"Alethia" is regarded as one of the series' most celebrated entries due to the presence of 10 year old Jodie Foster, already an adept and experienced actress mature for her years. Alethia Patricia Ingram is a bright child playing her mandolin while waiting for the stagecoach to arrive, unaware that two road agents plan a daring daylight robbery of its cashbox. Caine has befriended young Alethia, shielding her from harm when the shooting starts yet unable to prevent her from seeing the coach driver shot dead with him holding a pistol in his hand, which he immediately throws away. Her uncle, Sheriff Ingram (Kenneth Tobey), attends the trial during which her testimony is enough for a conviction despite no other corroboration: "if a jury cannot see innocence in my eyes, will they find it in a lawyer's mouth?" The sight of her new friend on the gallows, having restored her broken mandolin, with a noose around his neck is enough for a panicked Alethia to admit that she lied under oath because 'he's a Chinaman,' so the now freed fugitive must take her lie away from her by tracking down the real killers. All ends happily for both Caine and his honest ally: "the truth is that you are not a liar and I am not a murderer" "I love you, Mr. Caine" "and I have not loved anyone more." This marked the first of four appearances by Khigh Dhiegh, to be followed by "The Spirit-Helper," and the two part "Besieged" episodes from season three.
