Two Mothers

Two Mothers

Originally Aired: September 18, 1960 Gunsmoke #441, "Two Mothers," begins at a graveside service for a young man killed in a brawl. Marshal Dillon tries to offer condolences to the victim's mother, Miss Lorenda Henshaw, while another woman, Hattie Meisner, desperately attempts to speak with her. Lorenda refuses to talk, and for good reason: it was Hattie's son Jake who pulled the trigger. Though the shooting happened during a drunken fight, Jake used his gun on an unarmed man, and now he sits in jail awaiting execution. Hattie, a respected and God-fearing woman known throughout Dodge City for her kindness and strength, is consumed by grief and desperation over her son's fate. In a shocking confrontation at the marshal's office, Hattie delivers an ultimatum to Matt Dillon: if Jake hangs on Thursday, she will kill the marshal. Matt knows she's serious and capable with a firearm, yet he also recognizes she's a good woman driven to the edge by unbearable circumstances. With no legal way to save Jake and no desire to harm Hattie, Matt faces an impossible situation, leaving Doc Adams and Kitty to wonder how he can possibly protect both himself and this grieving mother from a tragedy neither wants.

About Chester

Originally Aired: September 11, 1960 Gunsmoke #440, "About Chester," finds Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester searching for Doc Adams, who has been missing for four days. When Emmett Bowers arrives in Dodge looking for Doc—who never showed up to examine his son's broken arm—Matt and Chester split up to cover more ground, checking ranches along the trail to the Clooney place. Chester takes the route past the Pope Ranch, where he learns about recent horse thefts and discovers his own mount has picked up a stone bruise. Spotting a cabin through the trees as a rainstorm approaches, Chester seeks shelter but receives a hostile greeting from the suspicious owner, Dak, who nearly shoots him on sight. The tension eases when Chester mentions he works with Marshal Dillon, and Dak's wife Lily May insists on offering proper hospitality. As Chester accepts their invitation to supper and shelter, he learns that Dak deals in wild horses, though business hasn't been good lately. With his lame horse, the approaching storm, and Matt expecting him at the Clooney Ranch, Chester finds himself in an increasingly uncertain situation at this isolated homestead.

The Peace Officer

Originally Aired: September 4, 1960 Gunsmoke #439, "The Peace Officer," Matt Dillon rides to the rough town of Tascosa at the request of a citizens committee desperate to rid themselves of their corrupt sheriff, Clegg Rollins. Once hired to clean up the wild camp, Rollins has now taken over the town for himself, terrorizing decent citizens with his gang of thugs. Within minutes of arriving, Matt tangles with Rollins' men at the Oasis Saloon, making his position clear. That evening, Rollins visits Matt's hotel room and attempts to bribe the marshal, suggesting that a man could easily meet with an accident on the long prairie ride back to Dodge. Matt refuses and gives Rollins an ultimatum: he's finished in Tascosa as soon as Matt returns with a new peace officer. The next morning, Matt heads back toward Dodge, aware that danger may be following him across the empty prairie. At noon, a lone rider approaches his resting spot, and Matt reaches for his rifle. The rider turns out to be Stella Harkney, a saloon girl from Tascosa who has followed him with urgent information she couldn't risk revealing in town.

Tumbleweed

Originally Aired: August 28, 1960 Gunsmoke #438, "Tumbleweed," finds Marshal Matt Dillon facing an unusual problem when simple-minded drifter Boog Wilson refuses to leave jail after serving his sentence. Boot, who gets himself arrested just to have a roof over his head and friends in Matt and Chester, explains that people always run him off, just like his father did when he was young. He considers himself a tumbleweed, going here and there with no place to call home. When Matt finally convinces Boot to leave, the situation takes a darker turn with the arrival of Henry Maples, a professional hangman who rolls into Dodge City with a gallows mounted on the back of his wagon. Maples immediately begins stirring up the townspeople, preaching his brand of justice and claiming that Dodge needs his services to stop the bloodshed. When Matt orders him to take his gallows out of town by sundown or see it burned, tensions escalate. Boot Wilson, desperate for someone to befriend him, volunteers to help Maples. The confrontation reaches a crisis point when a drunk named Thayer, believing Maples hanged his brother, draws his gun in the Long Branch Saloon, forcing Matt into a deadly showdown.

Dangerous Bath

Originally Aired: August 21, 1960 Gunsmoke #437, "Dangerous Bath," Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester face an embarrassing predicament when two outlaws catch them bathing in a creek during a long ride across the prairie. The thieves, Ollie and young Harve, steal their horses, guns, and boots, leaving the lawmen stranded and defenseless. After a painful day and night of walking barefoot across the harsh terrain, Matt and Chester finally make it back to Dodge City with Doc Adams' help, their feet badly battered and their pride wounded. Doc declares they won't be able to wear boots for at least a week, leaving Matt frustrated and determined to find the men responsible. When Matt spots a nervous young man at the Long Branch Saloon wearing boots that are suspiciously too large for him, he confronts Harve and quickly extracts a confession. The young outlaw reveals he's been wrestling with his conscience and was actually considering turning himself in. Now Matt must uncover the full story behind the theft and track down Harve's partner Ollie, while dealing with the indignity of being outwitted during what should have been a simple, refreshing bath.