by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Gilbert Roland guest-stars as poor but proud horse rangher Jim Acton. Hoping to get back on his financial feet, Acton is devastated when his prize mare is legally awared to Sam Whipple (Ken Lynch). Not long afterward, Acton kills Sam in self defense, but an overeager deputy named Pete (Pat Conway) is determined to prove Sam a murderer, and to bring him to justice dead or alive-preferably dead. As always, the Cartwrights intervene. Written by Thomas Thompson, this episode served to reunite two veterans of the Republic Pictures B-western mill: Director William Witney, and supporting actor Roy Barcroft. "The Lonely Runner" was first broadcast on October 10, 1965.
