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| Episode No. | 11 |
| Episode Title | The Apprentice Sheriff |
| Season | 1 |
| Guest Stars | Edward Binns - Fritz Ford - Grant Richards - Robert Vaughn - Russell Collins - Elyse Gordon- Steven Gardner |
| Airdate | 12/09/58 |
| Writer | Barney Slater |
| Director | Arnold Hiller |
| Synopsis | The son of a local store keeper gets more than he bargained for when he is temporarily appointed sheriff. On my way into North Fork for some supplies, I left Mark off at school. I asked Mark if he was ready for the test today. He hesitated, "I think so." He didn't sound to sure of himself. I assured him that he'd do fine. I reminded him to keep out of trouble. He told me he'd try, but sometimes he just can't help it. I tried giving him some advice about butting into other peoples arguments. Yesterday he had butted into an argument between Jeff & Skinny. I told him to avoid trouble like that he should mind his own business. "I'll try Pa," he said. I told him I had a lot of chores to do in town and it would probably take me until 4. If he wanted me to I'd pick him up on my way home. He liked that, he said he'd wait. When I got into town I couldn't help noticing how rowdy the town seemed. There were several Texas cowhands in town looking for a good time after a long haul on the trail. I entered the General Store. I said hi to Charlie Willard, the owner and gave him my list of supplies that I needed. I told him to add a bag of hard candy to the list for Mark. There's just something's that a boy wants without saying. He said he never met a youngster who didn't have a sweet tooth. He started to tell me about how his son Dan, use to be a good one for candy, his choices sure had changed since he got back. I asked him if he was around. He told me that working with his father in a general store is too boring for him. He then told me Dan got himself a new job, acting Marshal of North Fork. He said that Micah had some business up north that he needed to tend to. He swore Dan in as temporary deputy before he left. 'The Apprentice Sheriff.' Dan was young and inexperience but felt he had to prove himself. He had gone to West Point but had to drop out because of his eyes. He wanted to show everybody he is just as good as he ever was. Dan was pushin' some Texas cowhands in town. They had been on the trail for three months and are spoiling for a good time. Dan's been riding herd on them pretty strong. I mentioned that maybe Dan had a good reason. He said they had been acting up some, mostly high spirits; at least it was that way until Dan started pushing them. Now their tone had changed, they're deliberately making trouble. Charlie was concerned that Dan wouldn't be able to handle the cowboys if he got them all riled up. I told him that I don't like to stick my nose in things that don't concern me. I told him if he wanted me to I would talk to Dan. He was hoping I would say just that. He told me that he always thought a great deal of me. "I hope he still does!" I walked into Micah's office; Dan was standing in front of the mirror practicing his draw. He asked me how he looked. I replied by saying "I've seen better and I've seen worse." I told him I dropped by to see how he was doin' with his new job. He told me things couldn't be better. He said he had a few problems at first, but he was getting things under control. "Problems?" I asked. He assured me it was nothing to worry about. He told me there were some Texas cowhands that thought they were going to take over the town. He just had to show them they were wrong. I began to tell him what a big responsibility wearing the Marshal's badge was. "You know Dan; I always thought the best way to enforce the law was firm hand on a slack rein. That way you got control and no one feels the bit in their mouth." He disagreed with me, he felt he had to prove that he was better then they were. I told him maybe he was being a little to tough on those cowhands. After all he wasn't dealing with a bunch of West Point Plebes. He made me well aware he did not want any help from me. As we left the Marshal's office and started walking down the street, shots rang out from the saloon. As we entered the saloon there was a cowboy lying on the floor and another drunken cowboy with a gun standing over him. These cowpokes were trying to antagonize Dan and he was too busy trying to prove himself to see the game they were playing. The cowboy gave no resistance in handing over his gun. As Dan started to approach the dead man, I told Dan to wait, but he said he could handle it. As Dan bent over to check the dead man, he took Dan by surprise and hit him a good shot. I started to help, but the cowboy next to me had a gun on me and told me it wasn't any of my affair and to stand easy. They had faked a killing. Dan tried to take charge but they over came him and took control of the situation. Sandy had walloped Dan good. While assessing the situation and making sure the cowboy were pre-occupied, I managed to hit the cowboy with my rifle and take control. Kealy Thompson, their foreman stepped in and tried to justify his men's actions, telling us they've had a long hard trip and deserve a good time. "The kid got what he deserved," said Kealy. "It could have been worse." I helped Dan get up off the floor and we went back to the Marshal's office. Dan said that those cowboys weren't going to get away with this. I reminded him if he had been on his toes they wouldn't have. I told him he should have noticed the first man wasn't drunk. Dan thought he looked drunk. His eyes were to clear. The dead man on the floor was too tense. This one was primed for action. I didn't think there would be anymore trouble, they got their satisfaction. Charlie wanted Dan to leave these cowboys alone. He couldn't leave it be, these saddle tramps can't beat up the town marshal and get away with it. Dan made me well aware again that he did not want nor need my help and he went to post a no gun law. Sandy Dixon, one of Kealy's men was outside the saloon when Dan posted the new gun law. Dan made them aware that the notice goes into effect in one hour from now. He would be looking for them after twelve if they don't turn in their guns. "I'll be waiting on you men in my office, "said Dan. The Men didn't like it and they weren't going to comply with this notice and they left Dan know it. Sandy told Dan that he wasn't takin' his gun belt off for nobody. "I'll remove it from you personally," said Dan. "Your welcome to try," said Sandy. "Law says until twelve o'clock, I can wait, said Dan. So I went to talk to Dan and to give him some pointers. I told him to walk down to the church and come back up the street towards the saloon. That would put the sun on his back. I also said to watch the other fellow's eyes - that will tip him off when he was ready to draw. It was now a minute or two after twelve and Dan left to find Kealy and his men. It was time. Dan proceeded to go and enforce his new gun law. Kealy and his men were waiting on him outside the saloon. Sandy wasn't takin' his guns off for anyone and wanted first crack at Dan. Dan gave Sandy the option of turning in his gun, but Sandy wouldn't hear of it. They drew against each other, Dan shot and killed Sandy. Dan had gotten lucky! We had gone back to the Marshal's office when Kealy sent word with one of his men that he has revoked the no gun law and that he wanted a show down. Dan had been pushing his men all along. "What was Dan trying to prove?" So the only way I felt Dan stood a chance was if I went to talk to Kealy and try and convince him to back off. I told him Dan was inexperienced and didn't stand a chance. But he wouldn't go for it, he couldn't back down, what would his men think? Kealy told me he had no fight with "The Rifleman" and not to get in their way. Dan went to face Kealy. Kealy gave Dan the draw on him. Dan shoots and misses and Kealy ends up shooting Dan in the hand. Kealy starts to walk away. He thinks it's over. "Thompson," I said. "Right or wrong that gun law is still in effect. I think you better do like the Marshal said and take yours off. He goes for his gun. I shoot at his hand and holster, not hurting him, just warning him. Kealy said "you could have killed me, why didn't you?" I reply "why didn't you kill the boy." Thompson and his men got on their horses, and rode out of town. As I drove the team up to the school to pick up Mark, I hear this "Hi Pa." I asked him how he made out on the test. "I got the third highest mark in the class and didn't get in any trouble today. I minded my own business." As I gave him his candy, he asked if anything happened in town. "What?" I asked. "Everything go alright in town? Asked Mark. "See Mark, sometimes it's easier to give advice then to take it" "Hmmm, that's what I was trying to tell Skinny when he was trying to stop me from taking a poke at Jeff," said Mark. "Well, that's what I said, Skinny should have minded his own business." Episode Summary written by Margie Straub of riflemanconnors.com |
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