Jeb Spencer is an elderly man who lives with his daughter Charity near Dodge City. Spencer knows his days on Earth are growing short. He asks Festus Haggen to look after Charity once he dies, and Festus agrees.
A short time later, Jeb does indeed pass away. Festus takes his promise to Jeb seriously. Charity has no interest in staying around Dodge, however. She has seen an advertisement for a place in Abilene called "Coberly's Hotel for Genteel Ladies," and she plans to go there to begin living a life away from the sheltered existence she has lived with her father.
Festus takes on the task of liquidating the Spencer estate. When everything is settled, $11 remains. Festus sets out for Abilene to give Charity the excess funds. Matt Dillon, Kitty Russell, and Doc Adams all question Festus's wisdom making such a long trip to return the measly amount, but they can see the amount does not matter to their friend. He is committed to fulfilling an obligation.
Festus's mule, "Ol' Ruth," throws a shoe on the trip, and Festus stops at a farmhouse where a widow and her two sons live. (A common theme in Gunsmoke stories is the widow living in a remote area with her children.) In this case, the widow is Sarah Elkins and her two boys Chad and Clay. Festus helps with various chores around the farm in exchange for food and a place to sleep until he can acquire the items necessary to re-shoe Ruth.
During his time with the Elkins family, he gets to know the boys and their mother. They are waiting for the arrival of a man who plans to marry Sarah.
Susan Oliver, who was as talented as she was beautiful, stars as the Sarah Elkins character. Oliver was often cast as sultry and, at times, varying degrees of sinister characters. In this story, she plays the mother of the boys in a straightforward manner.
Child actors Josh Albee and Ike Eisenmann portray the Elkins boys. This appearance marks Albee's last in a Gunsmoke episode. His only other Gunsmoke role was as one of the orphans in Season 17's "P. S. Murry Christmas." This is the first of three Gunsmoke appearances for Eisenmann. In fact, it is the first credited role in anything for the young man.
Actress Diane Sharlet appears for the first time in a Gunsmoke episode as the Charity Spencer character. She would return once more as a different character in the final season of the series. Actor E. J. André makes his second and final appearance in this story as Charity's father, Jeb.
The Festus Haggen character is the central focus of this story. The character is one of the more chameleon-like in Gunsmoke history. Sometimes he is portrayed as a shrewd tracker and trusted deputy. At other times he is more of a caricature played for comic relief. He is also frequently shown as a fiercely loyal friend to Matt, Kitty, Doc, Quint Asper, or Newly O'Brien. This story focuses on the character's huge heart and integrity. Ken Curtis's portrayal of Festus Haggen in this story portrays the character at his most human.
There are some nice, unexpected twists in this story that make it well worth investing the time to enjoy the episode.