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Hurry up with that iron, Jake.

Stop being so jittery. We ain't been caught yet.

There's a first time for everything.

Not if we play it the way Phil Shelton told us.

I sure will take care of it, Bob. Thank you, sheriff.

Howdy, gents.

Phil. Ira. Something going on?

Association meeting, Roy.

A closed association meeting,

that us little fellows ain't welcome to sit in on.

I didn't know you boys was members.

They always let us in before. Yeah.

Tell you what,

you lean me $500 and I'll join that highfalutin association.

Phil, I don't make the rules for the association. I don't belong.

Give my best to Cynthie, will you?

You can defend those greasy sack outfits all you want, Cartwright.

Maybe the Ponderosa can stand losing 20, 30 head a month.

But the rest of us can't, we've got to do something about it.

I'm not defending anyone, Simmons.

There is such a thing as proof.

From Sheriff Coffee? He can't get proof or anything else.

Well, until he does, I suggest that, well, we take the losses.

Are you telling us we haven't the right

to protect our property against cow thieves?

It's Coffee's job. I say let him do it.

Coffee.

There's only one way to handle them. Chase them all off, all of them.

I don't go for blanket indictments.

Lumping people into a group, pointing the finger at them.

It's true, maybe one or two of the small outfits are guilty of some rustling,

but that doesn't mean they're all guilty.

That's your personal opinion. Which reminds me,

it's your father who's a member of this association, not you.

You all know my father and my brothers are all in St. Louis.

Since they're not hereto vote,

I don't see why we have to listen to your opinion.

My father gave me his proxy before he left.

To vote as I felt.

Looks legal to me.

So as I were saying,

just because a man has a small outfit,

or has had some bad luck,

or can't afford to belong to the association,

doesn't automatically make him a stock thief.

Adam's got a point there, Simmons.

Make up your mind, Jamison.

Do you wanna go broke because of these parasites

or you wanna get smart and put an end to it?

Like how, Simmons?

The same way they did it up in Montana a couple of years ago.

When they got through, there wasn't a greasy sacker within 200 miles.

What did they do?

Hire a range detective.

You can't be serious.

We all know what they are. Just a fancy name for a hired killer.

Coffee can't get the job done,

so we hire someone who can. What's wrong with that?

Why don't you ask the people up in Montana?

Sure, it's true, there wasn't a greasy sacker or small cowman left.

But there was a dozen good men dead.

Homes burned to the ground.

And a hate that'll live for years in their place.

Is that what you want here?

Adam, we've got to do something.

As president of this association,

I propose that we hire a range detective

to put a stop to these losses before we all go bankrupt.

Now, let's have a voice vote.

Those in favor say, "Aye."

Aye.

Those against?

No.

Looks like the Ponderosa has been outvoted, Cartwright.

Adam. Ira.

We'd sure like to know what's going on in there.

You expect him to tell us anything?

The association decided to bring in a range detective.

Oh, so that's why they kept us out.

You won't be satisfied till you drive us all out, will you, Cartwright?

You got a pretty shod memory, Shelton.

Hadn't been for the Ponderosa, most of us would've gene under long ago.

That includes you.

You just talk for yourself, Tatum.

As far as I'm concerned,

Cartwright's no different than Simmons and any of the rest.

They ain't gonna let us get big enough to give them any competition.

Shelton, you talk too much and think too little.

At least I don't go around calling my neighbors cow thieves

just because they don't belong to some fancy association.

Would you like to change your vote now, Cartwright?

No, I think you're still wrong.

Hyah! Hyah!

Halt! Halt!

Where's the sheriff? Somebody call the sheriff.

Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me.

What's up? He's been killed, sheriff.

Shot clean through the brisket. Simmer down, Cobey.

Who--? Jake Denton.

Where'd you find him?

Way out in middle of nowhere. Black Oak Canyon.

Take him over to Dec Dawson, will you?

Yeah.

Some of you men mount up. We'll go out and have a look.

Adam, I'd like to have you and Mr. Simmons there come along.

Find something, Adam?

Just this, a couple of 44-405.

Well, there's a lot of folks using a .44 rifle nowadays, Adam.

This running iron should prove he was a cow thief.

Looks like somebody did us a favor.

Murder is never a favor, Simmons.

What's that?

A two-bit piece.

Well, it must've fallen out of his pocket.

With him wearing chaps?

Any of you men ever see the Dentons one without the other?

Oh, Jake and Sam were always together.

We better check out their cabin, then.

Maybe Sam's still there.

Okay, boys.

Sam! Sam Demon!

Sam Demon!

Sam.

Sam? Sam Denton.

Nobody here but me, gents.

Who are you? Where's Sam?

I guess he hightailed it out of here about an hour ago.

What's your name? Sherman Clegg.

Sherman Clegg?

I see you've heard of me, huh?

That's nice.

I like to be well-known.

Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you, Simmons?

Took it for granted the association would go along with you.

Simmons? Are you Alf Simmons?

I got your letter, Mr. Simmons. I got here as quick as I could.

Clegg, I know you have a reputation.

I can't stop the cattlemen's association from hiring a flannel-mouth gun,

but I sure wish I could.

So just you watch your step.

That's pretty unkindly, sheriff.

I'm a range detective. I get along fine with the law.

I do my job, and I don't bother the law, the law doesn't bother me.

Down in Arizona, my last job, I didn't have any trouble with the sheriff.

Or up in Montana?

That's right. No trouble at all.

I didn't get your name, friend.

Adam Cartwright.

The Ponderosa Canwrights?

That's right.

I hear those two-bit cattle thieves been pestering you too.

Not enough to vote for bringing a man like you in.

Sorry you feel that way, Cartwright.

You ought to know how it is. A man gets around, he throws a long shadow.

He's bound to get a reputation that's all colored up. Know what I mean?

You down there on the end.

I've seen you someplace before, haven't I?

No.

Don't you try throwing no scare into me, Clegg.

Your rep don't mean nothing to me.

You got it all wrong, friend.

We'll have to get together and talk it over.

Clegg.

I'm gonna ask you one question.

Did you kill Jake Demon?

You mean that man I caught changing brands in the canyon?

Yeah, I killed him. That's what you hired me for, ain't it, Mr. Simmons?

To stop the cattle rustling around here?

That gives you no right to kill a man and you know it.

Look, sheriff,

I wanted to bring him into you nice and legal-like.

But now, he drew a gun on me, I had to shoot him in self-defense.

That other hard case that was with him would vouch for that.

That is, if you ever find him.

Mr. Simmons, I'm ready to ride into town if you are.

Look, CIegg-- Sheriff, don't worry,

if you wanna see me again, I'll be around.

Nice meeting you, Cartwright.

You know, maybe I'll stop by and see you sometime. That all right?

Nobody's ever turned away from the Ponderosa.

There's no drift fences up there, Mr. Cartwright.

I can't prevent Simmons' cattle from getting mixed up with mine.

They do it all the time.

Don't get upset, Mr. Holtzmeier.

It takes more proof than that to brand a man a cattle thief.

That's not the point. Clegg gave me the warning.

He did? Well, not personally.

It was left on my door.

It had to come from him.

So please, whatever you offer me, I know it will be fair.

Sorry, I just can't buy your place.

But, Mr. Cartwright-- There's no reason for you to sell.

That's easy for you to say.

You didn't receive the warning.

You know that man is judge, jury and executioner.

I've only get less than 36 hours left.

So please, no arguments.

Whatever you offer me, I'll take it.

I'm sorry, I can't do it.

Ira Tatum said you'd help me.

I can't help you if you're gonna cut stick and run.

Phil Shelton said you wouldn't help.

Said you wouldn't go against your own kind in the association.

That's not true.

Well, I guess you just proved who's right.

Well, hello, Adam. Hey, good morning.

What brings you out this way?

Well, I like to have a little talk.

What are you doing? You after a fox in the henhouse?

No, there's a dirty wolf sneaking around out here.

Sit down, Adam.

Cynthia? Yes?

Adam Cartwright's here.

Adam. Hi, Mrs. Tatum.

How are you? Fine, thank you.

Make yourself to home. I'll bring you some coffee.

I had a visitor this morning.

Yes, I know. Mr. Holtzmeier.

He just sold out to Simmons and pulled out about an hour ago.

Sold to Simmons? That's right.

We've all had a standing offer from Simmons for a long time.

Real generous too. About 50 cents on the dollar.

But then a man doesn't quibble when his life is being threatened.

Oh, Claiborn left last week.

Holtzmeier this week.

Who'll be next?

Claiborn, huh? Did he get a warning?

Oh, yes.

Yeah, maybe he stole a head of beef here and there,

rather than eat his own.

That's the trouble, Adam.

We're all getting blamed for a few bad apples.

There's nothing wrong with Mr. Holtzmeier.

He's as honest as the day is long.

They all look to you, Ira, as a leader.

You're one of them.

Can't you do something?

Well, I can't give a man courage

when the fear of death has been thrown into him.

That Clegg has got them all panicky.

Now, he's only one man.

One man with a gun.

And the cold blood to use it.

Adam, he's put a bull's-eye

on the back of every small rancher around here.

And innocent or guilty, any one of us might be the next target.

You know, I can't understand why you let the association bring him in.

That was a vote, Ira.

Ponderosa doesn't control the association or Alf Simmons.

Yes.

You'd better take a long, hard look at Mr. Alf Simmons.

He's just been here two years, but already--

I'm way ahead of you.

If he runs all of you little ranchers out, what next?

Ponderosa, maybe?

Exactly.

Ira, he's at the barn.

Get away from those hides.

I'm just about done, Tatum.

Yeah, those all look like clean brands to me.

Hello, Cartwright.

I hope I didn't alarm you, ma'am.

You've been nosing around my place all week.

That's what I get paid for.

You're trespassing.

I've got a right to put a bullet right through you.

You know, there are some people might think different about that.

They might think you shot me to cover up for something.

You haven't got anything to hide, have you?

At least I haven't found any such evidence yet.

I'm gonna give you a clean bill of health.

To whom? Simmons?

To the association.

They're one in the same.

If I catch you sneaking around my place again, scaring my wife,

I'll kill you.

You couldn't do that, Mr. Tatum.

That's just plain murder.

Good day, gents, ma'am.

Good morning, Cartwright.

Morning. What can I do for you?

Well, I'd like you to take a little ride with me.

Why should I take a ride with you?

Just trying to do you a favor.

What's the matter? You're not afraid to ride with me, are you?

Where to?

I can't quite describe the place.

It's about three hours from here. I'll have to show you.

Every one of them got the Ponderosa brand on them.

How did you find them?

That's my job. What do you think I get paid for?

Suppose you tell me?

What do you mean by that?

This whole business.

Intimidation, unjust accusations.

This war of nerves.

Is that pan of your job?

If a man's got a guilty conscience, that's not my fault.

Property's gotta be protected.

That gives you a license to trample on people's rights,

turn them into frightened animals?

You got these little ranchers so rattled,

there's no telling what they're liable to do.

That's the whole idea.

You get a man panicky enough, he traps himself.

That works every time.

Turning a wolf into a sheepfold.

Come on now, that's no way to talk to a man who's just done you a favor.

Especially when you got that many head of cattle

to get back to your own spread.

Well, must be about straight-up noon. I ought to be getting back to town.

I tell you what, Cartwright.

I like you. I mean, even if you don't wanna pay me for what I do.

So, what do you say I help you with these critters

then you buy me a beer when we get back to town?

Thanks.

What's up, Ira?

Phil Shelton. They brought him in a while ago.

Bushwhacked.

The dude in there now giving the sheriff his report

Sure leaves his calling card, don't he?

Yes, Adam, Ira?

Good to have you on hand, Clegg.

I like to oblige, sheriff.

The doc here dug this .44 slug out of Phil Shelton's body.

And we found this two-bit piece in his shin pocket.

Well, at least he didn't die broke.

Where were you early this morning, Clegg?

I got a right to know why you're asking.

Because that's when Doc Dawson here says that Shelton was killed.

Between eight and 10 hours ago.

Let's see, that's sometime between dawn and now, right?

That's right.

Well, you wanna tell them, Adam, or should I?

Adam, what's this all about?

Well, from early this morning till now, Clegg was with me.

You're giving Clegg an alibi, Adam?

I'm just telling the truth.

Are you sure?

All right, I didn't ask that question.

But it is a cinch he couldn't be with you

and out to Frenchman's Creek at the same time.

Frenchman's Creek?

That's what we fished Shelton out of.

Frenchman's Creek is glacier-fed.

Pretty close to freezing this time of year.

Everybody knows that.

Extreme cold would affect the body, wouldn't it, doc?

Meaning Shelton might've been killed earlier or later,

and I couldn't tell it by the body?

You know your cows, Cartwright.

I know my corpses.

Well, I'm beginning to believe what Shelton said.

About where you Canwrights stand.

Ira, wait.

Man, it's sure blowing up a big one out there.

Never mind the weather.

You figure out anything yet?

Do you hear me?

I can't help but hear you.

No, I haven't figured out anything yet.

Well, I'll figure it for you.

Tatum's called a greasy sacker meeting for tomorrow.

I want him stopped tonight.

Either chase him off

or leave him with one of your two-bit pieces.

But Tatum's clean.

I've been over him with a fine-tooth comb.

What's that got to do with it?

Tatum can ruin all my plans, especially with the help of Adam Cartwright.

So take care of him.

Simmons, your thinking is kind of mixed up, isn't it?

You hired me on as a range detective, not just as another gun.

Oh, come on, Clegg.

You use your gun for money. Period.

There'll be an extra little bonus in it for you.

I don't hear you, Simmons.

Up to now...

Up to now, every man I've handled for you deserved it.

I'm not about to stick my neck in a noose for you or for anybody else.

Especially not for the money.

So you're afraid of being accused of just plain murder, huh?

I guess that's it.

It's kind of a quirk I got.

Then why did you kill Shelton?

He was the worst of the bunch. Probably their leader. You know that.

I know nothing of the kind.

But I do know that our agreement called for me

to be able to name every man for you to take care of.

I never asked you to take care of Shelton.

So why did you kill him?

All right, that was a personal matter.

It finally came to me where I'd seen that face before.

He was hired to bushwhack me up in Montana.

I had to kill him.

And I'm the only one that knows it.

So you'll do as I say.

You're drinking too much, Simmons.

Not too much to give you your orders.

You just give me what you owe me up to now.

You'll do it tonight.

Now, Tatum can foul up all my plans

and if Adam Cartwright backs him up--

Do you hear me, Clegg? I want Tatum out of the way

or you'll end up with that murder charge against you.

Clegg, you heard my orders.

Yeah, I heard you.

Ira?

Is that you?

Cartwright, I'm sorry to trouble you.

I had a little accident.

My horse fell in the mud four, five miles back, broke his leg.

I had to shoot him.

Come in.

Once heard you say that nobody's ever turned away from the Ponderosa.

I just thought I'd take you up on that.

Now, take off your poncho.

That's wet.

What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?

Looking for another victim?

Now, Cartwright, you're always making it plain

you don't like me or what I do.

But I make my living my way, you make yours your way.

Yeah, but with you, I don't think it's just a living.

Oh?

No, I think you'd find a way to do what you do,

whether you get paid for it or not.

I don't know. I never thought too much about it.

It pays pretty good though, most of the time.

You know, if you got an extra bunk, I'd sure appreciate it tonight.

Upstairs.

Second room on the right. Thanks.

In case we need to remember,

it's 11, right?

Well, you sure got a powerful lot of mistrust for me, Cartwright.

Leave the horse at Kelso's stable. I'll pick it up next time I'm in town.

Well, I'm not exactly going into town,

but I'll see that you get this horse back.

I probably won't see you again, Cartwright. I'm pulling out.

Well, that's the best news I've heard in years.

I'm curious, with all the small ranchers still around, why?

Well, my business is like a gambler's,

you gotta know when to take your losses and leave.

So long, Cartwright.

Adam, we're looking for Clegg. You seen him?

Don't tell me. Another killing?

He really has stuck his head in the noose this time.

It's Cynthie, Adam.

He's killed Cynthie.

Last night, just before the storm.

How do you know that?

Well, the ground was dry underneath her body.

He ambushed her in the yard.

And you're sure it was Clegg?

Well, we found a .44 shell and a two-bit piece.

And his horse was not far away, dead.

Well, he's mounted. I gave him a horse.

He left here not more than a couple of minutes ago.

You did? How come?

He spent the night here.

He killed Cynthie.

You trying to give him another alibi, Adam?

I had no way of knowing.

We'll get him.

Adam, when he got here last night, was he wearing a black poncho?

That's right, Roy, he was.

Let's go, boys.

All right, drop the rifle, or you're dead where you stand.

They're wrong, Cartwright.

I don't know nothing about that-- Turn around.

Now, why did you come in here and hide

when you saw the posse coming?

Well, as long as I've been in this game, don't you know I can smell trouble?

I knew there was something wrong when I saw them riding up.

I give you my word. I don't know nothing about this killing.

I didn't do it. I'm not that low.

You just save your breath for the trial, huh?

I know who killed her. It was Simmons. It had to be.

Now, why would he do murder? He's got you on call.

No, that's just it. We had it out last night.

He was drunk. He kept demanding I get rid of Tatum for him.

I decided I'd had enough of him.

I was on my way out of town when my horse fell.

Why the sudden reformation?

What I don't understand is, why he killed Mrs. Tatum, I--

Unless he was just too drunk to know the difference.

Give me a chance with Simmons. I'll get it out of him.

Maybe you didn't kill Mrs. Tatum,

but you've killed others.

Sure I've killed, that's my business.

But I tell you one thing.

I've always had a reason when I've done it.

They deserved it.

It was always within the law.

If it hadn't been, I'd had been behind bars

or strung up at the end of a rope long before this.

That doesn't justify you or your methods.

I think they're wrong and should be done away with.

Well, that's your opinion.

But that's all it is. You're not God.

No, I'm not.

That's why I'm taking you back to town

and let a judge and a jury decide about you.

You saw the mood of that posse.

Those hotheads will put a bullet in me.

I'll never get before a judge or a jury.

You're a great one for talking up for the little guy, the guy who needs help.

You play God there too?

You just give it to those you like or anybody who needs it?

Well, I need it to help me prove I didn't murder that woman.

Do I get it?

All right.

I'll give you a crack at Simmons.

But don't try any tricks.

He's still hitting the bottle.

Maybe he never left here.

He left.

What do you want? Oh, we just thought we'd drop by.

Clegg, what are you doing here?

Don't you know the whole town is out looking for you?

No, why are they looking for him?

He killed Ira Tatum's wife last night.

You've gone too far, Clegg.

The association's washed its hands of you.

Killing a woman.

You sure have a bad hangover this morning.

Clegg spent the night at the Ponderosa.

You're lying.

They found a two-bit piece under her body and a .44 shell.

Well, anybody could've left these there.

That your rifle over there?

Looks like a .44.

What are you trying to do, give him an alibi?

He made you the laughingstock

when he set you up as his alibi to kill Shelton.

You messed yourself up this time. Where did you go last night?

Don't you question me. Remember what I know.

What did you do, mistake Mrs. Tatum for her husband?

It doesn't matter what I did.

They'll give me a medal for killing you, Clegg.

And as for you, Cartwright,

you just got in the way of a wild bullet. It's that simple.

I told you he did it.

Why did you kill him? I had him winged.

I did him a favor. I kept his neck out of a noose.

And you put your own in it.

Not yet.

Stay where you are. Freeze. Drop these guns, both of you.

Get a rope. Woman killer. We got him.

He's killed Alf Simmons. Get a rope.

Look, men, you're making a mistake.

Clegg didn't kill Cynthie Tatum. Simmons did.

Of course, he did. That's why he's dead now so he can't deny it.

Drop that rifle, Clegg.

He can't take all of us.

Get a rope.

Clegg is innocent. You got my word for it.

Your word is no good. You alibied for him before.

But now we got him dead to rights.

We thought he'd try to bust out of here.

Adam, what's going on here?

We just heard that Clegg killed Simmons too.

Where is he, Adam?

Nobody's gonna get that man but me.

He's dead.

Well, where's the body? In the alley.

Sorry it wasn't me that killed him.

He didn't kill Cynthie, Ira.

You still trying to protect him, Cartwright?

Yeah, he's trying to protect--

Hold it now. Hold it, gents, please.

I believe I can prove who killed Cynthie Tatum.

On account of the man that done it fell over some cord wood,

and tore this out of his poncho.

Over there.

I believe this is it.

Yes, sir. That's Simmons' poncho.

Clegg's is still outside on his saddle.

That's what I was trying to tell you, Simmons killed Mrs. Tatum.

Well, I guess that's about it.

So if you boys wanna be useful

we can take these bodies over to Dec Dawson.

Alf Simmons.

He believed that all he needed to put the noose around Clegg's neck

was a two-bit piece.

And if Clegg hadn't run, he'd have been alive and free today.

Why do you figure he ran, Adam?

Why do you suppose all of his innocent victims ran?

I think he found out for the first time how they felt.

He wrote his own epitaph:

"Get a man panicky enough, and he traps himself."

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