by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Patricia Blair guest-stars as dance hall girl Lila Conrad, who after killing a man in self-defense hides out in the Cartwright's supply wagon. Ben Cartwright and his sons try to protect Lila from the lynch-happy cronies of the man she killed, but their efforts are thwarted by stern and merciless Judge Knowlton (Andrew Duggan). The rest of the episode chronicles the unusual relationship which blossoms between Lila and the Judge-while Mrs. Knowlton (Cathy O'Donnell) stands on the sidelines. Cowritten by Preston Wood and George Waggner (who invariably billed himself as "WaGGner"), "The Lila Conrad Story" first aired January 5, 1964.
