The day wore on into a humid evening even thought the sky was clear and stars peeked out.

Doc had Newly sit with Louie for a spell while he got a chance to stretch his legs and get something to eat. On his way across Front Street from Delmonico's the stopped in at the Long Branch. "Hi, Kitty." He smiled and wearily stepped down onto the main floor of the saloon and walked toward the long bar.

"Oh, hiya Doc. How's Louie doing?" Kitty asked him over her books.

Doc swiped his hand across his moustache. "He's a tough old buzzard." He chuckled slightly. "I think he'll pull through just fine."

Kitty smiled. "Kind of reminds me of someone else." She winked.

Doc pulled himself straight and added a "pshaw" which caused Kitty to chuckle. "Can I buy you a drink?" She added.

"After that last remark, you most certainly can!" Doc half laughed and looked around the room. "Kinda empty in here ain't it?"

Kitty poured Doc's drink and corked the bottle. "It's been this way all day. Word got out that Louie knows who the killer is..."

Doc gulped a mouth full of whiskey and stared at Kitty. "Is Matt going to step up his patrols?"

"I don't know. Why?" Kitty poured herself a drink. Her face held an unusual air of unease with her question.

Doc sipped on his drink and set it down. "Well, just suppose that the killer finds out that Louie didn't die and that he Louie knows who he is..."

"Oh...I see your point." Was all Kitty could muster.

"You bet you do!" Doc retorted and continued with his drink.

Matt and Festus ambled up to the bar and stood next to Doc. Matt looked around the room. "Kinda empty in here tonight."

Both Kitty and Doc exchanged looks and then looked at Matt. "Yeah...I've heard that one before." Kitty said sarcastically. Doc just shrugged.

"My guessin' is that folks are a little dab scared to go out at night until we catch the feller that's bin doing all the murderin'." Festus looked very serious and scrunched his left eye while looking at Kitty, Doc and Matt.

"I think you're right Festus. The killing's aren't good for business, that's for sure." Kitty added. "Can I get you two a drink?" Kitty looked at Matt and Festus who both nodded yes.

"Thanks Miss Kitty." Festus cheerfully took the drink and downed it one swallow.

Doc looked past Matt at the sight. "Good heavens! People will think you were dying of thrust!" he barked at Festus who just smiled back.

"Well, I got to go. I told Newly I'd be back in an hour." Doc sputtered as he left the saloon.

"Let me know if you need anything, Doc." Matt called out to the doctor who nodded in acknowledgement before he stepped through the swinging doors.

"He sure get's himself wound up, don't he?" Festus spoke to no one in particular while examining his empty glass. Without a word Kitty filled the glass to end further idle conversation from Festus.

"Matt, Doc had a point earlier." Kitty looked concerned.

"Oh? What about?" Matt sipped at his drink.

"Well, he wondered if you were going to have mire men patrolling the streets now that word is out that Louie isn't dead and he knows who the killer is."

"I can try, but I know on thing, I'm not going to sleep until the killer is caught and behind bars." Matt's voice was filled with determination.