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Ubiquitous western villain (and future Oscar winner) Strother Martin is seen in an uncharacteristically sympathetic role as Dooley Delaware, a former circus acrobat fallen upon hard times. In need of booze money, Dooley wagers that he can cross a tightrope stretched across the roof of a salloon. Noticing that the man with whom Dooley placed the bet is willing to cheat to win his money, Paladin (Richard Boone) places a counter-wager, betting $3000 that Dooley will be able to cross a huge canyon by tightrope--an act designed not only to thwart the villain, but restore the acrobat's tattered self-respect. John Dehner, soon to be cast as Paladin in the CBS radio version of Have Gun--Will Travel, is cast as duplicitous gambler Ben Marquette.