Originally Aired: December 28, 1957

In Gunsmoke #298, “Twelfth Night,” an old mountain feud follows two stubborn Ozark men all the way to Dodge City. When Eben Hakes arrives on foot—long rifle in hand—looking for his lifelong enemy Joth Monger, Marshal Matt Dillon braces for bloodshed. The bitter rivalry between the Hakes and Monger families stretches back generations, rooted in pride, stubbornness, and a long-forgotten slight.

But fate—and a quirk of mountain custom—intervene. When midnight strikes and Sunday begins, Eben refuses to fire a shot, honoring his lifelong rule never to kill on the Sabbath. What follows is an unexpected truce fueled by corn liquor, old memories, and a surprising revelation about how closely intertwined their family histories truly are.

As Dillon prepares to jail them both to prevent further violence, the feud dissolves into something far different: shared heritage, hard laughter, and plans for a Twelfth Night celebration twelve days after Christmas. A warm and gently humorous tale about tradition, pride, and the strange ways peace can sometimes find its footing.

Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, John Daner, Virginia Gregg, Vic Perrin

Tags:

western, frontierjustice, MattDillon, Chester, DocAdams, KittyRussell, feud, Ozarks, tradition, TwelfthNight, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, radioDrama, 1950sradio, reconciliation, frontierlife, holidayepisode, Gunsmoke