Matt guided the small group of men to the mine entrance. They all stopped outside the dark entrance and dismounted. Thankfully the sun was shining and the temperature was more reasonable than it had been for the past few weeks.

Doc walked into the mine followed by Percy Crump, the marshal and finally Clarence. Percy Crump stood over the dead man, "He's been dead for some time. It seems that the conditions in the mine have been sufficient to mummify him," Crump said as he examined the body closer.

Doc knelt down and leaned over the dead man, "How long do you think he's been here?" he looked up into Percy Crump's dark brown eyes. "Oh, more than a year, I would think. I'm surprised that predators and insects haven't finished him off," Crump said as he stood. "I'll get the stretcher from the wagon," he solemnly said.

Doc stood up and brushed the dust from his knee. "We'll have a good look at Isaac once we get back to Dodge. Hopefully he can shed some light on how he died, and when," Doc said.

Crump returned with the stretched and layed it on the ground next to the corpse. Cox moved forward and assisted the undertaker with moving the body. They were both surprised at how little he weighed - neither man said a word as they lifted the stretcher up and walked out to the wagon.

Matt looked over to the doctor who watched the other two men, "This isn't going to be pleasant," he stated. "I don't envy you, Doc," Matt said as he patted the doctor on the back as he left the mine. Doc slowly followed - it was like a funeral procession and rightly so the doctor thought.

There was a silence over the men as they calmly climbed up to their rides back to Dodge. Slowly they left the mine with hopes of finding some evidence or truth to Isaac Talbot's demise.

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Festus halted his horse just east of the Miller property and held Newly back. They were hidden by the grove of trees. The hill man stepped down and moved slowly and cautiously toward the entrance to the farm. Festus adjusted his hat and stepped a few more steps when he spotted Harvey Miller who was attempting to chop wood. The deputy also noted that there was a shotgun within reaching distance. Festus twisted his mouth in thought as he watched the old farmer hacking at the wood.

Newly had stepped down from his horse and joined Festus, "What ae you doing?" he whispered into Festus' ear. The deputy jumped and glared at the gunsmith, "Are you trying to get me killed?" he said in a hushed but angered voice.

Newly held back a smiled and shook his head no, "No. I am just wondering why you are waiting," the part-time deputy stated.

"You see that hog-leg he has next to the stump?" Festus pointed to the shotgun.

"Oh," Newly commented. The gunsmith's eyes scanned the remainder of the homestead and he then nudged Festus and pointed, "There's Ruth," he said with a whisper.

Festus scrunched up his right eye, "That Harvey Miller needs his face smoothed out with my fist," he said through his clenched teeth and began to move. Newly grabbed Festus by the arm, "Are you trying to get yourself killed?" he looked at the hill man.

Festus was seething, "I want to get that yahoo back to Dodge where Matthew can kick his behind right into the next county," he said in a low but angered tone.

"Now Festus," Newly warned, "you said the marshal didn't want any altercations."

"Alter-who?" Festus looked at Newly.

Newly rolled his eyes, "Fights. The marshal doesn't want any fights. You said so yourself," Newly warned.

"I know I did. But lookin' at ole Ruth over there, just gets my blood a-boilin'," the hill man glared at Miller.

Newly straightened his back, "Let's just walk into the yard and ask him to come along," the gunsmith suggested.

"Are you out of yer head?!" Festus asked as the stood and looked Newly in the eyes. "He knows he's up to his britches in trouble and he ain't gonna take lightly the fact we're standing in his yard askin' him to come along back to Dodge with us," Festus said with a sweeping motion.

Newly had a strange look on his face, "I don't think we have to bother asking," he stated as his eyes shifted to Harvey Miller who was now standing behind Festus with the shotgun.

Festus swallowed hard and slowly raised his hands. He watched Newly's eyes with intense concentration. Newly gave a quick nod just as Miller looked down to pull Festus' gun from his holster.

Festus brought his elbow up with a quick jab, catching Harvey Miller under the chin, sending the farmer backwards and into the brush. Newly quickly pulled his gun from his holster and aimed it that the old farmer, "Don't move a muscle," Newly warned as Festus gathered his gun and the shotgun.

"Oh yer feet," Festus poked Miller with the shotgun. Miller was slow to reply but slowly did, "I haven't done nothing wrong," he grumbled. "Why are you watching me?" he said rubbing his chin.

Festus was about to speak but Newly cut in, "Mr. Miller. The marshal has some questions he'd like to ask you."

"Sure I took things from the doc's office. He wasn't there and I needed them for my hand!" Miller complained.

"You hit Mr. Jonas," Festus stated.

"He scared the hell out of me," Miler added.

"Then you shot Newly, here," Festus thumbed toward the gunsmith.

Miller furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head, "I don't remember that," he said.

"Mabe it is best you just come with us," Newly suggested.

Miller continued to rub his chin. His eyes shifted back and forth between the lawmen. "We'll see," he grumbled and began to walk back through the brush to his cabin.

Festus looked at Newly who inturn looked at Festus, "We'll see?" they asked each other.

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Doc looked over to Percy Crump, "If it's all right with you, I'd rather do the examination in your back room," Doc said.

"Oh, certainly, Doc," Crump looked over to the physician with a slight smiled which unnerved the doctor. Doc shifted his eyes to the road. "I don't get live visitors that often," Crump continued.

Doc's insides were crawling. "That's fine," Doc stated hoping to end the conversation. The doctor had seen enough death in his life that he didn't really want to think about the after effects.

Percy pulled the wagon up to the back door of his business, "And now the real work begins," the undertaker said as he climbed down from the wagon.