Two friends, Jim Applegate and Hoss, are competing with each other to be the sweetheart of lovely Cameo Johnson. One evening when Hoss is riding back from Cameo's house, he sees a group of men that has just lynched a young couple. Hoss recognizes one of the riders as his friend Jim Applegate.
Applegate is arrested when one member of the gang tells the Sheriff that that Applegate was with him. When Hoss and Cameo go to see Applegate in jail, he tells them that he was not involved with the killing but has just rode up on the men while returning home. Now Hoss has a very difficult dilemma. If he tells the sheriff it will look like Hoss wanted Applegate out of the way to get to Cameo. If Applegate is telling the truth then Hoss's statement can only do damage to his friend. Hoss is torn on what is to be done.
In this typical Hoss theme show, we have the big lovable character in the middle between loyalty to his friend and honesty of his inner-self. Hoss wants so much to believe his friend but feels like his integrity is at stake if he does not reveal what he saw that evening. Plus, just as his character will do so many times, he does not want to hurt a women that has shown him some emotion even if the woman really does not care for him. This episode is one reason that the public fell in love with Hoss Cartwright.
Applegate is arrested when one member of the gang tells the Sheriff that that Applegate was with him. When Hoss and Cameo go to see Applegate in jail, he tells them that he was not involved with the killing but has just rode up on the men while returning home. Now Hoss has a very difficult dilemma. If he tells the sheriff it will look like Hoss wanted Applegate out of the way to get to Cameo. If Applegate is telling the truth then Hoss's statement can only do damage to his friend. Hoss is torn on what is to be done.
In this typical Hoss theme show, we have the big lovable character in the middle between loyalty to his friend and honesty of his inner-self. Hoss wants so much to believe his friend but feels like his integrity is at stake if he does not reveal what he saw that evening. Plus, just as his character will do so many times, he does not want to hurt a women that has shown him some emotion even if the woman really does not care for him. This episode is one reason that the public fell in love with Hoss Cartwright.