Dr. Loveless has started up a "training institute" for bank robbers. His gang pulls off a series of successful operations but none of the bills taken turn up in circulation, which results in West and Gordon being called in to investigate. Only when, against Loveless' orders, one of the bandits retains and spends some of the money do the agents get a lead. It soon becomes apparent that knocking over banks is only the first stage in the mad doctor's plans...
Disguises used by Artie: Mr Lindsey, Painter
(14:02)
; Mr Fargo, Blacksmith
(36:50)
Tropes present in this episode:
- Backwards-Firing Gun: Miguelito Loveless hands James West such a pistol, but he sees through the ruse. Later, when Loveless grabs a Human Shield, West throws him by asking if he's sure which gun he's using.
- Fun with Acronyms: The good doctor's training facility is called the Loveless Institute for Advanced Research... get it?
- Harmless Electrocution: Fortunately for Artie, this trope is in effect. He takes quite a jolt only to end up a bit muddled but otherwise uninjured - not even burned!
- Heroic Sacrifice: Artie turns the tables by throwing himself bodily into the energized circuitry of a telegraph communications center (and seems to do it in the most lethal way possible by directing the current straight through his chest, though the production team probably didn't realize that). Fortunately Plot Immunity is there to prevent this trope from being played completely straight.
- Human Shield: Dr. Loveless uses his own sidekick as one.
- Large Ham: Patsy Kelly (again) as the feisty, outspoken Mrs. Bancroft.
- Money to Burn: Dr. Loveless lights his cigar with the last hundred-dollar bill from a bank robbery (having earlier burned the rest of the money on a bonfire to make a point to his men).
- Southern Gentleman: Artie as artist "Mr. Lindsay" at Mrs. Bancroft's boarding house.
- Take a Third Option: Near the end of the episode "Miguelito the First" has the agents at his mercy and all that stands between him and the completion of his schemes is giving out a command over the telegraph at his elbow. Which he is just about to do, when...Artie: Uh, if your highness will permit me, it looks very much like we've lost.
Loveless: Yes, it does, doesn't it?
Artie: Uh, well, as my old Aunt Maude always used to say to me, "Artemus, if you can't win the game the next best thing is to upset the chessboard."
Artie proceeds to manually disable the communications array - by chucking himself at it. - White Mask of Doom: Worn by Dr. Loveless's men while robbing a series of banks.
