Festus yawned as he walked down Front Street, rattling doorknobs. Last round and then home to bed. The memory of his recurring nightmare rose before him and he shivered and looked up the street, wondering if Doc was still awake. He was heading back the way he came when he heard a low whistle from an alley. The deputy's hand drifted to his gun. "Who's there?"

"Festus Haggen?"

"That's right. Who are you?"

A man came forward into the light. He was tossing something up and down and as Festus peered at him he grinned and suddenly threw it to the deputy. Festus caught it automatically, his eyes widening as he realized it was a United States marshal's badge. The stranger drew his gun at the look on the deputy's face. "You can see we got something to talk about."

Festus scowled. "I can see I'm gonna squish you like a bug if'n any harm's come to the man this here badge b'longs to."

The stranger's grin widened. "Your friend's all right. What we want to talk to you about is keeping him that way." He gestured with the gun. "Drop your gunbelt."