to. Truly this system was ment to strip a man of his soul in hopes of rehabilitation.

Doc swallowed at the flood of information and after a quick sandwich for supper, Doc was lead down a hall into the cell block. The multi tired holding cells made the doctor sick inside. Each cell on the three floors held a man who was convicted of some crime and was now to live out his life. It was almost mind boggling to Doc as he was lead to his own cell. The guard opened the iron barred door and Doc stepped through into the small room. He didn't want to look back at the door being locked behind him - it was a loud metal click and Doc shook inside.

The sound in the building was of total silence. Only the sounds of the leather souls of the guard's boots could be heard as he walked down the corridor. It was eerie and surreal to the Dodge City doctor as he now realized just how upside down his world had become.