Man in an Hourglass

Under difficult conditions, Paladin must return to a doctor friend (Moody) a vengeful young man (Johnny).

No show with the great Edgar Buchanan can afford to be missed, though the entry itself is pretty routine. Here, Buchanan's in character as a sly old dog (Cardiff) and head of an outlaw band. Few actors were better at hiding sinister intent under a jolly old man cover, and it's a guessing game here whether he's really sick or just faking.

Otherwise, the plot's a fairly familiar one of Paladin having to save a headstrong young kid from himself. Unfortunately, as an actor, young Stacy needs more practice. The 30-minutes also features veteran actor Alan Baxter as the doc—note how his goodness is quickly established when he befriends the Indian kids, so that we're immediately on his side.

The shoot-out is none to convincing, though the abandoned town makes an atmospheric backdrop. In passing—listen for Paladin answering a Cardiff question with a flowery literary quote to which the old man makes an amusingly brief reply.