Around Dodge City and of the territory on west there's just one way to handle the killers
and the spoilers and that's with a US Marshal and the smell of gun smoke
Gun Smoke starring William Conrad the story of the violence that moved west with young America
the story of a man who moved with it Matt Dillon United States Marshal
hey over here one of the boys said you wanted to see me yeah better be important mr.
make a habit of coming running with some saddle punk whistles maybe you had not
to make a habit of calling people saddle punks no offense just expression sure I
came up from the Pekas country been here in Dodge about a week maybe you've seen
me around I've seen you I've been talking to people oh everybody tells me you were a
big shot back in Abilene had all the games sold up three four saloons paying off a couple
of hotels and so on then the boom busted and you come here and you got nowhere know why
you're talking you tell me why Dylan fellow named Matt Dillon US Marshal you tried to
scare him and he wouldn't scare tried to buy him and wouldn't buy tried breaking wouldn't
break so be worth five thousand dollars to you if I kill it might all right get it and
go keep it handy my heart yeah you're hired Chester I know you've been sick and you still
got a cold but is there anything else wrong what do you mean mr. Dylan well you haven't
said three words in the last 20 minutes that's not like you well mr. Dylan did you ever
get a funny feeling somebody was keeping an eye on you well yeah well I got one right
now Chester I think you got a touch of a heebie-jeebies maybe but I tell you I know as far as I can
see there's nobody in the whole place even paying any attention to it somebody is I had
the same feeling the day the Butler brothers come back from Santa Fe yeah I didn't even
know they was in town but I knew somebody was getting ready to call us and about six
that evening they made their play remember yeah I remember I was one of the pallbearers
the next day well it's the same thing now there's gonna be trouble mr. Dylan you can
bet on it I think you've got the wind up over nothing Chester the town's never been quieter
jails been empty for two weeks only new faces around is that bunch of trail drivers that
came up from the Pecos they're all strangers none of them got any reason to hold a grudge
oh there you be what I've been looking all over for you Marshall oh hi Billy waited
over to the jail for nine on an hour I got to talk to you mr. Dylan I'm sorry Billy
but every time I give you money you buy yourself a bottle and then I'll stay blind drunk for
two days it can't money this time mr. Dylan I've got something to tell you what something
I hear these couple fellers talking over to the liver stable they didn't see me I was
back at the water trough mmm sort of well resting you might say yeah well you know how
it is mr. Dylan the man gets dry in this prairie country and he just what were they talking
about Billy about you want him offered to kill you for five thousand dollars in gold
and to other and took him up on it there what did I tell you who were they Billy Janone
no sir it was dark and I didn't recognize their voices they's already there when I woke
up and they're left right after that well maybe they maybe we're just some kind of a
joke it didn't sound that way to me no sir it's no joke mr. Dylan I told you I felt
it there's somebody in this room right now somebody who's been hired to kill you yeah
but who I don't know
can you figure who's going to do such a thing mr. Dylan yeah I can figure a dozen or two
Chester well if Chester look as far as Doug city is concerned I'm the law there are plenty
of men here who'd think they'd do better without any law guess there's nothing personal
you know personal or not it's got me jumping sideways at my own Chad here we are come on
well morning Marshall haven't seen you since the robbery last month attempted robbery mr.
Greeley yeah so it was thanks to you well mr. Dylan banks that your service what can I
do for you give me some information if you will it isn't confidential it is but I want
it anyway well I hard to know what to say perhaps you better step into my office this
way gentlemen thank you you're after you mr. Greeley now just what was it you wanted to
know I want to know whether one of your customers has drawn five thousand dollars in gold from
the bank in the last few days any particular person in mind now that's what I want to find
out well I hope this won't go any farther my somebody did it who was it mr. Green I
certainly wish to make it clear that I don't approve of this man but after all he is a
good customer it's not my yeah yeah I know who was it Lawson Hale Lawson Hale
yeah he took the gold out just this morning as a matter of fact said he was working on
a cattle deal of some sort yeah figures all right he was tried to move in on this time
ever since he came here every time he's tried I've stopped him I do hope you'll regard this
as confidential yeah sure sure well Chester we know who one of them is now yeah but who's
other than mr. Dylan the one who's actually gonna do it some punk who wants five thousand
dollars real bad and doesn't care how much he has to do to get it that sure doesn't narrow
it down any yeah I know.
Sure quiet tonight Mr. Dylan yeah not many people out no not many moon is thrown quite
a bit of life yeah I guess it is.
Kindly makes a target out of a man.
Yeah kind of.
If somebody was out to shoot somebody this would sure be a good night for somebody to
do it.
I suppose so.
Mr. Dylan.
Hmm.
Do you mind if I make a comment.
Well I thought that's what you were doing.
Let's go and back to the jail and stay off the streets this way you're just asking for
Chester if it's going to come it's going to come I'd rather meet at halfway than to sit
and wait for it asking for it asking for it that's what you're doing it's been two days
now it gets on your nerves when you go out to bring a man in you know you may have trouble
when you're ready for it but this way and not knowing who or when or why or.
Yes well I understand Mr. Dylan it it kindly bothers a man.
Yeah.
Let's walk down the Texas trail.
Good to see you man you've been avoiding us the last couple of days.
Busy getting.
Something bothering you man.
Bothering me yeah.
Whatever give you an idea like that Mr. Dylan.
What is it Chester.
Lawson Hale just come in down the bar there.
Oh yeah.
Maybe ought to have a talk with him.
Well that's one way.
That's the one I haven't tried yet excuse us would you please can you show me whatever
it is.
I don't.
Know.
That.
I had it right in the bottom of my head.
The minute the trail drive it hit down the boys grab their pay and they'd head straight.
I do feel yeah I want to talk to you Mr. Hale.
Well I don't see anything stopping you but we'll move down the barways if you don't mind
it's kind of private.
Sorry Marshall I'm fine right here.
I said we'll move down the bar.
If it's that important.
Pardon me boys the marshals all head up.
Oh sure.
Far enough.
Yeah this is far enough.
Lawson I understand you've hired yourself a gunman.
Send him out to get me.
Offered him five thousand dollars in gold I don't know what you're talking about Dylan
wouldn't care to tell me his name oh I don't think so you see I don't know anything about
it.
What's he waiting for he's had two days now he hasn't made a move.
Like I said why don't you do the job Hale you're wearing a gun.
Maybe save yourself some money.
I've got no quarrel with you.
You mean you're yellow scared to call your own play I said I've got a weasel and no good
coward Hale.
I let it ride for the time being.
Yeah I thought you would.
Come on Chester.
Yes sir.
Let's go get some fresh air.
Well I guess he's just not the kind to take chances Mr. Dylan.
And not when he's got a hired killer out prowling somewhere.
Chester I'm going to run him out of Dodge if it's the last thing I ever do.
Dodge couldn't stand it.
If I only knew who he'd hired then I could force the play myself.
This blasted business of having to leave it up to the other man.
Waiting waiting.
Over there by the stable.
Yeah I saw the flash.
Maybe you got him Mr. Dylan.
I don't know.
Let's move in and find out.
Watch yourself Chester you may be playing possum.
Yes sir.
The flash was right here by the corner.
Yeah.
Well that's that.
Looks like you got away Mr. Dylan.
Yeah he's gone.
Took one shot and ran for cover.
He'll be back.
We will return for the second act of Gunsmoke in just a moment but first every Sunday afternoon
Robert Trout with the World News brings you up to the minute on CBS radio.
A special feature on this program every Sunday is a flying visit from one of our noted overseas
news correspondents.
Remember tomorrow for well rounded views of the news at home and everywhere don't miss
Robert Trout with the news of the world on most of these same CBS radio stations.
And now for the second act of Gunsmoke.
My goodness my cold sure no better than I am Mr. Dylan.
That fire sure feels good.
Sure sure the old jail seems kind of cozy when a man ailing like I am.
Anyway it sure a lot better than prowling those streets waiting for somebody to put
a bullet in the back of your neck.
Chester will you stop squeaking the chair.
Well sorry Mr. Dylan.
Yelling at me like I'm peeing in a field.
Two more days gone by and he hasn't made another move.
Yes sir.
That cotton would sure burns up fast I guess I better shake down the stove throw another
chunk of wood.
Wait a minute.
Huh.
Wait a minute there might be a way at that Chester.
Loss and hail that's the only fact we're sure of loss and hail.
It would be kind of hard to prove anything Mr. Dylan.
Who said anything about proving it.
I got an idea come on.
Which one will we try first Mr. Dylan.
The Texas Trail I guess he'll either be there or at the Longhorn.
All right Mr. Dylan.
What you gonna do.
Gonna arrest him.
Since he won't fight he saw him back down the other night.
Yes but you got no evidence.
Mr. Dylan you can't make it stick.
I don't intend to Chester.
Well then I don't see what you say.
What I can do is scare him and if I figure him right I think he's gonna scare easy.
Maybe so but all the same.
Look look there he is Chester.
Just came out of the Longhorn.
Couple of fellas with him Mr. Dylan.
You don't suppose one of them could be.
No they're hanging around for the free drinks.
There's not an ounce of nerve in the three dozen of them.
Come on let's take him.
Yes.
Hale.
Yeah.
Hold it just right where you are.
What seems to be the trouble now Mark.
No trouble.
Unless you want to make some.
You're under arrest.
What for.
I'll think of something later stick out your hands.
What.
You're taking me in without even making a charge.
I'll remind you there's witnesses here.
Yeah so I notice.
When they're not hanging around you they're around somebody else.
What have you done Hale hired them too.
I asked you what the charge was Marshal.
Vagrancy.
Vagrancy.
As far as I know you've never had any visible means of support as long as you've been a
Dutch.
And the dollar are yours with a hundred better ones.
Well that's fine that'll help pass the time now stick out your hands.
Oh look here Marshal if you think you.
All right Chester put the cuffs on him.
Yes sir.
All right hold still now.
Dillon up.
I'll break you for this.
It's been tried before.
All right boys break it up the party's over.
You've had your last free drink out of this pump.
All right let's go to jail.
Keep walking Hale it's the last cell on the left.
I'll break your Dillon so help me.
Oh you've been trying it for a year.
I'm still around.
But you won't be after this.
I'll take this up.
Hold up.
Wait till Chester gets the door unlocked.
Haven't used this cell for so long I've almost forgot which piece is.
There we are.
Vagrancy.
I'm living in the best room in the commercial house.
Inside Hale.
Now go on move.
Now stick your hands up.
You won't need those cuffs in here.
All right make yourself at home.
Shut the door Chester.
Dillon you've got nothing to hold me on.
I'll be out of here by tomorrow noon.
Oh I doubt that.
In fact there's a pretty good chance you'll never get out of that cell.
Not alive at least.
What are you talking about?
According to the law I've got a right.
The law huh?
You've broken it every chance you've got.
Try to break the men who serve it like you've tried to do with me for instance.
When your own neck gets caught you start hiding behind the law.
Nevertheless.
All right fine.
Right now the law out here is kind of sketchy.
Some things it covers some things it doesn't.
That's where I come in.
Now this little affair between you and me is one of the things the law doesn't quite
cover.
So I'm gonna run it my way.
That kind of talk won't help you any do.
You hired a man to kill me offered him five thousand dollars to get me out of the way.
You can't prove that.
He's made one try and he's missed he's still around Dodge.
Somewhere waiting and he's gonna try again.
But I don't know who he is.
So all the odds are with him.
That is your problem Dillon not mine.
I don't know anything about that.
You know what'll happen though if he does get me.
The first thing Chester's gonna do is come straight back here to the jail and pump a
couple of bullets through these bars here.
Your boy may kill me Hale but you're not gonna live to profit by it.
Oh he wouldn't do it.
Shoot on a helpless.
Oh neither one of you would do it.
Chester and I have been friends for a long time.
Why don't you ask him whether he'd do it or not.
No question about it Mr. Dillon of course I'd do it.
Oh no you wouldn't.
Well you hired somebody to shoot Mr. Dillon in the back I don't see where you got any
kick coming.
Well there's your answer Mr. Hale.
That's why I arrested him.
Come on Chester let's go look the town over.
No no it's tonight that he's going.
Who's gonna do what.
I don't know Marshall I don't know anything about it.
Now that's too bad.
If I knew his name I'd have a lot better chance you know.
So would you.
Well we'll see you later Hale or anyway Chester will.
No Dillon you can't do it.
No don't go out he'll get you short.
Dillon no wait I'll tell you his name.
All right.
He's a trail driver.
He came up from the Pecos last week.
I doubt if you know him his name is Ed Granger.
Ed Granger.
Yeah I've seen him around the bars.
Dark haired surly looking scar across his cheek.
That's him.
Of course I'll deny all of this in court you understand.
Yeah sure I understand.
Come on Chester let's go get him.
Look he's here all right Mr. Dillon over there by the pine.
Yeah looks like he's by himself.
What you gonna do arrest him.
Well there's no evidence Chester.
The only way I see is to make it personal.
Let's go.
I want you to stay out of it Chester just cover me that's all.
Whatever you say Mr. Dillon.
Your name Ed Granger.
Might be.
What about it?
You know who I am don't you?
Judging by the star or the red gear you asked Marsha.
You ought to do better than that.
After all I'm worth five thousand dollars to you.
Yeah sure.
Who says so?
Lawson Hale.
Your memories getting better huh?
I don't know what you're talking about Mark.
Sure you do.
That deal you made with Hale.
He told me all about it after I threw him in jail and persuaded him a little bit.
I told you I don't know anything.
You're wearing a gun there Granger.
Why don't you draw it and go for five thousand dollars.
Take a chance.
This fellow you're talking about is in jail.
I reckon he wouldn't have anybody working for him now would he?
You tell me.
I got no reason to draw on you Marsha.
Not unless my back's turned up.
I think you're as yellow as Hale is.
This won't do you any good.
I ain't drawing.
You tried to kill me night before last Granger.
Can you prove that?
If I could you'd either be in jail or you'd be dead.
Well since you can't prove it what's the argument?
Just that I don't like the idea of somebody trying to shoot me in the back.
If you're any man at all we'll settle this here and now.
Leave me alone Marshal.
I haven't done anything.
Now you still figure you got no reason to draw on me?
No reason.
I ain't drawing.
You got ten minutes to get out of town.
And when you're out stay out.
Don't come back now or ever you understand?
Yes sir.
We can start right now.
Must be nearly midnight Mr. Dillon.
Yeah about that I guess Chester.
My this is sure one day I'm glad it's over.
Yeah so am I.
At least I can breathe a little easier now.
I think I'll get this fire built up a little bit Mr. Dillon.
No leave it Chester let's go take care of our prisoner first.
Hey we still haven't got any evidence.
What are we going to do about him?
Same as with Granger.
Turn him loose and run him out of town.
We should have done it months ago.
You got the keys?
Yes sir.
I heard him.
Mr. Dillon?
What?
What are you looking at?
Granger must have stopped by here on his way out of town.
He must have got Hale over to the window for a talk and then grabbed him and cut his throat
right there.
Yeah figured Hale would have sold him out I guess.
Got a bulletin on the wire Chester wanted for murder Ed Granger.
All right sir Mr. Dillon.
I guess Hale got pretty much what he bargained for.
He hired himself a killer in order to kill him.
He got it.
Gunsmoke under the direction of Norman MacDonald stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon U.S. Marshal.
Tonight's story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Les Crutchfield with music composed
and conducted by Rex Corey.
Featured in the cast were Harry Bartel, Lawrence Dobkin, Jack Crushen and Ralph Moody.
Parley Bear is Chester and Georgia Ellis is Kitty.
Gunsmoke is heard by our troops overseas through the facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service.
Join us again next week as Matt Dillon U.S. Marshal fights to bring law and order out
of the wild violence of the West in Gunsmoke.
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Tomorrow night over most of these same CBS radio stations the kingfish is sure to be
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Don't let one single minute of the fun get away.
Tomorrow and every Sunday night it's Amos and Andy on CBS Radio.
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