Around dark city and the territory on West there's just one way to handle the
killers and the spoilers and that's what the 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 Dylan United
States Marshal
they told us a man we've been looking for a murderer was in a cow camp on the
North Fork of the Canadian River about a hundred miles south of Dodge so Chester
and I rode down to take a look we found a fellow there with a right name but the
wrong face so we started back first night we camped in the dry Buffalo rutted
depression the next morning I woke shortly after daybreak to find Chester
already cooking breakfast morning mr. Dylan yeah me to be done soon the
coffee made Chester is what I need boiling I didn't make much though I
thought I'd better save our water you know Chester I'll bet right now the Docs
back there in st. Louis holed up in some fancy hotels still asleep hmm that's
quite a thought sir yeah him right in the middle of st. Louis and us way out here
on the prayer I bet he's even got sheets on his bed I wouldn't be surprised mr.
Dylan Doc said this was one vacation he was gonna splurge on he's riding the
Santa Fe both ways huh well meets done I cleaned off this rock here to cut it on
oh good you got warm anyway well now meat shouldn't be overcooked mr. Dylan
that takes a taste clean out of it I didn't would ought to be able to taste
everything about this steer eggman's disappointment how's that mr. Dylan
nevermind just it how come you woke up so early this morning oh I always do
seems as soon as it gets daylight my feet start to sweat and then I just got
to get up that's as good a reason as any I guess
Wow looks like we got company Chester what oh well right out there
heading straight for us oh yeah some cowboy probably I don't know he doesn't
ride quite like a cowboy why is just a kid mr. Dylan yeah sure is sure needs a
haircut what say mr. Dylan it's a girl what could she be doing out here I'm
carrying a rifle to well get on this and have some coffee who are you mr.
I this is Chester proud foot and I'm Matt Dylan how do you do you rustlers or
what not exactly I'm the US Marshal out of Dodge man
US Marshal oh that's good it is why I need help mr. Marshall my daddy's awful
sick sick what where is your daddy we got a homestead about a mile over that
right back here what's he sick with if he's late mr. Marshall a horse threw him
and he saddled both in the corral and then it stepped on his foot now he's
whole legs all funny he's got a fever too down in that yeah I know Chester tell
me miss when the horse stepped on him did it cut his foot break the skin
anywhere just a scratch Torrey's boot off though please mr. Marshall please come
see him I'm scared the way his leg isn't everything
well sure sure will come your mother with him now I don't have a mother mr.
Marshall now well then what are you doing out here if your daddy's sick we
ran out of meat about three days ago and I don't have anything to feed him all
right Chester I'll write back with him what is your name anyway Tara Tara
hantry huh I'll be 16 next January well that's fine we'll go back to the
hantry place Chester you scatter on for some meat all right and if you don't
find any antelope shoot the first calf you see anybody's cat I'll do it mr.
Dillon in
a sleeping room mr. Marshall daddy daddy I found a man and he's going to help us
and daddy he's a marshal a US Marshal Matt Dillon mr.
hantry how you feeling Dylan I've heard of you you're from dodge
right that's right well marshal I ain't feeling so good my my foot don't hurt no
more but it my leg is all sort of well it ain't pretty I don't know much about
these things but maybe I better take a look at it anyway huh sure sure
there she is all right you can cover it up I was in the war marshal I know what
gangrene is guess you do too yeah well the first thing a friend of mine is out
getting you some meat and then we'll load you in your wagon and then took the
wagon what Ben warling took the wagon when daddy got hurt said he'd find a
doctor and bring in bad who's been walling oh he's been sort of working here
mr. Marshall I should have run him off long ago that's what well where is he
what do you take the wagon for where's he gonna find a doctor around here
anyway closest doctors in Dodge I know yeah and he's in st. Louis they won't be
back for a couple of weeks I couldn't get to him anyway what tell me when did
this happen about six days ago mr. Marshall Ben left the day after well you
think he's coming back did he steal the wagon or what he he comes back here and
me not able to get around I don't know what I'll do I ought to take a bull but
take him take it easy mr. Hattrick taken he won't cause any trouble so don't you
get all worked up Tara we'll let him get some rest we'll have some food for you
soon mr. Hattrick I ain't very hungry Tara what's he so riled up about this
Ben walling for what's between oh nothing mr. Marshall daddy's taking that's all
look Tara you asked me to help you didn't you yes but you trust me don't
you all right mr. Marshall daddy hates Ben cuz Ben well Ben likes me oh I see
he even wanted to marry me said he would how do you feel about Ben there you like
him no of course it's time I had a man and all that but I'm afraid of Ben mr.
Marshall it's like there's something wrong with him he's always sneaking
around when you don't expect him makes me uneasy like well we won't worry about
Ben now you stay here in case your daddy wants anything I'll go outside and wait
for Chester mr. Marshall hmm I'm awful glad you're here we'll see it through
Tara don't you worry I won't now
I went outside and walked over to the small corral that stood nearby there I
rolled a smoke and looked out across the flat distances of the prairie and I
wondered how anyone could survive and all that emptiness pantry lying on his
bed back there in the house he wouldn't survive the prairie got to him all right
and its vast loneliness that put him out of reach of any help and Tara what could
she do out here in this endless land of grass I was glad to get my mind off it
when Chester rode in with an antelope across his saddle we hung it on the
corral dressed it took a hind quarter at the terror and we went back outside and
sat down yes she's a plucky girl mr. Hiller fine girl yeah but this Ben
fella I just don't understand his going off with the wagon like that well doesn't
matter much now entry won't last one of the year to anyway it's that bad is it
yeah blood poisoning just as soon as it reaches his heart he's done for well
isn't there any way to stop it yeah sure got his leg off too bad doc isn't here
yeah would that stop it mr. Dylan cutting his leg off I mean I don't know
Chester I don't know maybe too late anyway well I sure wish we could do
something for him I don't take to just sitting around and waiting for a man to
die nobody does it isn't right somehow that that poor fella and Tara quite well
mr. Dylan that girl will go crazy out here all along all right Chester what do
you want me to do about it I'm not a doctor now shut up well I mr. Dylan you
could do it I know you could do what be a doctor long enough to save mr. Henry's
life you out of your head no sir and what are you talking like that for the most I
ever did was doctor a horse for the colic that's fine training for this and I
know I couldn't do it I just plain don't have the spirit but you do oh why didn't
I leave you back in Dodge it wouldn't have mattered anyway mr. Dylan because
you would never just stand by and let a man die let's go talk to it
daddy fevers worse mr. Marshall I'm gonna get some more water how do you
feel mr. Hentry I don't feel much martial art outside of burning up I've
been trying to tell Tara I just can't last long with blood poisoning she just
got to figure on it what that's what I came to talk to you about I I guess you
know the only thing it'll give you a chance I know I've been thinking about
but I couldn't ask any man to do that you didn't ask me well it's up to you
mr. Hantry I'll try it if you're willing only thing is I I won't know much about
what I'm doing I seen it done in the Union Army
martial I could tell you some things all right the only thing is martial art I
don't know I'd be much use around here with one leg well you'll have to decide
that for yourself I know you could move to town mr. Hantry you and Tara that's
it Tara if it was just me I wouldn't do it but I can't be Tara alone now if I
can help but I can't all right Marshall let's do it you're a brave man no no
Marshall I just don't have any choice come on let's get it over with you got
only liquor in the house there's a jug of corn out in the kitchen get it Chester
you can start drinking it while we're getting everything else ready tell Tara
to start boiling a lot of water yeah I'll talk to her in a few minutes I'll be
right back now I want you to tell me everything that you know about this mr.
Hantry first I'll tell you what you'll need mm-hmm there's a straight iron out
by the corral somewhere yeah you can heat it in the main room fireplace right
now what else Tara will find some cloth for bandages and the rest of the stuff
you can get in the kitchen the only thing worrying me is what do we use to
tie off the arteries with plain thread won't hold well maybe some thin strips
are raw oh they they'd soak through got to have some I know at least I think it'll
work what about horse hair oh that's it Marshall pull it off the tail
but work fine here's the judge and tree and I brought you a cup to pour me some
want to get good and drunk here you are mr. Hantry
you know I ain't been drunk in the daytime since we got the news about
President Lincoln in the spring of 65 you better have your talk with Tara for
that takes hold ask her to come in will you come on Chester we got work to do
yes sir good luck mr. Hantry thanks well Marshall yeah Marshall I'll try to make
it easy for you yeah sure
yeah
shortly after noon I operated whether it was the corn whiskey or his own hard
courage I don't know the Hantry never whimpered Chester stood outside the door
and brought me whatever I needed Tara waited in the kitchen boiling more water
thinking her own thoughts maybe it was harder on her than any of us toward the
end Hantry mercifully passed out when I'd finally finished bandaging him I was
kind of faint myself I'd done everything I could I just hoped I'd done it right
how is he mr. Miller you'll have to clean up in that Chester I've got to get
outside for some air yes sir I'll do it and put that fire out it's hot enough
around me I don't know how you did it you don't Tara Tara will you come on
outside for a while
daddy all right is he all right mr. Marshall it's all over Tara we'll just
have to wait and see now he's all right I'm sorry but it took so long
I thought you'd never finish he didn't feel much Tara the corn liquor worked
fine fine will he get well now well I hope so Tara I hope so mr. Marshall are
are you gonna wait and see Tara you don't have to worry about that just and
I'll be here as long as you need us I just wanted to be sure can I can I go see
daddy now what as soon as Chester comes out Tara then you can all right I'll
wait mr. Marshall
it beats me mr. Dylan how he can just lay there so quiet and peaceful that's
only been four or five hours Chester the liquor hasn't worn off yet he drank
nearly the whole jug he needed it say mr. Dylan look yonder
now somebody coming with a wagon oh yeah it's probably that Ben walling they were
talking about I'll bet that's who it is all right wonder what he'll have to say
for himself now you'll think of something Chester his kind always do you recognize
it no sir do you I never saw him alone what are you doing here you've been
walling that you know the hand trees they've been wondering about you oh yeah
sure eyes old hand train you know he's all right he is huh you've been gone a
long time Ben where were you I don't know you mister but you sure ask a lot
of questions you can answer them one at a time now where were you who are you
anyway mr. I'm a US Marshal they know US Marshals around here is now generally
I'm in Dodge your name Dylan it is what are you doing here Marshall Tara run into
us asked us to help seems the only able-bodied man around here took off in a
wagon I went to fetch a doctor and anything wrong in that not at all where
is he well first night the horses ran away and I've been chasing him ever since
I didn't catch him till this morning and then I've been gone so long I thought I
better get back to you right away I was worried about Tara and old hand tree of
course I say well you better get your horses on hitch Ben you can see Tara
later she's in with her father now gonna be all right now I was kind of worried
about that foot looked to me like it might have poison in it did what do you
mean it did I took his leg off about noon today you what mr. Dylan did it all
by himself just like a regular doctor how'd you know what to do you might have
killed him somebody had to do it Ben it's a sure thing Tara couldn't you're
blaming me ain't you well I did everything I could didn't my fault was
blasted horses run and trades pretty sick Ben I wouldn't bother him for a day
or two if I were you oh I won't bother you oh now look Marshall you can leave
now I'll handle everything here we'll leave soon as hand trees able to take
care of himself again all right stay as long as you like I don't care
mr. Dylan yeah I think that Ben is a no good liar you're right on both counts
Chester now tell you something else you see that saddle over there well that
belongs mr. hand tree I know I looked at it this noon somebody cut the cinch
strap on it cut the thin strap mm-hmm no one of that brunk bucked him in the
saddle off bull well do you think Tara did it oh my goodness gracious no mr.
Dylan Tara'd never do a thing like that to her own it was Ben wasn't it that'd
be my guess he figured the old man had get hurt maybe killed why sure so he'd
have a free hand with Tara why is that low down mr. Dylan let me arrest him not
yet Chester there's plenty of time all right you I'll wait
there wasn't as much time as I figured and tree had a bad night and by morning
he was so weak he couldn't lift his head I tried to take his pulse but I could
hardly find it maybe maybe I'd operated too late maybe the poison had already
moved up into his body I didn't know I had no way of knowing so there was
nothing to do now but wait once more coffee mr. Dylan yeah thank you Chester
will fill it up
Tara won't eat anything at all sir she just sat there by his bed hasn't slept a
wink I know well well it's her father Chester he's all she's got I never
thought much about it before mr. Dylan but see in Tara I kind of wish I had a
daughter you'd have to change your profession if you were going to take
care of a daughter Chester why I don't have any profession mr. Dylan mr. Marsher
yeah what is it Tara daddy wants you I think he you better come to Chester
yes it's Matt Dylan mr. Hendry can you hear me
Marshall I can't hold out no more now don't say that keep fighting man you
pull through no Marshall I'm gonna die oh daddy daddy Tara about Tara Marshall
don't leave her here Ben Wally he's no good he'll try to keep her now don't you
worry about Ben Wally mr. Hendry I promise you he won't get anywhere near
Tara now or ever thanks he's a bad one Tara can't stay here alone she can't
work this place it's a bad way to die not no I want you to listen to me listen
to me now I promise you something else too I'll take care of Tara I'll see she's
all right I'll see she's cared for now I promise that all right thank you
Marshall I sure
first Tara and daddy I'm right here daddy there come on Chester
daddy daddy
I don't know mr. Dylan I don't think they'd have made out on this place
anyway why not Chester well there just isn't enough water that one little old
Springs all I've got well if they had a lake it'd still be too much for Tara what
are we gonna do with her mr. Dylan I don't know Chester we have to think of
something on my I wish she'd come out of that house I don't like it her in there
breaking her heart give her a little time Chester she'll be all right
you're mighty careless with that rifle then don't get smart with me
Marshall I know what I'm doing and what would that be I heard you in there heard
you promise to take care away I was right by the window heard it all you got a
curious way of courting the girl Ben trying to kill her father yeah I saw you
yesterday looking at that saddle but I didn't kill him you did that's a lie Ben
Wallingham you know I won't shut up we'd have just got here sooner mr. Dylan
would have saved him that's all too bad you got here at all cuz you're gonna die
for both put the gun down Ben you're under arrest for attempted murder you
stay right where you are Marshall you know I have an idea you've smelled
powder before Ben and that you're afraid of it Marshall I have an idea that's why
you try to get hand free like you did instead of facing it and right now you
wish you didn't have that rifle at all don't you Ben cuz I might have to shoot
you all right huh no don't Marshall you didn't even try Chester rifle went off
when I knocked it aside that's all he was scared to death well I didn't feel
exactly comfortable well tie him up and keep an eye on him I'll go see Tara yes
for mr. Dylan late that evening we buried hantry out on the prairie out in
back of the little homestead they would die now to fall apart without him the
next morning we loaded everything we could get into the wagon with Tara beside
me we started off for Dodge Ben Walling never said a word Chester led his horse
and they rode along ahead of us I had plenty of time to tell Tara all about
Dodge and how there were some good people there and how we'd find her a
home family she sat there tight-lipped she didn't say much but she never wants
to look back
gun smoke transcribed under the direction of Norman McDonnell 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 Boehner Sammy Hill and Larry Dobkin
parley bear is Chester 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
in case you didn't know Jack Benny and his gang begin their new season tomorrow
night Jack Mary Don Dennis and Rochester welcome a new member to the team the
head man of CBS radio's Club 15 show Bob Crosby Roy Rowan speaking remember the
top dramatic show of them all the Luxe Radio Theatre is heard Monday nights on
the CBS radio network
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