Mark was home from school with the measles. Miss Adams stopped by our ranch before school to bring Mark's assignments. "It's called Moby Dick; it's about a giant whale and a sea captain. The captain spends his life trying to catch the whale because he bit off his leg," said Miss Adams. She didn't want to give away the ending so she asks if I would read it to Mark later. I made some kind of remark about her trying to get both of us educated.
She liked that idea. She glanced at her watch and noticed she was running late for school. In her rush she dropped her books. As I was helping her collect her things from the floor I noticed a pamphlet that said "Voting - A Women's Right." She told me they were her suffrage pamphlets. "Suffrage, you mean women voting," I asked. She told me that she was setting up some classes for the women in town tonight on government. I thought this somewhat funny. She didn't tho. She was very serious about it. I didn't mean to hurt her feelings, but I still found this a bit amusing. I told her that a women voting would be like racing a cow with a stallion. She just looked at me. I sure put my foot in my mouth this time. I tried to get out of it by saying that a woman would be happier tending the home. I was just getting myself in deeper and deeper. She left me one of her pamphlets to read after I finished reading Moby Dick to Mark. She told me how women are about to emerge, independent, beautiful and free. Asking no quarter from any man. She then said good-bye and left. Mark thought I was a little rough on Miss Adams. I had the highest respect for this woman, but couldn't help finding humor in it. Mark asked if I thought she was serious. She was serious alright. I gave Mark the pamphlet to look over while I ran into town to get a bottle of tonic refilled for him.
When Miss Adams got to the school, she saw the Healy clan were there waiting for her. They were boarding up the school. "What are you doing?" ask Miss Adams. "Schools been dismissed," said Pa Healy. She wanted to know who he was, but he just talked in circles. She got upset and was getting ready to get out of the buggy. Pa Healy had a whip in his hand
and warned her, she better stay in the buggy. She looked at Garth and ask him if this was his kin? "He's my Pa," said Garth. She wanted to know what Garth had told him. "The truth, school marm, does that scare ya'?" asked Pa Healy. Pa told her was to follow them; they had some business in town.
I went to Hattie's to get Mark's tonic refilled and told her I'd be back for it. Just as I was leaving I brushed against some boxes. I saw they were from Kansas. I asked Hattie if she had gotten in some fancies from Kansas City. Hattie ask me if I could keep a secret, but was a little unsure whether to show me what was in the boxes. She felt she could trust me, more then the average man. "Nice color," I said. "Aren't they cute, Lucas?" asked Hattie. "What is it?" I asked. "It's a bloomer outfit. We're going to wear them when we march in the street," said Hattie. I couldn't believe that these women folks were serious about women's suffrage and marching in the street . She was serious alright! "Mankind is a benevolent tyrant, well, he's got to learn, women are not cattle, not anymore," said Hattie. "Well that's too bad, I was thinking about getting me a head," I said. We both laughed and then I left. As I got out in front of the store I saw a rather large gathering outside the Hotel. I went over to Razor and got my rifle out of my rifle boot. Micah had just gotten there right before me. Jed was taking down the banner for tonight's class. "Get down from there," said Micah. "I said get down from there." Pa Healy told Micah that his boy was only helping them out since there was no class tonight. Micah wanted to know since when. He told us that Miss Adams was leaving town. One of the townswomen came up to Micah and told him that the school had been closed. Just then Miss Adams started down the steps. Cousin Healy was with her. He claimed he found a bottle of liquor in her room. I approached Pa Healy and asked him what his grudge was. He told us that Miss Adams has agreed to leave this bale of contentment and spread her evil somewhere else. I wanted to hear that from her. Miss Adams said that what
they said was true, she was leaving of her own free will. I wanted to know the reason. When she looked at Garth, he hung his head. "Alright, I'll tell you the reason. This is a narrow vicious town, filled with narrow vicious people." She didn't feel that way this morning. What could have changed her mind? "Nothing changed it Mr. McCain, I just took a good look around me and I didn't like what I saw. Mr. Healey has a point, I am a free thinking woman. I'd much rather take a good look at Hades then slave out my soul in this perdition of holiness." The stage was ready to leave. I wanted to get to talk to Miss Adams. So I tried to take her bags. This big dude wasn't going to let me, but I convinced him otherwise. I walked over to Miss Adams and asked her if she was under any kind of a threat. She told me to go away. I reminded her that this morning she told Mark and I a story about a man that was filled with hate. She told me it was a coincidence, nothing more. Then the stage pulled out. I walked over to Micah and told him that something wasn't right.
I decided to go outside of town ahead of the stagecoach and wait so I could talk to Miss Adams. When I stopped the stage, Joey, the shotgun guard reminded me he had a schedule to keep and he would only give me one minute. I ask Miss Adams to hear me out. I wanted to speak my peace. I told her that it wouldn't take long. I told her that there were a lot of people in North Fork who thought she is a fine lady and a fine school teacher. I told her a school teacher is a mighty important person to a town. These same folks say that North Fork would be mighty lucky to get another one like her. "Then I guess they didn't listen to what Mr. Healy said about me," said Miss Adams. They listened alright, they just didn't believe. They didn't believe that bottle of liquor either. "It makes no difference; you heard what I said about them, and their town." "Your minutes up Lucas," said Joey. I kept trying to convince her to stay. I told her that it takes a special kind of a person to get kids interested in doin' their homework, or to teach a class to the ladies in town or to get up early to take a book to a boy that's sick. "All right, we're leaving," said Joey. With that he dropped Miss Adams bags to the ground. I found it hard to believe that anyone who does these things doesn't have a lot of love in their heart for people. I
talked her into coming back to the ranch with me. I told her she could decide later what she wanted to do. She agreed. We didn't know that Cousin Healy was on the ridge watching everything. He went back into town to tell the clan that I took Miss Adams off the stage and back to my ranch.
The Healy clan went to the saloon to celebrate Miss Adams leaving. "Dollar even up," said Jed. "Suits me," said his cousin. "Dollar even up, that's a bet now," said Jed. They were betting on a chicken fight. "Alright lady you get in there and get him," said Jed. Jed had a hen. Pa Healy and Garth were watching the fight and Pa was trying to get Garth to take a drink. Garth told his Pa to leave him alone. "Is that what you told little miss prim when she came chasing after ya'?" hmmm, hmmm, hmmm. Maybe there's some of it you ain't telling me?" ask Pa. Garth insist he told him everything.
Mark was surprised when I came in the door with Miss Adams. Miss Adams wanted to make dinner for us. I told Mark to he should go lay down for a while. "Pa, I've been readin' up on these pamphlets, well, wouldn't you have wanted Ma to vote?" asked Mark. I didn't know. My son made me stop and think. Maybe I should read up on it myself. Mark went to his room and I closed the door behind him. "Well, I said to Miss Adams." I told her that Hattie thought she was protecting someone. "Garth Healy thinks he's in love with me. He asked me to marry him." "The boy?" I asked. "The boy, he's nineteen and I'm twenty-seven. He's a lonely boy Mr. McCain, shut off from all affection by his father. Lonely and in need of understanding. I used to talk to him, hoping I could be of some help. I didn't realize he was misinterpreting our friendship until just a few days ago. He suddenly blurted out he was in love with me. I tried to tell him he was acting foolish but he wouldn't listen. Then I finally told him I couldn't see him again. Then he left. But he was very bitter." She felt he told his Pa a totally opposite story from what she was telling me. This was the reason Healy was driving her out of town. She didn't say anything because she felt Healy would kill Garth if he knew that he lied. She couldn't betray him, whatever he said.
Jed Healy's hen got killed in the chicken fight. He was pretty upset. Jed was crying and hollering "You killed her! You killed her!" "Get him off of me he's loco," shouted his cousin. "Loco, nobody calls me loco," cried Jed, while trying to strangle his cousin. Pa Healy grabbed him and started to hit him again and again. Garth stepped in and told his Pa to leave him alone. Jed was crying, "chickens dead." Pa was upset, his son telling him what to do, this he would not stand for. By that time Micah came in. He wanted to know what the problem was. He told them it was time they go home. Pa agreed and they all started to leave. Sweeney told Micah they were plum loco all of 'em. Micah agreed.
Just as Pa Healy walked out of the saloon, Cousin Healy hollered to him and told him that Miss Adams wasn't on the stage anymore. The big farmer, is what he called me, took her back to his ranch. Pa told Jed; maybe McCain would give him one of his chickens. Jed liked that. This clan was plum loco like Sweeney said. Pa told them to mount up. Garth didn't want to, he told them they can't do this. Jed changed his mind, now he didn't want a chicken. He was afraid it might die too. "That's the chance you have to take Jed, when your dealing with things that are weak," said Pa as he looked at Garth. So they mounted up and headed out for my ranch.
Dinner was ready. Miss Adams went out to pick some marigolds for on the table. She could hear a rider coming in. It was Garth. He was riding hard. He came to get her. Pa and the rest of them were right behind him. Garth wanted her to go with him. She refused to leave. Garth insisted, "you don't know what he'll do to you." They where riding up to the ranch. Garth told her how he wanted to hurt her. He was sorry. He begged her to go away with him. I told him nobody was going anywhere. He should sit down and I'd get him a cup of coffee. "Garth, Garth, you come out here and bring that gal with you." hollered Pa. Garth went out to face him with his gun drawn. He told his Pa to stay away. He wasn't going to let his Pa hurt her, he'd kill him first. This time he wanted to stand up to his Pa himself. I told him he should stand up to him as a man. He put his gun in his holster and went over to face him. "You weren't even man enough to shoot, now was ya'?" ask Pa. Garth told him to leave Miss Adams alone. That what he told him about Miss Adams and him wasn't true. "You lied because you're weak. I got me two fine sons, now haven't I? One a weakling and one a fool," said Healy. "I ain't no fool Pa!" yelled Jed. Pa told Jed to shut up. He told Garth to get his shirt off, he was gonna teach him a
bout lying. Jed's still hollering, "take back what you said Pa, I ain't no fool." Healy was to busy with Garth to pay any attention to Jed, he didn't know he had his gun drawn. Jed kept hollering "you gotta take back what you said Pa, take back what you said." "Shut up you fool," shouted Pa. By this time Jed was really upset and he had enough of being called a fool. He shot his Pa in the back. Jed is still hollering "take back what you said." I run over and knock him to the ground. Jed was crying, he kept saying, "Garth I had to do it". Jed wanted to get the doctor. Garth told him to go ahead. "The Healy's busted apart by their own meanness, it was bound to happen."
I got the measles from Mark. I wasn't feeling too well. So Mark was reading to me the pamphlet on Women's right to vote. I asked him if we could go back to Moby Dick. Just them we heard Hattie at the door. She had dropped off some tonic for me. She was sorry I had to miss the parade tonight, but was in a hurry to get back to town. As she went over to get into the wagon Mark noticed her bloomers. I would have loved to have seen the look on his face. He just walked over and sat down and said, "maybe we oughta go back to Moby Dick, Pa," said Mark.
piddlin' stuff.....Patricia Barry plated as Adele Adams, North Fork's school teacher for two episodes - 'The Woman' and the 'Three Legged Terror.' She also starred in another episode but as Laurie
Hadley in 'A Time for Singing.' She 'supposedly' was the new preacher's wife.
Patricia was in several Soaps - "All My Children" ~ "Days of Our Lives" ~ "The Guiding Light." She has made 105 guest appearances and has over 50 other appearances, which she is credited with. Patricia Barry is probably best known to modern viewers for her performances in two "Twilight Zone" installments, "The Chaser" (1960) and "I Dream of Jeannie," where she pulled off the dexterous task of being both sexy and funny at the same time.Paul Carr starred in four episodes of "The Rifleman." He played Derek Hanaway [the groom] in 'Shivaree.' Garth Healey in 'The Woman' ~ He was the one who was in love with Miss Adams. Fred Harris in 'Letter of the Law' ~ He gave his life to save Micah. Doug Carter in 'Smoke Screen' ~ He was in love with Marge Crandell. The cowgirl who got killed.
He had a starring role in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. He played Dr. Peter Taylor [#1] in the soap "General Hospital." He starred in shows like "Peter Gun" to "Hardcastle & McCormick." Love that "Hardcastle & McCormick!" "Hunt 'em, hear 'em and hang 'em, that's the code of the West!"James Westerfield starred as Pa Healy in this episode. He was the boss/Pa of this 'very different' clan. He also starred in another episode of "The Riflemen" as Jake Preston - 'The Fourflusher.' He [James Westerfield] was the man who wanted Gabe Fenway to lose the horse race so he could get control of his ranch.
He starred in a made forTV movie - "Set This Town on Fire" with Chuck Connors and Paul Fix.
Fern Barry played a townswoman in 'The Woman.' She's the one in the hotel that can up to Micah and told him that the school had been closed. She was also in 'The Horse Traders." She's the wife of the man who originally bought the horse which was a sorrel stallion, before Lucas bought it from him.
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!But I love him best as "Sam" the bartender in "Gunsmoke." I tip my cowgirl hat to you "Cowboy!"
*North Fork had three different school teachers.....Marilee Phelps - played the school teacher, in 'Eight Hours to Die.' (1958) Depending on where you check this info you will find her credited as Miss Adams or teacher.
Later Patricia Barry played Adele Adams, the towns school teacher in 'Three Legged Terror' and 'The Woman.' (1959)
In 'The Schoolmaster' - Arnold Moss played Stephen Griswald, the new school teacher in town. (1960)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.David Leland as Cousin Healy. His list of credits are "Laredo""Wagon Train""M Squad""Wanted: Dead or Alive""Bourbon Street Beat""Sugarfoot""Buckskin""The Restless Gun""Bronco""Zane Grey Theater""Have Gun - Will Travel""Nothing But Trouble""The Hour Before the Dawn"
Anybody catch the mix up with Lucas' hat? The part where Jed shot his Pa. Lucas hat was on one minute, off, on, then when he body slams someone, it's on again? 'The Woman'Check out the action with the hat.
*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with
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updated 9/28/08