Mark and I were outside shaping horseshoes over the fire. "Well if you didn't pack the coals so tight we'd get more blue flame in the fire," said Mark. "Oh, what do you know about it?" "Well if the coals were looser we'd get more air. Where there's more air there's more oxygen. At least that's what my teacher told me," said Mark. Just then a stranger rode in. His name was Benjamin
Stark and he was looking for me. When I introduced Mark, he already knew who he was. This surprised us both. "Mr. McCain, my business with you is quite simple. This afternoon I'll be involved in a transaction at the North Fork Bank. That transaction will be conducted more smoothly and certainly more smoothly with someone like yourself there to vouch for me." I told him I should know a little more about him before I could vouch for him. I started for my rifle. He beat me to it. He shot at my hand. I moved it just in time. "I think you know enough about me now Mr. McCain." Just then two more riders rode in. I glanced down at my rifle. Stark told me he wouldn't gamble if he were me, Mark might get in the line of fire. He motioned for his brother Noley to go to Mark. He told me he wanted me to introduce him to the bank manager. With me along they could gain access to the bank and Hamilton wouldn't suspect a thing. In return Stark promises nothing will happen to Mark if I cooperate. The other guy, Cougar, warned me what could happen to Mark if I don't do as they say. Stark told me that his brother, Noley, would be keeping Mark company while we're in town.
I hitched up the buckboard and glanced over at Mark. Stark told me that Mark couldn't be in better hands, Noley's quite fond of children. "If that boy's hurt in any way I'll find you Stark. I'll hunt you down and make it the sorriest day of your life." Cougar laughed. "I give you my word, your boy won't be harmed in anyway," said Stark. We then headed into town.
Noley told Mark he didn't have anything to be afraid of. He told Mark he wouldn't hurt a hair on his head. He said if Ben and Cougar didn't come back, meanin' they got into trouble, there wouldn't
be anyone to harm Mark. He told him he would ride out in a hurry but nobody would hurt him. He was trying to make Mark feel better. He told Mark they've done this before. They have it planned to take the bank when it closes that way things go nice and easy that way nobody gets shot. "Come on boy, I'll help you do your chores."
Cougar waited outside while Stark and I went into the bank. Before entering the bank Stark reminded me that if anything goes wrong, Noley has his orders. I took him in and introduced him to John Hamilton, our President of the bank.
Noley was helping Mark load the hay. He told Mark all the things Ben had done for him. He also told Mark he once had a farm, a woman and a boy. That surprised Mark. His wife took the boy and left. He blamed himself for not being able to hold on to anybody. That's why he appreciated Ben so much. He was the only real thing he had. "He knows I'm not smart, but he likes me anyway." As he turns towards the wagon Mark throws a sack full of grain and knocks Noley to
the ground. Mark jumps out of the wagon and starts running. Noley after him. While running, Mark stumbles over a branch and falls and hits his head. "Boy, boy, I wouldn't have hurt you. You needin' had run," said Foley. He then picked Mark up and carried him into the house and put him in his bed.
The bank was closing. Stark was still talking to Hamilton. When the clerk went to lock the safe he sharply said, "Leave it open." I told Hamilton they were holding Mark hostage. Stark had him put all the money that was in the vault in a briefcase he had brought along. He got the keys to the door and looked out the window. He signaled to Cougar that things were okay. He told us to stay here for one hour, quietly and he would release Mark. "I'm sure it will be alright." We'll wait the hour. Make sure Marks in no jeopardy. They'll have no reason to harm him." said Hamilton. I said, "God help them if they do."
We waited out the hour. When the time came I took off out of the bank and took the first horse I saw. I had to get to the ranch as fast as I could. When I got there Mark was no where to be seen. I rushed in the house. Looked around, didn't see him. I went into the bedroom. There he was lying on the bed unconscious. I noticed his head was bleeding.
I hurried to town and brought the doc back with me. Fortunately there was no fracture. He was going to be alright. He told me I could go in and see him, but not to be alarmed if his mind was a little cloudy. I asked Mark which one of the men had done this to him. He didn't answer. The doc said I should let him rest. That was the best thing for him. I went out into the other room and started loading my rifle. "Lucas, I guess you'll want to catch up to the posses. Micah said he'd be watching for you if the word on Mark was good. Luke, I said....." "I heard you doc. One man travels faster then a posses does." "Your not intending on killing those men?" Asked doc. "Luke!" "I'm not gonna kill them doc. Before I'm through they're gonna wish I did. Before I'm through they'll be begging me to kill them."
They were pushing hard. I was pushing harder. They thought they were well ahead of me. But they were wrong. They stopped to rest and get a drink. Just as Stark was drinking from his canteen I shot it out of his hands. They ran for cover. I shot to scare their horses. They ran off. Then I shot holes in the rest of the canteens. "Alright McCain, what's our next move?" Asked Stark. "Walkin', back to North Fork," I said. "Walk back, fifty miles of wasteland your loco, without horse or water, we'd never make it, we'd die half way," said Cougar to the others. Stark figured Mark must have made it or otherwise I would have killed them out right. He figured I left them keep their guns and that I wanted them to shoot first to keep it legal. I told them to get movin'. They headed on their way. It sure was hot. The sun was beating down. I had a horse and water and I could hardly stand it. I can just imagine how they felt. Yes, I enjoyed every minute of their suffering. They thought they
could get the drop on me behind some rocks, but I had gotten ahead of them and was prepared for what they were planning. I shot at them and warned them.
Cougar came up with the idea of offering some of the money. I was to leave them enough for a stake in Mexico. Nobody would ever know. I was to tell everyone that I never caught up with them. I shot down at him to let him know I wasn't interested. He then offered it all to me. I shot again. Suddenly Cougar yelled, "The one who stayed behind, he hurt the kid." He was offering Foley to me to save his own skin. They we're at each other. This pleased me. They kept arguing. They got into a fight and Stark told Cougar he had a plan. He stooped down to draw a map in the dirt. While he was explaining his plan he threw dirt in Cougar's eyes. Stark shot Cougar and Cougar shot Noley. Cougar was dead. Noley was wounded him really bad.
Star and Noley gave up. They said they would go back peaceful. I was pleased with myself. All this Vengeance was paying off.
Stark and Noley came to a water hole. As they went to drink from it I shot at them and wouldn't let them drink from it. I was pleased with myself. "McCain, he's dying. He's my brother. He'll die if he doesn't get help. He's my brother, don't you understand, he's my brother. Who are you, the almighty? You got no right to play God." Suddenly I realized what I was doing. I was so full of hate and vengeance that nothing else matter. Stark asked Foley to forgive him for getting him into this. I rode on down to them. "He's dying like an animal, you got what you wanted McCain." I told
Stark I came to help. I started getting almost sick thinking about how I did things and how I should have handled things better. I lost my head, and a man was dead.
After the incident I was helping Mark with his school work. "Ok son, a ranch has 800 head of cattle. Each weighs 700 pounds; On the way to market, half the herd loses 50 pounds, the other half loses 20 pounds. How much does the herd weigh when it gets to market?" All the time Mark's looking at me. "I'm glad those two robbers are still alive Pa. I don't think that the one that stayed with me was too bad. It wasn't his fault that I hit my head on that rock." "I know son." "Now back to this problem....." "Pa, it wasn't your fault that the one called cougar died." "I could have taken him prisoner Mark." "Remember how you always told me when I make a mistake, a bad mistake, I shouldn't go on grieving about it. I guess you can make a mistake too." "I sure did." Then you ought to do like you told me to do. You said that if I admit to myself that I was wrong and tell myself that I won't make the same mistake again, well, and then the best thing to do is just put it aside and not think about it anymore. Well....." "Mark.....I'll try." "Now let's get back to the herd." I was proud of my son at that moment. He knew what I felt and he was strong enough for the both of us.
piddlin' stuff.....Harold J. Stone played Oat Jackford in 'Home Ranch'. He was the wealthy cattleman, who had been using the Dunlap Ranch for grazing his cattle, and demanded that Lucas move out. In 'Trail of Hate' he played Ben Stark. He was the older brother and brains of the gang who used Mark as a pawn
Oat Jackford is later played by Bert Freed in 'The Money Gun.' A rancher suspects his bookkeeper, Asa Manning of embezzlement, and tries to contact a professional gunman to get rid of the problem.in a bank robbery scheme. 'The Bullet' as the Marshal who tried to use ballistics to hold a gambler who just attempted murder. The old west just wasn't ready for this kind of evidence. The initial "J" in Harold's name stood for Jacob. He is one of those faces you see over and over again from 'The Untouchables' to "The Rifleman". "I tip my Cowgirl hat to you!"
Marc Lawrence played Cougar. He was the third member of the gang. He's the one who shot Noley. He also was in 'The Safe Guard' as Gavin, one of the crooks. He has appeared in "The Untouchables" several times. He was a writer - Creator - Director and Supervising Producer.
Harvey Johnson played Noley Stark. He was the brother of Ben. He was the not so smart brother, so he says. He appeared in "Maverick" twice - "My Three Sons" and "Empire." Couldn't find much on him. I liked this guy. He seemed like such a nice man, just ran with the wrong crowd.
Jack Kruschen appeared in 'The Retired Gun' as Clyde Bailey. He was the one who Lucas told to put his gun away. 'One Went to Denver' as Sammy. Remember, he's the one who started the fire in the hotel room to distract the bank being robbed? He also was one of the many actors to play Doc Burrage. He played the Doc in 'Trail of Hate' & 'Baranca.' "Will the real Doc Burrage please stand up?"
Harlan Warde as John Hamilton
*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with
