Mark and I were on our way to town when we came across a saddled horse along the roadway without a rider. I thought this was strange and told Mark to wait while I checked out the situation. There was blood on the saddle. I looked around and called....."Anybody here?" I heard some moaning. I looked around and I found a man lying in the bushes, he had be shot and was bleeding bad.
I told him that I would get him to the doctor. I asked him what happened, but all he could say was....."North Fork.....going to North Fork. Help me! Before they come...." For some reason he felt the urgent need to get to North Fork.
I held him up in the saddle with me until we got to the Doc's office. I sent Mark to get Micah. Moving him was hard on him, but I had no choice, he had lost a lot of blood, he was fading quickly. Everyone started to gather around to see what was going on. Old man Hannabury saw me taking the man off my horse and asked who he was. I told him I didn't know and that I had found him outside of town in a grove. Hannabury said he couldn't help but notice his wound and said that his cousin Jeb had been shot like that once and didn't live to say Amen. The Doc told Hannabury to run along, but he wanted to stay. The Doc told him that wouldn't be necessary. I then motioned for Hannabury to leave.
Doc Burrage asked me to look through the man's things to see if he might have some papers on him, maybe even find a next of kin. I asked him if it was that bad. He said it might be worse, that the man may have had the bullet in him a day, maybe two.
Just then Mark came in and told us that Micah's would be along in a minute. I had told him to wait for me at Hattie's. Mark was concerned about the man and wanted to stay. I wasn't sure that I really wanted Mark to stay, but being born and dying were really just simple experiences, and that not knowing about them can be more frightening than knowing. So I told him he could stay.
All I found was a marked deck of cards. The Doc and I hoped it might help us put the pieces together to this man's mystery. Just then Micah came in. He asked me who the man was. I told him I didn't know. He walked over to the man. I was surprised when I heard Micah say the man's name. "Stoddard!" I asked Micah if he knew him.
"I know him!" Said Micah. "Do the world a favor Doc.....let him die!" Doc and I was shocked and asked him, "What did you say?" I said. "Let him die!" Micah then turned and left the Doc's office with no explanation.
I told Doc that I would be right back. I had to go see why Micah was so upset. But the Doc called me back and told me that Stoddard needed a transfusion. He asked me if I was willing. I told him I was. I then took off my shirt. The Doc explained the procedure to Mark, even asked him if he'd like to be a doctor some day. Mark said, "Not if I have to stick people with needles!" He then explained how the naveling tube worked. He told Mark that if my blood and Stoddard's blood mixed together alright, Stoddard might a chance. "But suppose they don't mix?" Asked Mark. "Then Mr. Stoddard will have to cash in his chips, I reckon'," said Doc. "But he probably would have anyway Mark.....that's what I call a stacked deck," said the Doc. The Doc asked me if I was alright. I told him I was fine and was just wondering who dealt this hand to Stoddard.
After the Doc was finished with me I went over to see what was eating Micah. I was surprised that he had locked the door to his office. I knocked on the door and called to him. He didn't answer. Hannabury wanted to help me break the door down. I knew that wouldn't be necessary. Just then Micah
unlocked the door and reluctantly told me to come in.
I went over to the coffee pot that was on the stove and helped myself. "How's the patient?" Asked Micah. I told him that the Doc was taking a bullet out of Stoddard as we speak. "I'm gonna tell you a fact that you won't believe Lucasboy," said Micah. "I've worked 26 years out of my life as a peace officer and I never had as much faith in justice as I do right now." As he pounded his fist on his desk. "Not one day in the whole 26 years has the whole pattern, the rhyme, the reason made as much sense as it has today." "Who's Stoddard?" I asked. "What's he to you Micah?" "You wasted your blood Lucas and that's too bad." I told him....."That was my decision!" Micah felt Stoddard wasn't worth it. As I picked up the empty glass on his desk I could smelled the whiskey, I said....."He's not worth getting drunk over either." "I think that's my decision!" Said Micah. I was getting no where with him. I slammed the glass back down and told him I'd see him later.
I told Mark we were going home. He wanted to wait, I told him it was out of our hands now and that it is best if we get on with our own business. "I don't want him to die Pa." "You barely knew him," I said to Mark. "That don't matter," said Mark. "No, it doesn't." We then headed for home.
On the way home we ran into three men. They looked to be searching around the area that I had found Stoddard earlier. The one in charged asked me if I was a resident of North Fork. I told him I was. He said they represented a People's Committee in Talbot City. He told us they have been looking for a man by the name of Stoddard. He said he was shot and wanted to know if I had seen him. I told him that I had found Stoddard earlier lying in the grove. I told him he was at the Doc's office in town, but he wouldn't be going anywhere. Jethroe asked me, "Dead?" "Almost," I answered. He then thanked me and told the other two men to mount up. "Today's our lucky day," said Jethroe. Mark didn't understand why I told them where Stoddard was. I told him I had to, they were a People's Committee, a vigilante group.
I explained to him that some towns don't have much law and so they form these committees to help keep the peace. I couldn't go home now, wondering what was going to happen when those men reached North Fork. I told Mark maybe we better go back to town.
When the People's Committee got to North Fork they didn't waste anytime in finding the Doc's office. They insisted on taking Stoddard back to Talbot City with them. Doc told them that his patient, Stoddard, was in a coma and if they would move him he would die. Doc wouldn't budge, he stood his ground. Again Jethroe insisted that Doc turn Stoddard over. He told Doc that Stoddard had shot a man in a card game and was going back to be hung. It made no difference to them if he died en route or at the end of a rope in Talbot City. "It makes a difference to me! Good day gentlemen," said the Doc.
I just rode into town when I saw the three men outside of the Doc's office. The shorter guy, was keeping Doc from going back into his office. I got my rifle and I told them to let the Doc back into his office. I left my rifle do my talking for me. They did back off. Jethroe said he didn't want any trouble, but reminded me that they were a legal committee. He advised me to try and talk the Doc into turning over his patient to them. He said they were going to rest and feed up, they would be back in an hour. "We don't intend to leave North Fork without him," said Jethroe.
I asked the Doc how Stoddard was doing. He said there was no change in his condition. I told the Doc that whether he liked it or not, they were a legal committee. I asked him what Stoddard's changes were if he was moved. "I don't think that's the point, do you?" Asked the Doc.
I stopped over to see if Micah and to see if there was some way Micah would help. He had been drinking. He told me that they were a legal committee and although we may not agree with the laws of Talbot City, we had to respect them. I told him that the Doc said if Stoddard was moved he would die and he may die anyway. "The quicker the better," said Micah. "Since when did we become judges?" Micah was angry and bitter. I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice as he walked over to me. "I've never judged anyone in my life Lucas! I've walked out in that street and hundreds like it for the scum of the earth and never did I complain! Well I'm complaining now!" Yelled Micah. "I'm telling you Stoddard isn't worth it! I know!" I told him if he left them take Stoddard, it would be another name for murder. "What's got into you?" I asked him. "I'm just like any other human being full of love, greed and hate, and by hate I mean hate." He told me he wasn't like me. "Lucas McCain, the honest protector of our morality!" He just kept going on and on. I told him that was enough. He took off his badge, holding it up and telling me that I wanted it, and I should go ahead and take it, act the part, and be the honest protector of our morality.
He yelled to me that Stoddard was worth something now because he had my blood in his veins. He shouted for me to take the badge, but when I didn't he threw it across the room unto the floor and then he went out the back door of his office, slamming the door behind him. I picked up his badge and put it in my shirt pocket, then headed across the street to the saloon.
On my way to the saloon I grabbed my rifle from it's holster. I could hear someone calling me, it was Mr. Hannabury, armed with his shotgun. "Are you going to talk to those vigilante fellows.....all alone?" Asked Hannabury. I told him I could handle them alone. He told me that his cousin Jeb had said those same word.....right before he was gunned down. He told me I could count on him. "When the chips are down.....you can bank on old man Hannabury, and that's a fact! Moral support Mr. McCain, right to the grave." Hmmmmm.....that made me stop for a moment. I went into the saloon with Mr. Hannabury behind me.
Jethroe was having a drink at the bar when I walked in. I walked up to the bar and placed my rifle on the bar. He offered me a drink, but I refused. I showed him the badge. "You have a way of acquiring responsibility Mr. McCain," stated Jethroe. I told him they were leaving North Fork right now and that we would deliver Stoddard when he was able to travel. Jethroe refused, he had an obligation and that was to take Stoddard with them. I told him that their laws and our laws were two different things. He asked what my stake was in this. I answered his question with a question. "What's yours?" "Simple justice," he answered. He didn't want to see a guilty man go unpunished. I told him it wasn't a matter of innocence or guilt, it was his method of simple justice. While we we're talking I was trying to keep an eye on the other two men with him. The one man started for his gun. When I shot at his glass shattering it, the other man picked up a bottle to throw it at me, and then I shot it out of his hand. Mr. Hannabury backed me as I told them to get out. Jethroe told me I held all the cards for now.....that he never played against a stacked deck. He
said they would be back in a week. I told him not to bother ever coming back. "When Stoddard can travel.....we'll bring him to you.....or his body." "Well I consider that a statement of honor.....we'll be expecting you," said Jethroe as he and the other two vigilantes walked out the saloon.
I followed them outside and watched them as they rode out of town. I turned to thank Mr. Hannabury. "Think nothin' of it Mr. McCain! It's a good thing my rifle wasn't loaded," said Mr. Hannabury. "Wasn't loaded!" I exclaimed. "I got so made at those buzzards in there I could have killed one of them cold turkey for sure.....if it was loaded," said Mr. Hannabury. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. As I walked away I could hear Mr. Hannabury say....."Moral support Mr. McCain." I do have to say one thing for him, he was right.
I went back to talk to Micah. He was sitting with his back to me when I walked in his office. He had been drinking. I told him I would put his badge back on his desk. "Do you think your hand will be steady enough to pin it back on?" "Maybe I ought to buy you another bottle first." I picked up the whiskey bottle and threw it against the wall above where he sat, shattering it into pieces. He was surprised. I then started towards the door, he called to me. He started to pour his heart out. "Lucas! Thirty years ago.....John Stoddard was my closest friend. Stood up for me at my wedding. I married Elizabeth Cook, the prettiest girl in Montana Territory and I guess I was just about the happiest man anywhere. Elizabeth was 18 and I was 22 and nothing was impossible for us. You know the feeling Lucas?" All too well did I know this feeling he was talking about. He told me John was a wild kid, irresponsible who loved to gamble and drink. Elizabeth being like she was.....a natural born mother, she took Stoddard under her wing. They had bought a farm and she had John come to work for them. They worked hard and struggled to keep it. Elizabeth never complained. She cooked and sewed and would wear the very same dress she was married in to go to a dance. As Micah talked I couldn't help but reflect back on my times with Margaret. It sounded like Micah and Elizabeth had what Margaret and I had. This part of Micah, I had never seen before nor had he told me about this. Times where hard. In August he was forced to mortgage everything they had for $200 to get them through the winter. Stoddard saw things differently. He would talk of gold and how he needed a stake. "We were rich without any gold, and we knew it!" Said Micah. I knew exactly what he meant; Margaret and I felt the same way. Stoddard ran off with the money and left a note saying he'd be back with the money.....doubled. He never returned. Micah never seen or heard from him since, until now. Micah was forced
to sell his horse the month before and when Elizabeth got the fever, Micah had to run all the way to town, to get her a doctor. When he got back she was dead. Elizabeth had died all alone on a dirt farm that wasn't even theirs anymore. My heart when out to Micah. Before we could say another word Mark rushed in Micah's office with a message for Micah to come to his office right away.
As soon as we walked into the Doc's office, Doc told Micah that Stoddard wanted to talk to him. As Micah approached, Stoddard held up an envelope for Micah to take. Stoddard was clinging to life for this moment. "Here Micah.....take it.....I've been looking for you," said Stoddard gasping for air. With his last breathe he asked Micah to forgive him. Micah opened the envelope. In it was $400. Micah turned and walked out of the Doc's office. I left Micah to his thoughts.
"Why did he have to die?" Mark asked. "The earth turns Mark.....his time was up. I don't know what kind of a man Stoddard was.....I'm not sure we'll ever know. But he kept a promise he made thirty years ago. I think that's what we should remember him by.....and so does Micah."
piddlin' stuff.....Chuck Connors had a hand in writing this episode ~ he came up with the story idea for 'Blood Brothers'
Richard Devon has appeared in seven episodes of "The Rifleman." He played Jethroe in 'Blood Brothers', the man in charge of the People's Committee. Austin Stark in 'The Spiked Rifle', the leader of the gang. Walt Ryerson in
'The Grasshopper', he's the one that Lucas applied a tourniquet to. Jack Adams in 'Miss Milly', he was the one Miss Milly hired to be her bill collector. Ben Macowan in 'The Silent Knife', he was the guy who picked on big Mark. Gus Potter in
'The Stand-In', he was the prison guard that passed out when the two guards were drinkin'. Lovett in 'The Most Amazing Man', he was the gunslinger who forced Wade Randall into a gun fight. He was so brave until he saw what a good a shot Wade was. [with Lucas help]
Richard Devon portrayed Satan in 1957's "The Undead." Usually he played Latino types in such films as "The Comancheros," "Kid Galahad" (the 1962 Elvis Presley version) and "Magnum Force." Richard Devon has cast aside his horns and cloven hooves from "The Undead" to play a Cardinal in "Seventh Sinner."
He has a list of credits longer then Lucas's rifle! ; )Ian Murray played Harley Hannabury in six episodes - 'The Challenge' - 'Blood Brothers' - 'Obituary' - 'Meeting at Midnight' - 'The Hangman' - 'The Illustrator' ~ He's one of the regular townfolks.
Max Wagner played John Stoddard in this episode; he was the man who was dying when Mark and Lucas brought him into town. The man Micah despised.
Like thousands of 'day actors' during Hollywood's Golden Era, Max Wagner toiled in relative obscurity in supporting and bit roles with the occasional meaty character part. It was a film career that sustained him as a durable and dependable actor from the mid-1920s through the '70s. A lifelong friendship with John Steinbeck. Wagner served as a model for the boy in Steinbeck's novel "The Red Pony" and he would appear in many of the films based on Steinbeck's books.
He went uncredited in most of his movies such as the poker game dealer in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
He appeared in "Man in Restaurant" -"The Mickey Mouse Club" - the episode 'Corky and White Shadow' in June of '56. Gee I wonder if he worked with Johnny at that time. Johnny was a Mouseketeer from 55' to '56?Kelton Garwood was one of the men (vigilante) with the People's Committee in 'Blood Brothers.' He was the one with the beard and mustache. Kelton Garwood played Tom Coleman. He also appeared in 'Sins of the Father' as the brother of Shep Coleman and the vigilante brothers who came after Andy Moon, the one with the beard.
All his roles were small and he is most known for his memorable performance as The Hobo in "The Twilight Zone" - episode 'Five Characters In Search Of An Exit'. He was a regular on "Bourbon Street Beat" as Beauregard O'Hanlon. He had a recurring role on "Gunsmoke" as Percy Crump the undertaker.Larry Perron played Dan Cameron in this episode of 'Blood Brothers.' He was one of the men with the People's Committee, (vigilante group) the with the light colored hat. He appeared in two other episodes of "The Rifleman"―'Baranca' as Eddie and Sag in 'Death Trap'.
We have a bartender here.....but no Sweeney.
"I married Elizabeth Cook, the prettiest girl in Montana Territory and I guess I was just about the happiest man anywhere. Elizabeth was 18 and I was 22 and nothing was impossible for us."
*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with
Doc Burrage played by Rhys Williams.
Trivia—'Blood Brothers'
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around the McCain Ranch
updated 9/24/08