Chester's Inheritance

Originally Aired: April 2, 1961 Gunsmoke #469, "Chester's Inheritance," finds Chester in a panic when he receives a letter from lawyers in Waco, Texas. Too frightened to open it himself, convinced he's about to be arrested over an old four-dollar debt, Chester has Matt read it for him. The letter brings unexpected news: Chester has inherited $368.63 from his late cousin Clarence Webley Proudfoot. While Chester waits anxiously for the cashier's check to arrive, Matt deals with a more serious matter involving Ed Grimes, a struggling farmer facing eviction, and his former friend Bert Donald, a prosperous cattle broker who refuses to extend the loan payment deadline. Once Chester's inheritance finally arrives, his worries are replaced by grand dreams of building a white house with a red barn, buying an all-black suit and horse, and playing high-stakes poker. As word spreads through Dodge City about Chester's sudden wealth, townsfolk begin approaching him with various investment schemes and business proposals. Matt tries to steer his impulsive deputy toward the bank before the money burns a hole in his pocket, while Chester struggles to manage his newfound fortune and the attention it brings.