Sometimes there are things in your past that you wish could be remained buried forever.  And those are the things that have a tendency of creeping up on you when you least expect it.  This is what happened to my best friend, Micah one day.

You see, it all started one morning when Mark and I were out riding our horses.  Suddenly, on the road ahead, we saw a saddled horse grazing.  “It looks like somebody lost their horse or it lost them!” I commented to Mark.  I told Mark to stay where he was while I went to investigate.  The fact that I found blood on the saddle didn’t make me feel too good about the situation.  I didn’t see anybody, so I called out, “Anybody here?"

A man groaning was my answer.  So I hurried up to the bushes and saw a man who had been shot and was bleeding heavily.  I assured him I would get him to a doctor.  “North Fork…Going to North Fork!”  He stated.  I called for Mark to come help me.

I’m sure I looked a sight as I rode into town with what appeared to be a dead straddling in front of my saddle.  But without a buckboard, I had little chance of an alternative way to get him there fast.

While I sent Mark for the marshal, I asked one of the men to help me get him down and into the office.  Old man Hannabury was curious to know what was going on as usual.  I went into Dr. Burrage’s office to help out.  Old man Hannabury had already walked inside.

Hannabury was leaning over the doc’s shoulder as he said, “My cousin Jeb got shot that way once.  Didn’t live to say ‘Amen!’”

I was busy getting some Brandy for the doc and doc was busy working.  No one had time to listen to this old man.  Doc asked Hannabury to leave, but he didn’t want to.  Hannabury suddenly looked at me and I simply pointed at the door.  This made him want to scoot right out…there’s something about me that makes people listen without my ever saying a word!

Doc asked me to look through the man’s pockets to try to find some papers.  He would need next of ken.  “Is it that bad, Doc?” I asked.

“Probably worse,” Doc answered me.  “He’s had that bullet in him for a day or maybe two…” he commented as he worked.

Mark then came in to let me know Micah would soon be in.  I suggested that he go wait for me at Hattie’s, but he begged to stay.  I thought about it for a minute knowing the outcome for this stranger would not be good.  As a father, I always wanted to protect my son.  But then I finally decided he had to learn about dying sometime.  I said, “All right.  Being born and dying are really simple experiences, Mark.  I guess not knowing about them can be more frightening then knowing.”  Then I looked at the cards I found in his pocket.   It was a marked deck.  That could explain why he was shot all right!

Micah came in then.  He walked up to the man lying on the cot.  Then an agitated expression suddenly came over his face and he muttered, "Stoddard!"

I asked Micah if he knew him, but he didn’t answer.  Doc stated they would have to try a transfusion.  Micah started to leave without a word, but I had asked a question and I expected it answered!  Micah stopped and stared at me.  “I know him!” he declared.  Then he turned to the doc.  “Do the world a favor, doc.  Let him die!”

The doc and I were both shocked at his words.  “What did you say?” Doc asked him, not believing he actually heard what he thought he heard.

Micah said it louder this time so there was no mistake.  “I said let him die!”  Then he walked out.

Naturally, I started to follow him.  This wasn’t like Micah at all and I had to find out what was going on!  But the doc stopped me and told me Stoddard needed a transfusion immediately.  I was the only one who could help, so I started taking off my shirt.

Micah hurried to his office, shut the door and locked it, and banged his fist on the desk.  This man really made his blood boil!

Mark watched quietly as Doc pumped blood from my arm into the patient’s.  I could tell Mark was really worried and confused.  He looked at me without saying a word.  I silently nodded my head at him to try to give him some assurance.  I knew he had a hundred questions going through his little head, and I would do my best to answer them later.  I guess Doc sensed Mark’s mood as well, because he suddenly broke the silence.  “You think you’ll be a doctor someday, Mark?”

"Not if I have to stick people with needles!" he declared.  He didn’t like being stuck, and he didn’t like me being stuck.

Doc Burge tried to reassure him by explaining what he was doing.  “Well, sometimes it’s the only way you can cure them,” he explained.  “Now you take this invention here.  It’s called a naveling tube.  It allows me to draw blood from you pa’s arm and pump it over here into Mr. Stoddard’s arm.  Now if your pa’s blood and Mr. Stoddard’s blood mix together all right, Mr. Stoddard’s got a chance to recover.”

Mark was always thinking of the practical.  "But suppose they don't mix?" he asked worriedly.

"Then Mr. Stoddard will have to cash in his chips, I reckon'," said Doc.  "But he probably would have anyway Mark.  That's what I call a stacked deck.”

I had been really quiet, so Doc asked me if I was all right.  “Fine,” I answered.  “I was just thinking I’d like to know who dealt the hand.”

Unbeknownst to all of us, there were some men looking for this man.  They were on their way into North Fork.  But I’ll get to that in a minute.

First, I needed to go check on Micah.  Like I said, Micah’s actions weren’t like him.  I knew something was wrong and was going to try my best to find out.  Leaving Doc’s office, I went straight to Micah’s.  I told Mark to wait outside the doc’s office for me.  I knew he didn’t need to see this!  I was surprised to find Micah’s door locked.  Turning, I asked Mr. Hannabury if Micah was in there.  “Well, I reckon he is.  I saw him go in there.  I saw him draw the curtains.  I didn’t see him come out.

I continued knocking.  Sooner or later he would get tired and let me in.  It worked.  Micah finally opened the door for me and invited me in.  Mr. Hannabury tried to follow him, but I put a hand on him to stop him and sternly stated I’d see him later.”

Micah asked how the patient was, and I stated we didn’t know.  Doc was taking out the bullet.  I poured a cup of coffee as Micah mumbled, “Bullet.  That’s something ain’t it?  "I'm gonna tell you a fact that you won't believe Lucasboy," said Micah.  "I've worked 26 years out of my life as a peace officer and I never had as much faith in justice as I do right now."  He pounded a fist on his desk angrily.  "Not one day in 26 years has the whole pattern, the rhyme, the reason made as much sense as it has today."

I broke into his hateful speech. "Who's Stoddard?"  I asked calmly.

Micah didn’t want to answer at first. “Who?”

"What's he to you Micah?"  I asked in a voice that meant I expected an answer.

"You wasted your blood Lucas and that's too bad."  He stated.  That didn’t sound like an answer to me!

This made me angry.  He was unwilling to explain his hateful, vengeful actions to me.  "That was my decision!"

“I’m just telling you he wasn’t worth it!” Micah stated, still avoiding my question.

Then I saw the empty whisky glass on his desk. I could tell he had been drinking, and that made me mad.  I couldn’t understand why he had to turn to drinking instead of dealing with his problems. “He's not worth getting drunk over either," I accused.

"I think that's my decision!" Micah said rather hatefully to me.

I didn’t appreciate my best friend shutting me out like this.  I slammed the glass back down on the counter angrily, letting him know what I thought of his actions. “I’ll see you later!” I promised.  I would come back and try again after I had calmed down.

Going outside, I told mark we were going home.  Mark wanted to stay in town to see how the stranger was, but we had things to do at home and there was nothing here for us to do.  Suddenly, Mark said, "I don't want him to die Pa."

Maybe it was because I was angry.  Perhaps I was angry at Micah for shutting me out and treating another human being in such a manner.  Or perhaps I was angry at the man for whatever he did to upset Micah.  Or maybe I was angry at Mark for caring so much.  Whatever the reason, I stated, "You barely knew him.”  I was wrong in stating it and Mark let me know as much.

"That don't matter," said Mark.

He was right.   "No, it doesn't."

But we didn’t get very far.  You remember those guys I told you were on their way into town?  Well, we suddenly met them on the road.  The head of the group wanted to know if I was a resident of North Fork.  I told him I was.  The man then informed me that they were from Talbot city.  It didn’t take long for me to find out what they wanted.  They were a People’s Committee looking for Stoddard.  “He’s in the doc’s office in town.  But…uh…he won’t be going no where,” I announced.

“Dead?” the man named Jethroe asked.

I could tell he was hoping.  "Almost," I answered.

"Today's our lucky day," said Jethroe.

I watched them leave and knew they would cause trouble.  I also knew that Micah was in no condition to handle them.  As I was thinking on this, Mark asked me why I told them where Stoddard was.  “They’re a People Committee,” I explained.  “I had to.”

“What’s a People’s Committee?” Mark wanted to know then.

“Vigilantes.  Some parts of the country don’t have much law.  Some people have to take things into their own hands.

Then I suggested we go back to town so I could try to keep the peace.

The People’s Committee beat me back to town.  They immediately went to harass Doc Burrage into giving up his patient.  “Doctor, you have a wounded man inside named Stoddard.  Is that correct?” Jethroe asked.

The doctor said he did.  “We’ve come to claim Mr. Stoddard, doctor.  Please bring him out!”  Of course the doctor wanted to know who they were.  “We represent the decent and honest folks in Talbot City.  We’re here in the name of the law.”

Doctor Burrage tried to explain that Stoddard was in a coma and could die if he were moved.  “Doctor, you don’t understand,” Jethroe kept talking.  “We traveled over 100 miles to find Mr. Stoddard. He shot a man in a card game.  He’s going back to be hanged.  Now you tell me what difference it makes rather he dies in route or at the end of a rope in Talbot City!”

Doctor Burrage didn’t even have to think about his answer. "It makes a difference to me! Good day gentlemen," said the Doc.  Suddenly, one of the men blocked Doc’s way to get back inside.  He demanded they let go of the door, but this man advised him to let go of Mr. Jethroe.

I got back in time to see the men giving Doctor Burrage a hard time.  I got off my horse, rifle in hand and marched up to the men.  I ordered Mr. Jethroe to let the doc go back to his patient.  Then I flipped my gun as a warning to what happened if they didn’t obey me.  That got the desired effect.  Jethroe stated he wanted no trouble.  “Suppose you go inside and explain to the good doctor he’s got no choice.  Suppose you tell him that harboring a fugative’s a crime.  We wouldn’t want anyone to be guilty of that.  Will you tell him Mr. McCain?”

I kept a stern look on my face the entire time I talked to him.  He had an evil looking smile on his face, and I wanted to wipe that smirk right off!  “We’ll talk about it, Mr. Jethroe!” I stated as I tried to walk by.

But he stopped me with more words.  “Well that’s fine.  Now, we’re gonna rest and feed up.  It’s been a long trip.  But we’ll be back.  In say an hour.  You think about what I said, Mr. McCain.  You’ll see I’m right. "We don't intend to leave North Fork without him.”  Again I stared at him, and again he leered at me.  I finally walked past him and into the doctor’s office.

I wanted to know how he was.  I reminded doc that they were a legal committee.  Then I asked him what his chances were if he wasn’t moved.  Doc got upset and stated, “ I don't think that's the point, do you?"

I didn’t.  I then walked over to Micah’s office to see if he would help.  I had my doubts, but it was worth a shot.  He told me that they were a legal committee and although we may not agree with the laws of Talbot City, we had to respect them.  I told him that the Doc said if Stoddard was moved he would die and he may die anyway.

"The quicker the better," said Micah.

I shot my head around at him.  He was still on this vengeance kick.  That just wasn’t like Micah.  "Since when did we become judges?"  I accused him again.

Micah was angry and bitter.  I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice as he walked over to me.  "I've never judged anyone in my life Lucas! I've walked out in that street and hundreds like it for the scum of the earth and never did I complain! Well I'm complaining now!  I'm telling you Stoddard isn't worth it! I know!"

I didn’t know this man, but I knew he was a dying man and deserved our protection as much as any other dying man did.  “Suppose he isn’t,” I stated, not sure rather he was or wasn’t at this point.  It wasn’t my place to judge anyways.  But I knew one thing and I told Micah.  “You let those Vigilantes take him and it’s another word for murder!”  What’s got into you?”  I was worried about him.  Worried what he would do.  Worried at what had gotten him this way.

"I'm just like any other human being full of love, greed or hate!” Micah yelled.  Then he got angry again.  “And by hate I mean hate."

I stayed quiet and let him blow off steam.  Maybe it would help him.  Maybe he’d tell me what was going on.  But instead, he was being hateful to me, his best friend.  He was making fun of my love for human beings.  “Oh, I’m not like you.  Lucas McCain, the honest protector of our morality!"  He mocked me.  “You know, we oughta bottle it, son.  Yes sir, we oughta bottle it and sell it in the general store!  You got troubles?  Will take a good deep drink of Lucas McCain!  You’re bound to be cured!”  He was sputtering this at me.

I knew he was angry, but he was really crossing the line.  He was making me very angry.  I told him that was enough bad mouthing me.  Suddenly, he ripped off his badge and held it up to me.  He started yelling at me all over again.  “Here, this is what you want, isn’t it?  Go ahead and take it!”  I only stared at him.  “Go ahead.  Act the part.  Be the honest protector of our morality.”  I got up to leave.  He was still to angry and if I stayed I may find myself doing something I’d regret.  “Make us tow the line!”  Micah followed me to the door.  He wanted to yell at me as long as he could.  He continued yelling.  “Set the fine example.  After all, Stoddard’s got your blood in his veins.  He’s worth something now, isn’t he?”

This really hurt me.  He had no idea how much.  I tried to keep a straight face, to keep the hurt look from showing, but I didn’t quite succeed.  “Well, go ahead and take it!” Micah yelled as he shoved the badge into my face.  I only stared at him.  “Take it!” he yelled again.  “I don’t want it!”  Then he threw it across the room, went to the back of the office, and slammed the door, leaving me to stare after him.

If Micah wasn’t going to do his job, I knew I would have to step in for him.  So reluctantly, I went over and picked the badge up.  Then I put it in my pocket and walked out the door.

I looked across the street to the Saloon, knowing the People’s Committee was in there drinking.  I knew I didn’t need a lot of drunk Vigilantes to deal with as well, so I started across the street to get rid of at least one of my problems.  Mr. Hannabury saw me grab my rifle and called after me.  He was armed with his shotgun.  "Are you going to talk to them vigilante fellows all alone?" He asked.

I didn’t feel like dealing with him on top of everything else, so I calmly said, “Oh, I think I can handle them alone, Mr. Hannabury.”  I assured him.  Then I started across the street.

But that answer didn’t satisfy Mr. Hannabury.  Why should it?  Nothing else I said seemed to satisfy anybody – at least not today!  “No!  That’s what my cousin Jeb said before they shot him.  No!  No, Mr. McCain.  When the chips are down, you can bank on old man Hannabury, and that's a fact!  Moral support Mr. McCain, right to the grave."

Right to the grave?  And he was coming in to help me?  I stopped and stared at him for a moment.  Then I slowly walked into the saloon to talk to Mr. Jethroe, who was having a drink just as I suspected.

I walked up to the bar and placed my rifle on the bar firmly.  He offered me a drink, but I stated, “We won’t be staying.”

I then pulled the Marshall’s badge from my pocket and showed it to him.  I could tell by the look on his face that he got my point.  "You have a way of acquiring responsibility Mr. McCain," he stated.

“You’re leaving North For, Mr. Jethroe.  Right now.  We’ll deliver Mr. Stoddard when he can travel.  That’s a promise.”

He tried to convince me that they had an obligation to take Mr. Stoddard with them.  I don’t know who he was fooling, but it wasn’t me!   “Your law and our law are two different things,” I answered.

“What’s your stake in this, Mr. McCain?” Jethroe asked.

I answered his question with a question.  "What's yours?"

"Simple justice," he answered.  He didn't want to see a guilty man go unpunished.

I turned to watch the two men at the table.  Their hands were getting awful busy.  “I’m not talking about innocence or guilt,” I stated.  He asked me what I was talking about.  “Your method of simple justice,” I answered bitterly.

He started to tell me he was a idealist.  But I suddenly saw the men reaching for their guns.  I immediately pointed my rifle at them and shot I shot at his glass shattering it  Then the other man picked up a bottle to throw it at me, so I shot it out of his hand.

Mr. Hannabury pointed his shotgun at them.  I told them to get out.  “That was very foolish, Mr. McCain,” Jethroe stated.  “We have a very vindictive citizenry in our town!”

I pointed my rifle at him.  “Make a threat, Mr. Jethroe.  I’m listening,” I dared him.

“Then I’d be the one that was foolish,” he answered.  “You hold all the cards…right now.  I never play against a stacked deck.  “We’ll be back in a week, Mr. McCain.”

I stopped him right there.  “Don’t come back in a week, Mr. Jethroe.  Don’t you ever come back!” I ordered.  “Now, when Stoddard can travel, we'll bring him to you...or his body,” I assured him once again.

"Well I consider that a statement of honor.  We'll be expecting you," said Jethroe as he and the other two vigilantes walked out the saloon.

I followed them out of the saloon and watched them ride out of town. I then turned around and thanked Mr. Hannabury for his help. "Think nothin' of it Mr. McCain! It's a good thing my rifle wasn't loaded!”

"Wasn't loaded!" I exclaimed.

"I got so made at them buzzards in there I could have killed one of them cold turkey for sure...if it was loaded," he stated.

“Yeah, of course” was all I could say.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing!  This man was crazy!  As I walked away I could hear Mr. Hannabury say "Moral support Mr. McCain."  I only turned and stared at him.

I went back to Micah’s office. He was sitting at a desk with his back to me, but he knew it was me.  Without turning, he said, “Lucas.”

“Yeah?” I waited, but he never said anything.  I walked over to his desk and laid his badge down.  “I’m putting your badge on the table, Micah.  You think your hand will be steady enough to pin it back on?”  I saw the whisky bottle on the desk.  It was empty.  The law man had drank a whole body of whisky.  I couldn’t believe this man.  I picked up the whisky bottle.  "Maybe I ought to buy you another bottle first."  I angrily threw it against the wall above where he sat, shattering it into pieces.

I’d had enough of him!  I walked over to the door, deciding to leave him to his misery.  But he suddenly stopped me.  He turned in his chair and called out to me. I could see defeat in his eyes.  I knew he was ready to talk.  Here was his surprising story.

Thirty years ago John Stoddard was my closest friend. Stood up for me at my wedding. I married Elizabeth Cook, the prettiest girl in Montana Territory and I guess I was just about the happiest man anywhere. Elizabeth was 18 and I was 22 and nothing was impossible for us. You know the feeling Lucas?"  All too well did I know this feeling he was talking about.

“John was a wild kid, irresponsible…gamble…drink a lot.  Elizabeth being like she was, a natural born mother…She decided to take John under her wing.  Reform him.  We bought a little farm and she decided to have him come to work for us. Things went very hard, but Elizabeth…she just cooked and sewed and made due with what she had.  Why, then there was a dance or a party in town, she’d put on the very same dress she was married in and laugh about it…never say a word!  That’s how she was.”

As Micah talked I couldn't help but reflect back on my times with Margaret.  It sounded like Micah and Elizabeth had what Margaret and I had.  This part of Micah, I had never seen before nor had he told me about this.

“And all the time, Stoddard kept looking off at the hills talking about gold and how he wished he had a stake.  Elizabeth and I used to laugh about it.  We were rich without any gold and we knew it.”

I knew what he meant.  I had felt the same way with my wife.  And I still feel that same way with my son.

“Well, that spring there was a drought.  And every dollar we had was in the ground.  We were scared.  Plants would come up parched brown in a week, and there was nothing we could do but haul water and pray.  Did you ever see a field dry up and blow away, Lucas?  It’s quite a frightening thing.  Especially when it’s your life.”

“Well, in August I went into a panic and borrowed $200.  Mortgaged everything I owned:  the farm, equipment, everything…When I got back that night, the three of us were sitting around the kitchen table trying to figure out how we were going to make it through the winter without loosing the farm.  We made a budget, Lucas.  Accounted for every  penny and then some.

“The next morning, Jonny was gone, and so was the $200.  Oh, he was kind enough to leave a note and say he’d be back soon, and with the money doubled!  $400!  But I never saw him again…until today.”

This was a very sad story, but talking about it had seemed to remove all his anger, leaving in it’s place regret and sadness of the memories.  I asked Micah what he did.

“Do?  Elizabeth died in September.  She got the fever.  I was forced to sell our horse the month before and had to run all the way to town to get a doctor.  When I got back she was dead.  And thanks to Stoddard, she died all alone on a dirt farm that wasn't even mine anymore.”  A little anger had returned to his voice.  I didn’t blame him.  He had a right to be angry.

Just then, the door opened. Mark rushed in to tell Micah that Doc wanted him to come on over.  I told Mark we’d be there in a minute.  Mark never argued with me unless it was important.  So when he told me Micah had to come right away, I knew it was serious.  I turned and looked at Micah to see what he would do.  Much to my pleasure, he hurried out the door.

As Micah approached, Stoddard held up an envelope for Micah to take.  Stoddard was clinging to life for this moment.  The man was gasping for breath.  He had to work hard to get the last words out.  "Here Micah.....take it.....I've been looking for you.  To tell you how sorry I am."  Then, he breathed in one last breath.  With it, his last words were “Please forgive me!”  With that, he breathed out that breath and died.

Micah looked inside the envelope.  I asked him what it was.  “$400,” he answered sadly.  Then he walked out the door.

Well, that was it!  It was all over.  What a day.  Oh, except one more thing. You know that boy of mine?  The one who had a million questions?  He was so sad about this stranger.  "Why did he have to die?" He asked.

I put my arm around him to comfort him. I didn’t have any easy words for him.  I simply had to lay the truth out in front of him, knowing he would have to grasp it.  "The earth turns Mark.  His time was up. I don't know what kind of a man Stoddard was.  I'm not sure we'll ever know. But he kept a promise he made thirty years ago. I think that's what we should remember him by, and so does Micah."  I know Mark didn’t understand a lot of what happened that day, but I do think he understood what I told him.

Well, that’s that.  I thought it was time to go home!  We left the office, the stranger that had briefly entered our lives laid dead as our lives went on.

---

piddlin' stuff.....Chuck Connors had a hand in writing this episode ~ he came up with the story idea for 'Blood Brothers'
 
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!  ; )

Ian Murray played Harley Hannabury in seven episodes - 'The Challenge' - 'Blood Brothers' - 'Obituary' - 'Meeting at Midnight' - 'The Hangman' - 'The Illustrator' - 'The Fourflushers.'  He's one of the regular townfolks.

Max Wagner played John Stoddard in this episode; he was the man who was dying when Mark and Lucas brought him into town.  The man Micah despised.  He also appeared in several other episodes of "The Rifleman."
Like thousands of 'day actors' during Hollywood's Golden Era, Max Wagner toiled in relative obscurity in supporting and bit roles with the occasional meaty character part. It was a film career that sustained him as a durable and dependable actor from the mid-1920s through the '70s.  A lifelong friendship with John Steinbeck. Wagner served as a model for the boy in Steinbeck's novel "The Red Pony" and he would appear in many of the films based on Steinbeck's books.
He went unaccredited in most of his movies such as the poker game dealer in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
He appeared in "Man in Restaurant" -"The Mickey Mouse Club" - the episode 'Corky and White Shadow' in June of '56.  Gee I wonder if he worked with Johnny at that time.  Johnny was a Mouseketeer from 55' to '56? 

 Kelton Garwood was one of the men (vigilante) with the People's Committee in 'Blood Brothers.'  He was the one with the beard and mustache.  Kelton Garwood played Tom Coleman.  He also appeared in 'Sins of the Father' as the brother of Shep Coleman and  the vigilante brothers who came after Andy Moon, the one with the beard.
 All his roles were small and he is most known for his memorable performance as The Hobo in "The Twilight Zone" - episode 'Five Characters In Search Of An Exit'.  He was a regular on "Bourbon Street Beat" as Beauregard O'Hanlon.  He had a recurring role on "Gunsmoke" as Percy Crump the undertaker.

Larry Perron played Dan Cameron in this episode of 'Blood Brothers.'  He was one of the men with the People's Committee, (vigilante group) the with the light colored hat.  He appeared in two other episodes of "The Rifleman"―'Baranca' as Eddie and Sag in 'Death Trap'.

Max Wagner played John Stoddard in this episode; he was the man who was dying when Mark and Lucas brought him into town.  The man Micah despised.  He also appeared in another episode of "The Rifleman" - 'The Spoiler' as a townsfolk.
Like thousands of 'day actors' during Hollywood's Golden Era, Max Wagner toiled in relative obscurity in supporting and bit roles with the occasional meaty character part. It was a film career that sustained him as a durable and dependable actor from the mid-1920s through the '70s.  A lifelong friendship with John Steinbeck. Wagner served as a model for the boy in Steinbeck's novel "The Red Pony" and he would appear in many of the films based on Steinbeck's books.
He went uncredited in most of his movies such as the poker game dealer in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
He appeared in "Man in Restaurant" -"The Mickey Mouse Club" - the episode 'Corky and White Shadow' in June of '56.  Gee I wonder if he worked with Johnny at that time.  Johnny was a Mouseketeer from 55' to '56? 

Rhys Williams as Doc Burrage.  Rhys Williams appeared in 6 episodes of "The Rifleman."  All six episodes as Doc Burrage.  There were two doctors before Doc Burrage although neither of them were ever named or given credit.  Those two episodes were 'The Sharpshooter' and 'The Marshal.'  In 'End of a Young Gun' Lucas told Hank he would go get Doc Sedley?  Doc Burrage was first introduced to 'The Rifleman' in 'The Pet.'
Doc Burrage was a regular character ~ how many different actors played Doc Burrage? Can you name them?

Whitey Hughes appeared in several episodes of "The Rifleman."  In this episode he was a Townsman.  This is just one of many episodes Whitey was in. 
Oklahoma born, one of the smallest of Hollywood stuntmen, he often doubled as a woman, most notably in "The Stuntman" where he can be seen in a dress, jumping over a cliff while holding an umbrella. A regular member of Sam Peckinpah's company, he often acted small speaking roles as well as supervising stunts and wrangling for the director.
Whitey was the uncle of Billy Hughes Jr.

We have a bartender here.....but no Sweeney.

You've heard Lucas' story, now hear Mark's
Mark's Memories

Bloopers Index
Bloopers for this episode & other episodes

A Matter of Faith

Stranger at Night

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