Sergeant Williams and Sergeant Cox led their men into Dodge. Many town's folk stopped and watched the army ride up Front Street toward the jail house - immediately rumours began about Matt dying and the army being sent in to deal with business until a replacement was found.

Williams signalled with his raised right hand to this men to stop. He stepped down from his horse and tied the reins t the hitching post in front of the little red brick jail. Sergeant Cox followed suit and then ordered the troopers to dismount and wait for further instructions. The five troopers followed their order and stepped down from their mounts.

Cox joined Williams as they walked up to the door of the jail house and entered the building. Festus was shuffling through some wanted posters. He was good at memorizing faces, even if he couldn't read. The deputy looked up from the papers he held in his hands, "Howdy," he spoke.

"Are you deputy Festus Haggen?" Williams got right to the point. Festus nodded, "And you are?" the hill man scrunched up his right eye in leery question as the looked at the two sergeants.

"I'm sorry," Williams said and extended his right hand, "I'm Sergeant Robert Williams. This here is sergeant David Cox. You sent Fort Dodge a telegram about a stagecoach robbery that may have involved some of the men from the fort," Williams said as he shook Festus' hand.

"According to those who were on the stagecoach, they surely were from the army," Festus stated as he released Williams' hand. "They shot the marshal, and two other passengers were pretty badly hurt in the roll over," he said as he set the posters down on Matt's desk.

"We're here to investigate what happened," sergeant Cox stated. Festus' eyes shifted to the tall fair-haired bearded man and waited for him to continue. "We'd like to think that the men who robbed the stage coach were not army," he spoke softly.

"Ifin' they weren't army," Festus said as he stepped forward, "then where are the men that the army sent to get the payroll?"

Williams pursed his lips and thought quickly, "Perhaps they were attacked and men used their uniforms to impersonate them," he tried to reason even thought to his on ears the excuse sounded lame.

Festus blew through his lips making a sound like a house, "Fiddlesticks," he said as he walked to the door, "Doc said that Matthew knew that them fellas knew there was a payroll on that stage," he grunted as he stepped out onto the boardwalk with the two sergeants closely behind. "Furthermore, I'd like you to then tell me who bashed me over the head, then." Festus' comment was slightly disjointed from the discussion.

"What do you mean by that?" Cox asked with confusion in his eyes. He looked from Festus to Williams and back to the deputy again.

"It would seem like one of them yahoos got himself shot and ol' Doc was takin' the bullet out. I was going up to see Doc and one of them clobbered me over the head before they ran off," Festus exclaimed as he showed the two sergeants the dried blood under his hat. Both sergeants were clearly not amused by the turn of events.

"Where is the marshal now?" Williams asked bluntly as he hoped to get better cooperation from Dillon than he was from the deputy.

"Matthew is up in Doc's office over thar. And don't expect him to be talkin' to you soon," Festus growled as he pointed over to the doctor's office.

Cox stepped forward, "The marshal didn't die, did he?"

Festus shook his head no, "No, but he ain't in good shape, I can tell you that. Ol' Doc is working on getting the bullet out of him now," his voice trailed off as he looked over to the doctor's office.

Williams paused, "Who else was on the stagecoach?"

"Well, Doc was. So was Miss Kitty and Mr. Jonas," Festus said matter of factly.

"How are they?" Williams asked with concern.

Festus looked at the sergeant, "Wall, Miss Kitty has some broken ribs, so says Doc. And Mr. Jonas was banged up pretty good, too," Festus said.

"And the doctor?" Williams wanted more information.

"He said he jumped out of the stagecoach jist before it took off. He was trying to help Matthew," Festus explained. "Miss Kitty and Jonas had a rough ride," Festus stated.

"I see," Williams said. "Well, I'd like to talk to them," he continued.

"I suppose you could, if they are willing to," Festus stated to no one in particular.

Sergeant Cox stepped toward sergeant Williams, "I could talk to this Jonas fellow, if you want to talk to Miss Kitty," Cox suggested. "We'd get more information quicker," he said. "Then we could talk to the doctor and get his story," Cox continued.

"That makes sense," Williams said then looked at Festus. ""Where can we find this two citizens?"

"Miss Kitty owns the Long Branch Saloon, over there," Festus waved his hand, "and you will find Mr. Jonas at home, just down that lane and to yer right, near the bridge. There's a small picket fence out front of the Jonas' place," Festus stated.

Both sergeants acknowledged Festus' directions, "We'll meet back at the doctor's office in half and hour or so," Williams said to Cox. Sergeant Cox nodded and headed across Front Street to the lane.

Williams briskly walked across the busy street toward the Long Branch. Festus remained on the boardwalk in front of the jail and wonder whether the two men would actually get around to finding the three hooligans that robbed the stagecoach.

Williams stepped up onto the boardwalk and strolled to the swing doors. He paused before pushing through and stepping down into the large room. All eyes were on the sergeant as he scanned the room and finally walked over to the long bar. Sam watched the man, "Is there something I can do for you?" his voice was calm and collected.

"I'm looking for a Miss Kitty. Sorry, I don't have her last name. I'm here to talk to her about the stagecoach robbery," Williams smiled slightly.

Sam nodded, "Miss Russell's room is the one at the end, up here," he indicated with his thumb.

Sergeant Williams acknowledged the barkeep's words and removed his hat before he headed to the stairs. The sergeant wondered just what this Kitty Russell was like, being the owner of the saloon and all. He braced himself thinking that the woman was likely an older woman with a ton of attitude. He also felt that if the woman wasn't married by now, she must be a real "looker". Williams swallowed before he stepped up on stair. Still all eyes were on him.