Ep 24. The Tinhorn

The Rifleman is a western television series set in the late 1800s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show follows Lucas McCain, a skilled marksman and widowed father, as he navigates life in the west with his son Mark and various other characters.

In season 4 episode 24, titled "The Tinhorn," Lucas finds himself in the middle of a high-stakes poker game with a group of notorious gamblers. The episode begins with Lucas and Mark on their way to visit a neighboring town when they encounter a group of men on horseback. These men are revealed to be professional gamblers and they convince Lucas to join them for a game of poker.

Lucas is hesitant at first, as he knows how easy it is to lose everything in a game of chance, but he eventually decides to take part. The game is high stakes, with thousands of dollars on the line. Lucas finds himself winning early on, but things take a turn when a newcomer to the table, a city slicker named Benny, joins in.

Benny is a self-proclaimed "tinhorn," a term used in the west to describe an inexperienced gambler. Despite his lack of skill, Benny manages to win a few rounds and Lucas starts to suspect that he might be cheating. Lucas confronts Benny, but the other players defend him, saying that they have played with him before and he has never cheated.

The tension at the table continues to build as the game goes on, with Lucas and Benny both putting everything they have on the line. Meanwhile, Mark is watching from the sidelines, worried about what will happen if his father loses. The other players begin to turn on Lucas, accusing him of being a sore loser and trying to cheat himself.

Despite this, Lucas remains calm and collected, determined to win. As the game reaches its climax, it becomes clear that something suspicious is going on. Benny seems to be drawing incredible hands every time, and some of the other players start to suspect that he is hiding cards up his sleeve.

Finally, Lucas catches Benny in the act of cheating and exposes him to the rest of the players. The other gamblers are outraged and Benny is forced to leave town with his ill-gotten gains. Lucas, meanwhile, is left to reflect on the dangers of gambling and the importance of maintaining one's integrity.

Overall, "The Tinhorn" is a tense and exciting episode that explores the theme of integrity in the context of gambling. The episode features strong performances from the lead actors, particularly Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain. The climactic poker game is well-staged and keeps the audience on the edge of their seat until the very end. Fans of westerns and classic television will find much to enjoy in this episode of The Rifleman.