The Professor

Originally Aired: November 20, 1960 Gunsmoke #450, "The Professor," Matt Dillon and Chester encounter an unlikely figure on the prairie: Otis Milford, a scholarly easterner who has lost his horse while robbing an Indian grave in the name of science. Milford claims to be writing a book about Western culture and Indian tribes, and he's armed with a Pawnee bow and arrow he's testing for research purposes. Matt gives the professor a ride into Dodge City, where Milford quickly makes himself unwelcome by prying into hotel records, asking intrusive questions, and nearly getting himself kicked by examining a stranger's silver-decorated saddle without permission. Doc Adams warns Matt that the naive professor is a danger to himself, especially with his talk of venturing into Indian territory. With Milford's raw feet, ill-fitting boots, and complete lack of frontier skills, Doc gives him about two days to live if he attempts such an expedition. As complaints pile up around town, Matt realizes he needs to intervene before the well-meaning but hapless scholar gets himself killed in his pursuit of knowledge about the Wild West.