- [a man Clay arrested for murder is released when the real killer provides a death bed confession]
- Clay McCord: Lucky thing Albee got life instead of the noose - lucky for me, I mean.
- Clay McCord: Every time I arrest somebody, I'm goin' to say to myself, "Am I makin' another mistake?"
- Marshal Simon Fry: That's goin' to be a problem, Clay, I'll grant ya, but there's problems in every job. You face 'em; you fight 'em. You went to a lot of trouble to prove that Albee done the killin'. Maybe next time, you're gonna have to take more time, more trouble.
- [Sarge give Clay a copy of Albee's trial records]
- Clay McCord: Well, I know all this. How come you want me to read it through?
- Sergeant Hapgood Tasker: Find anything in there to make you doubt Albee Beckett was the killer?
- Clay McCord: No.
- Sergeant Hapgood Tasker: Good! Then the two days it took me to ride to Hondo, go to the courthouse and bring that back here wasn't wasted.
- Clay McCord: I'm afraid it is, considerin' Rufus Hayden's confession.
- Sergeant Hapgood Tasker: Who said Hayden wasn't lyin'?
- Clay McCord: On his deathbed, Sarge? He'd have to have an awful powerful reason for that.
- Sergeant Hapgood Tasker: Clay, if you started actin' like a lawman instead of a wounded buffalo, why you might find a reason.
- Clay McCord: Now I know what a military secret is.
- Sergeant Hapgood Tasker: What?
- Clay McCord: It's something a military man keeps to himself until it's almost too late to do anybody any good.
- [When Albee turns on his partner, Sarge knocks him out the butt of his pistol]
- Sergeant Hapgood Tasker: Eh, he'll sleep better, Clay.
- Clay McCord: So will I, Sarge, so will I.
- [Clay whirls towards the sound of a horseman rapidly approaching]
- Marshal Simon Fry: Whoa, Clay! It's against the law for deputies to take potshots at chief marshals.
- [last lines]
- Marshal Simon Fry: I'll take the first watch. You ought to sleep real good knowin' you have a clear conscience in ya.
- Clay McCord: You're the boss, Marshal.