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Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Hines. And let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Gunsmoke original air dates May 31, 1952 and the title is Carmen. Hope you enjoy and again, thanks for listening.
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Around Dark City and in the territory on West. There's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers, and that's with the U.S. 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 Dillon, United States Marsh. Chester Chester. Chester, where are you? Back here, Mr. Dylan. Well, come on out. Yes, Mr. Dylan seems to get my boots on. Your boots on? What are you doing, sleeping? No, sir. Just washing my feet. Now, I hope you didn't have any plans for tonight. What did you want me to do, Mr. Dillon? I want you to stay on Front street for a few hours while I go up and have a toddy with Big Kate. But if you're going to be busy, I haven't got anything to do. I'd be proud to stay here. Just look at the dust in that street. Oh, Mr. Dillon. Huh. Looks like Major Randall from Fort Dodge crossing over here. Ah. Open the door for him, Chester. Major will like that. Come in, Major Arnold. Come in, sir. Marshall Dillon. Hello, Major. Marshall, I want to talk to you about last Saturday's affair. Well, Saturday was pretty lively day around here, Major. Which affair do you mean? You surprised me, Marshal. Two United States army soldiers were murdered while driving a supply wagon from here to Fort Dodge. A government payroll was stolen, and you seem to have taken no interest in the matter. Well, now, Major, protecting the army isn't exact. The army can protect itself, Marshall. That isn't the point at all. Well, if that's true, Major, how come there were only two soldiers carrying your payroll? You got plenty of men out there and plenty of guns. Where were they? On maneuvers. On maneuvers, my command, Marshall, Troops remain in garrison as little as possible. Well, then you were asking for trouble, Major, knowing that there was a payroll coming in. The arrival of the payroll was secret. Even the two men carrying it didn't know what it was. Well, the word must have got out somehow. It seems to me, Major, like somebody out at the fort must have told. There are no traitors in my command, Sheriff. Major, I'm not a sheriff. You see it. Never mind, Marshall. I demand to know what you intend doing about this crime. All right, I'll tell you, Major. Nothing. What? If I knew who did it, I'd make the arrest, but I don't, so there's nothing I can do. I see. Well, Marshall, I regard this crime as a demonstration of your inability to control these Dodge City ruffians. And therefore, I shall do it myself. How's that, Major? If no arrests are made in this matter, I'll give these bad men of yours a taste of martial law. We'll see how they like that. I wouldn't try that, Major. The streets will be patrolled 24. Now, listen to me, Major. You don't know these men. Sure, there are some bad ones here, but most of them are just wild. Free and wild. But you run the army in here and they'll all fight. Let them. You've been stationed at Fort Dodge two months now, haven't you, Major? How long you been out on the frontier? This is my first tour, thank heaven. Well, then I'd advise you to take it easy. You get to know the ways of this land, you may. Save your advice, Marshal. There'll be trouble, Major. Bad trouble, if necessary. Nonetheless, the army will take over within the week or before. Is there any more of these crimes committed against it? Good day, gentlemen.
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My.
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You think he'll do it, Mr. Dillon? I made a mistake. And he's a hot headed fool. Chester, you try it. Well, can't you stop it? I don't know. Well, I'll be at Big Cates later on. You can find me there if you need me. All right. What you doing? Hey, marshall. Kabir. What is it, Shiloh? There's talk of Dodge being run by the army Marshal. So? So I don't like it. I and most of the men around here got out back in 65. We've had all the army we need. Yeah, I know, but maybe things will work out. And if they don't work out? Which side you fighting on, Dylan? Where do you stand? I'm hired to keep the peace, Shiloh, not to answer fool questions. You calling me a fool? Well, say it. No. You're drunk, Shiloh. You saying I'm drunk, Marshall, Is that it? All right, Shiloh, I'll show you how drunk you are. Now, when he comes around, tell him I took his gun. He can get it back in the morning. And if he objects to that, tell him to look me up and I'll throw him in jail.
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Who is it?
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It's Matt, Kate.
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Well, come on in. Well, sit down, Matt. I'll get your toddy.
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Thank you, Kate.
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You could thank me best by buying a drink at the bar downstairs once in a while.
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Well, why should I get better whiskey for free up here?
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At least you're honest. Well, what's in the wind, Marshal? Dylan, could you just come up here because you're tired of sitting with your back to a wall?
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You're right, Kate. It's the only place in Dodge where I can relax. That's probably just cause you don't consider me worth killing.
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How old am I, Matt?
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What?
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You heard me.
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Well, I never thought much about it, Kate.
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You sure didn't.
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What are you getting at anyway?
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Just that If I was 20 years younger, you probably wouldn't come here. At all. Oh, and why, here's your toddy. Forget it.
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Anything you say, Kate.
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You know, Matt, you ought to get yourself a girl.
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Oh, now, Kate, don't stop. I mean it.
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Sure. Somebody like. We'll say, Connie Dell. There's a real pretty girl.
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A lot of fire. Oh, you're sure a conniving old woman, Kate. You're just no good at all. You are, you say.
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Worse than that. I told Connie she'd come up and have a drink with us the next time you showed.
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All right, Kate, if it pleases you.
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It does, Connie. Now, there's fresh cigars in that box by your chair, man. Well, now, had him brought in by the Santa Fe Railroad all the way from St. Louis. Evening, Ms. Kate. Oh, come on in, Connie. I've corralled the marshal for you. Sit down, honey. I'll fix you a dress.
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And don't let her talk bother you, Connie.
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Well, I. I did ask to meet you, Marshall.
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Oh, why? Why'd you want to meet me?
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Maybe just to see if you're really as cold and cruel as you seem downstairs. And I can't tell yet, but I don't think you are.
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A profession like mine leaves its mark on a man.
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There's always trouble of some kind, isn't there?
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Most always.
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Like this army business now.
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Yeah.
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Will it be bad, Marshall?
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It could be.
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Well, I'll figure it this way, Matt. Major's in trouble and he's trying to cover it up by threatening to take over Dodge.
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Any more difficulties and he will do it. Plastic Green.
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Say, Connie, your corporal been in? He left a while ago. What's he say? How'd the soldiers feel about all this? Well, I don't think they want to mix it with all these gunmen and buffalo hunters and the like.
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Yeah, Major will wish he were back on maneuvers if it starts.
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Maneuvers? So that's where they've all been. No wonder it's been so quiet. That corporal of yours, Connie, how come he didn't go out? He's not my corporal, Ms. Kate. He's just a lonely kid, all right. Seems like he spends more time here than at the fort. How does he manage that? Oh, they made him a clerk, a sort of bookkeeper. Stands pretty much his own. Uh huh. Well, he's lucky. He's got a good, safe job too. I suppose it is. Well, I'd better get back. Now that we've met, Marshall, you might stop and buy me a drink next time of year.
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I'm afraid not, Connie. No, you're too distracting. I might get careless and shot at.
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I take that as a compliment, Marshall.
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It is.
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Good night, Marshall. Thank you. Don't you mention it, honey.
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Well, Matt, you said her name's Connie Dell. Where's she from?
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I never asked the girls anything.
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Yeah, maybe, but you always find out. Now, come on, tell me.
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Hay City last.
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Uh huh. What's the name of this corporal who's been sniffing around? Bowers.
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Corporal Bowers. Oh, here, let me sweeten that toddy for you.
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All right.
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You put me in mind of a man I knew back in Wichita. Now, he was the slipperiest side wine and the stubbiest man I ever.
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Even Mr. Dylan. Everything quiet, Chester? Yes, sir. But it's like everybody's holding his juice for the army. If it comes it quiet and mean, Mr. Dillon. That's it. Just quiet and mean. Yeah. All right, Chester, you can go to bed. I'll stay around for a little while longer. Yes, Mr. Dillon. Oh, first thing in the morning I want you to go to the depot and have him send a message to the sheriff in Hays city. That'd be Mr. Hickok. Yeah. Ask Bill to send me all the information he can about a dancehall girl named Connie Dell. She left there about a month ago. Connie Dell. I'll do it, Mr. Dillon. And bring me the answer as soon as it comes in, huh? Well, we ought to have it by tomorrow evening. Yeah, I hope so. Well, good night, chester. Good night, Mr. Dillon. I got it from Mr. Hightower down at the railroad depot, Mr. Dillon. It come in at 7:00'. Clock. Oh, good. Let me see it. Just here. Connie Dell worked Golden Horn Bar here. Left about a month ago. A stranger called Billy Grounds. Nothing against girl, but believe Grounds. A wild one. Has anybody shot you yet? Regards, hickok. What's up, Mr. Dillon? Well, I don't know, Chester. I don't quite know. Look, you go over and ask Big Kate if she's heard anything about this Billy grounds. All right, Mr. Green. Marshall, what is it? Shiloh? I want you to smell my gun here. What? And? Go on, smell it. All right. Hasn't been fired. What are you worried about? Well, I've been talking a lot lately and a man was just shot out behind the long branch. A soldier. Any witnesses to this? Well, who saw it? Just heard the shout. I want to know who killed this soldier. Maybe nobody did see it, Marshall. And maybe nobody cares much about it anyway. Get the soldier. All right, you men, I'm going to tell you something. If I don't find who shot this man, the army Will move in here for sure. That's a whole army, Marshall. They won't all move in. Why not? My shop's rifle can kill buffalo 200 yards. I reckon it'll kill soldiers at three. Let me through here. Let me through. Let me through here. Hello, Marshall.
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Well, what do we got this time? Uh.
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Oh, soldier. Yeah, well, he needs an autopsy just like anybody else. Where's the man that shot him?
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He get hurt? Maybe.
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Take a good look, Doc. He isn't even armed. This isn't a shooting. This is a murder. Hey, you're right, Marshall. Oh, well, I'll get him up to my office. Here, now, give me a hand, somebody. You may have a better day tomorrow, Doc, but I hope I can spoil it for you. I'm riding out to Fort Dodge right now. Well, Marshall, what brings you here? Trouble, Major. What sort of trouble? Murder. The soldier? Yeah. Who? I don't know. Some private. Why haven't I been informed of this? It just happened about an hour ago. In Dodge City? Of course, in Dodge City. Have you arrested the murderer? Nobody saw it happen. I see. Well, marshal, you leave me no choice. Now, hold it, Major. I didn't ride out here just to carry news for you. I want something from you. From me, Marshall? Yeah. I want you to keep all soldiers out of Dodge for the next 48 hours. Put it off limits. That's not exactly what I had in mind, Marshall. But you're going to do it anyway. What? Now, listen, Major. Dodge City's an armed camp. It's full of men who fought Indians, who fought the war between the states, and who fought each other ever since they could spit. They'll fight you next. They'll make you hated. Marshall Dillon, I shall report your treasonable. Report what you like, but stay out of Dodge. Now, I'll make you a deal, major. Give me 48 hours and I'll find your killers. You better take it. All right, But I want the criminals delivered here. Sure, Major. And I might have to kill them to get them here. Hello, Doc. You drinking up the profit you made off of that soldier? Oh. Oh, hello, Marshall. The boy's name was Bone, according to the letter I found on him. Anything else? Yes. Dug a couple slugs out of him. It's a funny thing, Marshall. I haven't happened on lead like that since 65. What do you mean, Doc? Well, I'd swear that boy was shot with a calvary pistol. I'll see you later, Doc. And mind you can't prove it. Not exactly, but I would swear.
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Come in.
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Hello, Kate. Did Chester see you? She did.
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Well, Matt, I get my information through the girl. Some of it's true, some is bound to be just talk.
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I'll weed it out.
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Carney's been seen riding out at night toward the Arkansas, down by Brandy Bend.
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What for?
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I don't know. Could be this feller. Billy Grounds.
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Yeah.
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His name's never been mentioned around here. My guess is he's never been in town.
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Anything else?
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One thing. Corporal Bowers and Connie went for a ride one night.
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When?
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Night before that. Payroll was robbed.
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Figures. Where's Connie now?
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Over at the Longhorn, eating a steak.
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It's kind of late for supper, isn't it?
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She works late, Matt.
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Yeah.
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Next girl I steer you into, I'll pull her fangs first.
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No, thank you, Kate. I like them better this way. Good evening, Connie.
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Well, this is a surprise, Marshall.
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May I sit down?
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Of course.
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Thank you. You sure Corporal Bowers won't mind?
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Don't be silly. Anyway, he's away at the fort, huh?
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What time did he leave, Connie?
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I don't know. About 7, I think.
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What? Anyone with him?
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Yeah. Private Bones. Marshall. You think Bauer shot him? Is that it?
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You know any reason why he would, Connie?
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They were friends. They worked together in the bookkeeping office.
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I see. Tell me, Connie. Bowers say much about his job there or what he does? No.
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No, Marshall, he never talked about.
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Handled expenses for supplies and the like. Figured out the payroll.
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I don't know.
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Bars would be in a good spot to know when to expect the payroll money in, wouldn't he? Even when it was kept a secret?
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You'd have to ask him. Marshall, I don't know anything about the army. But this isn't why you found me here, is it?
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Of course not, Connie. I'm sorry. Hey, you look real pretty tonight.
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Why, thank you, Marshall. You really mean it?
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Sure. Sure, I do.
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I have to work late tonight, but I can get off tomorrow evening. Marshall, would you go for a ride with me? There'll be a moon.
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Where would we ride to, Connie?
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I don't know. Anywhere, maybe. Maybe along New York, Kansas. Well, I know. Let's. Let's ride down toward Brandy Bend.
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All right, Connie. We ride down to Brandy Bend. You're all dressed up, Mr. Dillon. You going somewhere? Yeah, after supper I am. Chester got me an engagement. Going riding with Connie Dell in the moonlight along the river. Is she a nice girl, Mr. Duane? All girls are nice, Chester. Some fall in with bad company, that's all. Yes, Mr. Dylan? Yeah? Who'd this one fall in with? Me. Oh, now, Mr. Dylan, that's not so. And who'd you think, Chester? Come on, tell me. Billy Grounds. You don't give me much credit for a romance, Chester. No, sir. But don't look so worried about it. I was thinking, would you like me to follow you tonight, Indian style? Thanks, Chester, but it wouldn't help. You see, I'm riding into an ambush. It'll be over fast. Real fast. Well, all right, Mr. Dillon. If that's where you want it, that's the way it's gotta be. And as soon as I leave, I want you to ride out to Fort Dodge and see the major. Yes, sir. Tell him to arrest Corporal Bowers for the murder of Private Bone. I think Bone found out where the leak about that payroll money came from, and bars had to shut him up. The major won't like that, will he? Well, tell him I'll prove it. And anyway, I think bars will confess fast enough when the time comes. When will that be, Mr. Dillon? When I get back to town with Billy Grounds. What about the girl? That's like I told you, Chester. Nice girl, bad company. You know, I had me a girl once. Huh. Well, you never told me about that, Chester. What happened? It was over in Abilene. I gave her my money to go to St. Louis and buy some wedding clothes. She wanted that. So? Well, I don't know, Mr. Dillon. I guess she just liked it there in St. Louis. I'm going down the street, Chester. You better get started for the fort. So. Yes, sir, mister. Good evening, Marshall. Hello, Shiloh. I feel another drunk coming on, Marshall. Well, then check your guns back there with Chester. What if the army comes tonight? I'll need my gun and stay sober. But if the army doesn't come, I'll have stayed sober for nothing. Every man's got his problem, Shiloh. But if I see you drunk and wearing your gun, you'll wake up brokenhearted in jail tomorrow. I don't want to get drunk enough to draw on you, Marshall. That's so, Shiloh. Then some night you're gonna die,
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Marshall.
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Oh, hello, Connie.
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I got off a little early. Shall we go now?
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Anytime.
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I keep my horse at the National. I'll meet you at the edge of town.
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Oh, you ashamed to be seen with me?
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No, Marshall. But you know how people talk.
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Sure, Connie. I'll wait for you just down the trail.
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I'll hurry.
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Now. We come pretty fast, Connie. You want to get on for a minute?
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I'm all right.
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All right. We'll let the horses blow a little and then move on, huh? You nervous, connie?
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No. Why?
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Well, then sit down. Relax.
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All right. This better?
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Yeah. Sure is a nice night, Doug.
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Beautiful.
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You're not even looking at it. Connie, is something on your mind?
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No, of course not. Why should there be?
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I don't know. You tell me.
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It's nothing, Marshall, really.
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Connie, let me ask you something. You ever see a man killed? What?
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Why'd you say that?
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Well, did you?
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Yes, once. In the saloon?
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Yes. Tell me, do you have a fair chance?
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Yeah. He even drew first.
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Then you never saw a man shot in the back or ambushed?
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What do you mean, Marshal?
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I think it sort of goes against your grain, Connie. The idea of a man being killed without a fair chance.
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I get it, Marshall. All right. Go ahead.
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Down by the river near Brandy Bend, Billy Grounds is waiting to shoot me in the back.
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Then why did you come, Marshall?
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It's my job.
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I suppose you know about everything.
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I think so.
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What are you gonna do, Connie?
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Unless I made a mistake about you, I. I think you're gonna let me have a fair chance at him somehow.
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Why should I? What does it mean to me?
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I don't know, Connie. I. I don't know. But you think about it. You think about it all the way to Brandy Bend. Now, come on. Let's r. Make a nice camp down here. Plenty of wood. Get your own water right out of the Arkansas. Don't you think, Connie? A man could hide out for a long time down here. He could be safe here. Even while the army was trying to make move into Dodge, a lot of men were being killed back there. It's peaceful here. Quiet.
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Marshall, I can't do it.
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Tell me, Connie.
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That big cottonwood up ahead on the left.
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All right, keep moving. When we get there, I'm going to ride fast. I'll hang on to the offside of my horse for cover. When I start, you turn around, get back on the gunfire. Yeah. Sure is pretty down here, Connie. You know, maybe someday we can come down and go fishing, huh? That river is full of catfish. Jerry, get a catfish dinner. Oh, they can be mighty good when they're small. Back. Connie. Connie. Connie. Yeah? He's dead, connie.
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I'm all right, Marshall.
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I'm sorry about this, Connie. I'm sorry. I had to do it.
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He killed your horse. I'll show you where his is and the money. Then you can take me back to Dodge to jail.
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All right, Connie. But you won't be in jail for long. Here. Have my word. Not for long.
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Let's go, Marshall.
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Gunsmoke. Under the Direction of Norman McDonald stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U S Marshall 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 Michael Ann Barrett and Jeanette Nolan with Harry Bartel and Don Diamond, Harley Bears chester and Howard McNear is Doc 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 Smok. The adventure just begins with Gunsmoke on CBS Radio. Still ahead tonight, Gene Autry, Tarzan, Gangbusters and stars in the air. Yes, listen in for them all on most of these same CBS radio stations. This is Roy Rowan speaking. And remember, for your free convention handbook, write to Time, CBS Chicago, 90, Illinois. This is the CBS Radio Network.
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Sam.
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In a world of endless notifications, there could be an important one you're missing. Your kidneys may be signaling an SOS with high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. Your kidneys could be warning you of early signs of damage, which may put you at higher risk for events like heart attack or stroke. But there's a simple test that can help spot a hidden signal. Ask your doctor about a urine test called UACR to help detect kidney disease and heart risk early. To learn more, visit detectthesos.com today I'm caught up in the game. My attention is on every play and every whistle, but what I'm missing is a signal coming from my kids. That signal isn't like a ref's whistle. It's more of a silent sos, which could be warning me of an increased risk for events like heart attack or stroke. And a way I can catch that signal, a simple urine test called UACR. If you have type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about the UACR test. Detect the SOS. Visit detectthesos.com to learn more. In a world of endless notifications, there could be an important one you're missing. Your kidneys may be signaling an SOS with high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. Your kidneys could be warning you of early signs of damage, which may put you at higher risk for events like heart attack or stroke. But there's a simple test that can help spot a hidden signal. Ask your doctor about a urine test called UACR to help detect kidney disease and heart risk early. To learn more, visit detectthesos.com today.
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Foreign. This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate our shows in your Favorite Podcast application Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube and send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com you can call and leave us a voicemail 707-986-8739. This episode is copyright under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Like Copyright for more information go to otrwesterns.com copy you write have a great day and thanks for listening. This is the story of the One as the purchasing manager at a manufacturing plant, she knows the only thing more important than having the right safety gear is having it there when you need it. That's why she partners with Grainger for auto reordering, so her team members can count on her to have cut resistant gloves on hand and each shift can run safely and efficiently. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. This is the story of the One
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In a world of endless notifications, there could be an important one you're missing. Your kidneys may be signaling an SOS with high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. Your kidneys could be warning you of early signs of damage, which may put you at higher risk for events like heart attack or stroke. But there's a simple test that can help spot a hidden signal. Ask your doctor about a urine test called UACR to help detect kidney disease and heart risk early. To learn more, visit detectthesos.com today.
Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode Air Date: February 25, 2026
Original Gunsmoke Air Date: May 31, 1952
Episode Title: “Carmen”
This episode, “Carmen,” revives a classic Gunsmoke tale, featuring U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon in the tumultuous frontier town of Dodge City. Tensions run high when the Army threatens to impose martial law after a payroll robbery and murder of two soldiers. The story navigates law enforcement’s struggle with authority, loyalty, and personal morality as Matt Dillon investigates a mysterious dancehall girl, a suspicious corporal, and an outlaw hiding on the prairie. Digitally restored for superior audio quality, the episode plunges listeners into the heart of Western radio drama, recapturing the golden era’s suspense, romance, and gritty realism.
On Army Authority:
On “Wild” Dodge City:
On Romance and Danger:
On Facing an Ambush:
Aftermath:
| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|--------------------------------------------| | 02:52 | Army arrives to question Dillon | | 08:34 | Kate’s saloon and matchmaking | | 13:24 | Chester tasked to investigate Connie | | 15:51 | Dead soldier discovered | | 19:01 | New intel from Kate – Connie’s movements | | 22:26 | Connie invites Dillon for the moonlight ride| | 27:56 | Connie’s moral decision and ambush climax | | 30:31 | Dillon’s pledge to Connie after showdown |
The episode is marked by classic Western grit—dry, direct banter, understated emotion, and moral ambiguity. Dialogue is spare but pointed, revealing character motivations. Marshall Dillon’s world-weariness contrasts with Connie’s vulnerability and the town’s latent volatility, all portrayed with somber, matter-of-fact realism.
Listeners are left with a sharp, nuanced portrait of frontier justice—not simply law against lawlessness, but a study of the gray spaces where compassion and principle collide.