The Rifleman
"Welcome to the McCain Ranch"
'Gun Fire'
Episode 126
Micah was holding Charlie Gordo in the town jail. The marshal from Denver was to be coming on the evening stage to escort Gordo to Yuma for hanging. Gordo was a really nasty character and Micah was afraid Gordo's gang would try and break him out of jail, so he put on two extra deputies, Nils and Ben Johnson. Things were pretty quiet. Micah told Nils and Ben to go have their dinner. 
He told them to take their time that he was having dinner with me. Just then Gordo called to Micah. He told Micah he was tired of eating the jail slop and he wanted a steak. Micah told him when the U.S. Marshal from Denver got here he was sure he could have anything he wanted. "I hear they feed you real good, just before they put the rope around your neck," said Gordo. "But you remember this, they ain't gonna hang me. Remember, it's a long ride from here to Yuma prison. I'll kill anybody who tries to take me there. Including you, your deputies or anybody else that thinks they're gonna hang Charlie Gordo!" Micah walked out of the cell block. He then met Mark and I at The Madera House.
Mark was really nervous and somewhat excited. He was going to Lucille Banning's birthday party. Mark didn't want any supper. He didn't want to spoil his appetite. They were having cake, cookies, and that new thing called ice cream! He kept tugging on his tie. He really didn't want to wear a tie but he did want to impress Lucille. Oh he didn't say that but all the signs where there. I asked him what he was so nervous about. "Who's nervous?" He ask. You could see it. He was funny. This was his first girl/boy birthday party and it was Lucille's party. He was in a hurry to get there. He didn't want to be late. Even tho it only takes five minutes to get there he was leaving thirty-five minutes ahead of time. He started off. I called him back. He forgot Lucille's present. He started to leave. Then he came over to me. In a low voice he ask, "Pa.....how come girls make fella's feel like.....well, you know.....all butterfly like inside? Even worse than when you first try to rope a calf." "Well Mark I guess the best way to exp
lain it is that.....with girls it's knowin' you might get roped back. Have a good time son." After Mark left Micah and I had ourselves a good laugh.
Micah and I had gone out to meet the stage. The later the stage was, the more worried Micah got. I told him to relax. He told me hadn't eaten or slept right since Gordo had been in his jail. Just then the stage came in. Looks like Micah will get some sleep tonight, or so we thought. Micah ask Preston why he was late. Preston told him it took them about 3 hours to get out of Pagosa Springs. He told Micah that the lawman didn't make it. When he didn't show up to catch the stage Preston went lookin' for him. He found him dead in his room. He had been shot. There were two men that had got off the stage I ask Preston about them. He said they were cattlemen and they seemed nice.
You could see Micah was concerned. I told him they would send another Marshal. He mentioned that Gordo and his gang also had killed other marshals in Salinas and Waco. Gordo was locked up for one night there too. They killed the marshal and a couple of the towns people getting Gordo out. "Lucas.....I need more help!" I told him I'd ride over and see if Mark could stay at the Benson's tonight and I'd stay in town to help out.
Ben was standing guard in front of the Marshal's office. He asked Micah what happened to the marshal? Micah told him he wasn't on the stage; he was killed in Pagosa Springs. "What do you mean he was killed?" Asked Ben.
"That's what I said!" Said Micah. Nils overheard part of their conversation. "Who got killed?" Asked Nils. Ben told Nils about the marshal. That only meant one thing. Someone was coming for Gordo, just like he had said. They wanted to know how many. Micah had no idea. He told them it was hard to tell, could be one, could be a dozen. That was all Ben had to hear. He always was willing to help Micah, but not under these circumstances. Micah understood. Ben had a wife and four kids. Nils told Micah he'd guard the door. Micah thanked him.
When I got back into town I noticed Ben heading for the saloon. I ask Micah about it. He told me what had happened. I picked up the badge and pinned it on the right side of my shirt. "You’re supposed to wear that over your heart," said Micah. "I've got a big heart Micah." Just then Gordo hollered for Micah. He wanted to talk to Micah. He overheard what was said about the marshal. He laughed. "You know pretty soon there ain't gonna be no lawmen left." Gordo then looked at me. "Your name is Luke McCain, isn't it? They call you 'The Rifleman'." He told me that he and I would make a good team. Micah told him to shut up and we walked out of the cell block. Micah said he had been listening to that for four days. It was getting on his nerves.
I asked Micah what he thought about questioning the two cattlemen that was on the stage. Micah didn't quite agree with me. He said he didn't have time to question everybody that comes in 
and out of town. I ask him if he'd mind if I questioned them. He told me to go ahead. He changed his mind and decided to go along with me. As we started down the street I noticed Ben's horse along side of the saloon. We went around the back of the saloon. There was Ben, he had been shot. He died shortly after we found him. We decide to go to the back of the saloon to see if we missed anything. We did find something. It looked as if Ben had been dragged there. "Yeah.....maybe their out there breathing down out necks," said Micah. "Are you quoting Gordo?" I asked. "Yeah.....I guess I am," said Micah. Just then someone shot at us, hitting the lantern and knocking it over. Nils heard the shot and came running. He wanted to know what was going on. Micah asked him who was guarding the prisoner. Nobody! We rushed to the jail. We were surprised to find Gordo was still in his cell. He was lying in the bed. "Howdy Marshal, what's going on out there? I keep hearing gunshots. That deputy, he come in here and told me that the other fella got himself killed. Is that right?" "How many are out there Gordo?" I asked. He laughed. He remembered there was twelve in Salinas, Waco.....seven. He told Micah they were just having fun riling him up before they kill him.
We went out to Micah's office. He lit into Nils. "You know better than to leave this office unguarded! The back door is doubled locked but that won't stop them!" Nils apologized. He told Micah he needed to get away for a few minutes. He needed a drink. Micah ask him if he was coming back. "Sure I'm comin' back!" I told Micah I still wanted to talk to those two cattlemen. 
Since Nils had left, Micah had to stay here in his office.
I found them in the hotel eating supper. I asked them if they planned on staying in town long. They said they planned on buying cattle. They mentioned the fact that being a peace officer wasn't too safe a job in these parts. They were referring to what happened in Pagosa Springs. The other cattleman, Karl Hollis, asked who Gordo was. He said they heard in was in our jail. They said they never heard of him. Chester said they were cattlemen not outlaws. I told them this wasn't my business either, that I was a cattle rancher. Chester said maybe we could get together and do some business. The more we talked the more suspicious of I became of them.
Gordo called to Micah, he was thirsty. Micah gave him a drink. When I came in I called to Micah. This distracted Micah and he turned his back on Gordo. This was just what Gordo was waiting on. I heard a commotion coming from Gordo's cell. I rushed in to find Gordo with his arm around Micah's neck. I hit Gordo. He released Micah. "I'm gonna kill you sodbuster! Nobody ever hits Charlie Gordo and live to tell about it!" "I'm gonna kill you.....do you hear me?"
I told Micah about my conversation with the two cattlemen and my concerns. Six months ago this territory was hit with the worse hoof and mouth plaque in its history. We're just rebuilding our stock. I figured they didn't know the cattle business or there not in the cattle business. I could be wrong. Micah figured I was right.
The outlaws finally made their move. We heard a gunshot, then another. Nils was hit. He was lying in the street. The shots were coming from a room at the Madera House. I helped Nils into the saloon. I came out of the saloon shooting. I was hit and I fell to the ground. Micah saw what had happened. He started for the door and he was hit. Micah blew out the lamp. The two men told Micah to save himself some trouble and let them have Gordo. "You might try and take Gordo, but you'll have to face this 
shotgun first!" Yelled Micah. They started shooting. Micah was hit again. Micah laid on the floor of his office helpless. They barged in. The one man went to release Gordo. Gordo came out laughing. He decided to let Micah live so he could tell everyone what Charlie Gordo done.
I was hurt, but not dead like they thought. I was just waiting for the right opportunity to make my move. As they got to their horses, I sat up. The third man of the gang saw me and went for his rifle. I shot him. Then Karl Hollis and then Dave Chester. Gordo kept coming towards me shooting. I then shot him. They were all dead. The first thing that came to mind after all of this was.....Micah. I rushed into his office. "Lucasboy, I thought you were dead." "How bad are you Micah?" "I had worse," said Micah. "Gordo?" "Well let's say you'll will sleep tonight. So will I."
I told Micah that I'd stay in town until he got back on his feet. That made Mark happy. "Staying in town is like a vacation to me," said Mark. I told him he'd still have to go to school. He said after school he was going to help Lucille Banning break the new pinto colt she got for her birthday. "Mark you never did tell me, how was Lucille's birthday party?" "Oh Great! We had a swell time Pa! We had....." He was all excited and he realized it showed. He got subtle all of a sudden. "Oh it was alright, I guess." "But you know...." Said Mark. "All those girl?" I asked. "Yeah I'll be seein' ya'." Off he went.
piddlin' stuff.....Lon Chaney Jr. as Charlie Gordo. He was the outlaw that Micah had locked up in his jail.
Remember Lon in "Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans" as Chingachgook, Scout?
Of course we remember him and his father Lon Chaney for their presents in horror films. Lon Chaney, Jr., is the only person to have played all four 
of the classic movie monsters: "The Wolf Man" (1941) (Larry Talbot/Wolf Man) "The Ghost of Frankenstein" (1942) (The Frankenstein Monster) "The Mummy's Tomb" (1942) (Kharis, the mummy) "Son of Dracula" (1943) (Count Anthony Alucard, Dracula's son) How about "Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein?" Truly a great actor!
*As far as Lucas worst enemies, I'd say Charlie Gordo (Lon Chaney Jr.) is right up there with Dan Maury (Lee Van Cleef) in 'The Deadly Wait'.
"What say you?"
Ross Elliott as Ben Johnson. He was the cowboy who didn't want to be Micah's deputy anymore when he heard what had happened to the marshal in Pagosa Springs. He played in "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" as Virgil Earp ~ "The Virginian" as Sheriff Mark Abbott from 1962-1969.
I don't think there was anything he didn't star in way back when! I remember him from "The Lone Ranger". But I know you've seen this cowboy many of times in many of westerns!
Elliott began his acting career with Orson Welles' Mercury Theater, where he performed in Welles' famed radio program "War of the Worlds."
For all you "General Hospital" fans, he was the first Lee Baldwin. I remember that.....my Mom use to watch "General Hospital."
William Bryant played Karl Hollis in this episode of 'Gun Fire'.
In 'The Apprentice Sheriff', he was Sandy Dixon, he was the cowboy who Dan shot and killed. This is a great actor. He was Jerry in 'Shivaree'. One of the rowdy cowboys. He also was in 'The Assailants' as Trooper Coley.
He appeared in "Branded" nine times as President Ulysses S. Grant.
He also appeared with Chuck in "Ride Beyond Vengeance" as the Bartender.
Loved him in "Hardcastle & McCormick" the pilot - 2 part called 'Rolling Thunder' as Flip Johnson.
Old Hardcastle knew the code of the west....."hunt 'em, hear 'em and hang 'em!" Loved that "Hardcastle and McCormick!" To me this was a modern day western. Hardcastle's favorite western star was the 'Duke' and he read 'The Lone Ranger' comic.
Grant Richards played Reed Barnes in 'The Apprentice Sheriff', he's the cowboy who pretended to be drunk and kill Sandy in the saloon. He was also in the two more episodes "The Rifleman." 'Gun Fire' as Dave Chester, a member of Gordo's gang and 'Tin Horn' as John Keeler.
Appeared in "The Untouchables" lots of times.
*William Bryant and Grant Richards both appeared in 'The Apprentice Sheriff' &
'Gun Fire' as bad guys. They both got killed in both episodes.
Preston was the shotgun rider on the stage. Lucas called him Preston, but the credits say: Preston Price as Joe ~ This is the only thing I could find on this cowboy?????
Lucas worn the deputies badge on his right side of his shirt in both of these episodes 'Gun Fire' and in 'The Man from Salinas.'
In 'Gun Fire'.....He picked up the badge and pinned it on the right side of my shirt. "You’re suppose to wear that over your heart," said Micah.
"I've got a big heart Micah."
'Gunfire'—Did you notice in the very last part of the show where Lucas is lying down on the street playing dead. When he rises and faces the bad guys and starts to fire his rifle I believe that his rifle jams on him. The lever does not go into the closed position like it
should. Yes his rifle does jam.....anybody else seen it?
Thanks Pete! Never thought to add it!
*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with
Joe Higgins as Nils Swenson
Bill Quinn as Sweeney
