Around Dodge City and in the territory on West, there is just one way to handle the
killers of the spoilers and that's where the US Marshal and the smell of guns smoke.
Guns Smoke starring William Conrad, the story of the violence that moved west with
young America and the story of a man who moved with it.
I'm that man, Matt Dillon, United States Marshal, the first man they look for and the last they
want to meet.
It's a chance a job and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely.
You don't have to come with me, Chester.
I'm coming with John, keeping up as best I can.
Well, if that's all the comps you got, you're better off back at the office.
Well, just let me rest a little bit, Mr. Dillon.
What's the matter?
Are you sick?
I just ain't got no spunk to me these days.
What have you seen, Doc?
Oh, man, no.
Last time I asked him to give me a tonic, he wanted to charge me a whole dollar for it
and at that he wouldn't make no guarantee he'd cure me.
Look, Chester, I'm only going to the telegraph office.
There's no need for you to come along.
No, I don't want to shirk my job.
Will you go back to the office and lie down?
I couldn't do that, Mr. Dillon.
Lying down's the best cure I know for being tired, Chester.
No, sir, it ain't.
Pardon me.
That's one of the worst things a body can do, lay himself down when he's tired.
It isn't.
It's for me, I get to hear myself breathing so hard, oh, and how tired I am and it just
clean wears me out listening to me breathe.
I'm j- Well, now I do declare.
What?
Look yonder, there's that nice little Miss Curtin loading her wagon over to Jones's.
Yeah?
Now, now where at is Rob Curtin?
He ain't loading up his own wagon.
Well, I don't know, Chester, but I-
Well, you may be able to stand by and watch a lady do a man's work, but it's something
I just cannot abide.
Poor little thing like that, lifting and lifting them big heavy things that they-
Now then, Miss Curtin, you just leave them feed sacks to us.
Miss Curtin?
Oh, Marshal Chester, well, they all might heavy.
For a little bit of a thing like you, maybe, but for me, I-
Ah!
There, eh, you'll want to grab the other end of that potato sack, Mr. Dillon.
Well, you can make it, can't you?
If you don't mind-
Get trying.
No, Mr. Dillon, that'd be better for you.
All right, here we go.
Ah, well, I do thank you.
And just wait till I tell Rob who gave me a hand.
Anything else to go in, Miss Curtin?
Well, not that I know of, Chester.
How is Rob, anyway?
Fine as still, thank you, Marshal.
Oh, you can see for yourself.
Look here, Rob, all the nice help I've had.
Oh, come on, Marshal, I'm glad you're here.
Well, I'm glad you're here.
I didn't know that what you were at home ailing, maybe working one another.
I guess you two took care of all the heavy stuff.
I was waiting on Jonas.
He went out back to fetch me these nails.
Ah, much obliged to you.
You folks just never get out our way.
I'll be pleased if you come take supper with us sometime.
That's very kind of you, Miss Curtin.
We better be starting back.
Thanks again for the help.
Don't mention it, Rob.
I suppose you'll put in a small mention, all right?
We'll hope to see you soon, now.
All right.
Well, aren't you going to wave to him, Chester?
Oh, I'd like to, Mr. Donovan.
I declare I am just clean and played out.
Max?
What's going on?
The
Matt, do you know this sheriff?
What's his name, Matt?
Stringer.
Not I can know him by name, but I know him by sight.
In Miami, Texas?
Now that's a new name, old name.
That's the town of the Panhandle.
Last time I rode through it was too small to have a sheriff.
I guess the cattle drives the fat bit up south.
Let me see that telegram again.
Oh, yeah, sure.
Yeah, let me see here. It says, uh, bringing prisoner in, need your help, meet afternoon stage.
And it's signed, Ab Stringer Sheriff.
And it's Miami, Texas. That's what I thought, yeah.
Is something wrong?
Well, it doesn't say anyone's wounded or it doesn't say anyone needs a doctor.
No, but it says he needs help. If he's had trouble, somebody's likely to be hurt.
Well, that fellow there is the last passenger they had.
I sure didn't see two men get off together.
I didn't either, but that one's wearing a star.
Uh, you, Ab Stringer, mister?
Well, you're bound to be Marshall Dillon.
Yeah, that's right. This is Doc Adams.
Proud to meet you, sir? Yes, sir.
How do you do, sir?
Oh, where is he, Stringer?
Where's who?
Telegram here says you're bringing in a prisoner.
Do you mind if I look at that?
No, go right ahead.
Thank you.
Well, I declare. Oh, I do declare.
Well, one thing, he got my name right. I got to give him that.
Well, you sent this telegram, didn't you?
Oh, I sent you a telegram, all right, Marshall Dillon, but you know that fool Slim Baloo?
You know him? Telegraph operator down at Dalhart?
Uh, no, no, I can't say that.
Well, I've known him. I've known him years, you know.
We were jawing about me taking a fellow prisoner, all right,
and I guess that's what blew old Slim off of the track.
Well, then you haven't got a prisoner then, huh?
Well, not only haven't got him, Marshall, I'm counting on you to help me get him.
Man, they sure are a fierce-looking crew, ain't they, Marshall?
Some of them look mighty rough, all right, Stringer?
Of course, I say these wanted pictures, they serve their purpose.
Now?
Looking through them keep a man in out of the heat, or the rain, or the cold.
Ain't worth dried beans to help a man find the note count he's looking for.
They start a pretty good fire on a cold morning.
Don't say it, though.
You haven't come across your man in these?
No.
Wasn't me the first time I went fishing into a mess of these and didn't get my catch.
Of course, my being stayed one place long enough to get his picture took.
Yeah.
Uh, that name you gave me, Sam Frazier, doesn't mean a thing to me.
Well, changing your name is just like rolling over in bed, Marshall,
tainting everything to it.
Changing your face, that's another story that comes a might harder.
Yeah, but I've seen them try.
Oh, yeah, man, there's a time.
Then they get by with it now and again.
You know, I found out a long time ago, if a man sets out to fool you
and he's half-bright about it, he can get the job done.
But you know this Frazier, you'd know him outside.
Oh, and he'd know me.
Yeah.
Well, here's the latest batch of wanted posters.
Thank you.
If he isn't in them, we'll have to try something else again.
Yeah.
We're used to that, you and me.
Isn't that a fact?
Yeah.
Always trying something else.
Yeah, that's the job.
No, sir, Marshall, no, sir.
You just ain't got a picture of Sam Frazier in your collection.
Uh-huh.
Well, if you're pretty sure he's in Dodge, you better have a look around, I guess.
Now, Marshall, I didn't come all this way on pretty sure.
I know he's in Dodge.
Oh, it was.
Oh, sandy-haired fellas, about 30.
That's Sam.
Yeah, and about half the other men in Dodge.
Well, just this one tiny difference in Sam, Marshall.
He robbed a bank and killed a man.
I tell you, Matt, wouldn't hurt to study Abelwald.
He's the best natured lawman I've ever seen.
Oh, you got some kind of idea I'm not jovial, kitty?
You got some kind of idea, you are.
No, no, I haven't.
I'm about half serious, though, Matt.
Last night, he was the last to walk out of here on his own two feet.
Sam Moon and Kerry, the other two, I...
Who were they?
Ruth Connors and Ed Crouch.
Stringer spent most of the evening with them, didn't he?
Didn't seem to me he was playing any favorites.
One time or the other, he played a hand of poker or had a drink with everyone here.
Why?
I was just thinking, Ruth and Ed both fit into the description of that man Stringer's trailer.
Tall, sandy haired, about 30.
Oh, what did keep him from the rest of them then?
Nothing, I think he was the right man.
Kitty, the name Sam Frazier, does that mean anything to you?
Hmm, no particle.
As long as I've lived here, I can't remember anyone named Frazier.
Where's Ab today? He hasn't been in here.
He went off early this morning with Doc on some calls.
How did I do?
Since he can't seem to find this Frazier in town, he might have hired on with some spread near here.
Not a bad idea.
A man wanted for murder likely wouldn't stick in a town like Dodge too long.
Well, I'll be darned.
Where's the man?
Rob Curtin just came in.
I bet he hasn't been in here three times since he and Sarah got married.
Doesn't look like he'll make any money off of him. He's not stopping at the bar.
Hello Rob. Good to see you.
Miss Kitty, Marshall.
How are you Rob?
Sarah asked me to drop this by for you Miss Kitty.
Huh?
That mending she was to do.
Well, thanks very much for bringing it in.
Will you have a beer with us?
Oh, thank you. I gotta get back home.
I just came in to switch those nails I bought from Jonas the other day.
She and I was coming, Sarah said I should bring this by.
Why don't you tell her I'll have more for her to do next time she comes in, if she's got the time.
Sarah makes time Miss Kitty. I don't know how she manages.
She says she just can't abide idle hands.
She'll be coming into town tomorrow or the next day.
Fine. Sam will pay you Rob.
Much obliged to you.
Rob, you don't have any new hands at the ranch by any chance do you?
No. Same old hands, Marshall. Mine and Sarah's.
You run that spread alone?
Now you see something wrong in there?
No, nothing except the hard work of it.
Oh, we're willing for that, Sarah and me.
Good afternoon to you.
Oh, now you're funny me again, Abstrac.
Oh, that'd be a fool thing for me to try.
It's the truth, Chester. Just ask Marshall Dillon, he been all through that part of Texas.
You mean telling me the whole of that town is dug out storm cellar?
There are two buildings in that town that stand above the ground.
That's what I'm telling you, a man riding through at night is swear there's no town there at all.
And riding through in the light of day he'd be sure of it.
Well that makes folks living like sacks of potatoes.
Of course that's cool living, dug down in the earth that way.
And a panhandle of summer will give you cause to want cool living.
But it's the winds, you know, it's the cyclones, that's how come they live that way.
Well, a cyclone can't blow away what's not standing there in the first place, I can see that.
Sure. Now some folks say that that's how come nobody can talk a Texan down.
Well, you see anybody learns to talk against the wind like that, he ain't going to be out talked by no mortal man.
Well, now, you got me so I don't know what's joshing in the truth.
Well that don't really bother you, does it Chester?
Oh, Moser, I can admire it. All this laughing and fun and seeing you got trouble you're hiding.
Well everybody's got troubles right enough.
Yeah, but you just ain't one bit closer to finding that Sam Fraser now are you?
Well, I haven't found him yet.
But now you know with all this looking behind me I must be getting closer now, wouldn't you say?
Now, you got a way of seeing the bright side for sure.
Oh, I'm sorry, oh, well, Miss Curtin, I am sorry.
It's my fault Chester, Rob says if I don't quit backing out of doors I'll get trampled one day.
Well, here, let me gather up your good before you.
Miss Curtin, this here is Mr. Ab Stringer.
Well, your mighty kind of help Mr. Stringer.
I'm very pleased to meet you. That's Mrs. Curtin, is it?
Yes, sir, Mrs. Curtin.
Well, won't we should just put these parcels in your wagon for a man?
Well, if you don't mind. Seems like you load my wagon more than Rob does lately, Chester.
Oh, he ain't with you today, huh?
No, he's at the ranch. I had just these few things to get and some errands to run.
Rob says there wasn't any man's work to it.
Now, you tell the Marshal I was serious as could be about you taking supper with us just any time you're out our way.
Oh, yes, ma'am, I'll do that. I'll remind him sure.
Oh, and I thank you kindly for your help, Mr. Stringer.
I'm glad to oblige your lady, ma'am. Here, allow me to give you a hand up.
Oh, thank you.
Here, here's your line, ma'am.
Next thing you know, you'll be driving me home.
Goodbye to you.
Goodbye to you, ma'am.
Goodbye.
Now, I declare, if we don't get back to office, Mr. Gillan will think we walked clean out of town.
You go on, Chester. I'm just going over to the stable for a spell.
Well, now, you ain't thinking of riding off and leaving us now.
If I told you, Chester, you'd swear I was funnin' you again.
Well, I'd have told you sooner, but you and Clay was talking first along, Mr. Dunn.
That's not your fault, Chester, and we don't know if he followed Sir occurred. We just think he did.
I swear I just can't get it through my head that he ain't Ab Stringer, the way he's been saying.
Clay says he can't be, and he ought to know. He's just up from Texas.
He was there when they found Ab Stringer's buddy.
And they're pretty sure this fella we've been calling Ab is the one who killed him, huh?
Well, Ab Stringer was bringing in a prisoner, and this man we know showed me Ab's credentials.
So he must have killed him and stole his papers.
I just don't see how it could be.
I swear I never met a nicer fella, and I sure never laughed so much.
Yeah, he's kept us all laughin', Chester. Maybe a little too much.
In the name of heaven, Rob, what is this all about?
You shouldn't be out here in the barn, Sarah. He'll kill you too.
All you've got to do is throw out the money, Sam. I don't have to kill you.
He keeps calling you Sam. Tell him you're not who he thinks you are, Rob. Tell him.
You spare my wife. I'll give you the money.
I ain't got nothing against her.
I'm coming out. You wait where you are. It'll take me a minute to fetch the money.
One minute, and then I'll start shooting again, Sam.
Bob Curtin, will you tell me what this is about? What money is there? Why did he call you Sam?
Well, it is Sam. A long time ago, before you, Sarah, I was Sam Fraser.
And this money, Ed, it's not mine.
Well, if it's his, why do they have to have a gun to get it from him?
It's not his, Sarah.
Then why? What is it? I don't understand.
Sarah, there isn't time. Maybe later. Maybe I can help you understand.
Now, you stay here. You lie down flat while I take you to him.
I want to help you, Rob. Let me help you.
Then you stay there, Sarah.
Sure, a slice of that minute kind of came, Sam Bot.
I thought you were dead.
But, no, what kind of greeting is that between old friends?
Of course, I can see you'd a lot rather I was dead. You could have kept all that money.
You got your share, years ago.
Well, you was always more frugal than me, Sam.
When I got to running again, I knew I could count on you for help.
How come you still got it?
Most of it's there, but not all. I've been working. My wife's been working. I was going to send it all back.
To the bank, we Rob?
I got a life. I wanted to live it clean.
Well, and taking your ma's name, hiding behind it, that your idea of living clean?
It helped, till now.
Well, Sam, we killed a man.
I know. I'm paying for that every day and night of my life.
The minute I heard that name, meeting your woman, I knew my worries was done and gone.
You can live with what's past, can't you?
The killing, the taking of the life.
Oh, I got more killings than that to fret me. But I can live with them all fine. Now I got this money.
There's blood on it.
But not enough, Sam. The way you're thinking, you're going to worry yourself to death, and I got to spare you that.
I haven't even got a gun.
So I see, Sam boy, so I see.
Goodbye, Sam boy.
There, over there.
Well, Marshal Dillon, hey, we had an accident here.
I saw the whole thing, Ab.
Oh?
The only accident was that I couldn't stop you in time. You got to jail for murder.
And I look here, Marshal, Rob Curtin was at the time.
I said you're going to jail, now get your hands up.
Not hardly.
Are you, you got right in a hurry, Marshal.
Not hurry enough.
No.
You dying?
Well, I ain't lingering long.
Marshal, you was helpful, you and Chester.
Mind, I told you, if a man sets out to fool you and he's half bright about it, he can get the job done.
And I...
I'm sorry.
Mr. Dillon, I'm looking on here.
What?
Sarah, you shouldn't have come out here.
Let me be.
I've seen it all.
Yeah.
They're both dead.
Sorry I was too late.
No matter. Not now, anyway.
I'll take care of Rob for you.
You'll do no such thing. Your good has killed him.
You'll not touch him now.
But you can't manage it, Sarah.
Oh, you come here now is more gall than I understand.
And telling me what I can manage.
You got no idea of that, Marshal.
Sarah, I'm sorry.
I didn't know who he was.
I lived three miles from Rob and didn't know who he was these two years now.
I lived with him night and day these two years.
He was Rob Curtin.
And that's all he was.
There was no Sam Frazier about him.
He had that money.
He offered it back.
Your friend, Chester's friend, your good has let him kill my Rob.
Your good has given you leave.
It's not going to be easy living with it, Sarah.
I hope it isn't.
I hope you crawl with it the rest of your days.
I'm sorry, Sarah.
How terribly sorry.
You're a Marshal.
And I know.
The only question is,
Sarah don't quite fix things, does she?
Gunsmoke.
Produced and directed in Hollywood by Norman McDonald,
stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal.
The story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Kathleen Height,
with editorial supervision by John Meston.
Featured in the cast were Lawrence Dobkin, Vic Perrin, and Gene Bates.
Harley Bates, the director of the film,
was the director of the film, and the director of the film,
were Lawrence Dobkin, Vic Perrin, and Gene Bates.
Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNeer is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty.
This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week,
when CBS Radio presents another story on Gunsmoke.
Latest news next.