Ep 4. The Pitchman

Lucas McCain, a renowned marksman, returns in the third season of The Rifleman. This time, he finds himself in a tricky situation when a traveling salesman comes to town. In episode 4 of season 3, titled "The Pitchman," Lucas becomes suspicious of a salesman named Henry Huckaby, who visits North Fork with a stock of fancy knives.

As the episode begins, Huckaby, played by actor Claude Akins, arrives in town in a flashy carriage pulled by two horses. He steps out of the carriage dressed in a colorful suit and greets everyone he meets. Huckaby makes a pitch to the townspeople, offering his unique knives in return for their cash.

Lucas, being a wise man, senses that Huckaby is up to no good. He suspects that the knives are either stolen or of inferior quality, and he sets out to investigate. In his attempt to get to the bottom of things, Lucas visits the salesman and tries to strike up a conversation. Huckaby, however, is guarded and alert and convinces Lucas that he is just a harmless pitchman.

Despite Lucas's concerns, Huckaby manages to sell his wares to many people in North Fork, leaving Lucas feeling frustrated and powerless. But the situation changes when Lucas learns that Huckaby is actually a wanted man, on the run from the law for a string of robberies and murders.

Lucas takes it upon himself to bring Huckaby to justice. He enlists the help of his friend and deputy, Mark, and together they set out to capture the fugitive salesman. They face many obstacles along the way, but Lucas's sharpshooting skills and Mark's quick thinking enable them to get close to Huckaby.

In the final showdown, Lucas must use all his skills to take down Huckaby. The two have a tense stand-off, and just when it seems like Huckaby is about to get away, Lucas fires a single, fatal shot and brings the pitchman to justice.

Overall, "The Pitchman" is an action-packed episode that showcases Lucas McCain's excellent marksmanship skills. It is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of being too trusting and naive. The episode offers viewers a glimpse into life in the wild west, where danger lurks at every turn, and only those with quick wits and a steady hand can hope to survive.