Around Dodge City and in the territory on West there's just one way to handle the killers
and the spoilers and that's with the US Marshal and the smell of Gunsmoke.
Gunsmoke starring William Conrad the transcribed story of the violence that moved west with
young America the story of a man who moved with it Matt Dillon United States Marshal.
Is this everything Chester? Well there might be more later when they finish shortening the mail.
Hey where's that telegram? Oh what telegram? I thought I put it right on top. Let me take a look.
Here it is. Might be important. I will soon see. Well it's from Bill Hickok. Up in Abilene? Yeah.
What'd you say Mr. Dillon? Teters and Gridler headed for Dodge. Keep them there but don't
arrest them until I get there with murder witness or I'll write Washington all I know about you.
Signed Hickok. Then Mr. Hickok's coming here. That's what he says. Well how do you recognize
those two men Mr. Dillon? I expect I'll recognize them all right. Oh you know them? Yeah we've met.
Teters and Gridler are gunmen Chester. The kind who kill as easy as most men shake hands. Just
about as often. Too bad you can't just put them in jail. Yeah. Well we'll start meeting the trains.
There's one in at noon sir. Good then we'll meet it. What do we do if they are on this train Mr. Dillon?
Nothing Chester. I'll find them later and talk to them but not in a crowd like this. Yes sir.
You know every time I see a train I am just overpowered with the urge to travel. Oh? Where to?
Anywhere. Anywhere but Kansas. Well I don't think you'd like it back East any better. Why not? You
just have the urge to come out West again. I know you're kind. I suppose you're right sir. But still
it'd be good to walk down a street that wasn't all heat and dust and it wasn't crowded with a lot of
grimy men looking for trouble. And I wouldn't mind seeing some women. Married women with kids and
parasols. Wait a minute Chester. There they are. Where? They just got off the end car. Those two headed
for the depot there. One of them's tall? Yeah. That's Teters in the black hat. The other's Gridler.
I'll just step around the corner here and see which way they head. Yes sir. There they are. Yeah.
Looks like they're going to the Dodge house. Now let's follow them. Yep that's where they're going
all right. Let's wait here. Let them get a room and then I'll go talk to them. But if you can't
arrest them. Then I'll just try to make them feel welcome to stay in Dodge. When you think Mr.
Hickok will get here? Oh, it'll be a couple of days anyway Chester. Look right now I want you to go
back to the depot and ask the ticket agent to let me know if Teters and Gridlers start to leave
anytime. You can describe them to him. All right sir. Then go to the stage office. Yes sir. Go to all the
stables too. If they rent or buy any horses I want to know about it right away. I'll tell everybody.
Also tell them to keep quiet about it. I'll be back at the office later. All right sir.
You know what can I do for you Marshal? Two men came in here just a minute ago. One of them was
tall black hat. Well? Well what Marshal? You were here did you see them? Those were gunmen I could
tell. The tall ones Teters and the other ones gridler. Those are the names they gave you? Yes
but there'll be trouble if you try to arrest them here Marshal. Can't you wait until they're outside
in the street someplace? No. What if they're after you? I've got nothing to do with men like that
Marshal. There's no reason in the world that they... Now just take it easy. They never heard of you and I'm not
going to arrest them. But since you're a good helpful citizen maybe you can tell me what room
they're in. Certainly Marshal. Certainly. Number 25 up the stairs and turn to your left. Thank you
very much. Who is it? Who is it I said? I'll open it griddle.
You can put your gun away griddle. I just came for a little talk. Then make your talk Marshal.
I ain't polite griddle. Let me in. Watch him better inside. Hello Teters. What's on your mind Marshal?
I just trying to think. Last time I saw you men was in... let me see was it Tuscosa? Never mind
all that Marshal. Why are you here? No I heard you were in town. I thought I'd drop by and say hello.
News must travel pretty fast in Dodge. We ain't been here 15 minutes all told. Well maybe he was
expecting us griddle. I happened to be at the depot. I noticed you get off so I followed you here.
All right. But we're not wanted Marshal. Matter of fact a judge up in Abilene just turned us loose.
Wasn't no witness to that killer. While Bill tried to frame us but didn't work. Well that just goes
to show the law is fair to everybody doesn't it? Why'd you come here Marshal? Just to let you know
that I'm still the law in Dodge and I don't want any trouble here. With men of your sort I always
like to mention that. We're not looking for trouble. Good good. Then you're welcome to stay here as
long as you like. That's a funny thing to tell us. It's an open town Teevids. Yeah sure Marshal sure it is.
And I'll treat you to it just like anybody else. If you stay out of trouble the town's yours.
Anybody starts trouble won't be yours. Well I'm glad to hear that. I'll be going now gentlemen. Oh
there are some pretty sharp gamblers here. Don't let them take all of your money. Oh don't you worry
about us Marshal. So long. There was no way of figuring how long Teeters and Griddler might
stay in Dodge. If they took a notion to do some gambling it might be a week or two or they might
move on in an hour. That night however they were still in town Buck and Farrow at the Oliver Gansman.
Everything looked fine until Chester came into the office about ten o'clock. They're fixing to leave
Mr. Dillon first thing in the morning. Oh how do you know? Jim Bunch at the stage office. He just
told me they came in paid their fare to Sharon Springs on the morning stage. Sharon Springs huh?
And then they're headed for Denver. Looks like it sir. All right Chester go tell Jim that I'm
gonna be on that stage tomorrow too. If he likes our right shotgun for him one of the boys can have
a little time off. I'll tell him sir but are you going all the way to Denver? I'll follow him all
the way to San Francisco if necessary. You can tell Hickok that when he shows up. Too bad he won't
be here before they leave. It'll be another day before he can get here. That won't be too far
behind us. Stage leaves at eight right? Yes sir. I'll be there to see you off Mr. Dillon. Fine.
We'll meet at the Dodge house for breakfast if you like. All right Jim.
The stage looks like it's all ready to go Mr. Dillon. Yeah. I don't see teeters and griddle though.
They're not inside are they? I don't think so. No they're not here yet. Just about eight o'clock
they should be here. Well it doesn't matter Chester if they've changed their minds it's
all to the good anyway. Want me to go ask Jim Bunch if he's heard from Mr. Dillon? No no let's
just wait here. Oh say I forgot to tell you Jim said the regular shotgun messenger has to go up
to Sharon Springs anyway but to thank you just the same. No good. Chester. Yes sir. Look up at the
other end of the plaza there coming this way. Well I declare it's Sam. Yeah now what are they up to I
wonder? Well they can't be taking the stage if their horse back. No looks to me like they're fixed
for a long ride too. Sure does Mr. Dillon. You're up early Marshal. Yeah so are you teeters. It's
cooler in the morning. Well for traveling it is. So long Marshal. What's the matter did you lose all
your money last night? Yeah next time we'll follow your advice. So long. Will we go after?
Chester you stay here and explain things to Wild Bill. I'll be on their trail as soon as they're
out of sight I'll get my horse. You can tell Jim I won't be taking the stage. All right. I'll leave
as clear a trail for Hickok as I can. Yes sir I'll tell him. We will return to the second act of
gun smoke in just a moment but first young women are needed to enroll as student nurses and to take
their places as graduate nurses in an ever-expanding field where opportunity unlimited awaits. Older
women should seek careers as practical nurses where fine living and fine working conditions
are in prospect. Ask at any hospital at the nurses registry desk or at any qualified school of
nursing. And now the second act of gun smoke. I did my best to stay out of teeters and griddlers
sight but if they had suspicions of being followed and were watching their back trail they'd have
known I was there all right. The land was flat and we frequently crossed great patches of powder
dried dirt that smoked the air with dust under the horses feet. After an hour they began to swing
slowly north and by noon it was clear that for some reason they were riding in a great half circle.
They'd left Dodge headed west and sure enough just after sundown they rode back into town from the
east. I waited until dark then came in put my horse up the office was empty so I walked up to
Delmonico's where I found Doc having supper. Oh man sit down. Thank you Doc. You look hungry
enough to even eat this food. It's been a long time since breakfast Doc. Yeah man ought to eat
three meals a regular man. You got to run down if you don't. Yeah sure Doc. Only sometimes you have
to eat when you can. Oh that's such a hard day man. Yeah I've been riding Doc. Riding around in
circles. Oh is that what the government pays you for? Oh I'd like to have your job. I wouldn't be too
sure of that Doc. It isn't always this easy. I know man Chester told me. What happened you?
You lose them? No I didn't lose them. As a matter of fact they're coming in here right now. What do you mean
they're coming? Those two? Yeah. They're pretty hard-looking fellows. They are. Evening Marshal.
Hello Teters. Griddler. Marshal. This is Dr. Adams gentlemen. How are you? How are you Doc?
How are you? Well what's on your mind? You are Marshal. What? That was you trailing us all day
wasn't it? Yes it was. Why? I didn't want you to get lost. That's a lie. Then let's say that I didn't
want you to get into any trouble. You're gonna tell us what it's all about Marshal? Well you're not
exactly the most reputable citizens in Kansas and I just wanted to have an eye on you. That's all. You
sure do. As I told you you keep out of trouble and you're welcome to stay here. Just remember
one thing Marshal. There's two of us. And next time you follow us you might not come back. We're
taking chances like that's part of my job Mr. Teters. That's a poor job. Yeah sometimes I think
so too. Come on Teters let's get out of here. Yeah. They're not very polite. No but they're smart.
Smart enough to figure something's wrong anyway. Well you think they might bolt Matt? Depends on
how smart they really are Doc. Right now they're so curious they might stay around us to see what
it's all about. Oh Mr. Dillon. Oh hello Chester. Pull up a chair Chester. I won't have time. We
better get right over to the depot. Why what's happened? Well sir I saw him right back into town
the first thing they did was go to the depot and asked about a train. What were you there? No sir
the agent came and told me told me like he'd promised. Train goes at 730 doesn't it? Yes sir and
it's just about that now. I've been looking everywhere for you. Doc if that waiter ever does come around
tell him to hold a steak for me will you? I might just be back for it. Sure Matt yes sir and good luck.
Yeah thanks Doc come on Chester. Are you gonna go on the train with them Mr. Dillon? No. Hickok
should be here in the morning Chester. If I can keep them off this train tonight I doubt they'll
try anything else till tomorrow. Yeah but you can't arrest them. Yeah I know. Well then. I'll just face them off
Chester. So keep your head up. Yes sir. Now there they are. Come on. You come just to say goodbye
Marshal? Not exactly. Oh? You you can take the train tomorrow if you like but not this one. Why
tomorrow? Well I've got orders to keep you in sight till then. Orders from who? It doesn't matter but you
have your choice you can have the run or dodge tonight or you can spend it in jail. I know you
talk pretty loose for just one man Marshal. Your friend there doesn't look like a gunman. Well now
you can't always tell by looks Mr. I can't. You said you didn't want trouble Marshal but you sure
startin' it. There won't be any trouble. You do what I tell you. If we don't. I'll kill the first one of
you that moves for that train. You can die that way Marshal. Maybe. But you won't both get on that
train. Great luck. You know me. You know I'll do it. We can still make it Great Luck. No it's not worth it. We can go
tomorrow. All right. Marshal tomorrow it'll be different. Yeah sure sure. Tomorrow it'll be different.
Yesterday I met the noon train next day but as I figured Hickok didn't get off it. I questioned
the man who wrote the baggage car and sure enough Wild Bill and his witness had hidden out there the
whole trip. Soon as the crowd left the depot we walked down to the car. Crawled under it.
Pounded on the door on the other side. Who is it? It's Dillon Bill. Open up. Jump up Matt. Come on Chester. Matt how are you? Fine Bill fine. Oh this is Chester
Probfoot. Chester. Sam come over here. This is my witness Sam Trimble. Mr. Trimble. Are you still here Matt? Yeah but we better
move fast. Matt that judge up at Abilene's crazy but he's still the judge and he says Trimble here has to
identify Teters and Gridler before I arrest him this time. But Bill they can't be tried twice for the same crime. I know that Matt but I'm after them for a second murder they did. I'd suggest we just go kill them but I've been waiting a long time to
see these two hung and by glory I'm gonna do it. You will if you're lucky. Tell me Mr. Trimble do these men know you on site? Well I'll tell you how it was Marshal. I was in this stable where I worked over in Abilene that is and a fellow come in for his horse and I went to get it for him. I heard some shooting and then two men ran right past me. I got a good look at them all right. They just killed that fellow too. You mean you don't know Teters and Gridler? I never heard of them.
Matt there's no pictures of them I know of but he can identify them when he sees them. Yeah sure but what about them? Well they recognize you Mr. Trimble. Gosh I don't know Marshal. I hope not. They'd kill me on site wouldn't they? I hadn't thought of that. Well you just do what we tell you to and you'll come to no harm Trimble. Dylan and I are a fair match for those two. If they start any trouble we'll be on them so fast they'll die on their feet. Taking a terrible chance. I hadn't thought of that.
Easy Trimble easy. An hour from now we'll have them in jail with their teeth pulled. Sure hope so but how are you gonna do it? Just go find them that's all. Soon as we get them locked up I'll buy you the biggest steak you ever ate Trimble. Come on let's go.
I took Hickock and Trimble over to the Texas Trail where we decided we'd wait while Chester located Teters and Gridler and we just walk in on them and get it over with fast. I introduced the two men to Kitty and we ordered a couple of drinks for Trimble who was getting jumpier by the minute.
What are you two heroes doing getting this poor man drunk enough to fight him? Not exactly Miss Kitty he just lacks faith in us that's all. I wouldn't have come if I'd thought about it I sure would. Look Trimble it isn't often a man has both mine and Matt Dillon's guns behind him you're as safe as you'd be in church. I don't go to church. Here Mr. Trimble have another drink. I will in a minute I'm going out back first.
Whatever you're up to what's making him mighty nervous. Well I'll admit he usually leads a quieter life he'll brag big though once he's back in Abilene. Tell me Bill do you plan to stay in Abilene long? I don't know Matt Charlie Utter keeps talking to me about Deadwood. Oh it's as dusty up in Deadwood as it is in Kansas. I know Miss Kitty but Charlie thinks some of that dust is made of gold.
I don't know but I'm going to find out. I'll go with you man. Alright stay in here everybody.
Miss Kitty there's a riddler I was just crossing the street and saw him run out of the alley there. Alright come on. There he is. Yeah it's Trimble. What happened Trimble?
They shot me. I was gonna run away. He got scared and ran right into him. We shouldn't have let him alone at all. They said they saw me with you Mr. Hickock. They said that that's all they needed to know. And they shot me. Chester go get the doc hurry. Yes sir.
Tell me Trimble. They were the men who killed that fellow in Abilene. You recognized them all right? No. I never saw these two before. It wasn't them. What? I knew I shouldn't have come. I got killed for nothing.
Trimble. Trimble. That's no use Bill. Yeah he got killed for nothing alright. They must have figured he was a witness to some murder they did commit. Well anyway they'll hang for Trimble now. Let's find them before they get out of town Matt. We'll find them even if they do.
Hickock and I walked out of the alley and into the plaza. There were a couple of citizens who had heard the shooting and had seen teeters and griddler run out of the alley. They told us that they'd gone into the dodge house and we followed. From the look on the clerk's face as we went past him and up the stairs I knew that they were in their room. When we reached it Bill stood on one side of the door and I on the other. Think they'll fight Matt.
Well let's ask them.
I told you to follow us teeters. Now we're trapped sure. Shut up I said. They got us to the street on the line. Open the door. Throw your guns out. There's no use trying to fight. There's no use in hanging neither marshal. You can just take us the best way you can.
No. Our chance hanging. We got off once.
Billy get away from that door.
I've listened here enough. I ain't facing Dylan and Hickock both now.
Let go.
I told you to hang clear let go.
Teeters. You shouldn't have.
I'm going to.
Wait Matt. Could be a trick.
I don't think so Bill.
Look. On the floor there.
Yeah he's been hit all right.
Now they're both dead.
Well I sure never expected this.
It saved us doing it maybe.
Riddler lost his nerve blasted. Shooting was too good for these two. I wanted to see him hung.
How things don't always work out Bill.
Sure don't. Not lately anyway.
Matt I think I'll go up to Deadwood with Charlie Otter right soon after all.
Maybe I can find me a little peace and quiet.
Gun smoke transcribed under the direction of Norman McDonald stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon US Marshal tonight's story was specially written for gun smoke by
John Meston with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey featured in the cast were John McIntyre Lawrence Dabkin John Boehner Joe Duvall and Harry Bartel
Parley Bear is Chester Georgia Ellis is Kitty and Howard McNear is Doc.
Gun smoke is heard by our troops overseas through the facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service.
Join us again next week as Matt Dillon US Marshal fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the West in Gun Smoke.
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