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Wonder what's brung the two Cartwright boys to town.

Ol' nosy, himself.

Body can't ride in or out of town

without your long nose starting to itch.

Nothing wrong taking an interest in your neighbor.

Ah, I always was one to keep to my own affairs,

but ol' Jeb, here, he's sort of been bit by the curiosity bug.

He's wondering what brung you fellas to town.

Well, I reckon I can tell you two fellas.

Yeah.

See them two horses down there?

They brought us.

You just had to get nosy, didn't you?

Hyah!

Giddyup!

Hyah!

Hey. Come on, Joe.

This here paper work is gonna take us an hour.

Now wait a second. I want to see the stage coming up.

Hold!

Hold.

Thank you.

Ooh.

Ooh.

Hmm. Hey, you know, Hoss, uh, the idea of sitting

in that musty ol' office all day

kind of makes my stomach flutter, you know.

Yeah. I know what makes your stomach flutter.

I seen her, too. Come on here.

Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute.

Pa said you were gonna take care of all that paperwork and stuff.

Now you just hold down the fort.

I'll be back in a minute.

Now, ma'am, we, uh, we kind of pride ourselves

on our hospitality here in Virginia City.

That's why we always have a gentleman

meet the young ladies at the stage.

Oh, how nice!

Where is he?

Well, my dear, we'd best check into the hotel.

"Where is he?"

There they go... uh, uh, room?

Y-Yeah, two rooms, as a matter of fact.

Uh, one for myself and one for my niece.

Uh, uh, where does your sheriff generally hang out

this time of day?

Well, if you're avoiding him, stay off Main Street.

If you're looking for him, his office is down the street

a piece.

Rooms ten and 11.

Hmm. Can't exactly make out

your name here, uh... Is it, uh, Cranston?

Y-Yeah, that's my name all right.

Uh, Homer T. Cranston.

Look, Charley, look at this.

Kind of reminds me of a refreshing breeze

right off'n the prairie.

And you two remind me of a gale from the barn.

Now, if you don't mind.

If I didn't know better, I'd think

you was trying to avoid us.

Now you wouldn't do that, would you?

Not to two nice fellas like us.

Now listen, you two back-pasture Romeos, out of my way!

Can't a lady walk in this town without being bothered by

two low-down, miserable, fat-brained, lop-eared cows?!

Lop-eared?

Yes, lop-eared!

- Hey! - You want to play games now?

- All right, we'll play games! - Hey! Oh, you can't...

- But I'll make up the rules. - Give her here!

Charley... Uncle Gideon!

Uncle Gideon!

Wait! Wait.

I don't know who you are but I reckon I owe you

a heap of thanks.

Aw, it wasn't nothing, ma'am.

Uh, Miss... Flinch,

but you can call me Jennifer, Mister...

Well, thank you, ma'am. My, my name's Cartwright,

but you can just call me Hoss.

Hoss?!

I like that.

Do you?

A-And it's easy to see why you're named that,

'cause, 'cause you're stronger

than a whole team of Percherons at sunup!

Yes sir, you got muscles stronger than a mule.

While you're at it, Hoss, why don't you show her your teeth?

Uh, allow me to present myself again, miss.

Joe Cartwright at your service.

Cartwright? Well, that's your name.

Uh, sad but true. Uh, blood is thicker than water.

H-He's my older brother. Much older.

Now, look here, Joe...

And that disgraceful incident I just witnessed...

street brawling.

Street brawling? Joe...

them two liquored up bums was trying to bother Miss...

Miss Jennifer.

Now you stop teasing your brother, Joseph.

It was just wonderful, the way he came to my rescue.

Why, he's the strongest man I've ever met.

W-Well, n-now that you've seen his talents,

how would you like to see a little more refined part

of Virginia City? Say, uh, luncheon at Garson's Restaurant?

Sure! Why, I'm hungrier than a passel of polecats

before a spring thaw.

Uh, I mean...

I would be delighted to have luncheon with you...

if, uh, Hoss... will accompany us.

Oh, ma'am, I'd, I'd be happy to.

Now, H-Hoss, did you get all that paperwork finished?

Dad-burnit! I got to get that done, too.

Maybe I can join you later, ma'am.

- Please do. - Yes'm.

And, uh, don't you hurry now, Hoss,

'cause, uh, h-haste makes waste.

Thank you again.

Yes'm.

Let me tell you about the ranch I run.

W-We call it the Ponderosa.

How's it going, Rocky?

Not too good, Little Joe.

Lumbago's stiffened me up something awful.

I can't ride no more.

I, uh, was sort of wondering if, uh, well, uh...

Sure.

There you go, Rocky.

Bless you, lad.

Howdy!

And you run the Ponderosa all by yourself?

Well, of course, Hoss helps me with a few routine matters.

Of course, then there's Pa and Adam, that's my older brother.

T-They have a few minor chores to take care of but I,

I do take most of the burden myself.

Well, that's enough about me.

W-What brings you to Virginia City?

Well, I came with my Uncle Gideon.

He's in the investment business over in Placerville.

He had some sort of a deal here so I twisted his arm

to take me along.

Hey, they got sauerkraut and hog knuckles.

Morning.

Sorry.

Thank you.

Wow! That feed would pop the corset stays

on a schoolmarm.

Oh, I-I mean, the, uh,

the luncheon was delightful.

Oh, I'm glad you enjoyed the cuisine.

No, I had the hog knuckles.

Oh.

Hey, uh, look...

why don't we, uh, why don't we go down the livery stable,

I'll rent a buggy, go for a little ride,

and I'll show you the countryside.

Uh, well, that would be very nice, but, uh,

don't you think we better wait here for Hoss?

No, no, I-I think he's gonna be tied up for a long time.

Oh, oh.

So I'll just pay the check and we'll be on our way.

What's the matter?

My wallet's gone.

That's funny. I had it outside when I gave Rocky that money.

I was careful to put it back in my pocket.

I haven't been close to anybody...

except you, Jennifer, honey.

That was a pretty funny joke. You had me worried for a minute.

Let me have it back so I can pay the check.

I didn't take your ol' wallet.

Well, look, a joke's a joke. Come on, give me it back.

Let me tell you something, Mr. Cartwheel!

- Cartwright. - I am not the kind of a girl

that goes around lifting men's wallets, even for a joke!

Well, if you didn't do it for a joke,

you must have done it for real, and if you don't give it back

I'm gonna take it back.

You call yourself a gentlemen?

Why, you mealy-mouthed, addle-headed,

mangy renegade cousin to a second lobo!

All right, that's about enough!

All right, Miss Pocket-Picking Flinch!

I'm taking you to the sheriff's office.

Oh, no, you're not!

- Oh, yes, I am. - You put me down,

you snake-eyed sidewinder!

Oh, yeah?

You put me down!

By grannies, lookee there!

And you wanted to sit down by the general store

t'other end of the street.

There's been more doing here this morning

than I seen in three weeks at the Alamo.

Yeah.

Off me!

Get your big paws off me!

Put me down!

You put me down!

Sheriff, oh, this town's getting big enough

to attract all kinds of riffraff...

Whoa!

D-Don't let this pretty face fool you, Sheriff.

She's nothing but a sneaking pickpocket.

At least search her... She's got my wallet-wallet.

What this-this jackal says is a dirty lie, Sheriff!

I never touched his moth-eaten old wallet.

And if you touch me, I'll scratch your eyes out!

Now, you simmer down, the both of you.

Little Joe, I've known you a long time,

and if you say that this little lady stole your pocketbook,

then I got to believe that you think you're telling the truth.

On the other hand, while she's a total stranger,

she don't have the look of no pickpocket.

Spunky, yeah, but...

a winsome-looking little thing.

Well, yeah, yeah.

And-and that's all part of her bait, Sheriff.

Yeah, to-to gull an innocent man like myself into-into letting

my guard down so she can stick her hands in my pockets.

Now, you search her; she's got my wallet on her.

You just go ahead and try, Sheriff,

and you'll end up with a mouthful of sheriff's badge!

We got to start being more careful, Sheriff Coffee.

This town's beginning to get

all kinda riffraff and sneak thieves.

I caught this here hombre red-handed.

As a matter of fact, I caught him with his hand in my pocket.

Low-down pickpocket.

Here, I found these on him.

He had a busy morning.

Wait a minute!

Come on.

I wouldn't want to touch the ugly old thing, Sheriff,

but, uh, if I'm not mistaken,

that wallet belongs to Mr. Cartwheel.

Cartwright.

Uh... Miss-Miss Jennifer, I...

I-I don't know what to say.

You bet your sweet life you don't know what to say.

You've said enough already!

May I go now, Sheriff?

You may.

That is for the hog knuckles and sauerkraut.

Good day, Sheriff!

Good day.

Uh...

No.

I'm sorry to interrupt, but my name, sir, is Gideon Flinch.

Now, I take it that you're the sheriff?

I am.

Oh, excuse me.

Roy Coffee's the name.

Is there something I can do for you?

Uh, why, yes.

Uh, may I speak with you privately, Sheriff?

Yeah. Excuse me, boys.

You see, Sheriff, I'm being pursued by a madman.

Here, just you read this.

Yeah.

"Gideon Flinch, general delivery Placerville, California..."

It says, "I will break every bone in your body..."

Oh!

- "horsewhip you..." - Oh!

"and then shoot you."

Oh!

Signed by a Mr. Burke.

Now, who's he?

Uh, William Burke.

They call him Bullet Head Burke.

Bullet Head Burke.

Yeah. You see, I run a small investment house

over in Placerville, Sheriff.

Now, this Burke entrusted me with $5,000

for speculative investment.

Well, naturally, I do the best I can for my clients,

but I can't be right all the time.

Well, of course not.

And this $5,000 of Mr. Burke's, that's been wiped out?

Unfortunately, yes.

Except for my commission, of course.

Well, yeah, of course.

A man can't lose his own commission.

Well, somehow this Burke got the idea that I cheated him.

Now, where in the world did he ever get that idea?

Oh, you've got to help me.

He might be riding into Virginia City right this minute.

Now, you just calm down and give me his description,

and I'll keep an eye peeled for him.

I can't describe him.

He did all his business with me by mail.

But I've heard he's big, strong and mean.

Now, if you can't describe him, ain't nothing I can do for you.

No.

Say, friend.

Uh, me?

Got a light?

Well...

Well, where's your smoke?

Well, I figure if you don't mind lighting me,

you wouldn't mind supplying the stogie.

May I have my key, please?

Oh!

Uh, they stole the...

May I have my key, please?

Good afternoon, Miss Cranston.

Hello.

Uh, I'm afraid you got my name mixed up.

It isn't Cranston, it's Flinch.

Flinch?

I-I don't think I understand.

Your uncle registered you in as Miss Hepzibah Cranston.

Hepzibah?!

Let me see that.

Hepzibah?!

Indeed!

Hepzibah!

Ooh!

Really, Uncle Gideon!

Uh, I-I thought it was kind of a nice name.

Do I look like a Hepzibah?

Well, I'm not going to look like your Uncle Gideon

if Bullet Head Burke catches up with me,

which he'll probably do, now that you made the clerk

put my right name down on the hotel register.

Well, I didn't know, Uncle.

I thought you were here on business,

not running away from a man.

Well, I didn't want you to worry, my dear.

But the die is cast.

I-I'm trapped and no way out.

Oh, m-maybe you're just imagining it.

Maybe he isn't chasing you at all.

Well, I didn't conjure this up.

No, sir.

You just take a look at that.

Oh, if I were only young and strong,

I'd stand up to this Burke and whip him.

Of course you would.

But I'm not young and strong.

Uncle, do you remember on the stage this morning,

we passed that old deserted cabin

about three miles from here?

I noticed a shack by the river.

That's the one.

Now, look, you sneak out the back way,

I'll buy some grub and rent a buggy and take you out there.

No. No.

Won't work.

Burke would just find out I've been here

and track me down like a dog.

But I thought you said he'd never seen you.

Well, that won't stop him.

No, Jennifer, I've heard stories about this Burke.

I understand he can lick any two ordinary men,

and... and I'm not even ordinary.

That's it!

What's it?

I'm not gonna have my favorite uncle get beaten up.

You are gonna hide out in that cabin.

Only, Burke, when he gets here,

isn't gonna come looking for you, 'cause he's gonna find

somebody here whom he'll think is you.

But I don't understand.

I mean, you can't find someone

who's willing to take my place and get beaten up.

To get beaten up, no.

To take your place, yes.

If I can trick him into it.

And I think I can.

Hi, Rocky.

What, you lose your smoke?

Yeah, not only that,

Lumbago's stiffened me up somethin' terrible.

I can't ride no more.

Hoss, I kind of hate to do this, but, uh, well, uh...

Oh.

Here, here, Rocky.

- Thank you. - Don't mention it.

Thank you.

Now, you're safe, Uncle Gideon.

You got plenty of food and firewood.

Well, now I still don't like this idea, not one bit.

Oh, well, it's better than being horsewhipped

and beaten and every bone busted in your body.

Now, I've got a little plan worked out.

And unless I'm losing my touch...

Come on, horse.

Hoss, I just can't get over the way that you handled

those two men that were bothering me this morning.

Oh, they was, they was kind of puny, Miss Jenny.

Anyhow, they needed a bath.

Oh, I just bet that there aren't two men anywhere could take you.

Oh, sure there is, Miss Jenny.

Somewhere.

No, no, Hoss.

You're the kind of a man that a girl feels safe with,

you know, that a, that a girl can depend on.

Oh, yeah, you can depend on me, Miss Jenny.

Anything you want, you just ask me, you hear?

Oh, oh, oh, no, no, Hoss.

You've done more than enough.

More than enough.

Uh, of course, there is one small favor

that I'd like to ask of you.

Why, sure, ma'am.

Well, you know, my Uncle Gideon has been tired

and exhausted from the trip and all.

He doesn't feel up to showing an out-of-town client a good time.

So, so, I-I was just wondering if you, uh...

Uh, Miss Jenny, I-I ain't much at good-timing with a stranger.

Oh, oh, oh, Hoss, you'd be wonderful!

And there's no problem, 'cause this client, Mr. Burke,

he's-he's never seen my uncle.

Miss Jenny, I don't know. I...

Oh, it's simple, Hoss.

All this Mr. Burke will want is maybe

a free dinner and a few drinks.

Why, I have a hunch that after he sees you,

he'll only stay for a minute or two.

Dad-burn, Miss Jenny, them-them big business deals...

I'm-I'm about as clumsy as a one-legged spider.

But, you know, if you, if you really want me to, I...

Oh, Hoss, I-I really want you to.

All right.

Okay.

Now, now, let me get this straight, Hoss.

Now, Jennifer wants you to just play-act the part of her uncle,

sort of have a little talk with this Mr. Burke,

- maybe buy him a drink? - That's right.

I'm on my way up there right now, Joe, to meet him.

Fact is, since I'm gonna be here all evening,

there ain't no use in you hanging around.

You might as well just ride on back out to the ranch.

No, no, I-I better stay with you, Hoss,

maybe give you some help or something.

Oh, no, you don't.

Fact is, Joe, you done had your chance with Jennifer.

You ride on back out to the Ponderosa

and tell Pa I ain't gonna be there for supper.

- Bye, little brother. - Hey...

Hmm.

Why, hello there, fella. Do you want me?

I do if you're Miss Flinch.

I am.

Well, this here fellow from the stage office give me a nickel

to ask you to come down there right away, please.

He said there was some sort of mix-up with your ticket.

Honest to Pete! These, these ticket offices!

All right.

Here you go.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

Bye.

What's the matter, boy?

I come as fast as I could! It's the Ponderosa!

Heap of trouble! You gotta go!

What sort of trouble, boy?

Fire! It's burning like a can of coal oil!

Here, you tell this lady in here what happened, you hear?

♪♪

Great land o' Goshen!

Glory be!

I did just like you said, mister.

You sure did, Sammy.

Now here's that other nickel I promised you.

Nickel?

What are you, some kind of a crook or something?

He wins a game, he gets another week off.

Why'd you make that move for?

What did I make the...? You told me to make the move!

You so smart, you go ahead and you play him yourself.

- Go on. - All right, I will.

Come on. Set 'em up.

You gonna lose me so many games,

this fella's gonna get out of here,

and I won't have nobody to play with but you.

Show you how this game should be played.

Yeah, yeah, I suppose you invented it.

Over here.

Come on, one more.

All right, now, which do you choose?

Clark is faster than you are with them handcuffs on.

All right, you go first.

Whoa.

Don't touch us.

Well, it's awful nice of you fellas

to come all the way from Chicago

just to help me out.

The boss said there's nothing too good

for Bullet Head Burke.

Do you really think the pigeon is here, Bullet Head?

Well, there hasn't been a stage out of town since he arrived,

and this is the only hotel.

Boy, I've been looking forward to this for a long, long time.

Now, you fellas go in the alley in back

just in case Mr. Flinch tries to make a break for it

out the back way.

Now, easy and quiet, don't cause no commotion.

Bullet Head, do you think this is

the first time we've pulled an out-of-town job?

Sorry, boys, forgot where you were from.

All right, which do you choose?

Over here.

See?

Thought he'd fall for it, didn't you?

No.

You lose this game, he gets out today.

- You already lost me seven games. - Hmm.

See there?

That's why you're a deputy.

Come on, I'll let you out.

Doggone mule-head flea-bitten biscuit binders.

You!

Why, Jennifer, what a pleasant surprise.

What have you done with Hoss?

What are you doing here, you, you...?

Don't, don't... no, no, no, no names, Jennifer.

Now, you called me enough names to last me for a whole year.

I just wanted an opportunity to tell you how dead wrong I was.

Well, you'll be plain dead if you don't get out of here.

Oh, well, d-don't stand in that draft.

I'll bet that you had something to do with sending me

on that wild goose chase to the stage office, too.

Hmm, sort of, yeah... oh, a-and I sent Hoss back to the Ponderosa.

Oh, no.

Oh, honey, look, a-all's fair in love and war.

And this isn't exactly war, is it?

Oh.

Aw, come on, don't be like that.

I'll be like what I want to be like.

Uh, excuse me.

Yes.

I'm looking for a man.

Can't describe him, but he goes by the name of Gideon Flinch.

Of course, room ten.

You mean he's here using his own name?

Now, when he checked in

he called himself Homer T. Cranston.

I may look pretty stupid, but not much slips by me.

Yeah, room ten, huh?

Thanks.

Now, look, y-you wanted Hoss to be Gideon Flinch,

so now I'll be Gideon Flinch.

You can't be Gideon Flinch.

Why can't I?

Now, look, I-I know Hoss has got the muscles and the brawn,

but, uh, I just feel that I have the ability

to make a much better impression on Mr. Burke.

That might be Mr. Burke.

N-No.

Oh, Jennifer, will you stop worrying?

Look, I just want a chance to show you I'm sorry, that's all.

I'll be the best little old Gideon Flinch you ever saw

and I promise I'll make a good impression

on Mr. Burke if it kills me.

Hmm.

Hey, don't forget to call me "uncle."

Are you Gideon Flinch?

Well, yes, you must be Mr. Burke.

Very nice to meet you.

So you're the one that cheated me out of my $5,000, huh?

You know, I kind of thought you'd be an older man,

but I'm glad you're not.

I'd hate to beat up an old man.

Well, Bullet Head was right.

The little pigeon did try to sneak out the back way.

Yeah, you gonna go along quietly, Flinch?

F-F-F-Flinch?

Oh, oh, you made a mistake, a terrible mistake.

My name is Jake... Jake the Weasel.

Come on, don't give us that.

Jake the Weasel's doing time in Detroit.

Oh, th-that must be another Jake the Weasel.

You say you're Jake the Weasel, we say you're Gideon Flinch.

You calling us liars?

Let's just take a look here and see what we can find.

Look... well, now, this wallet's got all kinds of cards

with the name Gideon Flinch.

This watch... there's a name engraved on it... Gideon Flinch.

I-I found it.

M-my name's Jake... Jake the Weasel.

- No. - You know, you're, you're lying to us,

and you hurt our feelings.

You know, we're sort of sensitive about that.

You know, we may even end up massaging your throat.

Like I said, Flinch, nobody cheats Bullet Head Burke

out of $5,000 and gets away with it.

Oh, but I'm not going to work you over here.

Me and my boys are going to take you for a little ride

out in the country and do the job real proper-like.

You see, Mr. Burke,

there's, there's, there's been a nasty mistake.

Oh, you're so right, and you made it

when you cheated me out of my money.

Now, now, now, hold it, Mr. Burke.

Now, I-I didn't cheat you out of... Oh.

I, I-I didn't cheat you out of anything.

See, the fa-fact of the matter is,

I-I'm not even Gideon Flinch.

Sure, sure, you're in Flinch's hotel room.

And you try the old oil on me, just as big as brass.

Well, it won't work, Flinch.

Uh, J-Jennifer, you, you own up

and, and tell, tell Mr. Burke here who I really am.

Yeah, you do that, honey.

You taught me never to tell a lie, Uncle Gideon.

Uncle Gi...

Oh, hey, now, look, this is, this is just a plan

she's got to protect her uncle.

Now, I ne... I never, I never cheated you out of anything.

See, the f... the fact is, my name is Cartwright...

Joe Cartwright.

You got something on you to prove you're this here, uh...

What do you call it... Cartwheel?

C-C-C-C-Cartwright, C-Cartwright.

Sure, sure, I got a lot, I got a lot of proof.

I've got...

I...

Hmm.

See, I, I, I had the, the proof.

I-I left my wallet in the sheriff's office.

Of course you did.

Everybody leaves their wallets with the sheriff.

Yeah.

Now, Mr. Gideon Flinch,

unless you want to test my shooting at five feet,

you'd better stand real quiet

while I tie up the little lady here.

We don't want her running after the law after we're gone,

now, do we?

J-J-Jennifer, can you please tell Mr. Burke who I really am?

I already have, Uncle Gideon.

Okay.

Wonder what's keeping Burke.

He must know by now the pigeon ain't in the hotel.

We've got him.

B-But, fellas, I tell you, I'm Jake the Weasel.

Are you boys down there?

Yeah, Bullet Head, we're here.

Good, now, stand by.

I'm coming down the ladder

and I'm bringing this no-good, low-down skunk

of a Gideon Flinch with me.

You've got him?

Then, then wh-who have we got?

Like I've been telling you, fellas,

my name's Jake the Weasel.

Pa, how come you ain't out fightin' the fire?

Hmm? What fire?

The only thing burning around here is Pa.

Beat him three games straight.

Pa, you... you didn't send a little boy in,

about... about that high, to get me?

You been out in the sun too long?

Better warn him about chewing that locoweed.

That dad-burnin' Little Joe.

I should've known it. I'm gonna kill him.

Hmm?

Pa, it's like this.

This pretty little gal came into town on the stage today.

Little Joe took her to lunch, only-only she picked his pocket.

The-the fact is, he just thought she picked his pocket.

And she wanted me to be Gideon Flinch

'cause her uncle wasn't feeling too good...

He was there in town... and he didn't feel like meeting Mr...

I'll explain it all later, Pa.

I'm gonna kill that Little Joe.

Uh... m-maybe we better find out what...

Uh, it's your move.

Okay, hold it up right here.

Come on, boys... This is the end of the ride.

This thing don't drive like the ones we use in Chicago.

Now we got to decide which one of these two hombres

is the real Gideon Flinch.

Oh, I keep telling you, I'm Jake the Weasel!

Shut up!

One thing's for sure... One of you's lyin'.

Well, Mr. Burke, why don't you just ask somebody

who lives around here and they'll tell you who I am?

Got an idea, Bullet Head.

Why don't we take care of the both of them?

That's right... the boss said

nothing's too good for you, Bullet Head.

Well, I appreciate that, fellas,

but Bullet Head Burke's a fair man.

There's a cabin up ahead there.

We'll ask one of the local yokels.

If they can identify one of you and not the other...

Come on.

Help!

Dad-burn, you little flea-bitten biscuit burner.

Help!

Miss Jennifer, Joe do this to you?

Oh.

No.

No, Hoss, it... it was Burke.

I-I lied to you, Hoss.

Burke came here to beat up my Uncle Gideon.

I thought that after he saw you, he wouldn't make any trouble.

But then Little Joe took your place,

and-and-and now Burke's taking Little Joe

out to beat him up somewhere.

He-he thinks Little Joe is my Uncle Gideon.

Jennifer, you was here all the time.

How come you didn't tell Burke Joe wasn't your uncle?

Oh, I'm so ashamed, Hoss,

but I was afraid he'd really find my uncle,

and I was so mad at Little Joe

for calling me a pickpocket and ruining my...

All right, well, that's all right, now.

Everything's all right, honey. What's done's done.

What we got to do now is find Little Joe.

And quick.

Well, look at this letter.

You see, why, Burke is really mad.

Look at that.

Dad-burnit!

Must be a half a dozen roads out of Virginia City.

I'm gonna go down on the street and scout around

and see if I can find anybody that saw them leaving.

Okay. Oh, and-and I'm gonna rent a buggy

and go out and check on my Uncle Gideon.

Thank goodness he's safe.

Hey, that's...!

Shut up!

Oh, howdy, neighbor.

I take it you're a native of these parts.

Uh, why, uh, yes.

Well, good.

Uh, maybe you can help me solve a little problem.

Oh, let me introduce myself.

My name's Burke... some folks call me Bullet Head Burke.

And I'm a stranger in these parts myself.

And I need someone to identify

one of the local boys for me, Mr., uh...

That's the real Gideon Flinch!

I tell you, Burke, that's Gideon Flinch!

I seen him in the sheriff's office and on the stagecoach!

Why don't you shut up!

You'll try anything, won't you?

Now, what did you say your name was, sir?

Why, uh, Cranston.

Yeah, Homer T. Cranston.

Mr. Cr... Cranston?!

That's the name the hotel clerk told me that Flinch used.

Uh, th-that's right, Bullet Head.

This is the man I saw get off the stage this morning.

Now we've got three Gideon Flinches to take care of.

What difference does it make?

One, two, three.

The boss said there's nothing too good for Bullet Head.

All right, now all you Flinches get into that cabin.

I'm gonna get to the bottom of this!

Now, this much I know:

one of you cheated me out of $5,000.

Now, once and for all, which of you is the real Gideon Flinch?

I'm Jake the Weasel.

And I-I'm Joe Cartwright.

C-Cranston.

H-Homer T.

Somebody coming out there, Bullet Head.

Well, see who it is!

You scruffy, mangy polecat knaves!

Get your...

I guess we all know who that is.

Off me!

Get your big paws off me!

Hey, you let me go!

Let me go! Hey!

- Let go of the door. - Let me go!

- Let me... - Let go!

Put me down! Put me down!

So you managed to get yourself untied and follow us, huh?

All right, sister, now, for the last time,

which of these galoots is your uncle?

It's gonna be that way, is it?

All right.

Now, I'm gonna give you people just three minutes

to produce the real Gideon Flinch.

Me and my boys will step outside while you talk it over.

Now, remember, just three minutes.

I ain't fooling.

Either one of you gets beat up, horsewhipped

and maybe shot or all three of you!

Now, is that clear?

Oh, I can't let you two take punishment for me.

I ought to own up to Bullet Head.

But I can't.

Oh, that's all right, Uncle Gideon.

We'll think of something.

Say, how did you all get out here, anyhow?

Well...

How did we get out here? How did you get out here?

How do you think?

Hoss came back and untied me.

Hoss knows about this?

Yes, I-I told him the truth.

I even gave him that letter that Burke wrote to Uncle Gideon.

You gave my brother the letter?

Yes.

Then he must have it on him.

You know, I think maybe we can all get out of this.

I... I'm willing.

Oh, anything.

This is gonna be good.

Hmm. Come here.

You see, my brother's got the letter...

Time's just about up, Bullet Head.

Where'd you get the watch?

Oh, this is Flinch's.

I figured, when you got through with him,

he wouldn't be needing it.

So you're the real Gideon Flinch!

I knew it!

No, no, now hold it, Burke.

W-We decided to tell the truth.

I'll give you ten seconds.

Ten seconds.

Well, we... see, we-we think this farce has gone on far enough,

and, well, the th-three of us decided not to take a beating

just to protect the real Gideon Flinch.

You mean there's another Gideon Flinch?

Oh, yeah.

Four-four Gideon Flinches.

Four Gideon Flinches?

Yeah, s-see, that was part of the plan.

See, we-we wanted to protect our old pal, Gideon Flinch.

W-Wonderful guy.

And, uh, we thought maybe we'd confuse you

and then you'd leave town.

What kind of flummery you trying to hand me?

Now, you listen, Burke.

Now, I can lead you to the real McCoy.

I mean, Flinch.

And he's right back there in town.

And I can prove it; he's got a letter on him

that you wrote to him. Now, am I right, or am I right?

The U.S. Mail does not deliver letters to the wrong people.

If this is a trick, I'm gonna have your hide, Flinch or not.

Hey, Rocky, you ain't seen Little Joe, have you?

No, Hoss, I ain't see him since this morning.

My lumbago's killing me.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, Rocky.

Hey, you didn't see my pipe, did you?

There goes one of 'em.

Yeah, I wonder where's the other one.

There he is.

One and only Gideon Flinch.

Boys, bring them in.

That's him.

If that's really him, Bullet Head,

looks like you're gonna have your hands full.

Well, the bigger they are...

Besides, you always got the bulge on a man when he knows

that you're right and he's wrong.

And if you got him outnumbered.

Boy, you better be right

about him having my letter in his pocket.

Oh, yeah, he's got it.

You come with me.

Put that thing away.

Here.

Keep your eye on them.

Howdy, stranger.

Oh, hi.

Flinch.

It's the real Gideon Flinch!

I got you at last.

I take it that you're Mr. Bullet Head Burke.

Now, just so's there ain't no mistaking,

my name is Hoss Cartwright

and you got my little brother, Little Joe.

You're Gideon Flinch!

- Hey, come on! Excuse me. - Sure.

- Hey, come on, Hoss! Come on! - Come on, Bullet Head.

- Come on, Bullet Head! - Come on!

How you doing, Hoss?!

Ow!

Now, Mr. Flinch...

Mr. Flinch, if that punch didn't hurt you no more than that,

ain't no need in us fighting.

Well, good work, brother.

Oh, Hoss, you were magnificent!

Please tell me, which one of you is Gideon Flinch?

Confusing, ain't it?

I guess I owe you two a great deal of thanks.

Shouldn't we get the sheriff now?

That's gonna be kind of hard to do.

See, the sheriff and the deputy rode out of town this morning

looking for a little sneak thief that busted out of their jail

named Jake the Weasel.

That's me!

I keep telling you, I'm Jake the Weas...

I guess he really was Jake the Weasel.

I-I want to go back to Chicago.

Please, I just got to know.

Which one of you is Gideon Flinch?

Bullet Head, this here is the only Gideon Flinch there is

or there ever was.

Don't let him hurt me.

Oh, don't worry none; he ain't gonna hurt nobody.

Well, if you're willing to let bygones be bygones...

No, you take my word for it,

I don't ever want to see any of you ever again.

Hey, uh, now that all the excitement's over

and seeing that Garson's is still open,

how would you like to have a late supper

with the more charming of the Cartwright clan?

Why, I'd like that a whole lot.

If the more charming member would consider taking me.

Yes, sirree, it's been a mighty tiring day.

I'm plumb tuckered out.

Me, too.

This sure has been more exciting than the Alamo.

Yeah. Well, let's go.

This has been a color presentation

of the NBC Television Network.