Ep 17. License to Cheat

Bat Masterson season 1 episode 17, titled "License to Cheat," follows the titular character as he tries to take down a group of con artists who are cheating unsuspecting individuals out of their money. The episode begins with Bat playing poker with a group of cowboys in a saloon. However, he quickly realizes that the game is rigged when one of the players pulls out a marked deck of cards and wins every hand.

After confronting the cheater, Bat discovers that a group of gamblers has been traveling from town to town, cheating people out of their money using marked cards and loaded dice. Bat vows to put a stop to their scheme and sets out to track them down.

He soon learns that the con artists are hiding out in a nearby town, posing as legitimate businessmen. Bat poses as a gambler and infiltrates their operation, hoping to gather enough evidence to prove their guilt. He manages to win their trust by pretending to be a wealthy businessman interested in investing in their operation.

As Bat gains more information about the scheme, he realizes that the con artists are planning to pull off their biggest scam yet. They have convinced the town's corrupt mayor to give them a license to open a casino, which they plan to use as a front for their operation. They are also planning to rig the town's annual horse race, which will be the main source of income for the local ranchers.

Bat knows that he must act quickly to stop the crooks before they can carry out their plan. He enlists the help of a local rancher, who has a horse that could potentially win the race if the odds are not stacked against him. Together, they hatch a plan to switch out the rigged horse for the rancher's, ensuring a fair race.

On the day of the race, Bat and the rancher manage to carry out their plan and the rigged horse is exposed. The crowd turns on the con artists, who realize that their scheme has been foiled. Bat is able to gather enough evidence to send them to jail, putting an end to their reign of deception.

The episode ends with Bat returning to the saloon where the con artists first cheated him at poker. He sits down at the same table with the same players, but this time he brings his own deck of cards and ensures that the game is fair. As he walks away with his winnings, he reminds the other players to always be wary of those who try to cheat them.

"License to Cheat" is a thrilling episode that showcases Bat Masterson's detective skills and determination to stop those who seek to exploit and deceive others. With a mix of action, suspense, and classic Western charm, this episode is a must-see for fans of the genre.