The Gambler

When a stage breaks down, a passenger who is returning home after three years in prison for a crime he said he didn't commit, becomes upset with his treatment. His reception is not the warmest and he takes it out in the saloon where he breaks a bottle and some glasses. Elderly Marshal Roy Emmett is unable to control him, so Hardie steps in with a loan to pay for the damage.

After paying his bar bill, Dowd joins a poker game indicating Hardie's actions might not help. Unknown to Hardie one of his passengers and two other men are there planning to rob the stage.

Hardie does a little social work here, with trusting a young boy fresh from prison to change his ways, but it doesn't look it as Tom Portman's character is spoiling for trouble. He has got a giant chip on his shoulder - but he might have a chance to prove himself as a hanged man. Nice shootout at the end concludes this rather decent episode. Why did Hardie show understanding to this hellion? Well, the first episode of season four explains to you why...