Around Dodge City and in the territory on West, there's just one way to handle the killers
of the spoilers and that's with the US Marshal and the smell of Gunsmoke.
Gunsmoke 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.
It had been some time since we'd had any real trouble, anything more than throwing a few juiced
up cowboys in jail to sober up for a few hours and I liked it peaceful for a change and I hoped
for them to stay that way. Well that morning I'd gone to take a few catfish out of the
Arkansans. When I got back to the office I found a note from Chester saying he's at the
Alapreganza having a beer. Hello John. Over here Mr. Dillon. Any Luxor? Oh about a dozen Chester,
we'll have them for supper. No that'll be fine. Oh I've been telling Mr. Carter here about you
Mr. Dillon. Mr. Carter? Robert P. Carter. How do you do Marshal? Hello how are you? Buy your drink?
Well thank you, yes I believe I will. I think I'll have a beer. Bartender, a beer. Mr. Carter came
in on the stage from Denver last Saturday. Oh you live in Denver Mr. Carter? Oh heavens no,
New York Marshal. I've only been west a few months investing money in gold mines and cattle and the
like. Mr. Carter's very rich. Well Chester I will be if mother nature holds out. His girl is coming
in on the stage today Mr. Dillon. How is that so? My fiance Marshal. He met her in Denver but she
couldn't get ready in time to come here when he did. Ah I see. I had to come ahead on business,
couldn't wait. We'll take the Santa Fe to St. Louis from here. They're gonna be married in St.
Louis Mr. Dillon. Well congratulations. Thanks. But is the stage always this late? He's working
Mr. Dillon with his girl on stage now. It'll be a long Mr. Carter. You're talking about the stage?
Oh hello Shiloh. Shiloh says he's been sitting there by himself all morning Mr. Dillon. Since
last night Chester. You know something about the stage Shiloh? Only that it's carrying fifty
thousand in gold out of Ledlow. So? Well maybe that's why it's late. What do you mean man? Well
if somebody wanted that gold they'd have to stop the stage long enough to get it unloaded wouldn't
they? Bandits. He means bandits. Now hold it Mr. Carter. You're already bleeding to nobody's
shot you. What? Nothing nothing nothing. Just take it easy. The stage will get here all right. It's
often a little late. But this man says it might have been held up. Why there may have been a
shooting. Why now now he's just daydreaming. That's all. Wait a minute. Listen. Well there it is now.
Oh see Mr. Carter there was nothing to worry about. It got here all right.
What is it Jim? Got held up Marshall. What? Lost fifty thousand in gold. Where'd this happen? About
twenty mile back near Cottonwood drawer. But anybody shot? Another shot fired. He tricked us.
But where's Jane? Driver. Where's the girl who was on this stage? What's happened to her? That's
what I started to tell you Marshall. There's a tree across the road. We got down to move it.
This rider got the drop-offs. He's all alone. Never mind all that. Where's the girl? He took
the gold. Took the girl too. What? He took Jane? You mean to tell me you let him take Jane? Well
now mister they want much choice. He held a shotgun on us. They're gone. Before we could do a thing.
This is impossible. Now take it easy Mr. Carter. We'll find them. You'll find them. You were off
fishing when it happened. What kind of blow is there around here anyway? Easy Mr. Carter. I took
one of the team after Marshall but it couldn't get near him. He had an extra saddle horse with him.
Put her on that. I see. But I don't think he planned on kidnapping that girl. The way it was he just
looked at her and told her to come along. Do you recognize him Jim? No. No. Those horses are both
sorrow. By heaven Marshall you better get her back here at once or I'll pick this up with
Washington. I'll see you disgraced. Shut up Carter. Just to go get our horses and a couple of
rifles. I've got a few more details from Jim here. Well don't you want a posse Mr. Carter? No. There'd be too much
shooting around that girl. Now hurry will you? Yes sir I'll hurry Mr. Dillon. Mark my words. You'd better have
Jane back here by night call Marshall or else. You care to ride along Mr. Carter? No. No I'm not equipped for that sort of thing. I'll take care of matters at this end.
Yeah. All right now Jim now tell me first exactly what happened. Well we just come
down into the draw about a hundred yards from the creek.
A blood-red sun was drooping over the edge of the prairie when Chester and I reached
Cottonwood draw. We rode hard until night fell and we had to stop and wait for
daylight. But with morning we drew a heavy rain that washed out every track. We rode
on anyway. For the next three days we scoured a big piece of that country.
Well it was hopeless. Finally we headed back to Dodge empty-handed. Bartender
bring me a bottle. Sure Matt. Where is she Marshall? Is she all right? Carter I'm sorry.
What? You mean you didn't find her? Rain washed out their trail first morning. We
never picked it up again. They could be anywhere. You came back without her. We
did what we could Carter. Now we'll just have to wait for word of some kind. You'll
be seen sooner or later. Wait? Well I won't wait. This will cost you your job
Marshall. I promise you that. Look Carter if it make you feel better why don't you
ride out yourself. It isn't my job to keep the law around here Marshall it's
yours. Yeah. Say Marshall. Yeah what is it Shiloh? Big Kate wanted to see you when
you got back asked me to tell you. Big Kate? All right thank you. No luck
am I? How'd you know Kate? I can tell by looking at you. It's thousands and
thousands of miles at Prairie. It'd been just luck if we'd found them. Nobody's
blaming you Matt. No Carter is and I suppose it's hard on him. His fiance and
all that. Carter's no good Matt. Well I never liked him but suppose that doesn't
matter. And I'll tell you why he's no good. You know something Kate? Hmm Carter's
been drunk a lot while you were out. He was bragging to one of the girls last
night. Bragging? About what? Not much to my way of thinking. Well go on. Well to
make it short seems Jane's father got into a big deal with Carter up in Denver.
Yeah. Carter got him tied up good and then threatened to ruin him. Oh well so
what happened? He didn't ruin him. He took Jane instead. Yeah. Well maybe she likes
him. You don't know much about women do you Matt? You think a bought-in bride is
likely to be in love with a man? So that's what I have to bring her back to.
Well what are you gonna do about it? What can I do Kate? You just have to wait.
See what turns up.
I waited. I waited a week. Carter was drunk the whole time telling everybody how he
was gonna fix me good. Not doing much about it except stay out of my way. And
things were fairly quiet. Chester and I spent most of our time in the office.
Well he sure fooled me Mr. Dillon. Carter? Yes sir. He seemed like such a nice
fella and so rich. He's rich all right. But poor in spirit. You've been going to
church again Chester. Yes sir Mr. Dillon last Sunday. Oh last Sunday. Didn't it
rain? Oh I like church Mr. Dillon but I sure do hate to get all dressed up. You
the Marshal? Yeah I am. He's been looking for a man and a woman. You know anything
mister? My name's Chad Brown. Just rolled in from
Satana. Yeah. There was a man a woman about 80 miles back on the trail. What
color horses were they on? Well since they saw me they rode off so I didn't get
very close. But both horses were the same color. I guess maybe saw. Are you willing
to ride back with me Mr. Brown? I don't know Marshal. I've got an awful thirst. That woman's
out there against her will. I'll go. I'll get our horses. No no no Chester. It'd be better if
you wait here this time. We'll be back in a few days with luck. Let's go Mr. Brown.
We will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment. But first Frank
Fontaine now brings you comedy with four members of the Frank Fontaine family,
guest stars and a delightful cast of entertainers. Sunday nights on CBS Radio.
Listen in for the Frank Fontaine show tomorrow night. It's refreshing summer
listening. So just for fun try the Frank Fontaine show tomorrow night on CBS Radio.
Now the second act of gun smoke.
Chad Brown and I covered the 80 miles in a day and a half. The outlaws trail headed
south for a few miles and then turned northeast back in the general direction of Dodge.
It was hot and still. On the horizon there were occasional flashes of heat
lightning. Then in the distance we saw the long low cloud of yellow dust that
spelled cattle. The Texas herd trailin' north. The kidnapper's tracks led straight
into it and an hour later we pulled up not far from the swing of the herd.
A long horn stretched for several miles across our trail. We watched them looking
for a lag to ride through. All of a sudden a rider came howling down on us.
You ain't damin' to cross that herd are you? Have you seen anything of a man and a
woman around here mister? Was they mounted? Yeah a couple of sorrows. Don't
matter I ain't seen nothing but cattle and cowboys for six weeks. Besides these
cattle are plenty uneasy. They've been dry since yesterday morning. That heat
lightning ain't soothin' to them. This herds crossed the trail of an outlaw and a
kidnapped woman mister. That's so. Well they just have to wait. You can ride
around a drog back there but you can't cut through this herd mister. Look I'm a
US Marshal out of Dodge and I haven't got any time to waste. You think we can
do it? Well I sure appreciate your problem Marshal but I can't help you. I'm trail
boss of this outfit and I got 3,000 head of cattle here worth maybe $20 a head at
Dodge. They're too nervy now and I sure can't chance you're touching them off by
riding through there. I guess he's right Marshal. It'd be pretty risky from the look
of them. They're moving too fast now. Yeah I know. Just that I hate to lose the
time. You got more time than I got cattle Marshal. Well I don't know about
that but I won't tempt the stampede mister. We'll ride around the drag. We'll
see you in Dodge. The other Fergans are still running? Yeah it is. Mostly on Texas money.
Adios.
We rode down along the herd and back up the other side about a four mile detour.
But we picked up the trail again and followed it till dark. Next morning we
found the outlaw still headed straight for Dodge and all we could figure was that he
must be new to the country and just plain lost. Naturally he wanted to avoid asking
questions of anybody. By noon we were inside of town and during the last hour
neither Bron nor I said a word. Finally we rode up Front Street and got down at the
jail.
Mr. Dillon we got him Mr. Dillon. They rode right in here early this morning.
Gave himself up huh? Yes sir. I got the man locked up in back and the money is over at
the bank. Oh good. How's the girl Chester? Oh she's fine. A little tired but fine.
Well what's his story? Who is he? He calls himself Scott Cooley but he won't say
anything more at all Mr. Dillon. I just gave up on him. I thought I'd better wait
for you. All right I'll talk to him first and then I want to see the girl. Where is
she? I didn't like it Mr. Dillon but I didn't see what I could rightly do about
it. What do you mean? What happened? Well she sure didn't want to go with him but
that Mr. Carter came here and just the same as dragged her off. She went finally
but I sure don't like it. Well they didn't leave Dodge did they? Oh no sir
there's no train till tomorrow. They're at the hotel. Oh all right. I'll go over
there later Chester. Yeah so you're Scott Cooley huh? You're new around here aren't you?
Well anyways I never saw you before Marshal. Well I've tried hard enough to
meet up with you Cooley. You're in trouble you know, bad trouble. Marshal you've got
anything to say just say it right out. I got nothing to say. I'm just curious why
you rode into Dodge that's all. What do you care I'm here. You got the money back and
and what? Oh leave me alone Marshal just let me alone. You gotta talk sometime.
Now listen Marshal I'm ready to serve my time that's why I gave myself up but
talk no I don't have to talk not for you not for anybody else.
Mm-hmm all right Cooley have it your way. Marshal. Yeah. Marshal you you're going to
see Jane? Yeah. Why? What are you gonna see her about? Find out what happened?
Yeah. Marshal I don't suppose you'd let me out of here just long enough to kill
Carter. Now you mean the girl told you about. I wouldn't care if I hanged for it
it'd be worth it to kill him. Tell me something what makes you think what you
did is any better? Well you wouldn't understand Marshal but you you do what
you can for her will you? Anything else you want to tell me? No that's all.
Who is it? Matt Dillon. What do you want? Open the door Carter I want to talk to
the girl. Some other time. You want me to kick the door open? You're asking for
trouble Carter. How do you do miss I'm Marshal Dillon. How do you do Marshal? I
I know you've been through a lot miss but I have to get the whole story from you
so as I can file the proper charges against this outlaw Scott Cooley. You
want to use me to put him in prison is that it? Well he's committed two crimes
robbery and kidnapping. We'll want him up for both. Well doesn't the fact that he
gave himself up and and returned the money help at all? I'm afraid I don't
gather your drip. Then let it go at that Marshal. We're leaving Dodge on the next
train so Jane won't be here to testify anyway. Now is that what you have in mind
Jane? No I mean I don't know. Oh please. She's upset enough Marshal leave her alone. I want
anything out of you Carter I'll knock it out. Now shut up. You can't talk to me like that.
Wait Marshal I'll I'll tell you all about it but first. Yeah? Not in front of him.
Make him go out and then I'll tell you. All right Carter outside. Don't you order
me around this is my room. I'll throw you out. I open the door and find you around I'll throw you
all the way downstairs. Now get it.
All right Jane you can talk. Can I trust you Marshal? Really trust you? Well that's up to you.
But I'll tell you this I know about Carter. About you and Carter that is. Then you. You
know how I hate him. Yeah? Right now I'm curious about this kidnapping. What
happened? Why did Cooley give himself up? Because we decided we we couldn't live
being hunted down the rest of our lives. So you were in on it with him huh? No
Marshal. First time I ever saw Scott Cooley was when he held up the stage. I'd
like to believe that. Very simple Marshal. I love Scott Cooley. What? I love him. Oh
now look Jane girls like you just don't go around falling in love without laws.
Don't they Marshal? No they don't. I did. Then either you're crazy or you're lying
to me and if you weren't a woman I'd throw you in jail right along with him.
I'm a woman Marshal but I've no objection to going to jail with Scott.
Then you admit you're his accomplice. No. I suppose it's hard for you to understand
Marshal. It is. I'll try to make it simple. You see Scott doesn't know why he took me
with him when he held up the stage. He's never done anything like that before. It
just seemed perfectly natural to him. He saw something he wanted and he took it.
That's all. I'm afraid the court will look at it somewhat differently.
Well I suppose he'll go to prison for the hold-up but but not for kidnapping.
Why not? Because I'll testify that I went with him of my own free will. I almost
wish you two hadn't ridden back to Dodge. Marshal. Yeah. You said you know about Bob
Carter and me. Yeah. Well Scott's been wild and and he's done wrong but but
he's never done anything really evil. Well maybe you're better off with Cooley
if he straightens out. No I am. Don't you Marshal? It's no business of mine. I'm a
peace officer and not a matchmaker. My job is to keep Cooley under arrest and
get him up for trial and that's all. Now what you do is your own business. You can
testify any way you like. I can't stop that. Oh please Marshal help me. There's
no one else who can. Yeah who is it? It's Carter. Open this door.
Well gentlemen. There are four of us here Marshal. We figure you've talked to Jane
long enough. Yeah yeah I think I have Mr. Carter. You're leaving. Yeah yeah we're
leaving. Are you ready Jane? Oh thank you Marshal. Yes I'm ready. Jane isn't going
with you. I've just put her under arrest. Under arrest? I arrest anybody I think
needs arresting Mr. Carter and I'm not in the habit of explaining why. There's a law
about that. You're in Dodge Mr. Carter. Come along Jane. You can't do this Dylan. We don't
stand for it. Ah you're a fool Carter. I know these three bums you got with you and they
don't want to draw on me any more than you do. You fed them some liquor and
promised them more. For that they'll do anything. Anything but face me in a gun
fight am I right boys? Huh? Well I take it I am. All right now get out of my way.
You go first Jane. You stay here Jane. Take your hands off her. Just step over him Jane.
Mr. Dylan I don't like to say anything. Well then don't Chester. But I can't help
it Mr. Dylan. This is the first time you've ever jailed a woman and I just
don't like it. Good. What? I don't like it either Chester. What's this all about Mr.
Dylan? Chester, Jane and Cooley are in love. My. Don't look so joy-eyed about it.
Cooley's got to stand trial yet you know. I want no part of this Marshal. Now what Shiloh?
I never did like that Carter. Well what's he up to? Oh sir he's drunk and he's
buying liquor for everyone. He's making a lot of talk. There's about 20 men with
him now. Where? Texas Trail. Nobody likes it about this girl. Looks like they'll
come over here and try to bust her out of jail. Chester. Yes sir. Those horses still
out back. Yes sir I was gonna put them away later. No leave them leave them. Now
will you get over to the Texas Trail and stall those men for a while. Alright Mr.
Dylan come on Shiloh. Not me I'm going to bed.
Cooley. Yeah. Come on up. What is this? Just hurry it up will you? Let's go Jane. Oh no
no stay where you are Jane. I don't know what I tell you Cooley. It's alright Scott. We
can trust him. But I don't know what he's got. Well alright Jane if you say so.
Alright now I'm back. Yeah that way. Come on let's move. Alright you take the gray
horse Jane he's gentle enough. But hurry will you. Come on. Where are we going
Marshal? We're going to Hay City. Cooley's gonna stand trial there. Yeah. They got the
money back Scott. They can't do much to you. I know. But there's that kidnapping too.
I won't testify. That's all. Jane you're gonna have to testify. You'll be in contempt
of court if you refuse. Then I'll lie. Anyway I did go of my own free will. After a while
anyway. That's perjury. But you don't have to do that either. There's an easier way.
How? Well for I deposit Cooley in the Hay City jail we might just make a little stop.
What do you mean Marshal? Stop where? We're gonna stop at the preachers. You know a married
woman can't testify against her husband. Come on honey let's ride.
Gunsmoke transcribed under the direction of Norman MacDonald stars William Conrad as Matt
Dillon U.S. Marshal. Tonight's story was especially written for Gunsmoke by John Meston with music
composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Featured in tonight's cast were John Stevenson, Larry
Dobkin and Patricia Walter with Mary Lansing, Herb Ellis, Jonathan Hull, Jim Nusser and
Frank Gerstel. Parley Bear is Chester. 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.
Tomorrow a new feature is added to CBS radio on a Sunday afternoon program when Eddie Gallaher
introduces the Main Street Music Hall with handsome Bob Carroll and pretty Eugenie Baird
as your singing stars. On a Sunday afternoon as heard in most of these same CBS radio stations.
This is Roy Rowan speaking and remember daytime is a gay time with Arthur Godfrey on the CBS
radio network.
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