Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

[ grunts ]

Whoa!

Looks like you got yourself a little trouble!

I hit a big hole.

Broke the wheel.

Why don't you leave it here till the rain stops?

I gotta get my load on the train.

We'll give you a hand. Come on, Andy.

Need any help?

No, we're just out here gettin' some exercise.

I won't interrupt you, then.

We can raise the wagon all right, Trampas.

You steady the horses.

You could use a longer log,

make it a lot easier to lift.

Fine. You go chop one down.

On second thought, that one will do.

[ thunder ]

Whoa!

Aah!

That's about it. Just hold it there.

She's stuck.

[ thunder ]

[ neighs ]Whoa.

Hurry it up!

A couple more will do it!

[ thunder ]

[ neighing ]

Aaaah!

Hurry up! Get him out of there!

Get it up!

Give me a little more!

How much to stable my horse?

Two bits a day. That counts currying and feeding.

Looks like your animal could stand a lot of both.

Come a long way?

Long enough.

Tell me--

you know a fella named Homer MacDowell in this town?

He had an accident day before yesterday.

What kind of an accident?

It happened outside of town.

I don't know much about it.

I just know they got him down at Miller's boarding house.

Just around the corner, second house down.

Thanks.

The doctor's in with him now.

I don't think he can see anybody.

Mind if I wait inside?

Why, sure. Come on in.

Thank you.

He's in there. But, like I said,

I don't think he can see anybody.

Excuse me. I've got some food on the stove.

Hey, nobody's supposed to go in there.

Yes?

Something I can do for you?

How bad is he hurt?

Skull fracture, internal injuries,

as close as I can diagnose.

How'd it happen?

Step outside.

How is he, Doc?Still unconscious.

I said, how'd it happen?

Trampas can tell you about it. He was there.

What would you like to know, Mister, uh...

Wolfe. George Wolfe.

His wagon broke down. We were trying to help him--

We?

Yeah. Andy Adams, Mr. Wingate, and myself.

We had the wagon hoisted up,

and Mr. MacDowell was under the wagon,

trying to knock the wheel off the spindle

so we could put the spare on.

And she fell on him.

Hey, Doc? Let me walk out with you.

What do you think, Doc?

It's hard to tell when I can't tell the extent

of the internal injuries.

I know you feel badly about this,

but accidents happen. It's nobody's fault.

WOLFE: Doctor?

I'm going to be staying at the hotel.

I'd be much obliged if you'd let me know when he's able to talk.

I'd be glad to, Mr. Wolfe.

I gather you're a friend of his.

We're in business together.

That's why I want to talk to him--

a few things we have to straighten out.

I can't make any promises at this point,

but I'll send word to you if you can see him.

Thanks.

Buy you a drink?No, thanks.

I got some errands to run.

Tell me--where'd this accident take place?

About two miles out of town. It sure was raining.

And you just happened to wander by.

I was on the way back to the ranch. Why?

I was just wondering.

Well, I gotta be going.

See you.

Morning.Morning.

Let me have a beer, will you?

They told me at the hotel I could find Andy Adams here.

Yeah, he's right over there at the table.

Thanks.

This doggone game beats me every time.

I don't know why I mess with it in the first place.

It helps pass the time.

Mind if I sit down?Go right ahead.

Thanks.

What are you doing, celebrating?

No, I'm just thirsty.

That was a terrible thing that happened to MacDowell, wasn't it?

Oh, yeah, that's right.

You were one of the men that was there.

Yeah, I was there.

How'd it happen?

I don't know.

I figure maybe the lightning spooked the horses.

You mean the horses were still hitched before you got the wheel out?

Yeah.

That's kind of peculiar, isn't it?

Well, Trampas was steadying them horses.

Besides, that wagon was mired down tight.

There was no need to unhitch.

Who's idea was it to leave 'em that way?

I don't know. It just seemed like we--

Say, what are you drivin' at?

Just curious, that's all.

Well, that ain't the way it seemed to me.

Been a long time, George.

Oh, hello, Mark.

You mind, Andy?

Oh, no. He's all yours.

Where was the last place that--

Denver, right?Yeah, that's right.

You had a dead man with you.

Yeah, I remember. He tried to escape.

Yeah.

What are you doin' here, George? Business or pleasure?

Who'd come here for pleasure?

Who are you after?

I don't know yet.

What do you mean?

Fella name of MacDowell-- he wrote me a letter.

Said there was a man living in this town

worth $5,000 in Nebraska, dead or alive.

Said he'd give me his name for a cut of the reward.

You have the information on him?

Enough to bring me here.

But no name.

No name.

What were you doing with Adams?

You know, you drop a hook in the water,

sometimes you get a bite.

After all, he's one of the men who put MacDowell where he is right now.

That was an accident.

He told me.

You may have noticed, George, I'm sheriff here.

Any lawbreakers come under my department.

I'll tell you what.

I'll let you have the ones there's no reward out for.

You find your man, you bring him to me.

I'll see you get your money.

I've tried that before. Don't work.

You think I'd double-cross you?

$5,000 is a lot of money.

You remember one thing, George--

keep your gun in its holster.

You draw it, you're gonna go to jail.

Well, what do you know?

Looks like I'm winnin'.

You're a lucky man.

I cheat.

WOMAN: Sheriff!

Sheriff, I was lookin' for you.

The doctor's off delivering a baby, and--

Is MacDowell worse?

He's dead.

I went to his room, and he wasn't breathing.

Poor man.

Dyin' like that-- all alone, no family.

You did the best you could, Mrs. Miller.

I'll take it from here.

I'll go on back home, then.

Seems like somebody ought to be there.

Looks like you had a long ride for nothing.

It's only a delay.

He said if anything happened to him before I left,

there's be a letter in his lockbox at the bank naming the murderer.

Well, that box can't be opened without a court order.

Judge Crenshaw won't be back for another two weeks.

I can wait.

Won't be necessary.

If there is a letter, I'll open it.

Why, so you can get the reward?

No, so you won't.

Mark, as long as you wear that badge,

you gotta go by the book.

I don't think the book reads that way.

Not if the letter has my name on it.

We'll see.

I'll probably have the whole thing wrapped up before that anyway.

What's that mean?

That accident out on the road--

maybe it wasn't an accident.

You're barking up the wrong tree. I know all those men.

I don't.

Mark, you got a job to do.

Whether you like me or not, you've gotta do it.

What's this all about, Mark?

We already told you what happened.

A man's dead, Barney.

I want to pin down exactly how it happened.

Boy, you try. and do a man a favor

The next thing you know, you're in jail.

Nobody's in jail, Andy.

I just want to get a clear picture.

Well, let's get it over with.

I got a long ride ahead of me.

Go on, Andy. You were walking into town

from the Johnsons' place.

Barney gave you a ride.

Yeah. We run into MacDowell's wagon,

all bogged down out by the fork.

He asked us to help him get it up

so's he can change the wheel.

He asked you.

Sure, he asked us.

Is that right, Barney?

MacDowell did the asking?

Now, I don't remember every word.

The point was, he had to have help to change the wheel.

You thought it was a good idea.

Well, it didn't matter what I thought.

He said he had to get into town to meet the train.

Aw, now, wait just a minute.

What difference does all this make?

Nobody set out to hurt that man.

I didn't even know him.

Take it easy, Andy. Take it easy.

While you fellas were working on the wheel--

before MacDowell got under the wagon--

Trampas came along. Is that right?

That's right.

And you were coming from town on your way to Shiloh.

Yep.

Did you know MacDowell?

Only by sight.

Saw him in the saloon once or twice.

You ever talk to him?No.

Barney says you didn't like the way they were raising the wagon.

No, I was just kiddin' Andy about it.

I couldn't have done it any better myself.

And then you went to steady the horses?

Yeah. We were havin' some thunder and lightning.

You must've thought it was possible the horses could move the wagon.

Well, it was possible, I guess.

But it was mired down pretty solid.

As it turns out, the horses did spook and move the wagon.

Well, it's hard to tell.

I think something must've slipped out underneath all that weight.

Mind if I ask a couple of questions?

No, go ahead.

Thanks.

Mr. Wingate, you do much traveling?

Heh. No, my ranch keeps me pretty busy. Why?

How long you had it?

18 years.

Mm-hmm.

And you a local boy, Trampas

No. I came here about two years ago.

Where were you before that?

All over. Texas, mostly.

That's not very definite.

Wasn't anything very definite about me then.

My Dad and me worked all the way from the Platte to the Pecos.

Good ranch country around the Platte.

What outfit did you work for?

None in particular. We were drifting at the time.

Don't you remember any of the names?

No.

Maybe your father would remember.

He's dead.

What about you?

Where were you before you came here?

I don't see no badge on this man, Sheriff.

The sheriff and I work the same side of the street, but in different ways.

It so happens there's a man in this town

worth $5,000 to me.

You're a bounty hunter.

What's that got to do with me?

MacDowell was gonna give me the name of the man I'm after.

You think that one of us deliberately caused that--

Not you. You're in the clear.

That leaves Andy and me.

It's a possibility.

No, it isn't. Not anymore.

I agreed to look into this thing.

I've done it, and I'm satisfied.

You men can go.

That's the last time I'm gonna give anybody a hand.

In an hour, this'll be all over town.

Your man will be long gone

before Judge Crenshaw ever gets here.

Not if he's smart, he won't.

He'll only call attention to himself.

I think I'm in business anyway.

Andy? Just because he blew up at you?

No, not Andy. The one that didn't blow up-- Trampas.

Of all the people in this town,

you pick Trampas because he didn't blow up at you.

I've been in this business a long time, Mark.

You get a feeling about these things.

Thanks for the use of the hall.

What are you gonna do now?

Go back to work. What about you?

I don't know. But I ain't gonna let him

keep puttin' the spurs to me.

That's a fact.

No reason to anymore.

What happened to MacDowell was an accident.

He's got the whole town to look over for the man he wants.

Yeah, well, just so he lays off of me.

Who's that?

I don't know.

What's the matter?

I don't know. I...

feel a little dizzy.

Well, get in out of the sun.

I'll finish loading the wagon.

Come on, you swing like an old lady.

Try her now, Steve.

That ought to hold it.

Hey.

It's past chow time.No foolin'?

Steve, we're gettin' in a bad habit. We gotta watch that.

Hey, how about it?

Aw, ain't you had enough?

I didn't ask for no lecture.

All I said was, "How about it".

We gonna race or not?

You already owe me $3 and six bits.

I hate to see money break up a beautiful friendship.

Double or nothin'?

You're set on throwin' your money away.

Well, you've come to the right man.

I figure it's about time for my luck to change.

Things like losin' the bit,

the saddle comin' loose--

things like that couldn't happen twice in a blue moon.

Well, you sure had your share of bad luck, Steve.

Yeah, I sure have. Heh.

You about ready?Yo.

Wait, now. Give me a chance to get aboard.

Hey!

Twice in a blue moon!

Come on, fireball!

Wait! Hey!

Yee-haw!

I'm gainin', Steve!

[ shouting indistinctly ]

Come on! Come on!

Which one are you rootin' for?

Steve today. Yesterday it was Trampas.

Come on, Steve! Come on!

[ whistling and shouting ]

Come on, Steve! Come on!

Yeah!

That's a shame.

Well, you finally did it. Congratulations.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

That makes us even, don't it?

Yeah, all even.

I think tomorrow I'll start earnin' me

a little extra money.

You can sure try. You can sure do that.

Steve, you shouldn't gloat.

That's half the fun of beatin' him.

Modest, aren't you?

What slowed you down?

I don't know. Something must've spooked my horse.

You know him?

Yeah, I met him in town.

Who is he?

His name's Wolfe.

Bounty hunter? The one you told me about?

That's him.

Wonder why he wants to see the Judge.

Who knows?

I appreciate you taking the time to see me, Judge Garth.

I know you're a very busy man.

What did you want to see me about?

First, I want to tell you what I'm doing in Medicine Bow.

I know why you're here, in a general way.

So does everyone in Medicine Bow.

That makes it simpler.

What's on your mind?

I want a little information.

You have a hand working here by the name of Trampas, right?

That's right.

Let me see.

He said he came here about two years ago.

Before that, he was somewhere around the river Platte.

I want to know exactly when he came to work here

and exactly where he was on the Platte.

I thought maybe you might know.

I'm afraid I couldn't tell you.

Oh?

But I can tell you this.

Trampas is a fine young man.

I've never regretted hiring him in the least.

This man you're after-- what's he wanted for?

Murder.

And you suspect Trampas is your man?

He's a possible.

What are the grounds for your suspicion?

I didn't say I suspected him.

I said he's a possible, worth checkin' out.

Mr. Wolfe--

Daddy, can I have 50 cents--

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt.

That's all right, dear. What did you want the money for?

Strawberries-- the first of the season.

Mr. Goren stopped by before taking them into town.

Well...

I think this should cover it.

Oh, thank you.

Nice girl.

Mr. Wolfe, I'm afraid I can't be of any help to you.

Can't or won't?

Good day, Mr. Wolfe.

You don't like what I'm here for, do you?

No, I don't.

What about the man I'm after-- the criminal?

Naturally, if a man has broken the law,

he should be brought to trial.

But not by me?

I prefer to let the legally constituted authorities

take care of such matters.

Judge, we're both on the same side.

With one large difference.

You don't care anything about the law.

You're just interested in personal gain

at someone else's expense.

I work for my money. Sometimes it's hard work.

Mr. Wolfe...

I'm afraid I haven't the time

to engage in a philosophical discussion

about the ethics of your line of work.

Well, there's an easy way to put me out of business.

Tell them to stop offering rewards.

Nice to have talked to you, Judge.

Mr. Goren, they look delicious.

Every one's a beauty.

Even the ones at the bottom of the basket.

It's a beautiful day.

Yes, it is.

Who is he?

His name's Wolfe. Why?

Just wondered. He seems sort of reserved,

even when he smiles.

He hasn't had too much practice.

Hey, what about a strawberry?

You'll get them when the rest of them do--

at Steve's birthday party.

Hello, Judge.

Plan on doing some shooting?

No, just keepin' it from gettin' rusty, is all.

That man Wolfe was in to see me today.

Yeah, I saw him ride in.

He asked me a lot of questions about you.

Oh?

I told him he was wasting his time.

Thanks, Judge. I appreciate that.

I also asked him why he was interested in you.

He wouldn't tell me.

That's easy.

He's here to get some information from MacDowell.

MacDowell got hurt in that accident,

and he thought that one of us that stopped to help him

was really tryin' to shut him up.

He was there when we told the sheriff how it happened,

but I guess it didn't satisfy him.

I know.

Just thought I'd let you know.

Much obliged, Judge.

But he's barkin' up the wrong tree.

Let me borrow your shoeing hammer.

My horse has got a stone in his hoof.

Sure.

Up, boy.

Not leavin' town, are you?

Just got here. Why?

That fella Wolfe was around,

askin' some questions about you.

What kind of questions?

Oh...how long I'd known you-- things like that.

Real nosy fella, ain't he?

It just goes to show you.

Play hooky from school just once...

and they'll never let you forget it.

Evening, Danny.Evening, Trampas.

How's Trampas' credit?

Oh, no, not that. It's not even the middle of the month yet.

Yeah, well...

I was just checkin'.

Uh, thought I'd better tip you off.

That guy Wolfe there has been askin' me about you.

I didn't tell him nothin', though.

You know, like how you owe me money

and like to get in fights sometimes.

Thanks, Danny. You're a real friend.

Hello, Trampas. How are you? Sit down, have a drink.

I didn't come over to have a drink with you.

What's on your mind?

We had a nice, long session at the sheriff's office.

When it was over, he decided what happened was an accident.

You don't seem to agree with him.

It's a free country.

Then I'll give you a free choice.

If you think I'm the man you're after,

you can either say so now, straight out,

or you lay off me.

Well, that's not much of a choice.

Suppose I don't think either.

Then I'm callin' you.

Trampas, if I went outside with every young punk that called me,

I wouldn't have time for anything else.

You'll find time for this.

You're not gonna do anything.

You're runnin' scared.

You wouldn't shoot me across the table,

'cause they'd hang you for that as quick as anything else.

Outside, Wolfe.

If that's the way you want it.

Sooner or later, you'll have your chance at me, Trampas.

If you don't want to wait till they open that lockbox at the bank,

why don't you tell me the whole thing right now?

Then I'll be happy to oblige you.

All right, who started it?

Started what? Nothing happened.

This your gun?

I must've dropped it.

You wait outside. I want to talk to you.

All right, Danny, what happened?

I was busy serving customers, Mark. I didn't see nothin'.

I suppose nobody in here saw what happened.

It was just an accident, Mark.

I told you before not to pull that gun in this town.

There's no law against showin' it to somebody.

You know me, Mark. No profit, no fight.

Come on, I'll buy you a drink.

No, thanks.

[ Fur Elise playing on piano ]

[ music stops ]

Hi, Steve.

Love your piano playing. Thanks.

Your dad in?In the study.

Hey, did you bring me those patterns?

Patterns?

The patterns I asked if you'd be so kind

to pick up for me while you were in town,

and you said, "Sure, Bets-o, girl, no trouble at all."

Oh, those patterns.

Oh, Steve.

Oh, you--

Careful.

Judge, we'll have the cross-fencing finished

on the feed lot by tomorrow afternoon.

Think we should put another one up here on the high range?

I haven't decided.

[ knock on door ]Come in.

Excuse me, Judge. I saw Mrs. Drummond in town.

She says the parson's very sick in bed

and that he wants to see you-- very important.

What's the matter with him?

She didn't say.

I'll go in this afternoon.

Steve, help out the boys at the feed lot.

All right.

If we're gonna do it,

we'd better get started pretty quick, Judge.

Has, uh--

Has Trampas spoken to you about being in trouble

when he was down at Platte River country?

No.

[ knock on door ]

Come in.

Sorry to bother you, Judge.

I was lookin' for you to tell you first.

But maybe it's better that you both hear.

Tell me what?

Well, the truth of the matter is,

I'm gonna have to take off for a couple of weeks.

Where are you going?

Montana. I got a letter from an old friend of mine from there.

And he's in trouble, and he needs help.

What kind of trouble?

It's kind of complicated, but...

they jailed him for it.

What do you plan to do to help him?

Won't know that till I get there.

I know this is gonna leave you shorthanded, Judge,

but I don't want to let him down.

And you think you'll be gone a couple of weeks?

About that. A little more, maybe.

Well, I guess we can spare you that long.

When are you planning to leave?

Right away, I guess.

The sooner I get there,

the sooner I'll be able to do him some good.

Have a good trip.

Thanks, Judge.

You're goin' to Montana, huh?

Long trip.

Got no choice.

When a friend's in trouble... Yo.

What's his name?

Wilcox.

Harvey Wilcox.

Wilcox.

I don't recall your ever having mentioned him to me.

Maybe I haven't.

It's been a long time since I seen him.

I used to know Montana pretty good.

Where they holdin' him?

Some little town.

Got a name, doesn't it?

Sure, it's got a name. Eagle Rock.

Eagle Rock.

Never heard of it.

What's it near?

How do I know what it's near?

Seems to be you're gonna have a pretty hard trip

if you don't know where you're goin'.

What's the matter with you?

You think I'm makin' it up? You don't believe me?

Steve brought the mail out from town this morning.

He told me there wasn't any letter for you.

I picked it up yesterday at the post office.

Oh. Took you all this time

to figure out what to do about, huh?

I don't have to prove anything to you.

No, you don't have to prove anything to me at all.

But you'd better keep that letter handy to show to Wolfe

when he catches up with you.

That's who you're runnin' away from, ain't it?

You're makin' a dumb move, Trampas.

So what if he's pressuring you a little bit?

You're not the only one.

He's askin' questions about a lot of people.

There's one difference.

I'm the one he's after.

What for?

Bank robbery.

Murder.

Yeah, it's true, all right.

My being wanted, I mean.

Before I came here,

I ran out of money down on the Platte.

So, I was sittin' in a saloon,

tryin' to rustle up a poker game,

when these four drifters come along.

The Mason brothers.

They wanted one more hand

to round up some scrubbed cattle.

First night out, a posse jumped us.

Seemed that the Mason brothers

had tried to rob a bank in Rock Creek.

They didn't get any money for it.

They killed two men gettin' away.

So, I high-tailed it out of there

with a bullet in my shoulder for my trouble.

You were clean. Why'd you run?

The posse wasn't in any mood to listen to me talk.

They just wanted to hang somebody.

I didn't even know what the Masons had done

until I got to Omaha to get my shoulder fixed.

And there I was--

right on the list with the Masons.

So, I just--

Well, I had serious business up this way,

so I just kept on going.

How do you suppose MacDowell found out about you?

Maybe they had a poster out on me.

I never went back to find out.

You don't know one way or another-- don't you see?

Why would Wolfe be around asking questions about it?

Even up to see the Judge?

He doesn't have the proof yet.

But he's sure.

He's just waitin' for that lockbox to be opened.

You ever think about goin' back on your own hook?

And gettin' hung?

No, thanks.

It's been a long time ago.

You could probably clear yourself by now.

You're might willing to take a gamble

that ain't gonna cost you nothin'. No, sir.

I ain't sittin' out one day in jail for somethin' I didn't do.

Can't you see? If you run out now,

you're practically admitting you're guilty.

Why don't you tell your story to the Judge?

What good will that do?

He'll just tell me the same thing you did.

Go back and face the music.

If it doesn't work out, I'll be the one dangling from the end of a rope,

and not him.

What do you think you're buying this way?

I don't know. A little time, maybe.

It ain't gonna work, Trampas.

With that kind of money involved, Wolfe's not gonna give up.

He'll come after you.

Let him come.

At least he'll have to get me the hard way.

I won't be just sittin' around, waitin'.

Look, why don't you go on up to...

the line shack at White Wing.

Hole up for a few days till you hear from me.

What good will that do?

It'll keep you from making a big mistake out of panic.

I don't panic.

You call it what you want.

But you're sure not thinkin' very clear right now.

Give yourself a little time.

Make sure this is what you want to do.

I'll let you know if anything breaks-- I promise you.

Come on.

All right.

You, uh...

I'll tell the Judge you changed your mind

about going to Montana.

Oh, it's only you, Henry.

It's only me.

I didn't mean it that way.

But I sent Pete for the doctor, and I thought--

What's the matter with him?

I don't know. He's got a fever and...

he seems so uncomfortable.

Maybe it'd be better if I wait till tomorrow to talk to him.

Oh, no. He's anxious to see you.

Go on in.

[ knock on door ]

Come in.

John.

How do you feel?

Well, I couldn't preach...

much of a sermon right now.

I'll tell you that.

Don't come too close.

Whatever I've got,

I wouldn't want to give it to you.

I can come back tomorrow

if you don't feel up to talking.

No, no. It's important.

Please, sit down.

It's about that man in town--

Wolfe.

Aptly named. You know him?

I know who he's after.

You do?

Two weeks ago,

up at Casper, I ran across an old circular.

A man wanted for murder.

There was a picture on it.

We both know the man.

I had to decide

whether to do something about it

or pretend I hadn't seen the circular.

I decided to wait,

see if his actions here would give me the right answers.

Now that this man Wolfe is here,

time is running out.

Why are you telling me this?

The circular is...

in an envelope...

locked in the bottom drawer

of my desk at the church office.

You'll find the key

under the blotter.

I wouldn't want it to fall into the wrong hands...

in case something happened to me.

Oh, John, you're gonna be fine.

Perhaps.

But at my age,

it's wise for a man

to put things in order.

Well, in less than two weeks,

they're gonna open that lockbox.

A lot of things can happen in two weeks.

You mind if I don't tell you who the man is?

Frankly, I don't want to know.

Hello, Henry.Harold.

Sorry to interrupt, but I think my patient

has had enough visitors for now.

Good-bye, Henry.

Thanks for stopping in.

I'll come again, John.

Henry, could I see you a minute before you go?

Certainly.

I'll be right back.

Did you shake hands with him, Henry?

Did you make physical contact in any way?

No, I was across the room.

What's the matter with him?

You sure?

I ran tests on him today. No doubt about it.

Is he the only case in town?

So far, he is.

The incubation period on this disease

is from one to two weeks.

No way to tell what the source was.

Drummond was up in Casper the week before last.

He could've picked it up there.

If the source is local, we're in real trouble.

Been waitin' for you to come home.

Trampas changed his mind about going to Montana.

That can keep. Come into the house.

Been any sickness among the men lately?

Sickness? Not that I know of.

Have any of them complained of headaches?

Chills? Anything at all?

No. Why?

First sign of anything-- any discomforts at all--

I want to know it.

What are we looking for?

John Drummond has typhoid fever.

Typhoid fever.

He may not have picked it up around here at all.

I want to take every possible precaution.

I want all the drinking water boiled before it's used.

Pass it on to the cook. Same thing goes for all the water used

in preparing the cooking and washing up afterwards.

Send men out to the line camps.

The Rynerson ranch, the Lazy Seven, and I--

Would you mind if I didn't eat dinner tonight?

I have kind of a headache.

She's to have all the liquids you can get her to take.

Don't be alarmed by the fever.

That's nature's way of burning off the sickness.

That's all you can do for her?

Well, there's no cure.

The only treatments we have are symptomatic and supportive.

We could make her feel less pain

and give her body a chance to fight it off.

Outside of that, it's up to her.

Come and have some coffee.

Maybe it's just a cold or something.

Yeah.

Just because somebody gets a fever doesn't mean--

How is she, Judge?

Sleeping.

Is it what we--Yeah.

There were three more cases in town yesterday.

That means the source of the infection is right in this area.

So...

we have an epidemic on our hands.

We will have...

unless we can locate the source.

The one thing they have in common.

Has Betsy been off the ranch in the past two weeks?

She went into town once with me.

Did she drink anything, get anything to eat?

I don't think so. She was with me most of the time.

Well, whatever it is,

we'd better hurry up and find it.

You'll want to stay with Betsy,

but can I borrow these two men?

Aren't we under quarantine?

There's not much point in that now.

Besides, it's more important that we find the source.

All right. But you'd all better get some sleep first.

There isn't time, Henry.

Believe me. Let's go.

Right.

I've been...all over the last two weeks.

I just can't remember who I was with.

Please try to remember, Mr. Hastings.

A good many people's lives may depend upon this.

I feel too bad, Doctor.

I just can't think.

Drink this.

You see Mr. Hastings or Reverend Drummond?

I don't think so.

Doc Ashley says there could be a carrier.

What about Wolfe? Did he ever come in?

What would he want to talk to me for?

No sense waking him up.

I'm sure that with a sprained ankle,

he hadn't even been out of the house for a week

before he came down with the fever.

Did anybody come to see him?

Only the doctor.

Nobody else was inside the house.

How do you mean?

There was a peddler here,

but I went to the wagon.

Yeah.

We can't afford such luxuries,

but Roy likes strawberries so much that--

Strawberries? Did you buy them from Mr. Goren?

Yes. They were the first of the season, and I--

Did you eat any of them?

I can't. I get a rash.

Roy loves them, though.

He ate the whole basket.

Thanks. I'm sorry to disturb you.

Ain't nothin' wrong with my berries. I'll swear to that.

I've been sellin' around here for ten years.

Ain't never made anybody sick.

You're not being accused of anything, Mr. Goren.

But the fact remains that your strawberries

are the only thing that all these typhoid victims have in common--

they all bought your berries.

Nothin' wrong with my berries.

We're not here to blame or accuse you.

Are you gonna help us or not?

Yes, sir. I'll help any way I can.

All right. Have you ever had typhoid,

or have you ever been around anybody who's had the disease?

No, sir.

Did you eat the berries yourself?

No, sir. I don't like 'em.

You have any left?

No, I sold 'em all.

Did you handle the berries any differently this year than usual?

No, sir. Done it the same way I've done

ever since I started this farm.

Not any different.

I want you to start at the beginning

and show me exactly how you go about it.

Well, it's simple.

I do the picking myself.

Then I haul 'em here into the yard.

Put 'em into baskets like this one,

and then I load 'em in the wagon.

You wash the berries?

Most years not.

But this year, the rain got 'em all mud-splattered,

so, yes, sir, I did wash 'em.

From this well?

Yes, sir.

There ain't nothin' wrong with that water.

I've been drinkin' it all along,

and I ain't sick.

Is it possible for someone to drink from a contaminated well

and not get the disease?

No, it's not possible.

But I'll make a test anyway.

How much you need for a test?

A few drops will be enough.

Hey, hold on. Wait a minute.

I didn't use that well.

The pump was out, so I washed them out behind the barn.

You have another well?

But it ain't much good. The water's gyppy.

Too shallow. I ain't used it since I got this one built.

Let's go, come on.

There it is.

Like I say, I ain't used it for a long time.

Did you use this water for any other purpose?

No, just to wash the strawberries.

Think that's it?

I don't know, but I'll make a test.

Have a look.

That's what's called a coliform determination.

The biggest mass killer

since the time of Hippocrates.

One little rod-shaped bacillus

hidden in a drop of water.

That must be what made my wife so sick.

What do you mean?

I didn't know what it was at the time.

First she got dizzy. The she had a fever.

Where is she?

She's all right now.

Matter of fact, she's off visiting her sister.

Feels fine.

Guess we were lucky.

Well, at least we know we've cut off the source.

Steve and I will fill in the well right away.

I feel terrible to think it was my well that--

You couldn't help it. You didn't know.

Well, I'll get you the shovels.

All right.

Maybe now you can get some of that sleep we were talkin' about.

I used to think this town wasn't big enough

for more than one doctor.

Come on, Steve. Let's get out of here.

Come on.

STEVE: It's like a little snake.

[ horse snorts ]

Easy, boy.

[ neighs ]

Whoa, son.

Hold it right there.

Just keep your hands where I can see 'em.

Thought I'd come out and pay you a visit.

How did you know where I was?

I talked to some of your friends in town.

And you wanted to see if I was still here.

I thought you might get lonesome out here all by yourself.

Not for your company.

Now hightail it out of here.

It's been a dusty ride. I'd like a dipper of water.

When you get into town.

I'm sorry, kid. I'm thirsty.

Hold it.

This is Judge Garth's property.

You bring a note from him, and I'll give you anything you want.

Until then, you're trespassing.

You're real tough, aren't you?

Just like you were back in the saloon.

There's a difference.

You're playin' in my yard now.

You could've overplayed your hand, Wolfe,

comin' out here all alone,

no witnesses.

Nobody to see what happened.

You make it real tempting.

Kind of makes you sweat just thinkin' about it, don't it?

You never saw the day you could make me sweat, kid.

Gun or no gun.

That ain't the way it looks from here.

Take a good look, Wolfe.

I guarantee you, you won't get this close to me again.

You know how I feel.

Is there anything I can do?

Thanks.

But I'll be all right.

It was nice of you to come in...

with Betsy sick.

How is she feeling, Henry?

She's going to be all right.

I'm glad.

You'll take care of that other thing?

Right away.

He was very anxious about it.

Just before he--

Whatever it was,

he said it was your responsibility now.

I'll take care of it.

Thanks.

I won't have to be coming out here anymore.

Lucky for you I was so mean

about not letting you have any of those strawberries.

Looks like you'll just have to bake Steve a plain old cake

for his birthday.

[ laughs ] Not for a while.

You'll have to stay in bed till you get your strength back.

Fine. I like being waited on.

That'll give you a chance to catch up on some of your studying.

Oh, you take all the fun out of being sick.

[ laughs ]

How's Mrs. Drummond?

Holding up pretty well.

Betsy might have her ups and downs,

but she's out of the woods. Just see that she takes it easy.

Harold, can I see you for a moment?

If it's something that can wait, Henry,

I have other calls I have to make.

This won't take very long. Excuse us.

Sure. So long, Doctor.

What is it, Henry?

When John died, he left something in his desk

that he hadn't decided what to do with.

It was his dying wish that I handled it.

It must've been very hard on him.

It's true, then?

I was hoping there'd been some mistake.

No mistake.

You have any brandy?

I've always known that someday,

somebody would see one of these,

that I'd have to face it.

I thought I was ready, but...

I find it comes as more of a shock than I thought it would be.

Thanks.

Heart patients, fainting women,

and men with shriveling courage--

that's what I recommend the use of brandy for.

Circular says you're wanted for murder.

The wife of the mayor of Jonas Bend

was a patient of mine.

A lovely woman.

She had a heart condition, had to take it easy.

One night, I stopped out at their place

with some new medicine I'd just received.

I found her dead.

She had bruises, as if she'd been struck.

Her husband had been drinking.

When I told him I was going to report the bruises,

he became furious.

We scuffled.

I knocked him down,

and he went over backwards,

and his head hit the andirons.

Killed him?

Instantly.

I reported it at once to the sheriff.

But at the inquest,

they didn't seem to believe it'd happened the way I said.

Next thing I knew, I was being held

for a murder trial.

That night, some cowhands in on a drunk charge

broke out of jail.

They offered to let me out, too.

I was scared enough to take it.

I kept running...

till I came here.

I changed my name,

went on doing the one thing I was trained to do.

Did you know MacDowell

from Jonas Bend?

No, I never saw him before he came to town.

He must've seen one of those somewhere...

and remembered.

Well, Harold, as far as I'm concerned...

you can leave or you can stay.

There's still time to choose.

Thank you, Henry.

I don't think it'll do any good.

When they open that lockbox--

I'm too old to run anymore.

I can promise you, when Wolfe takes you back,

you won't be going alone.

I'll be along with you.

With a stack of character references a foot high...

from the whole town. We'll see you get a fair trial.

Guess I'm more tired than I thought.

Whoa, whoa.

Hi. How's Betsy?

Better all the time.

Fill the list?

Everything but the number two wire.

There'll be some more in next week.

They never stock enough.

Oh. Mr. Huggins told me to give this to you.

I'd have read it on the way out.

I didn't have no way to steam it open.

[ sighs ]Good news?

You bet it is.

I'm goin' out to get Trampas.

You don't have to.

What's he got?

Let's find out.

What happened to him?You didn't--

You won't find any holes in him.

Just keeled over.

Ah--

Careful you don't burn your fingers.

He's hotter than a branding iron.

He sure is.

Take him up to the house, Steve.

The doctor's up there now.

Hey, Harper, come on! Give me a hand!

That's a long ride.

A man as sick as that-- anything could happen to him .

Nobody would've blamed you.

Yeah.

This'll make you happy nothin' did.

I wired the sheriff in Rock Creek.

The Mason brothers were caught over a year ago.

They cleared you at the trial.

Well, what do you know.

And all the time, I--

Too bad it didn't come in before you went out to the line shaft.

Maybe it's better this way.

Like they say, you learn something new every day.

Even about yourself.

Judge Garth?

Judge Garth?

What happened to him?

Looks like you've got another customer, Doc.

Trampas just brought him in.

Said he keeled over at the line shack.

What we he doing out there?

I don't know.

I'll need some cold towels.

We've got to bring his fever down.

Put him in the guest room.

When you get through, you'd better wash the clothes you're wearing

in boiling water.

Tell Trampas to do the same!

Sheriff, I'll have to make a list of the contents.

I'm only interested in one thing.

Is that what you're looking for?

That's it.

Wait a minute, Mark.

You can't open that letter.

Why not, Judge? This contains information about a wanted man.

That has to be delivered to him unopened.

Then, if you have reason to believe it has pertinent information,

you can subpoena the letter.

I've got reason enough right now.

Sorry, Mark.

You make out the subpoena.

I'll deliver this personal.

Unopened.

Don't worry.

[ horse neighs ]

Afternoon, Betsy.Hello.

How you feelin'?Fine, thank you.

Good. What's that you're making?

Well, it started out to be a scarf,

but if they don't let me off this porch pretty soon,

it's gonna be a blanket.

Afternoon, Mark. Come in.

What brings you here?

This. From MacDowell's lockbox.

I was hoping--

Yeah, so was I.

Doc?

Doc?

I was pretty sick.

Your fever's broken.

All we have to worry about now

is that you don't get a chill.

How long have I been here? Two days.

Your fever had to be brought down.

You were up about as high as a man could be and stay alive.

[ knock on door ]

Mark has something for your patient.

Come in.

We got the authorization to open the lockbox.

This was in it.

You know, for a careful man,

MacDowell made a stupid mistake.

He folded this paper before the ink was dry.

Well, I guess the joke's on me.

I'll be heading back to town.

WOLFE: Judge...

I'll be out of your house

just as soon as I'm on my feet.

No hurry.

I'm pretty tired, Doc.

I'm gonna try and get some sleep.

That paper wasn't folded.

You know, for a doctor, you don't see too good.

So long, Doc.

[ train whistle blows ]

Now, don't overdo it while I'm gone.

Don't worry, Daddy. I'll be careful.

See you soon. Both of you.

Oh, we'll both be back.

When they wade through these affidavits of character,

they'll not only acquit him, they'll want him to run for mayor.

Don't you do that, Doctor. We need you right here.

Thank you, Mrs. Lemon.

Bye, Judge.Bye-bye.

Forward!