Doc caught up with Clarence Cox at the Long Branch. The trapper had distanced himself from the two deputies. He sipped on a beer as Doc approached his table. Cox motioned for the doctor to join him, "The marshal isn't going to charge him, is he?" Cox asked. Doc sat down on the chair next to the trapper.
Doc leaned forward and folded his arms on the table in front of him, "Why do you say that?" he studied Cox's eyes.
Cox shrugged, "I just think Harvey has a bigger problem that needs to be addressed," he looked over to Doc. Doc nodded, "You are a very understanding man," the doctor smiled. "We're going to see if we can help him, somehow."
"I can't believe I put so much time and energy into finding Isaac, just for this," Cox shook his head in disappointment and took another swallow of beer. "I hope Harvey gets the help he needs," Cox said.
"Life certainly is a fickle thing," Doc said. The doctor's eyes lifted to the trapper's, "Do you think Isaac hid that money out near the mine?" there was a hint of adventure in the doctor's eyes.
Clarence leaned forward, "I'd like to have a look," he smiled with a wink and patted Doc on the shoulder as he stood to leave. "I like Dodge - there's a lot of good people here," he smiled.
Doc watched the trapper leave the saloon. Kitty had been watching Doc and Cox. She could see that the trapper left with a heavy heart and Doc was somewhere in between.
The saloon owner poured two drinks and walked over to the table where Doc remained seated. "You look like you need one of these and you maybe talk," Kitty said as she placed a glass in front of the doctor and then sat in the chair next to him.
"You are very perceptive lady, Miss Kitty Russell," Doc said as lifted the glass to his lips. Kitty didn't want to push Doc talk about what was bothering him. Instead she just chose to sit by and wait.
Clarence gathered his reins and pulled Sparky from the stall. The trapper wondered if Isaac had stanched the money out by the old mine and then he sighed - there was only one way to find out. Cox pulled himself up onto the saddle and nudged the mule. Clarence guided his mount and they meandered out of Dodge toward the abandoned silver mine.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"You are going to what?!" Harvey bellowed from behind the bars. Matt huffed, "Now, look Harvey, you have two choices. You either agree with these conditions that Doc thought of, or you face a jury and with the charges that could be drawn against you, you might even face the end of a rope," Matt warned.
Miller grumbled to himself and sat down hard on the cot, "You have all the angles covered, don't you?" he looked up at Matt.
"I'm trying to do my best for you, Harvey," Matt said. "If you don't believe me," the marshal started to turn away.
"No, no. You've got me all wrong!" Harvey said as he lunged to the bars and reached out to grab Matt.
"Oh, how so?" Matt turned and asked.
"I...I just don't think right some times," Miller mumbled. "I get confused," he looked at Matt.
Matt nodded, "That's way I' suggesting what I have. If you don't go along with it, Harvey, you will be either sent to a prison for murder, hanged or to a sanatorium. It's all up to you now," Matt laid the case on the line.
"Penelope will tan my hide...but I guess it's better than the others," Miller grumbled.
"It won't be just your wife keeping an eye on you," Matt warned.
"I understand, lawman," Miller coincided.
Matt smiled, "Good. This will save everyone a lot of angst." As Matt walked to the main office he muttered, "Now I just have to convince Jonas not to lay charges."
"That old goat better not," Miller yelled through the bars at Matt. Matt turned and looked at Harvey, "You better cross your fingers," Matt said. Miller huffed and plunged himself down on the cot, "If he does," Miller grumbled, "I'll…"
"Harvey. Remember what we just talked about," Matt warned from where he stood in the office.
"Oh, yah. Sorry," Miller said in a hushed voice.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Clarence Cox reached the old mine and stepped down from his mule. He stared at the broken wooden door that entrapped his friend and the store owner. He shook his head wondering if in fact the blow to Isaac's head is really what led to his death. He guessed that he'd likely never know the answer. He further wondered how Jonas was able to survive the frigged night in the mine.
Clarence scanned the entrance with his to see if he could see nay sack or signs that something was buried. He saw nothing unusual. Cox walked forward and into the mine entrance – the pungent smell still lingered. Clarence picked up the lantern and realized that it was empty and likely Jonas' source of heat. As his eyes adjusted to the dimly lit space he moved further into the mine.
Cox stopped at the area where Isaac's body lay; he shook his head, "Sorry about all this, old pal," he said with sadness in his voice. Clarence turned and began to walk back to the entrance figuring that the money was indeed gone forever and the resigned to the fact.
Just as Cox stepped to the broken wooden door, he spied something out of the corner of his eye. Clarence slowly moved toward what appeared to be a soiled rag. The trapper knelt down and slowly picked the wad up. He furrowed his eyebrows as he examined the object and then realized that is was Isaac's bandana. Cox half chuckled, however he quickly realized that there was something rolled up inside the cloth. With shaking hands, Cox opened the bandana and gazed down at a bundle of paper money. "Isaac, you devil!" Cox laughed as he stood up clutching the money in his hands.
Cox shoved the money into his coat pocket and walked out to his mule. Cox climbed back up and turned Sparky to the hills. Then he stopped. He remembered what Doc had said, "You are a very understanding man." Cox sighed knowing he had to settle some things before he was free of Dodge. Clarence pulled the reins and began to ride back to town.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Matt stood with his arms folded across his chest, "I know you are really up set with Harvey Miller, but we're trying to set him straight," the marshal stated. "You laying charges against him isn't going to help at all."
Jonas made a face, "I darn near froze to death out in that mine!" Jonas pointed toward the direction of the mine.
"Yes, and I'm sorry you had to go through with such an ordeal," Matt dropped his arms to his sides.
Jonas shook his head no, "I feel that Harvey needs to learn a hard lesson about this," the store owner said. "I've been though a heck of a lot lately and have had little compensation about lost business and personal pain. Some night's I wake up in a cold sweat!" Jonas stated.
Matt sighed, "I'm sure you do. And I'm really sorry about everything. I do try to keep Dodge safe," Matt stated.
"And I appreciate that. And that's why I think the likes of Harvey Miller should be punished somehow," Jonas replied.
Matt pursed his lips, "What would you do if your Ellen had some sort of mental issue? Lock her away too?" Jonas' mouth dropped open, "Marshal! How could you say something like that?"
"Pretty much the same way you just did," Matt huffed and began to leave. "You know Jonas, there is such thing as compassion and sometimes I wonder if you care about other than yourself," the marshal said as he stepped out onto the boardwalk. Matt saw Clarence Cox ride up the street - unfortunately the marshal was in no mood to talk to the trapper. Matt turned and walked to the Long Branch Saloon.
Jonas frowned. He was mad at the situation, and himself. "Damn," he said angrily and threw the bolt of fabric in his hand down.
Clarence stood in the doorway, "Are you all right?" he asked.
Jonas looked over his shoulder, "Mostly," he said and tried to busy himself. Clarence followed the store owner over to the sales counter. "Mr. Jonas, I owe you a big apology for wrecking your display counter and an even bigger one for hitting you," the trapper said. "Here's a few dollars to cover the cost of the display case and maybe a little to just say sorry," Cox handed Jonas twenty dollars.
The store owner looked down at the money in his hand before he looked up at Cox who was on his way out the door, "Thank you," Jonas said in a meek voice. Clarence smiled. "Take care of yourself," he waved as he left. Jonas followed the trapper to the door and watched him walk to the Long Branch.
Kitty nudged Matt on the elbow. The marshal had joined Doc and Kitty at the table where they had been sitting since Cox left. Cox slowly made his way over to the table, "Hi," he smiled.
Doc looked at the trapper, "You seem to be happy about something," he smiled.
Cox lowered himself to a chair next to the doctor, "You are a wise man, Doc," he said as he placed the bundle of money on the table. "I just gave Mr. Jonas twenty dollars to pay for that display case and a little compensation," Cox smiled.
"You found your money," Matt smiled as he looked at the wad of bills. Cox nodded. "I understand that you want to get Harvey some help," Cox looked at the marshal.
"Well that was the plan, but Jonas wants to bring charges against him," Matt said.
"In someways I don't blame Mr. Jonas," Kitty stated.
"I guess I"ll have to send Judge Brooker a message," Matt looked down at his hands, which where clasped together on the table.
"No you don't, marshal," Jonas said from the door of the saloon. "I'm not going to press charges after all," he said meekly. "I guess everyone deserves a second chance," the store owner said somewhat awkwardly.
Doc, Kitty and Matt smiled. Cox had a big grin in his face as he stood, "Join us. I'm buying a round," the trapper said and Jonas did. Jonas sat down and smiled as everyone around the table talked of the events that brought Clarence Cox to Dodge.