Newly had just reached the general store as Jonas was preparing to lock the building up for the night. "Mister Jonas!" he called as he hurried to the door just as Jonas pulled his ring of keys from his coat pocket.
"What is it, Newly? What's wrong?" there was slight panic in the store owner's voice as his eyes dashed around the street to see what was wrong.
"Nothing really, I just need some supplies to help the General," O'Brien thumbed over his shoulder to the Dodge House.
"The who?" Jonas asked, his eyebrows knit together having not heard anyone in town referred to as "the General".
"He's an old gentleman with three sons. They're just passing through town and staying a the Dodge House, but he's awfully sick right now," Newly informed the store owner.
"What's he got? Is it the same thing Doc has?" the panic intensified in Jonas who was now wondering it there was validity in thinking that there was some epidemic going around; his eyes finally went to the hotel just up the street.
Newly shook his head not knowing, "I don't think it's the same thing," he shrugged.
Jonas pursed his lips, "What do you need?" he asked quickly looking back at Newly.
"Mustard, flour and some cloth," Newly answered as he followed the store owner into the store.
"You're making a mustard plaster, then," Jonas noted as he took a bag and scooped some flour into it, and the same with the dried mustard. "How much cloth do you need?" he stopped and looked at the young deputy.
"A couple of yards should do," Newly stated as he watched Jonas unfurled the bolt of muslin before cutting a length off. The store owner then neatly folded the fabric and placed it on the service counter next to the two bags, "Is there anything else?" he then asked.
Newly shook his head no, and handed Jonas some money, "I'll let you know later if I need any more. I think this should do for the night," he picked up the items and thanked the store owner as he left. Jonas stood starring out the door, hoping that the two illnesses weren't related. An unsettled feeling washed over the store owner as he blew out the lamps and finally locked the door for the night.
As it would happen, Randall was also just heading back to the hotel room with a white enamelled billy can filled with hot soup, "You got what you needed?" he asked the young deputy.
"I did. We'll let your father eat something before we try this," Newly slightly lifted the items he was carrying as a show of what he had bought.
Howie watched the two men come back into the hotel and stopped them before going up the stairs, "I heard that he's terribly ill," he looked at Newly as he spoke.
"Yes, my father is unwell," Randall curtly replied.
"Nothing catching is it?" Uzzel asked as he had also heard about the town doctor.
"Howie," Newly looked at the hotel clerk, "Go back to work. There's no danger or contagious illnesses in Dodge," he spoke calmly then motioned for Randall to go to the room up the stairs. O'Brien followed; even he was now beginning to doubt himself – maybe there was a connection. Newly tried to shake the thought and focus on the work at hand.
Wilbur Jonas reached his home and unlocked the front door with a slight huff. Ellen took notice, "What's wrong?" she asked looking up from her needlework.
Jonas said nothing as he hung up his coat and bowler hat on the coat rack by the front door. Without a word he walked over to the little table at the slight partition wall between the kitchen and sitting room, where the crystal bottle of scotch sat. He quickly poured a drink and realized that Ellen was watching him the whole time. The store owner flushed slightly as he joined his wife, "I'm sorry. What did you say?" he asked as he clearly had his head in the clouds.
"I asked if anything was wrong," Ellen studied her husbands face and just by the look his face, he was clearly troubled about something.
Slowly Jonas sat down in his favorite chair and placed the glass on the occasional table next to him, "I told you that Doc is awfully sick, didn't I?" he asked.
Ellen nodded and waited.
"Well, just now, Newly told me that there's another fellow from out of town that is also sick," the store owner stated. "No one knows it they are related," he said with worry on his face.
Ellen smiled, "I'm sure that it's just a coincidence," she tried to soothe her husband's worry.
Jonas took a sip from his glass, "I sure hope you're right. This town can't take much more," he lamented.
Ellen knew what her husband meant and nodded in agreement. "Let's not worry about something that hasn't or likely will happen," she offered.
Jonas forced a smiled, "How did I luck out with sure a smart woman?" he asked with slight blush. Ellen merely smiled and went back to her needlework. The store owner watched his wife for a moment then tilted his head back and rested on the chair; perhaps he was over reacting.
The General had his fill of the soup and was getting tired again. Newly was quickly mixing some of the flour, mustard powder and water together in a basin, "Now this will have to be repeated on his back," Newly stated as he finally got the old man's consent to try his treatment.
Randall watched on and nodded, "How much do I use?" he asked.
Newly looked up, "Once the mixture is spread out, I would figure a little more than a cup full," he stated. "The most important thing is not to allow the mixture to actually tough his skin because it could cause blisters. Be sure that when you apply the one on his back you use the new material and wash this out for the next use," the young deputy stated as he lay the first plaster over the General's chest. He then pulled the blanket up and stood. "The whole idea is to sweat that out of him. Don't leave that on him any longer that twenty minutes," he warned.
"I don't know," Randall stated.
"Look, I have to go and look after Doc after this. I sure would be proud if you could manage this for the night," Newly smiled slightly. "I'd give him plenty of water as well," he added.
"Being a doctor sure isn't much fun," Randall grunted as he realized that he never did get to the saloon.
"Once the front is done, wash him down with warm water, before you apply the plaster to his back. Once that comes off in the same time, wash him down again. I don't think you'll need to apply another one until morning," the young deputy patted Randall on the shoulder. "I'll be around if you need me," he added as he picked up his coat and hat at the door before he left the room.
Randall sighed as he looked down at his father who appeared to be sweating profusely.
It was now late in the evening and things in Dodge where winding down as saloons were closing for the night. The streets were empty and only the wind could be heard as it kick a can or caused a sign to creak as it swayed.
Newly stood on the boardwalk and decided to see if he had a chance for a late night drink at the Long Branch; he quickly crossed the street and was happy to see that the saloon was still open, although in the process of closing for the night.
"Newly?" Kitty looked up from the bar where she was working on her accounts as the yong deputy entered the establishment.
"Miss Kitty. Sam," he smiled as he walked to the bar and looked around. Only a hand full of people were left in the room.
"You look like you could use a night cap," Kitty noted.
Newly ticked his head, "I don't often agree with that, but to night I will," he was glass that the saloon owner was agreeable to the drink. Sam poured one and slide it across the bar.
"Hey, how come he can have a drink now and I can't?" Zachariah shouted from the table where he sat with Jane Rose. "You're cut off," Sam sternly stated. "Go home," he added.
"I have to go soon," Jane Rose said awkwardly as she stood and stepped away from the table, joining Kitty at the bar.
"Fine. I'll go. But I'll be back tomorrow," Zach loudly stated as he got to his feet and blew Jane Rose a kiss. "I'll see you later, sweetheart," he smiled as he numbly walked to the door. The night air hit him and it was like he was wide awake again. His eyes glanced back into the saloon, "We're going to meet sooner than tomorrow, Jane Rose," he said as he drew his hand across his stubbled chin and walked to the alley to wait.