Micah wanted to go Santa Fe to attend a wedding of a friend's daughter. He said he would only be gone for two days. He wanted me to act as Marshal while he was gone. I told him I couldn't, even if it would be for one day,
there was just no way, Mark and I had just spent the whole week bunching up our cattle for branding and that they would just scatter all over again. I told Micah not to put me on the spot. He said he wouldn't, but he really wanted to attend Joey Adams daughter's wedding, and that next to me her father was the best friend he has. "I remember Emmy Lou when she was.....," I interrupted Micah and told him....."Micah, "I'll stand deputy for you anytime.....except branding season!" He understood, that's why I was the last one he asked, but he thought it was worth a try. Just then Nils, the blacksmith walked into Micah's office. Clearing his throat he said....."Howdy Micah.....Lucas, I got your horse ready for the trip. Say I couldn't help hearin' you needed somebody to take your place while you're out of town." "I may not be going out of town," said Micah. "Can't you get nobody to stand in for ya'?" Asked Nils. "That's right!" said Micah. "Well.....uh.....what about me? Things are slow at the shop.....and I've got time." Stated Nils. Micah and I looked at each other, reluctantly. "Well.....I," said Micah. I interrupted him and told him that I had to be on my way. There was no way I wanted to be involved in this. Nils said goodbye to me and then turned to Micah....."Well?" "Well.....hum.....nothing personal Nils, but I.....I just never thought of you holding down the Marshal's job," said Micah. "I could do just as good a job as any man in town. Better then most!" Said Nils. "I'd hate to be makin' a mistake," said Micah. Nils was hurt with that and turned to leave, but came back with....."I've been in this town as long as Lucas McCain, ain't I always held up my end when there was trouble?" "That's right.....you have," said Micah. "Like the time you deputized me and we caught the Sheridan gang," said Nils proudly. "Yes but.....there was ten other deputies riding with us," said Micah. "Well just the same, I've always done my part!" Exclaimed Nils. As Nils turned to leave he said....."Of course if you don't want to go to the wedding.....why....." Micah felt bad. He asked Nils if he thought he could handle it. He convinced Micah that he could and that our town was peaceful and all he'd have to do was keep it that way until Micah got back. "Alright.....I'll take the chance.....I mean I appreciate your offer and I want to thank you for it," said Micah. He then got one of the deputies' badges out of his desk drawer and handed it to Nils. As Micah started to leave Nils wanted to know if Micah was going to swear him in. Micah told him he had been sworn in before, but Nils thought this was different. So Micah obliged him. As Micah was leaving he told Nils not to let anybody push him around. He told Micah he didn't have to worry he would keep everyone in line. 
"Just keep the peace.....that's the main thing," said Micah.
Nils was thrilled! The first thing he did was pin on the deputies' badge. Then he took off his blacksmith apron and went over to where the gun belts were hanging and tried to put one on. It didn't fit. Just then sounds of shooting and hollering was coming from the street. Nils grabbed a shotgun from the rack and literally ran out to see what was going on. It was Ed Bundy, one of North Fork's citizens. Ed was thrilled, his wife just had a baby boy. Ed Kept shooting and yelling while Nils tried to get him to stop. Everybody started laughing. Just then Nils turned the shotgun on Ed. "Ed.....I warned ya'!" Said Nils. He made Ed hand over his gun. Ed wanted to know why Nils was giving him orders. "I'm taking Micah's place while he's gone up to Santa Fe. Until he gets back, I'm keepin' the peace! If I have to take every gun in town to do it!" Exclaimed Nils. The whole town laughed. They laughed even more when Nils mentioned he just might do that. He told everybody to go on about their business. He then told Ed he could have his gun back when he leaves town.
The next day Mark and I had to go to town to get some supplies at the Hardware Store and of course, in the back of my mind I wanted to see if Micah really did leave Nils in charge. I didn't even get a chance to get off my horse when Ed Bundy approached me and told me what had happened. He said he thought at first Nils was just showing off, but now today things were getting worse. This job of Nils was going to his head and wearing that badge on his chest made him even more prouder and he liked being in charge. Nils didn't think about it very long. Before you knew it, he was posting a no gun law for the town of North Fork. I decided I better have a talk with Nils.
I walked up to Nils. "Nils," I said. "Oh Howdy Lucasboy.....Mark. Nice quiet town we got here. Like I've been telling the folks.....don't take much to keep it that way," said Nils. Then I read his sign.....
"Nobody takes this rifle from me, you know that," I said to Nils. "I don't mean to 'take' the rifle from you Lucas, but if you're gonna be in town, I'd like to have you turn it in. Sorta set the example for the other folks." I asked Nils what has come over him. He told us that as long as he was wearing that badge he had to do what he thought was right. He felt people going around carrying guns causes' trouble and if you take away the guns, no trouble! "Have you had any trouble since Micah left?" I asked him. He said that he hadn't except for Ed Bundy shooting holes in the sky. I mentioned that his wife just had a baby. He felt he could have hit someone. I told him....."I think that badge your wearing has you shooting holes in the sky." He told me there was no reason to get excited, Micah would be back in a day or two and he'd probably go along with the idea and wonder why he didn't think of it himself. I told him that Micah did think of it long before he did, but decided it wouldn't work here, not yet. "Nils, this territory has a lot of growing up to do and until then we can't take away a man's right to protect himself. He told me not to give him any problem and if I intended on staying around town I would have to hand over my rifle. "Then I won't be around." "Mark you pick up the stuff at the Hardware and don't be late, it's gonna be dark soon and I want you home before night fall." Mark told me not to worry and headed over to the Hardware Store. I told Nils I wouldn't give him any problems, but I hope he wasn't making some of his own problems. "If I did, which I won't, I'll be ready," said Nils.
Just then three stranger rode into town. Niles excused himself and headed for the cowboys. He told them there was a new law in town and they would have to hand in their shootin' irons. One of the men, Stagg, told Nils that he didn't give his guns to nobody. He stood there with his hand on his gun and was ready for a fight. Platt, the leader of the gang told Stagg to hold it. "Marshal.....you mean no one can carries a gun in this town?" Asked Platt. "That's right," said Nils....."New law!" As Nils motioned for the guns he said....."Now don't give me any trouble boys." Stagg still insisting he wasn't giving up his gun. Platt turned to him and said....."Give the man your gun Stagg." "What!?" Asked Stagg, puzzled. "Give the Marshal your gun.....don't you understand?" Said Platt. "This is a peace loving town." The third cowboy, Duff, tapped 
Stagg on the shoulder as to say.....give up your gun. Duff then walked up to Nils and handed him his gun, along with Platt and then Stagg. Nils told them they could pick up their guns at the Marshal's office when they were ready to leave town. I just shook my head. I was surprised, but Nils managed to pull it off.
Mark was finishing up at the Hardware Store when the clerk asked him if he would drop off a package for Micah. He said that Nils had been so busy collecting guns that he forgot to pick up the mail. Mark was glad to do it for him.
The three strangers headed straight for the saloon. Stagg was still complaining about giving up his gun. But Platt saw this as a chance to take advantage of robbing the bank. He heard that North Fork was a town that everyone was armed and ready to back the Marshal. But this threw a different light on this situation, nobody having a gun in town. This was an opportunity that came but once in a life time for them. They looked at all the men at the bar, not a one wearing a gun. "This wasn't a town of lawmen.....it was a town of sittin' ducks," said Platt. Platt told Stagg and Duff they would have one drink and then they would pick up their guns and leave town. They would come back the next day around the time the bank opens.
Nils was hanging up the three cowboy's guns when Mark walked into the office. He told Nils about the mail. 
Nils wasn't really interested; instead he was proud of himself and wanted to boast. He told Mark that his Pa was wrong. He showed Mark all the guns he collected. He also told him that people didn't object to giving up their guns when they knew they had someone they could trust to look out for them. "Oh.....you mean Micah's back!" Said Mark. That wasn't what Nils meant. He asked Mark if he felt he was doing the right thing. Mark had mixed feeling, in some ways he agreed with Nils but in other ways, well he just wasn't sure and would have to agree with me. "All men are brother's, that's what the good book says, doesn't it?" Asked Nils. Just then Platt and his men came to pick up their guns. While Nils was getting their guns Mark started to open the wanted posters. Right on top was a poster on Platt. Mark recognized him right off and his face showed it. Platt picked up the posters and saw what Mark had been looking at. Mark slowly started for the door but Platt was one step ahead of him. As Mark ran for the door Platt grabbed Mark and Platt then drew his gun holding it on Nils. Stagg and Duff did the same. Their plans had been changed. He showed them the wanted poster on himself and told them they would be staying in town tonight. They locked Mark in the cell and the three of them stayed out in the office area with Nils so they could keep an eye on him when others came for their guns.
It was dark and I was beginning to worry. Mark wasn't home yet and I precisely told him to be home before dark. I was worried and upset, not knowing if there was something wrong or if he had disobeyed me. I was setting at the table when I heard someone ride in, I had hoped it was Mark. But it wasn't. It was Sam Benson. He said he was on his way home and thought he'd stop for a minute. I asked him if he saw Mark on the road or in town. He said he hadn't seen him at all. He said he stopped by because of something Nils had said. He told me that when he went to pick up his gun at Micah's office, Nils gave him somebody else's gun and he called him by my name and Nils has known him for years. I found that odd and 
asked him if there was anybody else with Nils. He said there was a man playing checkers with Nils. But he didn't know who he was. When Sam left I headed straight for town. Something wasn't right here.
When I got to town I went and pounded on the door of the Marshal's office. By this time they had Nils locked up with Mark. They got him out of the cell and warned him not to do any trick's like he did with Benson. "Nils, its McCain." "What do you want McCain.....you just woke me up?" Yelled Nils. "I came to check my gun while I was over at Sweeny's. I don't want to break that law of yours! Now let me in!" I yelled. "It's late McCain.....keep the gun!" "Just don't go gettin' drunk so I have to throw you in jail like I had to the last time!" Yelled Nils. "I won't Marshal.....I won't." Now I had confirmed my suspicions. They then put Nils back in the cell.
I went around to the back of the jail. When I looked in the window I could see Platt and his gang. I also saw Mark and Nils in the cell. I picked up a small stone and tossed it into the window to get either Mark or Nils attention. Mark saw me and motioned to Nils. Nils then told Mark to get down on the floor and pretend he was sick. He told him to stay down until it was all over. Mark started moaning. Duff asked what was wrong with Mark and Nils told him he had taken sick and to have a look. When Duff walked over to the cell he asked Mark what was ailing him. Nils told him there was a rifle aimed right at his head. Duff laughed until he heard me trigger my rifle. As Nils took his gun he said....."The man behind that gun could take the head off a pop weed at 50 yards." Nils then told him to open the door quietly. As Nils and Duff got to the doorway Duff tried to warn Platt and Stagg. Duff dove to the floor. I shot Stagg.....Platte shot Nils. Duff, while lying on the floor went for his gun. Nils shot at him and warned him to leave it alone. Platt ran out of the office and I headed to the front of the office. I stopped him as he was trying to mount his horse. I told Platt to drop his guns and to slowly go back into the office.
We had the three cover. I looked at Nils and said....."You did fine Nils." Mark ran to my side. "Didn't he son?" "He sure did!" Said Mark.
Mark and I stayed at the Marshal's office while Nils was at the Doc's office. He thanked us for our help and wondered if Micah would ever talk to him again. "When he sees the customers you've got in his jail, I think he'll be coming to you for advice," I said. "Well.....I know what advice not to give him!" Said Nils. "You know Pa.....I can't help but think what Nils was trying to do was really right," said Mark. "Someday this town.....this whole territory is gonna be so different that people are just going to change their ways." Said Mark. "Maybe so son.....but it will take a lot of changing to make them give up their guns." "Yeah but I think it will happen." "You know someday I think this street right here will have buildings that stick up right to the sky. And we'll have machines that will take the place of horses. Like the train took the place of the covered wagon," Said Mark. "Machines to take the place of horses!!!!!" I exclaimed. Mark look at me not quite sure as I stood and shook my head no, like it ain't gonna happen. "Nah.....I guess not," said Mark.
the age of nine, he attended the University of Dayton (Ohio) and worked in radio while a student. He entered television and played recurring roles on such television series as "The Rifleman" and "Arrest and Trial." He also appeared with Chuck in "Flipper" and "Geronimo."
[which he wrote] as Russell Ganaway, he was a former friend of Lucas's, just released from jail and the one who hid the stolen money on the McCain Ranch―'The Anvil Chorus' as Platt and Jeb Sherman in 'The Old Man Running.' 
