Narrator (0:00)

Foreign.

Andrew Rines (0:13)

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Lightning Gym, originally aired in 1952 and the title is A Lawman's Badge. Let's get into it. And again, thanks for listening.

Narrator (0:31)

To my own sweet eye. I o get along and it'll know me to know that the fairy will be your new home. Ram. And now for the Lightning Gym adventure, A Lawman's Badge. In the plains town of Midville, a group of men were gathered in the Bighorn Cafe. Oh, God. Don't give us that mystery, boys. There's plenty of gold up in them Black Hills. Why don't you hightail it up there? Dad. Dad. I said why don't you go up to the Black Hill? That's what I said. There's plenty of gold. You oughta go up there, Trigger. Well, kinda got the drop on you that time, Trigger. The old bosses can't hear nothing. Never mind the old man. Trigger, I got something to tell you and the boys follow em over here. Sure. Hey, you fellas quiet down. Boss wants to tell you something. Boys. Now, while we was out on the range today, the citizens committee in Midville appointed a new sheriff. We don't need no sheriff. Takes the law around here. Hey, who took the job for O? The new sheriff is Young Bill Bar. Hey, this old man runs the Circle J cattle ranch. Yeah. Why he's just a corpse. Ain't more than 20. Well, if young Bill knows what's good for him and his paw, he'll be running the sheriff office always. Hey, here he comes now. Boy. Hey, look who's here, boys. Our new sheriff. Well, what can we do for you, Bill? I'm arresting one of your men, Slade. I see. Who is it? What's the charge? I got a warrant here charging figure with the murder of Ed Mason. Where are you, Young? Hold on, figure. Put that gun away. You letting him get away with Slade? Shut up. I'll do the talking. All right, quiet all of you. Sheriff, I figure you must have made a mistake. Now, I'm willing to pass it by this time. Seeing as how you're kind of new at this law badge business that Mason has shot down Cole. He was drilled in the back. And I got witnesses to prove Trigger done the shooting that's alive. Mason dropped first. How about it, boy? Well, wait a minute now, Sheriff. Are you ready to tear up that warrant? Nope. It's my duty to serve this warrant. And I aim to take figure to jail. Is that final? I reckon so. It's up to the court to decide if he's guilty or not. Come on, figure. Put him up. Sheriff. I've got you covered. You can't get away with it. Never mind the talk. Take his gun, figure. Sure, that's better. I'll take that warrant too. Just cause the citizens committee says you can be sheriff don't mean nothing. There's only one kind of law around these parts and that's mylaw. Give me the sheriff's badge, figure. Sure. Yeah, boss. Well, well, a nice new badge. All timed up too. Put it on, Jake. Jake. Might as well be the chef. Wait a minute. Hold on, boys. I got a better idea. Seeing as how some of the folks around here think that we ought to have a real sheriff, I reckon we can point one ourselves. Who wants to be sheriff? Not me. And good anger. How about you, Trigger, huh? Imagine me sitting around a J Long. Trigger. Hey, how about old dad Morgan? Hey, wait now that's not a bad idea. Hey, come here, dad. Hey, come here. I ain't done nothing, Mr. Slade. Well, nobody said you did, Dad. I just want you to pin this badge on your shirt, that's all. What? Never mind. You're the new sheriff. The sheriff? Bill Barnes is the sheriff. No, you're the sheriff now. Yes, yes, he's the sheriff. All right. Now, Bill, you can go back to your old man and the citizens committee and tell him Gerrit Morgan has taken over your job. All right, Slate, you've got the draw. But I'm warning you, Smithville's gonna have some law and order. And it won't be your kind. Get moving, son, or I'll have the new sheriff throw you in jail for disturbing the people. Hey, hey, hey, wait a minute. What's the matter, dad? Eh? What's the trouble? Why, dope gun it. The sheriff went off and clean forgot his. Yeah. Tell yourself Blade and his gang have got the upper hand and you can't fight him alone. But if the honest ranchers and folks in town had organized and fight, we could lick slaves. Oh, sure, but you can't make them see that. They want law and order, but they won't fight for it. I'm afraid that's the size of it. Let dad Morgan be Slade sheriff and he'll come back and help me with the circle J. You know, Paul, I'm not through yet. But you can't fight him alone. I don't aim to. What do you mean? I'm going to get the one man who can beat Slade to the draw. Who's that Lightman, Jim? The United States Marshal. Yes, it was the fearless and courageous United States marshals who help the troopers and local police officers to bring law and order to. To the wild frontier country of the old West. Those exciting and thrilling days when bandits, desperados and hostile Indians roamed the plains come back to us now in the colorful adventures of United States Marshal Lightning Jim Whipple and his faithful companion and deputy, Whitey Larson. We joined the marshal and his deputy around a campfire on the trail. The garlic, lightning, that stick and smell fancy good, I tell you. Yes, sure. Blackie thinks. I think that's good, too. Hey, she's got almost as big appetite as you have, right? Oh, a sketch. Yeah, and the next time you bring her along on a trip, I'm gonna charge her for blackish food. I shall eat more than a horse. More than a horse? Yeah, more than two horses. Hey, get that bacon off the pie before it burns up. Yo. Oh, you benny minute it echo would burn off. Sam, you're right for talking so much. And you don't get no more neither. Fine thing. Right here. While you uplift that coffee can off the fire, too. This statement of mine is your delicious. All right, all right. Oh. Oh, this coffee can. It's hard to be careful. You drop it a minute. A ball of clumsy donkey. Now there goes a coffee all over the ground. Oh, but that's the. In the worst part. What's the matter? You get burned with the hot coffee? No, but them sitting and the biscuits. Yes, that's right, Sunday, give him a horse laugh. All right, all right. Go ahead and laugh like a hyena. Even Blackie's laughing at you. Oh, you SC. Don't get no breakfast. Never mind, Blackie. Your master's going to go hungry, too. Yeah, and he's driving fast like you're in trouble. Howdy, mistress. Howdy. Hello there, pup. Yes, she's making friends with you already. Say, she's a fine looking dog, mister. Oh, I tell you, she's flimsy smart to tell you. Yes, she knows the heat more than master. Oh, a statue. Well, she. I think she's smarter than your horse. Thunder. Is he? Oh, how about that thunder? Hey, that's the biggest black horse I've ever seen. Must be about 16 hands at least. Yeah, you're a little short, mister. He's 18 hands high. Mop. What a horse. Well, his name's Thunder. You must be Lightning Jim. That's right. My name is Bill Fornes. I'm from the Circle J ranch near Midville. Glad to know you, Bill. This is my cook, Whitey Locke. Yes. Where you get that cook? Well, look at your pants. They all messed up with flour and biscuit dough. I'm going to loosen myself for my Galash. And then you've got shot. The government better be looking for new mortals. You see, Bill, when Whitey ain't falling down and spilling coffee and sitting in, business is kind of active. I see. Yes. Now listen, Bill. He does all the talking, but I do all the work. I catch the benefits and he gets the crack. Well, I wouldn't let him get away with it. Neither did I. Neither would I. Confidentially, if he don't fit. Oh, don't worry again. Get rid of the meat at Easter. Bill, you come galloping up there. I thought you might be in some kind of trouble. I am in trouble. That's so. Yeah. We need your help, Lightning. Who do we? The honest folks that live around Midville. There's a gang. Outlaws and rustlers that are running the town. Can't get the boys to fight, so I thought maybe that you'd help me. I see. Let's go over and sit by a campfire and you can tell us the whole story. Sure. Say, you really like in that? Don't like some action? Yeah. You want some action with. Oh, you just like. All right, stir up the fire, heat up some more coffee and fire some more bacon. You might scrape that flour and dough off your pants, too. Enough there for another batch of biscuit. Oh, yeah, but I told you I ain't. Now, don't argue. You wanted action, so let's have it. All right, that here you some action. Action. All right, boys, now we got some work to do tonight. Yeah. What's up, boss? We're going after the Circle J cattle. Yeah, that's right. About time we show Jeff Barnes and Young Bill who's bossing this. Circle J has some good stock on the range and we can get it. Allison. There we are again. Hey, boy, here comes your sheriff. Uh oh, look out, boys. It's the sheriff. Will you catch any bandits yet, Ted? I ain't aiming to catch Famous the dead un slapped. The whole lot of you in jail. What do you want, Sid? Listen, Mr. Smith, I don't want to be sheriff no more. Why not? Hey, why don't you want to be sheriff? That's what I said. I don't want to be sheriff. Go on back to the jail. Well, what fur? I ain't done nothing. You can't put me in jail. There's one laugh. One laugh. All my life I've been prospecting for gold and I never heard of nobody finding a gold mine in jail. Come on, boys. Let's make the sheriff dance. Boy. How The Purple J cattle is ranging near Cedar Dogs. And here's what he has on the field. Yeah, don't worry about Blackie. You won't get lost. Well, we're almost there, boy. Circle J is down below us. And that belly on there. Nothing. Jupiter. What's wrong, Bill? Look down there in the valley. You like him? That's a fight. Yeah, and that fires at the Circle J. Come on, boys, let's go. Thunder. Oh, boy. Who. Thank the Lord you get back safe. What happened, Paul? They set fire to the house and rustled their heart out as dirty, thieving pack of coyotes. They wasn't satisfied with burning the house and stealing the candle. They drilled three of the boys right night. Hurt your down killer There you are like them. That Jake Slate's way of getting back at me for trying to be sheriff. We got to get him. Let's go. What's going to happen when Lightning Jim and Whitey meet Jake Blade in his gang? You'll hear the exciting climax of this thrilling Lightning Gym adventure in part two, which follows immediately. And now for part two of the Lightning Kim adventure. A Lawman's badge. A gang of outlaws and rustlers headed by Jake Slade had terrorized the folks around the plains town of Midville. They stole cattle and were in control of the town. Young Bill Barnes, son of a local rancher, sought help in his fight against Slade. He went to Fort Anderson and brought Lightning Jim and his deputy Whitey Larson back to Midville. When they arrived at the Barnes ranch, they found the house burning and the cattle gone a few hours later. You know, boys, fire's all out now. There isn't much left of the house nor she's burned down to the ground. We didn't get you seen, Mr. Barnes. So am I. But poor. How did they set fire to the house without you knowing it? I heard him shooting down on the south range. So me and the boys who was here went down to see what was going on. Did you see anybody? No. When we come back, the house was running. Then Pete come riding in from Cedar Goats. Said a gang of rustlers shot down three of her boys and made off with her herd. And so only you come up recognized under the rider. No, it was too dark. He wasn't close enough. Well, it was Slate's gang all right. Marshall. I reckon Bill's told you about the trouble we've been having? Yes. Slate didn't like the idea of Bill taking over the job of sheriff. Yeah. I went into the cafe to arrest one of these men and they got the drop on me. Hold off my badge and give it to old dad Morgan. Is he one of Slave's men? No, he's an old prospector. He's kind of deaf and wouldn't hurt nobody. And he's a scared now. Yep. Just like this slave. Jasper don't have much respect for the law. Well, right now he is the law in Midville. Bill tells me that you can't get the ranchers and folks in town to fight slaves. That's right, Marshall. You can see why. Burning down her house, stealing her cattle, killing her boys. That's Slade's way of getting even with Bill. I'd like to get my hands on that wheel. Yeah, I'd like to meet up with him right now. I'd blast his head off. Come on, Lyon, let's get out. Hold on, Bill. Not so fast. Still hanker on being sheriff for Midville? Sure. All right. You want to show folks you can do the job according to law? So far, we ain't got no proof it was Plaid's gang who burned the house and stole the cattle. But it must have been Plate's gang. Sure, we got good reason to think that. But we gotta prove it. He can't win town to shoot down Slave because we think he's guilty. That's right, Bill. Well, what do you suggest, Lacklam? I got a hunch. Maybe we can smoke Slave and his gang into the open. Yeah. Bill, who was the man you was aiming to arrest? A fellow they called Trigger. He killed Ed Mason and helped Russell the Mason cattle. All right, that's where we're going to start. Mr. Barnes, you can help us, too. Sure, I'll do anything you say. Lightning, you'll go down to the ranches and gather up all the men you can get hold of and bring them back here yours. I want us to see what's happened here and talk to him. Bill, you and White and me are going in town and see the sheriff. Come here. Better leave the dog out here. Wedding used to have it. The horse. If not knocking dad to death. He wouldn't hear. The sheriff is sleeping on the yacht here. He's doing plenty of wood, too. He wouldn't even know the difference. Well, I guess I better wake him up. I'm going to shoot in a sawdust box. Don't shoot. Don't shoot. Take it easy, dad. Hey, why is Bill Barnes. Yeah, fine sheriff you are. Hey, what's that? I said you're a fine sheriff. No way. I don't want to be sheriff. Why don't you quit? Oh, Slade won't let me. And Bernie tired. I got to stay here in Dale. My ain't done nothing. Here, Bill, you take this badge and you be the sheriff and let me go on out of here. What you do? Hey, who are these fellas? This is Lightning Jim. Who'd you say? Lightning Jim, the United States Marshal, that's who. Howdy, Sheriff. This is my deputy, Whitey Larson. His cousin. No, Whitey Larson. Hey, I said my name is Whitey Larson. Hey, Laron. Huh? Norston. Yes. Where had you? I used to know a Carson down in Dodge City. What's the matter? Is it all up you? What do you boys want? We're going to help you to be sheriff. Give me a minute. What's going on? Come on, let's find out. Good work, Michael. You got the gun right out of his hand. Thanks for the sky, Mr. Quick. Hey, what's the big idea? That dog was aiming to bite me. Yo, and her aim looks good, too. I think she got some of your pants. Baghdadi get his guns billed Dor. He must have somebody and typhoons it from the heat. Pinpoint. Yeah. Looks like this Jasser was aiming to get away with him. That's a lie. You can't prove that. Well, we don't need no more proof, mister. What's going on here? That time you were showing up. Hey, I took you so long. Couldn't find McGurn. But I got it now. Do you want to shoot somebody? Who do you want me to shoot? Nobody. Oh, well, why didn't you say so? Yeah, if this man tried to steal my horse, he did. Yeah. Arrest him. Oh, but I can't do that. He's one of Jake Slade's men. Jake could blast my head off. You arrest him or I'll put you in jail with him. No, now you can't do that. Well, then put him in jail. Now there you wait to take Slade his part. This when he gets back in town, he'll show you who's a law around here. Go on, Sheriff, take him inside and lock him up. Remember, the government will back you up. You mean the government will protect me? Sure. I'm appointing you my deputy, Mar. Oh, well, I'll be dead burned. Why didn't you taste all four? Get moving there, trigger. Come on, get moving there before I Start shooting. You pay for this. I can't hear you, but I can shoot. The old man thinks it's real important. He sure does. Well, Blade made the old man cheer. But we're seeing that he carries out the law. Well. So that Trigger fella thought he was going to steal thunder. Yeah, looks like. I told you Blackie was smart, dog. She won't let him get away. Come, Black. You're a good dog, all right. And what's our next move item? Well, I reckon your father's got the boys together. You ought to be waiting for us at the ranch. Yeah, Paul, have him here. All right. You almost didn't like about this sleep and only going to get him. Boys, I got a plan in mind. And if it works, we might be able to clean up this Slade gang tonight. I got him knocked up, boys. Good work, Chef. Hey, I say that's good, Chef. But what's going to happen when Jake comes back? You know where sleep ladies or twer says he's up in Box Canyon. He's sure going to be plenty mad. Yeah. I got one more job for you. Are you talking to me? Yes. Come along. I want to talk to you. Oh, I thought you said something about another job. All right, quiet, boys, quiet. Now, boys, I want you to meet up with the frightenest United States marshal in the plains. Lightning Jim Whipple. Thanks, boys. I ain't much at making speeches. But what I gotta say concerns every one of you. Now, I know all about Jake Slade and his jack. I know he's got a pack of hired that have been killing folks and stealing your cattle. Now, Bill here tells me there's about 50 men in Slate's gang. Well, there's almost that many right here. I reckon you all know how to use a shooting iron. Now you wanted Bill to be a sheriff, but you didn't back him up. One man can beat the Slade gang. But I'll wager my life that all of us can clean up Slade's gang in a jiffy. Now this ain't a fight to come catch a few outlaws. This is a fight to make the Midville country safe for honest season folks. To establish a kind of law and order that will rid the plains of the outlaw in desperado. Well, are you going to let Blade run Midville? Are you willing to stand up and fight? All right, let's go. Who there? Who? Now hold, boy. Who? Who there? Well, what's the trouble, dad? What? I say, what are you doing up here? Oh, triggers and jail. What? I said triggers in Jail? What for? Trying to steal a horse. Bill Barnes slapped him in jail. You mean Bill Barnes come back? Yep, he's back at the jail. Told me out. Said he dared you to come back and get triggered. Oh, he did, eh? Hey, never mind. We'll get triggered. Oh, there. Oh boy. Oh. Oh there. Come on boys. We're getting triggered out of here now. Yeah. Bill, come look at him. Howdy boys. I thought I told you to clear out, Bill. Yeah, that's right, Jake. You see, I'm the legal sheriff here. Well boys, here's like Bill don't take good advice when he gets here. Jake, a sheriff? Omit Phil. I'm arresting you and your whole gang. Yeah, well, you ask for it. Thanks for the sky, Vic. No, you don't get it, boys. Buddy. Good work, Lightning. Thank the Lord you boys didn't get hit. We're all right, Paul. How about the rest of the boys? There's a few bullet creases. We got all of Slade's men out. We got them all right. Yeah. I said you could beat him and you did. And it was light. And Jim got the boss of this dirty outfit take Slade. And here he is. Hold on boy, hold on. Jack Woolley. If he lives, he's going to see that he gets a fair sign. What is it, Dad? I went up the box 10 in the flex back here to jail when it was up there in the canyon of seeing the cattle that was stole from the Circle gang. I'd like to get my hands on that double crossing old delusion. No, Slade. Dad wasn't double crossing you. He acted under my order. Yes. Who are you? Take a look at that badge he's wearing, Slade. It says United States Marshal. This is Lightning Jim. And when it comes to fast thinking and shooting, he's greased liken we your Lightning Jim a lot for helping bring law to Midville on the plane. Say Bill, his sheriff's bad slate. Give me it belongs to you. That's right, dad. The badge is Bill's. If the boys still want him for sheriff. How about it boy? Thanks boys. Thanks. I'll do my best to carry out the law and try to be as good a lawman as life and give. Yes siri, I'm sure glad that I ain't the sheriff no more. Hold on that dad. Hold on on. I think the Bill's going to need a deputy. How you like to be a deputy sheriff? I said how you like to be a deputy sheriff? I'm sorry Lightning, but I can't hear you. And so ends another thrilling chapter in the lives of United States Marshal Lightning Jim Whipple and his deputy, Whitey Larson.