Gunsmoke – Crack Up. 550226.

There’s just one way to deal with the killers and the spoilers, and that’s with a US Marshal and the smell of gunsmoke.

Matt has just got back to town, and chats with the barber as he enjoys a haircut. The gossipy barber’s job is interupted when a hardcase comes in and demands he be served right now. After the tense confrontation, and back in the jail, Chester fills Mat in about who the stranger is. He’s Nate Springer, and Matt knows his reputation from other lawmen. Why doesn’t Matt just go and get him, and lock him up? So far, there’s nothing on the man in Dodge City.

Later, Matt and Doc talk about the matters of the day. When Springer crashes their little party, he and Matt face off again. Matt and doc both detect something wrong with Springer, like he’s cracking up or something. As Matt and Kitty talk, Springer gets reckless and shoots a little dog, right on the street. Matt’s problem is that Springer is a hired gun, and if he chases him away, whoever hired him will just hire somebody else. How can he figure out who hired the gunman?

Chester brings a report to Matt about Springers latest slide into cracking up. Matt decides the time has come to confront Springer and run him out of Dodge. Matt lays down the law, but I don’t think this ordeal is over just yet. Matt finds out who the gunman came to town to kill, but in a shootout, Springer never gets his chance.