Gunsmoke 52-06-07 007 Buffalo Killers

Summary

Gunsmoke: “Buffalo Killers”

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Aired: January 28, 2026
Original Airdate: June 7, 1952
Starring: William Conrad as Matt Dillon

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Episode Overview

In this intense and morally complex episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon (William Conrad) investigates the murder of two buffalo hunters near Dodge City, Kansas, and the theft of valuable buffalo hides—one being a rare white albino hide. Tension escalates amid rising suspicion, vengeful grief, and racial prejudice as Dillon uncovers a plot to disguise murder and theft as the work of Native Americans. The episode explores themes of justice, frontier violence, prejudice, and the difficulties of keeping order in the ever-turbulent Old West.

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Key Discussion Points & Events

1. Discovery of the Murders and Stolen Hides

• [01:04–01:47] Chester and Matt discuss the dangerous buffalo hunters in town and the potential trouble their presence brings.
• [02:15–03:39] The concern over a shot “albino” buffalo and tensions about a possible Indian attack are introduced.
• [03:59–04:50] Mr. Biggs' sons are reported dead, their wagons burned. Clues are discovered: left-behind horses and rifles—unusual for an Indian raid.

“No Indian would leave guns and horses. This job was done by white men.” — Matt Dillon [05:47]

2. Sifting Through Suspects in Town

• [06:13–08:29] Hustle returns to Dodge as hundreds of buffalo hunters arrive with their hides. Tensions rise between newly introduced toughs “Tennessee” and “Charlie Kell.”
  • Matt notes the suspicious absence of the rare white buffalo hide among the hides for sale.
  • Tennessee and Charlie are clearly dangerous figures; Matt warns them both.

“Most of them are pretty peaceful. That sounds like you’re saying I’m not.” — Tennessee [07:29]

3. Chaos at the Hide Market

• [09:08–10:13] A fight breaks out during haggling. Matt Dillon intervenes and tries to keep order, pressing a young St. Louis newcomer for information.
  • News spreads fast: everyone is now searching for the white buffalo hide.
  • Mr. Biggs, drunk and grief-stricken, puts himself in danger by seeking vengeance.

“When something’s got you beat, son, there’s no shame to admitting it and going home. Sometimes that takes a real man.” — Matt Dillon [09:56]

4. Violence & Vengeance

• [11:38–13:15] Mr. Biggs is killed in a confrontation with Tennessee. Dillon examines the scene and realizes Tennessee and Charlie have staged a set-up, with conflicting accounts about self-defense.
  • Kell conveniently provides an alibi for Tennessee; Matt’s suspicions deepen.

5. Funeral and Reflection

• [14:53–15:43] Mr. Biggs and his sons are buried. Chester and Matt lament the passing of honest men, recognizing the cycle of violence brought by men like Tennessee and Kell.

“They’ll keep coming, but they won’t last. They’ll take a gun and go against a man, but they won’t sweat. They won’t take root and build.” — Matt Dillon [15:24]

6. Tracking the Real Killers

• [16:00–17:23] Matt pieces together that the supposed rivalry between Tennessee and Charlie Kell was staged to throw off suspicion. He directs Chester to search their wagons for the stolen hide.
• [17:23–18:26] Matt is ambushed by the angry St. Louis newcomer and kills him in self-defense.
  • Charlie Kell confronts Matt with veiled threats about dueling.

“This your hobby? Shooting kids?” — Charlie Kell [18:52]
“He was old enough to try to kill me.” — Matt Dillon [18:55]

7. Final Showdowns and the Truth Emerges

• [19:42–20:22] Matt survives an attack by Tennessee, who shoots him from hiding and flees. Chester reports Tennessee’s partner is an Arapaho woman.
• [21:00–21:41] Chester and Matt find Tennessee’s Native wife, who is battered and traumatized. Dillon gently persuades her to reveal the hide's location.

“Your husband had a white buffalo hide, didn’t he?” — Matt Dillon [22:15]
“Tell me no other man killed white buffalo.” — Tennessee’s wife [22:20]

• [23:07–23:14] The white hide is recovered; the wife reveals the tribal framing.
• [23:59–25:16] Matt races to intercept Tennessee in the town of Kinsley.
• [25:43–27:25] Matt confronts Tennessee during breakfast. Tennessee tries to force his way out and is killed in the ensuing gunfight.

“He looks kind of dead.” (referring to Tennessee)
“Yeah. Bad one, huh? Yes. Gunfighter, thief, killer.” — Matt Dillon, Widder Hilliard [26:40–26:53]

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Memorable Quotes

• “No Indian would leave guns and horses. This job was done by white men.” — Matt Dillon [05:47]
• “When something’s got you beat, son, there’s no shame to admitting it and going home. Sometimes that takes a real man.” — Matt Dillon [09:56]
• “They’ll keep coming, but they won’t last. They’ll take a gun and go against a man, but they won’t sweat. They won’t take root and build.” — Matt Dillon [15:24]
• “This your hobby? Shooting kids?” — Charlie Kell [18:52]
• “He was old enough to try to kill me.” — Matt Dillon [18:55]
• “Your white man no good. Now tell me which way he went.” — Matt Dillon [23:20]
• “He looks kind of dead.” — Widder Hilliard [26:40]
• “Yeah. Bad one, huh? Yes. Gunfighter, thief, killer.” — Matt Dillon and Hilliard [26:40–26:53]

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Notable Moments & Timestamps

• [01:47–04:50] Discovery of Biggs’ sons’ bodies and the staged “Indian” raid.
• [05:47] Dillon’s deduction that white men committed the murders.
• [07:29] First tense showdown with Tennessee and Charlie Kell.
• [11:38–13:15] Mr. Biggs is killed—self-defense or murder?
• [17:23–18:26] Showdown and gunfight with the young St. Louis newcomer.
• [18:52–19:21] Charlie Kell threatens Dillon.
• [22:15–23:14] The truth of the white buffalo hide revealed by Tennessee’s wife.
• [25:43–27:25] Final epic confrontation with Tennessee ends in his death.

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Conclusion

Buffalo Killers is a tautly written installment of Gunsmoke that grapples with the lawless complexity of frontier justice. It demonstrates Marshal Matt Dillon’s dogged pursuit of truth amid deception, the ease of scapegoating Native Americans, and the ever-present violence that haunts Dodge City. The episode’s stark dialogue, tense showdowns, and moral dilemmas make it a poignant example of Golden Age radio drama.

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Transcript

[Matt Dillon]

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 a U.S. marshal and the smell of gun smoke.

[Narrator]

Gun Smoke. Starring William Conrad. The story of violence that moved west with young America. The story of a man who moved with it. Matt Dillon, United States Marsh.

[Chester]

Howdy, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Hello, Mr. Biggs. Can I give you a hand?

[Chester]

No, no. This is the last match here. Hey, wait till the flies get to these buffalo hides in the morning. Be enough vultures overhead to keep the place in shade for weeks.

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Chester]

You know, you'll sure have your hands full by tomorrow night.

[Matt Dillon]

It looks that way.

[Chester]

Don't these boys turn them hides into cash? They'll bite the corks out of every bottle. And some of them look mean enough sober. Yeah.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, you better bed down and get some sleep. Mr. Biggs.

[Chester]

Where are your boys? I don't know. Jeff had some trouble with the dry axle up near Pony Rock, and Boaz stopped to help him fix it.

[Matt Dillon]

But they shouldn't be this long behind you. Well, if I see him, I'll tell.

[Chester]

Them where to find him. You? You can tell Jeff. Boaz ain't even gonna hear you.

[Matt Dillon]

Why, what's the matter with him, boy?

[Chester]

He's riding higher than an eagle. You know that white buffalo you've been.

[Matt Dillon]

Hearing about, the albino? Why, it's just Indian talk.

[Chester]

Oh, you think so, huh? Well, if it is, Boaz sure shot himself a mighty scared buffalo. White as borax.

[Matt Dillon]

That ought to fetch a price.

[Chester]

Hey, anybody seen Marshall Dillon? Over here, Chester. You better saddle up, Mr. Dillon.

[Matt Dillon]

What's the matter, Chester?

[Chester]

The Indian trouble. Two men dead and a couple of wagons burned up out there. I found this.

[Matt Dillon]

A war rattle made out of buffalo toads. Arapaho. Well, they haven't been making any trouble.

[Chester]

Well, these did. I was topping a hill when I.

[Narrator]

Saw the wagons go up and fire.

[Chester]

It was Indians, all right. I saw one ride off.

[Matt Dillon]

That's funny. I never heard of Arapahoes attacking at night. How far out?

[Chester]

10 mile, maybe, toward Pawnee Rock. Pawnee Rock?

[Matt Dillon]

Marshall, my sons is coming from there. Easy, mister. Lots of wagons. Marshall.

[Chester]

I didn't see another wagon between here and Pawnee except the ones we had. But the Indians killed my boy.

[Matt Dillon]

There's only one way to make sure, Mr. Big. Saddle up and ride over to my office. I'll be with you as soon as I can get my hors.

[Chester]

I cut back through those button willows over there when I spotted the wagons being fired.

[Matt Dillon]

We Must be close to it, then.

[Chester]

Just over there. Right down yonder.

[Matt Dillon]

See him? Yeah, I see him. We rode up and dismounted. The last glint of hope in Mr. Big's eyes died. His boys were there, all right. And it wasn't nice to see.

[Chester]

Kill him. I'll get him first. I'll murder every redskin in the territory.

[Matt Dillon]

We gotta bring your sons in, Mr. Biggs. You know what the morning's gonna be like. You don't want to leave them out here. Now, come on.

[Chester]

Hey, look down there by the stream. Yeah.

[Matt Dillon]

Four of them. They're not saddle horses, Mr. Biggs. Mr. Biggs. You recognize those horses down there?

[Tennessee]

Yeah, I know.

[Chester]

Teams belong to Boaz and Jeff. Indians must cut them loose from the.

[Matt Dillon]

Wagons before they fired them. Doesn't that seem curious to you, Chester?

[Chester]

In what way, Mr. Dillon?

[Matt Dillon]

Why didn't they take the horses with them?

[Chester]

Yeah, what are you thinking, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

No burned hides in those wagons.

[Chester]

So they stole them.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, they stole them. But Boaz and Jeff both have their rifles there beside them. And the horses are left behind, too.

[Chester]

Horses and guns are the first things Indians would go for. What are you looking for, Mr. Dillon?

[Matt Dillon]

Those buffalo hides weren't carried off without wagons here. Mark's the two other wagons here, and they're fresh.

[Chester]

I didn't see any other wagons. Only these.

[Matt Dillon]

They'd finish and gone before you got here, Chester.

[Chester]

Well, yeah, but I. I'd have caught up to any wagons on the trail to Dodge.

[Matt Dillon]

Did you go by regular trail?

[Chester]

Well, no, I. I figured the Indian I saw, it wasn't alone. I didn't want to get bushwhacked further on.

[Matt Dillon]

You didn't see any Indian, Chester.

[Chester]

But, Mr. Dillon, just as plain as.

[Matt Dillon]

No Indian would leave guns and horses. This job was done by white men. It didn't take anything that could be recognized or identified.

[Chester]

You mean that somebody's in Dodge by now with the hides my boys worked and sweated to get?

[Matt Dillon]

I'm afraid so, Mr. Biggs.

[Chester]

There'll be more than 300 buffalo hunters there by morning. Could be any of them.

[Matt Dillon]

We'll find the right ones. Oh, how the albino. Whoever killed your sons will have that white buffalo hide. It was almost sun up when we got back to town and more wagons had jammed the main street lining up for the unloading barns. I rode down the line, looking them over one by one.

[Chester]

Howdy, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Some of the men had take their money, drink it up and drift away. Few would stay long enough to be buried on Boot Hill. Then suddenly a wagon driver up ahead Pulled out of line.

[Chester]

Soon as you get back to your place. All right, wait. Now let go of that bit.

[Matt Dillon]

Method. Don't do that, stranger. Get your hand away from that gun. Well, now. Knows any law around you there is. So don't try making your own. You got no right grabbing my team.

[Chester]

I got plenty right when he press horn in in front of me. Marshall. That's a lie, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

He cut you both want to cool your heads out in jail. Now, what's your name? Tennessee is good enough. A lot of people from Tennessee coming into the territory. Most of them are pretty peaceful. That sounds like you're saying I'm not. You move pretty fast for that gun. Man can lose his temper. You lost yours four times according to the notches you've carved into that gun butt. But don't try for number five. Not here. How about you? What do you call.

[Charlie Kell]

Charlie Kell?

[Matt Dillon]

Charlie Kell, huh? They ever call you Chuck?

[Charlie Kell]

No.

[Matt Dillon]

Heard of a Chuck Kell a couple of years back. Come from Kentucky.

[Charlie Kell]

Not me.

[Matt Dillon]

Man I heard about was a gunfighter, so he never wore gloves. See? You don't either. It's pretty rough on.

[Charlie Kell]

Thanks, Marshall. I'll make sure to take better care of him.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, do that.

[Charlie Kell]

I'll be around a while. Marshall. Maybe we can have another talk.

[Matt Dillon]

Anytime. They'd need watching. But what I wanted now was a white buffalo hide. Searching the wagons wouldn't do. There wasn't time. And the search had let the killers know that something in the hides they'd seen stolen could be identified. The time to find out would be when the buyers checked them. I got Biggs and Chester to cover two of the unloading barns. And I covered the third one. Then finally daylight came and the haggling started.

[Chester]

You want to sell those hides? Better learn how to handle his skin and knife a little better. They're as good as any and pull a hole, see? Give you $4 a hide for the bunch you gave that last fell 8.

[Matt Dillon]

He looks tougher than you. 6. I'll take 6.

[Chester]

4. Take it or leave it. You think you can rob me, mister? Watch your mouth, boy. Here.

[Matt Dillon]

None of that.

[Chester]

Let me go.

[Matt Dillon]

Easy, son.

[Chester]

Go.

[Matt Dillon]

Let me have that done just so you won't be tempted.

[Chester]

Stop.

[Charlie Kell]

There.

[Matt Dillon]

That's better.

[Chester]

Give me that. Give it back.

[Matt Dillon]

You can pick it up at my office whenever you're ready to leave town. You look like a city boy to me. Where you from? St. Louis.

[Chester]

None of your business.

[Matt Dillon]

When something's got you beat, son, there's no shame to admitting it and going Home. Sometimes that takes a real man.

[Chester]

Don't tell me what to do. Why don't you watch your own job? Why don't you leave me alone, Marshall? I ain't got a white buffalo hide.

[Matt Dillon]

What'd you say, boy?

[Chester]

You heard me.

[Matt Dillon]

What do you know about a white buffalo hide?

[Chester]

What everybody else knows that you're looking for one. Everybody in town knows it. How? Because the old man whose sons were bushwhacked, all liquored up over at the other barn, shooting off his mouth. Don't go away mad, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Mr. Biggs wasn't at the barn where I'd left him. I cut through an alley to Front street and headed for the saloons. I never got to him.

[Chester]

Mr. Dillon. Mr. Dillon.

[Matt Dillon]

What's the matter, Chester?

[Chester]

Old man Biggs.

[Matt Dillon]

Where is he? I'm looking for him.

[Chester]

Hello, Heath. He was over by the barn. I was watching. Drunk going through the wagon.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, I know about that.

[Chester]

I was trying to get him to go back to his own barn, but all of a sudden he took off.

[Matt Dillon]

For where? I don't know.

[Chester]

But there was one wagon he was watching in particular. The driver walked away from it with a package of some kind. That white hide it could have been, I don't know, but Big Shore thought so. He lit out after a fellow with blood in his eye.

[Matt Dillon]

Which way?

[Chester]

Down there, where the boy's been hitching the M2 eigen.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, let's go.

[Chester]

If old boy's drunk enough to make trouble, he's liable to kill somebody or get killed. Too late, Mr. Dillon.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, it came from there, behind that row of wagons. You stay here, chester.

[Chester]

Be careful, Mr. Dillon.

[Matt Dillon]

When I rounded the corner wagon, Mr. Biggs was sprawled across a wagon, tongue, his eyes dark, dead and open, staring at the ground. And standing over him was Tennessee, a smile on his face and his gun extended to me butt first. Looks like I'm in the mighty trouble, Marshall. He's dead, Tennessee. That's more than a mite. You take my gun for a while. You mean until after you hang? Wasn't figuring it'd be that serious. Not when a drunk follows me out here and throws down on me. If you're figuring on self defense, forget it. Look at his gun. It isn't even caught.

[Chester]

What's out of his holster, Mark?

[Matt Dillon]

Marshall, that's enough law. Don't say you have to wait till he kills me. You'll have to make a jury believe that.

[Charlie Kell]

You shouldn't have much trouble doing that, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

What are you doing here, Mr. Kell?

[Charlie Kell]

Oh, I just happen to Follow Tennessee out here.

[Matt Dillon]

Why?

[Charlie Kell]

Well, you broke up our little argument in town. Thought I'd get him alone here. See if maybe he was still nursing a grudge he wanted to settle. But the old man beat me to it. Now, Tennessee here ain't exactly a friend of mine, as you know. But I hate to see any man hang when he ain't guilty.

[Matt Dillon]

Is that your personal verdict, Mr. Kill?

[Charlie Kell]

That's right, Marshall. The old man threw down on him and Tennessee had to kill him in self defense.

[Matt Dillon]

Chester.

[Chester]

Yes, sir, Mr. Dylan.

[Matt Dillon]

Which one of them had the package?

[Chester]

This one. This is the fellow the old man was after.

[Matt Dillon]

All right, Tennessee, where is it? I don't know anything about a package. Look in the wagon, Chester. See anything?

[Chester]

Nothing here.

[Matt Dillon]

I reckon you can give my gun back to me now. All right, Tennessee. Here.

[Chester]

Thanks.

[Matt Dillon]

But if you decide to use it again while you're in Dodge or any place else in Kansas, I hope I'm there when you do. Well, now, don't you fret, Marshall. I'm sure you will be.

[Narrator]

We will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment. But first, action, excitement, thrills. That's gangbusters. Gangbusters helps to fight crime by fearlessly naming the criminals. Listen for it later this evening on CBS Radio. Now the second act of gun smoke.

[Matt Dillon]

Just before sundown, we buried old man Biggs and his two sons up on Boot Hill. By the time the service was over and I rode down, darkness had fallen and everything was going full blast. The town was roaring.

[Chester]

Seemed like a good man, old Biggs.

[Matt Dillon]

He was, Chester. So were his boys.

[Chester]

But there are too many men like Tennessee and Cal Coming in, Mr. Dillon.

[Matt Dillon]

They won't last, Chester. They'll keep coming, but they won't last. They'll take a gun and go against a man, but they won't sweat. They won't take root and build.

[Chester]

We still gonna look for that hide?

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah.

[Chester]

Just what do you want me to do, Mr. Dillon?

[Matt Dillon]

Tennessee and Kel'll be in town, but their wagons are back there with the other empties. Ride back and look them over. They might have had somebody carry that package off for them.

[Chester]

It might be, but they don't seem like partners, Mr. Dillon. From what I heard, you stopped them from gunfighting.

[Matt Dillon]

Took more than one man to kill the Biggs boys. And more than one man and more than one wagon to cart the hides.

[Chester]

And, well. You mean they staged that trouble just for you?

[Matt Dillon]

Just for me. After they heard I was looking for that white hiding.

[Chester]

Well, why do you figure that Mr.

[Matt Dillon]

Dillon, when gunfighters start for their guns, nothing stops them. Chester, they both started, but they both stopped. I reckon you better take a look through those wagons.

[Chester]

Yes, Mr. Dillon. Where'll I meet you?

[Matt Dillon]

I'll be checking the saloons. One by one. I made the stops along Branch, the Alfraganza, the Texas Trail. And one by one, they got quieter as I went in. As though each place is holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. The last place was a Mexican hangout. A long, dark walk.

[Chester]

Hello, Marshal. Can't see me, can you, Marshal?

[Matt Dillon]

No. No, I can't see you, son.

[Chester]

Too bad. Cause I got another gun. They sell them around here. And I ain't going back to St. Louis.

[Matt Dillon]

You'll fire once, son. And if you don't kill me with that and I'll kill you.

[Chester]

I'll gamble on that. Marshall. Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

He lurched from the shadows into the street, staggered and fell. Then he rolled over on his back. And his eyes struggled for a minute, like they were trying to remember something. Then he went blank. He's right about one thing. He wasn't going back to St. Louis.

[Charlie Kell]

Well, what do you know? The marshal's real handy with a gun.

[Matt Dillon]

Stay out of this, Kel. But I may have something to talk.

[Chester]

Over with you later.

[Matt Dillon]

Mean what? If you don't know, then you got nothing to worry about.

[Charlie Kell]

I've been hearing a lot about how fast you are with the gun, Dylan. Anything to it?

[Matt Dillon]

I'm still alive.

[Charlie Kell]

Yeah. This your hobby? Shooting kids?

[Matt Dillon]

He was old enough to try to kill me.

[Charlie Kell]

I don't like it, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

That's too bad, Mr. Kell. The Chuck Kell I heard about would have loved it. They said he'd killed two kids under 16. One of them his own brother.

[Charlie Kell]

You didn't hear the whole story, Marshall. The Kell you heard about killed a marshal, too.

[Matt Dillon]

You made the bid, Mr. Kell. And you got a gun. Use it or I'll take it away from you.

[Charlie Kell]

Come and.

[Matt Dillon]

Anytime.

[Chester]

Here it is. How you feeling, Mr. Dillon?

[Matt Dillon]

I'm all right, Chester.

[Chester]

Doc fixed your head. Wasn't much he could do for Kell, though.

[Matt Dillon]

I hit him if you didn't.

[Chester]

He sure died for nothing.

[Matt Dillon]

He was fast, all right.

[Chester]

Boys Say, you made him look like a sleepy burro. Never even cleared his holster.

[Matt Dillon]

And my head says different.

[Chester]

You didn't get that from Cal.

[Matt Dillon]

What do you mean?

[Chester]

Tennessee was up the street with a rifle. He creased you, huh?

[Matt Dillon]

Where is he now?

[Chester]

I don't know, Mr. Dillon. He rode out of town before I could stop him. I Was the only one who saw him. I was coming up street to find you.

[Matt Dillon]

All right, let's get out of here. Did you find anything in the wagons?

[Chester]

No, sir. But I found Tennessee's wife.

[Matt Dillon]

Wife?

[Chester]

That's right, Mr. Dylan. In a small wagon next to his. He's a squaw man. His wife's an Indian girl.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, let's find her. All right, Chester. Which way?

[Chester]

Edge of town, Mr. Dillon.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, let's go. You talked to the wife?

[Chester]

Yes, sir. Found out Tennessee and Kell were friends all right. They left her here night before last and arranged to meet her here today. She said they were driving empty wagons when they left her.

[Matt Dillon]

Ask her what tribe she belonged to.

[Chester]

Didn't have to ask, Mr. Dillon. I could tell by her beads. She's an Arapahoe.

[Matt Dillon]

She was there all right. Crouched by the wheel of a wagon. Her face was bloody and she stared into a small campfire, rocking back and forth without a sound.

[Chester]

She wasn't beat up when I left her. Mr. Dillon.

[Matt Dillon]

Where's your husband?

[Tennessee]

He gone.

[Matt Dillon]

Gone where?

[Tennessee]

He gone.

[Matt Dillon]

Tell me which way he went and I'll bring him back to you.

[Tennessee]

No, you law man.

[Matt Dillon]

Your husband had a white buffalo hide, didn't he?

[Tennessee]

Tell me no other man killed white buffalo.

[Matt Dillon]

Then your husband took the hide away from him.

[Tennessee]

He buy. He buy hide?

[Matt Dillon]

He didn't buy him. He killed two men to get him. He killed with Indian paint on his face. He left an Arapaho war rattle. He wants the blame to come to your people.

[Chester]

If the white men think the Arap hoes are on the warpath, the soldiers will come.

[Tennessee]

No. Arapaho peaceful.

[Matt Dillon]

Where's the white hide? What'd your husband do with it?

[Tennessee]

He tell me bury.

[Matt Dillon]

Where? Where's it buried?

[Tennessee]

There. Back there by tree.

[Matt Dillon]

Go dig it up, Chester. Then stay with her. Like it back.

[Chester]

You going after him, Mr. Dillon?

[Matt Dillon]

As soon as she tells me which way.

[Chester]

All right, Mr. Dillon.

[Matt Dillon]

You're white man no good. Now tell me which way he went.

[Tennessee]

You let him go, he not come back.

[Matt Dillon]

I can't let him go. If I do, the soldiers will come after your people. He beat you and he ran away from you. Now he'll bring death to your tribe unless I get him. Where did he go?

[Tennessee]

He. He arrived to where moon sleep.

[Matt Dillon]

I rode east. Tennessee had had about an hour's start, but I figured a make up most of that before sunrise. The prairie was open and flat except for an occasional roll. And the Arkansas river would keep him from cutting south. His best bet for a fresh horse Would be Kinsley and I rode hard for was just turning daylight when I rode in. Well, howdy, Marshall. Morning. Good morning. Got a place I can water my horse trough? Right there. Just let him loose. He'll find it. Thank you. Looks like you come a long way, Dodge. Another fellow here just a few minutes ago. Been riding hard, too. He come from up Pony way, though. Tall, dark, riding a vinegar roll. Yeah, that's right. You get a fresh horse here? Had to send my boy out to corral to get one for him. He'll be back soon. You mean he's still here in town? Yeah. Asked about breakfast, so I sent him over to the Widder Hilliard's place right.

[Chester]

Over there across the road.

[Charlie Kell]

Thank you.

[Matt Dillon]

I'll be back. Dave.

[Chester]

You after that fellow Marshall?

[Tennessee]

Yes.

[Matt Dillon]

Understand you're serving breakfast, ma'. Am.

[Tennessee]

Why, sure thing, Marshall.

[Chester]

Dylan.

[Matt Dillon]

That's right. Give me a clear way out the door or I'll kill you. Come by me, Tennessee. I'll come shooting. That's all right. But just be sure you get me this time. You hurt, ma'?

[Charlie Kell]

Am?

[Chester]

No, I'm all right.

[Tennessee]

Marshall. He looks kind of dead.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah. Bad one, huh? Yes. Gunfighter, thief, killer.

[Tennessee]

What's your name?

[Matt Dillon]

Marshall Dylan, ma'.

[Chester]

Am.

[Matt Dillon]

Matt Dillon. I. I'm sorry about Marshall.

[Tennessee]

When my husband brought me out here 15 years ago, Indians burned this place down three times. I'm used to killing. You want to carry him out? I'll go fix you that breakfast.

[Matt Dillon]

Thank you, ma'.

[Charlie Kell]

Am.

[Matt Dillon]

It's a long ride back to Dodge.

[Narrator]

Gunsmoke transcribed under the direction of Norman McDonald stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. Tonight's story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Joel Murcott, with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Featured in tonight's cast were Stan Waxman, John Dana and Larry Dobkin. With Sam Edwards Zulianbiach, Tom Holland and Mary Lansing. Barley Baer 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 gun smoke. Something new in CBS Radio newsroom coverage. World News with Robert Trout presents as a special weekly feature, an interview with a crack CBS Radio News correspondent. This correspondent flies in from his post overseas to give you his authoritative eyewitness viewpoint on latest developments. Tomorrow afternoon, on most of these same stations, World News with Robert Trout. This is Clarence Cassell speaking, and remember, from now to November, you'll find intensive, impartial campaign coverage on the CBS Radio Network.