We were just leaving town, when Micah told me that John, out bank president wanted to see me.  John needed my help.  He wanted me to ride shotgun on the stage tomorrow.  He knew I didn't hire out my rifle.  He said it would be only if Clay Fallmont didn't show up. He was due in North Fork around noon.  It was past noon and John was getting worried.  He was shipping out $20,000 to federal reserve in Albuquerque.  All he wanted was insurance.  He told me if I stayed in town until the morning, he would pay the hotel bill.  If Fallmont shows up, good.  Otherwise I would have to ride shotgun.  I was hoping Fallmont would show up.  We had a lot of chores to do at the ranch.  I really didn't like putting them off.  We didn't know at the time that Austin Stark and his men shot and killed Fallmont outside of town.

Mark and I headed over to the hotel to get some dinner.  Eddie, told us our room was ready.  "Mr. Hamilton tells me you might be riding shotgun tomorrow."  I told him only  if Fallmont doesn't show up.  Eddie told Mark they were  having chocolate cake for dessert.  That put a smile on his face.  He couldn't wait to go get his dinner.  I noticed three strange men having dinner in the dining room.  I didn't know who they were, nor did I know that they were listening to Eddie's and my conversation about me guarding the stage.  Stark noticed I had a boy.  He now had a vice to use when he held up the stage. 

Fallmont never showed.  So now I was obligated to ride shotgun.  I told Mark to do the everyday chores and make sure and come into town everyday before dark.  He was to stay at Hattie Denton's.

We went for quite a ways.  When we got to our first relay station, everybody got out to stretch their legs.  We were getting a drink when the stagecoach driver saw a rider approaching.  He called to me.  It was stark.  I asked him if he wanted something.  He told me he wanted the strong box, please.  He wasn't armed.   He told me this was a hold up.  "You could very easily pull that trigger and kill me and your son."  He told me that Mark was at the ranch and he had a friend of his with him.  If his friend doesn't hear from him in two hours, unfortunately he would have to kill Mark.  I cocked my rifle.  He backed off.  It's at least three hours hard riding to my ranch.  He said I could kill him, but it wouldn't do any good.  With a signal and a relay rider he could keep anything from happening to Mark.  "He's bluffing," said Barton.   Barton was a passenger on the stage and also had $3,000 dollars cattle money in the strong box.  Mark's life against the money in the strong box. Barton pulls a gun on stark.  I take my rifle and knock it out of his hand.  I couldn't call his bluff.  "Give it to him Mr. McCain.  Give him whatever he wants.  The life of a child isn't worth all the money in the world.  give him what he wants.  I know the boys mother is gone, so I'll speak for her.  I have two of my own and another on the way.  We don't suffer the pain and anguish and the love and wonder of birth to give forth a child's life to be wasted.  A life to be bargained for money.  You can replace money, but you can't replace a life of a child." said Mrs. Hardy.  Stark thanked her for pleading his case so eloquently.  I looked up at the driver.  He got the strong box and dropped it to the ground. Stark loaded his saddle bags up.  He called to Gustave.  He rode up and told me that in fifteen minutes they'd give the signal that would release Mark from jeopardy.  He warned me not to follow them.  That I needed every minute to get back to my ranch.  Mark might already be dead.  That angered me.  I grabbed him, then pushed him away.  While he's talkin' at me, I loosen his cinch, hoping that when it came loose it might slow him down.  They rode off.  Barron was upset that I left his money get away.  He said he was going after them.  I grabbed him by his jacket.  "Now look. Your not drawing any cards in this game mister.  Not while my boys life is in danger..  I told him to get back on the stage and stay there until he gets to where his ticket says he's going.  There was a buckskin tied to a tree.  I took it and rode off.  I rode hard.  When I got to my ranch I  didn't see Mark.  I looked in the barn.  All of a sudden I heard Mark's horse, Blueboy.  He was in the corral.  I went over to him.  There laid Mark in the hay.  I called to him.  He didn't answer, I called again.  He had fallen asleep. No one had been there with Mark.  Stark called my bluff.  I saddled up Razor and headed out to find Stark and his gang. 

I went back to the relay station to pick up their trail.  It wasn't hard to follow.  I even found where Stark's cinch gave out. I kept going.  Riding all night.  Just before morning I came across their camp.  I slowly sneaked into their camp while they slept.  "Alright boys, wake up, slow and easy."  Nobody moved.  I pulled the covers off of the one.  He was dead.  I went to check the other one.  He was dead too.  He had a knife in his back.  I went on to track Stark.  I tracked him to Willow Springs.  There in front of the saloon was Stark's horse.  He was there alright.  Gambling with the banks money.  I told him to get up, slow.  I flipped my rifle.  People started to scatter.  I told him he was coming with me conscious or unconscious.  He started telling the cowboys about my reputation as a rifleman.  That anyone who kills me would increase his reputation quite a bit. "I'll pay $3,000 to anyone who kills Mr. McCain and I don't mind if you shoot him in the back," said Stark. He didn't want to go back to the territorial prison.  He said he'd take his chance on death.  "$3,000 to anyone who kills him."  The cowboys were getting restless.  I sensed the one behind me getting ready to draw.  When I turned, he shot Stark.  Meaning to shot me.  I shot the pistol out of his hand.  I took the money that was lying on the table and put it in his saddle bags and headed for North Fork.. 

I took the money back to the bank.  I returned all the money he bluffed me out of.  I told John I was sorry for letting the money get away in the first place.  "Lucas, if it hadn't been a bluff, if anything would have happened to Mark, I wouldn't had wanted to see this money again."  I knew John would feel that way.  I guess that's why I left Stark bluff me.  "That boy, he's my strength and my weakness."  Just then Mark came running into the bank.  He wanted to know if everything was alright.  I told him everything was fine, to mount up and we'd go home.  "I was thinking," said John.  "I'd like to trade all this and much more for what you've got!"  "I'll remember that the next time he makes a pest of himself."  We both laughed as I walked out the door.

---

piddlin' stuff.....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!  ; )

Jack Lambert played John Lance, one of the gang.  He also appeared with Chuck in "Branded" ~  Marty Slater - 'The Richest Man in Boot Hill.'  He appeared in "Winchester ' 73" ~  remake of the 1950 James Stewart Western movie.  "Bend of the River."  "When the West was Won."   An under rated actor.

 Baynes Barron played Gustavo "Gus" in 'The Spiked Rifle.'  He was in another episode ~ 'The Deserter'  as Trooper Kirk.  He also appeared with Chuck in "Branded" ~ as the Sheriff in "I Killed Jason McCord."  Another guest star of "The Untouchables."

Virginia Christine appeared as Mrs. Hardy in this episode.  She's the lady that was on the stage and told Lucas to give the man the money, give him whatever he wants! ~   She also appeared in another episode, 'The Long Goodbye' as Mrs. Darymple.   
She played Mrs. Olsen in the Folgers Coffee commercials during the 1970's. Appeared in "The Untouchables" several times. "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" and "High Noon."  She appeared with Chuck in "Good Morning Miss Dove."

Fay Roope played Baynes Barton in this episode 'Spiked Rifle.'  He the guy who had $3,000 in the strong box.  He played Jeff Stacey in this episode 'The Brother-in-Law' also played Doc Burrage in three episodes of "The Rifleman." 'The Legacy' and 'Panic.'  Chuck and Faye also appeared together in the 1954 movie "Naked Alibi" which was before "The Rifleman."  How many actors played Doc Burrage?  To find out more in detail see my Doc Burrage page.

Glenn Strange was several episodes of "The Rifleman." He was a shotgun guard in 'The Deadeye Kid.' He's the one that shoved Mahoney off of the back of the stage. He also played in 'Duel of Honor' as Cole, stagecoach driver. He was the one who did the counting for the duel. Joey, stagecoach driver in 'The Woman.' 'The Blowout' again a stagecoach driver. 'The Spiked Rifle' and 'Miss Bertie' as a stagecoach driver.
A guest star on "The Untouchables."
He played Butch Cavendish in "The Lone Ranger."  I can't picture Sam being a bad dude.  He was in Elvis's "Jailhouse Rock" - one of the dancers.

He was also known for playing the Frankenstein monster in House of Dracula, House of Frankenstein, and Abbott  and Costello Meet Frankenstein. He was a very versatile actor. He could do it all! —Thank Jerry!

Charles Conrad as Mallory

But I love him best as "Sam" the bartender in "Gunsmoke."  I tip my hat to you "Cowboy!"

*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with  

Letter of the Law

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around the McCain Ranch
updated 9/26/08