We had gone into town to get some supplies and were getting ready to leave, when two men walked into the General Store with their guns drawn. The one cowboy told me to back up and told the rest of the people to stop 
and stay where they were. I asked them if they weren't making a mistake: the bank was down the street. "There ain't no mistake mister, I've got good reason for what I'm gonna do, now I'm gonna do it!" He said. We heard some commotion coming from the back room. It was another cowboy with his gun held on Micah. He was shoving Micah around. "Look what I found. I got me a Marshal," said Davey. Jake Pardee, the leader, then took the butt of his gun and knocked Micah out. I wanted to help, but the one they called the Professor stepped in with his gun on me. Jake told everybody to get out except for Hattie and Micah. As I started to leave, Jake told me to hold here. "I'm Jake Pardee. Reckon' you heard of me" he said. I told him it would break his heart if I said I hadn't. He laughed. He said it would take more then five years in the state pen to make folks forget what he left them to remember. He could still tree a town as easy as pickin' his teeth. "You don't have to impress me," I said. He wanted me to pass the word ar
ound. They were here for food, ammunition, supplies. He was going to hold Hattie and Micah. If anyone in town gave them any trouble they were as good as dead. When he was ready to leave he would take them with him. He told me to stay off his trail. He would decide when he would let them loose. I turned to him and said "you're holding all the cards, mister, don't over play them. You know why? Without them you wouldn't be much." Then I walked out of the store. After I left he thought about what we had talked about and didn't like the way I talked to him.
I walked over to the buckboard and got my rifle. The townspeople followed me down the street.
The Professor was upset. What was this supposed to prove? Now Pardee had set the whole town on their backs. The Professor had wanted to wait until dark, when the store was closed. They could have been on their way without stirring up a hornets nest. He told Jake to forget about me. Jake couldn't leave it alone. He wanted to know who I was. Hattie told him I was just a rancher, but he thought I was pretty upshot for that. Davey thought he had heard of me and my rifle. He also heard that I was faster with my rifle then anyone with a six gun. This was just how Jake could prove himself. Davey and the Professor wanted to leave, but Jake didn't. They needed Jake. He was daring, had a lot of nerve. They weren't 
any good without him and they knew that. Risking their life for one of his hair brain whims was not what the Professor had in mind. Jake wanted to prove something to himself. He wanted to prove he was the same man he was five years ago. In five years a man could forget who he was. After a while he began to wonder if he was the same man. That was something he had to find out.
The town folks were having a meeting of what to do about the situation. They all were in agreement that I should take over for Micah. I told everyone we would form a posse and hunt down Jake once Micah and Hattie were safe. There wasn't anything we could do until then. Mr. Weltz stood up and said there must be something we could do. He was ashamed of this town and how everyone was knuckling down to three measly gun tuffs. I told him that none of us were happy about the situation, but thought we could survive the humiliation. One wrong move and Hattie and Micah would be dead a long, long time. I told them we would do nothing, just sweat it out. Sweeny spoke up. There was something we were over looking or maybe we didn't know. He proceeded to tell us that Jake had held up a saloon he had once owned in Galveston. He was kill crazy, even then. We
didn't know if he would keep his word about Hattie and Micah, but we had no other choice. I told the town folks to give the store a wide berth. Not to give them any reason to use their guns. We just had to wait it out.
Jake was bragging that whatever he would tell Davey to do, he would. He could tell Davey to tear the Marshal's tongue out of his head, he would do it with just a snap of the fingers. He had plans for Micah, but for now they would have to wait. Micah angered Jake. He told him, he was the devil's own delight. His season was about over. The five years he's been locked away could just as well have been five hundred. Soon they would be stuffing men like him to put in a museum. He better have his fun now, he didn't have much longer. The Professor thought this was funny. Jake was angered by that and snapped the Professor in the face with his finger. He knew he was no match for Jake so he chose to laugh it off.
Suddenly we hear three shots ring out from the store. John Hamilton ran over to me. He asks if I thought he might have shot Hattie and Micah. I didn't think so. He needed them. He wanted to prove to himself that he was still the same man he was before he went to jail. "McCain," said Jake. He wanted to talk to me. He wanted to have it out with me when it got light. If I didn't show up Ha
ttie and Micah would be dead.
We had another town meeting. John was upset. He felt it wasn't fair for everyone to leave it up to me. I thanked John for his concern, but I had to go talk to Mark and make him understand. "They are your friends and they don't care what happens to you?" asked Mark. I told Mark they were just being realistic. "What about Hattie and Micah?" I asked him. Mark felt there must be some other way. I try to explain to Mark that Jake couldn't stand to think that I might be as fast and as deadly with my rifle as he was with a six gun. I explained to Mark there was nothing else I could do. I told him....."I guess it will be this way until the land is settled and when men don't look to their guns for survival." I told Mark that I didn't want him to watch this fight and that if anything happened he could always trust John Hamilton, he's a good friend. Mark and I embraced each other.
I went to face Pardee. As I walked down the street he came out of the store. We faced each other. I watched his behavior, his eyes, waiting for him to draw. Instead of pulling the fast draw, the man began to slowly disintegrate before my eyes. He fell to the dirt, unable to function as a gunfighter. The five years in prison had destroyed him. There was no
more real nerve left. Witnessing this, the Professor shot Pardee in the back. Davey, upset and confused, turned his gun on the Professor and killed him, then turned toward Micah. Left without someone to tell him what to do, Davey was at a loss. For a moment, he considered killing Micah, and then I approached the store window. I called in softly, "I'll tell you what to do son. Put the gun down." He complied, almost relieved. We took away his weapon. Mark came running into the store and threw himself at me with a big hug and look of relief at Micah. North Fork, and all of those Mark loved were safe again.
[You must have a Windows Media player to hear this song]
*Please note that some of the sound files downloaded may sound "Jerky". After selecting the sound and allowing it to play through completely, you should then replay the sound again
THE BALLAD OF JAKE PARDEE
Jake took up where he left off, a murderer and a thief
Oh, for the torment that he caused
Oh, for the tears and grief
Jake, Jake Pardee...someday you'll hang
He can't escape his sorry end, no matter how he tries
He lived his life by vi-o-lence ~ by vi-o-lence he'll die
Jake, Jake Pardee...someday you'll hang
His eyes were cold as ice when he went on a shooting binge
He threw down on his victims 'cuz he liked to see them cringe
Jake, Jake Pardee...someday you'll hang
He sat down to a poker game and when he lost his stack
He let the winner start for home and shot him in the back!
Jake, Jake Pardee...someday you'll
hang
This Ballad was composed by Herschel Burke Gilbert—lyrics written by Alfred Perry—Copyright owner - John Paul Music Co.
Do you know who sang "The Ballad of Jake Pardee?" Bill Lee sang this ballad.
Bill Lee sang for many movies and voice overs. He started out in a group called
"The Mellomen" who sang for Glenn Miller, Jack Benny, and Walt Disney. In this same group is another great voice we all know, Thurl Ravenscroft, who is the voice for "Tony The Tiger". Bill voiced over for some well known movies, "The Sound
Of Music", "South Pacific", and "101 Dalmations" to name a few. You can read more about Bill Lee on www.imdb.com Thanks Frank C. for this info.
Does anybody know who sang the theme some to Bat Masterson?
If so, please contact 
piddlin' stuff.....Adam Williams appeared in six episodes of "The Rifleman" ― 'The Challenge' as Jake Pardee, the leader of the gang and the one who thought he had to prove himself ― 'The Prisoner' as Corporal Troc a ex-Confederate officer who seeks revenge on Lucas - he was the aide to Major Aaron King ― 'The Score is Even' as Jax, he was the one in charge and the one who told Andy to kill the McCain's ― 'The Executioner' [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.'
Before "The Rifleman" he appeared with Chuck in the movie "Dragonfly Squadron."
John Durren played Davey Pardee in this episode. He was Jake's brother. He also appeared in another episode, 'Bloodlines' ~ he played Stump Malakie, he was the one brother/son who got killed in the saloon in the beginning.
*Another piece of tidbit is.....Did you know Jake and Davey were brothers?
Mel Carter played in several episodes of "The Rifleman." 'End of a Young Gun' as an outlaw ~ 'The Safe Guard' as Walkerman, one of the guys who help rob the bank ~ 'The Challenge' as a cowhand ~ 'The Woman' as Jed Healy - he was the one who shot his Pa ~ 'The Journey Back' as Arnie Grady - He was one of the brothers that Will Temple thru off his ranch - he never got off his horse ~ 'Outlaw's Shoes' as Jeems. He was George Vale's partner and the one who shot Lucas and grazed him in the head in beginning of this episode.~ 'Lou Mallory' as Bo Jackman and 'Death Never Rides Alone' as Mark Jones.
Gee.....does this set any records? He later starred with Chuck in "Werewolf."
It looks like "The Rifleman" was where he got his break.
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.
'The Challenge'—In the beginning, the hitching post has an obvious pile of dirt scooped up against it as if the dirt was holding the base of the post, or is hiding it for some reason. When the reins are tied to the post, it wobbles. Thanks Rob!
'The Challenge'—Listen to this song closely—It's part of the Jake Pardee Ballad—do you know what saloon is being sung about here? ♫ Thanks Glenn Gilbert!
*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with
Trivia—'The Challenge'
Site Map
around the McCain Ranch
updated 10/7/07