William Conrad (0:00)

Foreign.

Andrew Rines (0:15)

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and I'm excited to bring you another episode absolutely free. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. Now, let's get into this episode.

William Conrad (0:43)

Around Dodge City and in the territory on west, there's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers. And that's where 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 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 chancy job and it makes a man watchful and a little lone. Well, your horse is ready, Mr. Jones. She's tied out in front. Okay, trust it. And the papers for Jake Worth. Uhhuh. I still don't see why you got a ride. Clean up air just for any time. Can't he do it next time he comes to town? Now, these are land rights papers. Just they're government stuff. Jake's not doing me any favor by signing them. Well, when will I fix that? Tomorrow evening, probably. Unless Jake isn't at home when I get there. It might take longer. I don't know. I see. By the way, there's nothing you can do while I'm gone. If you will. Yes, sir. What's that? That door out back. Been off the hinges two winters now. Oh. Should be awful nice to have it fixed, wouldn't it? Well, it's awful hot for that kind of work. Yeah, too hot in the summer. Too cold in the winter, huh? I'll fix it, Miss Jones. Good, Chester. And you might clean up our back a little, too. Those cells look like we've been boarding cattle out there, not men. Yes, sir. Well, I'll see you in a couple of days. Goodbye, Mr. John. Have a nice trip. Sometime I think I might need to just go to San Francisco and get me. Love being a rich, millionaire gold digger, live at a nice big hotel. Not never wash up, nothing. Never, never do nothing call. Except drive around in a fancy rig and have people say, good morning, Mr. Proudfoot. Hello, Doc. I saw Matt riding out a minute ago. Yeah, he's went. Where's he headed for? He's went out into the country. Won't be back for a day or so. We left you here alone, huh? Well, now, it kind of looks that way, don't it? Must be an important mission. Well, he probably wants to travel alone. Fast and light. That ain't it at all. He would have took me, but he wants me to stay here and kind of keep an eye on things. Oh, you mean he wants to know how many killings took place and how many times the bank was held up, huh? Things like that. No, I ain't quite as useless as you seem to think. I know, I know. I got more to do. And ride around all over the country in an old buggy handing out sugar pills to defenseless old ladies. Or just walking up and down the plaza looking for somebody to gossip with. I don't need some old sob bones to tell me what good I am or not. The cook at Delmonico's told me they've got antelope stew today. I don't care what they. I hope so. I was kind of looking for someone to eat with you. Hungry Buncher one, Doc. If we don't hurry, it'll be all gone. Oh, sure you don't want s' more stew? Well, no, thank you, Doc. I just couldn't. Can't fly on one wing, you know. Well, maybe you're right. Not just a little dab. More, please. All right. Sure, sure. There you are. Thank you. Doc. You know that fellow just come in? No. Well, he sure are looking at you funny coming over here. I'm Bryce Harp, Judge. What? I said my name's Bryce Harp. You remember me, Bryce? Well, no, I'm sorry, I don't. You got a convenient memory, judge. Judge? What's this judge business? He ain't no judge, mister. A whole lot more likely he'd be on the other side of the bank. You're luck iron in. Now, wait a minute, mister. I'm a doctor. I'm not a judge. What? A doctor? Oh, he's a doctor, sure enough, mister. And if there's something wrong with your horse, he can prove. Oh, shut up, Chance. You're hiding out. Wait a minute. What in the world are you talking about? Judge Kennebrew. Big man in Wyoming. Horse doctor in Kansas. What happened, Judge? They tell you I was getting out? I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about, my friend. I'm talking about seven years in state prison. Seven long years. You sentenced me to judge. Seven years to think about what I'd do when I got out. I tell you, I'm not a judge, you fool. You ask anyone. They'll tell you just. I'm Doc Adams, Judge. I don't care what you call yourself or what you claim to be. I've been waiting seven years to meet up with you again. And it ain't likely you nor anybody else can talk me out of killing you. Killing you. That's all I've been waiting for, Judge. And I don't much care how I catch either. Look here, you. You can't go around threatening people like that. Don't tell me what I can do. I've had seven years of people telling me what I can do. Oh, you're crazy. You're a drunk. Well, I'll see you later, Judge. I'll be doggone. I've been called a lot of things in my life, never a judge. He said he was gonna kill you, Dog. Oh, that mistook me for someone else, judge. Someone or other. He'll find out the truth soon enough. Oh, yeah. But he thinks you're just covering up with this doctor business. I don't think there's too much to worry about, Chester. This bright Harp is just another pilgrim gone off balance with this hard life out here. He was mighty pale for a prairie man, Doc. Prison palace. A doc. I don't think you should out take this so light. May be seriouser than you think. N. Jesse, I know a thing or two about people. Harp's just a little off balance. I hardly won't remember a thing about this one night, though. Yeah, maybe. But I ain't so sure. Oh, now, look. He wasn't wearing a gun, was he? Well, no. Come to think, I already was. You see, the man comes busting in here saying he's gonna kill me. He's making strikes and he isn't even armed. Just stop that. He's interested. Okay, dog. Yes, you know, but I don't mind telling you I sure will be easier when he leaves town or Mr. Dylan gets back. Why, rather saint over skitty. Are you drinking tonight? Oh, my. Well, Jeff ain't got nothing much else to do. I guess I'll have beer. Sam. Yeah, coming right up. I hear Matt rode out to Drake woods place. Doc's been here, huh? Yeah, he stopped in on his way home. Here, you. Did Doc tell you about being misjudged for a judge? Yeah, having his life threatened. That man must be crazy. Doc says he's harmless. He don't even carry a gun. It's a good thing Fancy Doc is a judge. I sure would hate to come up before him if he was. If he got through chewing on you there wouldn't be enough left to send to jail. Oh, no, he's not that bad. You don't know him like I do. Give me a beer, Barkey. That's him. That's my carp right there. Well, he doesn't look like any tiger to me. Maybe not, but he's still kind of hard to figure out. Hey, you need that whole bar to drink that miserable glass of beer. You need the whole saloon to show off in, huh? What's that? You heard me, mister. I'll believe it. You just ain't got enough blood in you to stand there and talk like that. You're wearing a gun, and I'm gonna use it to split your head in two. Hold it right there. Did you see that? He said he didn't have a gun. They just took it easy, mister. Get outta here fast. Sure, you're right. I'm gone forevermore. Wow. I was sure wrong. That man's quite a tiger after all. Why, the way he run Bob Porrist out of here. Well, I guess he ain't as harmless as Doc thought. That man is a real Madison Parker. How soon do you say Matt will be back? Well, tonight, he said. And from the looks of things, that may be too late. Sure. Night, Miss Kitty. You said Doc was on his way home when he come by. Why, what are you gonna do? I better find him and tell him about all this. Maybe you better do more, Mac. Like what? I don't know. But if he's really after dark, it's no joke. I know. Look, Edward, you see? Do you suppose you could keep Harvey here for a while? Just keep an eye on him? Well, I should give him a drink or two in the house. Yeah. I'll see you later. I'm going over to Docs. You got a plan? Well, not yet, but I'll think of something. Doc. Doc. Doc. Well, for heaven's sakes, Chester, what are you doing here this time of night? Come on in. As a matter of fact, I'm glad you came. I was looking over some unpaid bills. Doc, your name is pretty. Never mind that now. Never mind it, Chester. You owed me way back. Doc, you ain't gonna live long enough if you don't listen to me. Oh, all right. What are you talking about? It's Bryce Harp, Doc. I just seen him in action or at the longboat? In action. Well, he didn't kill nobody. But he's got a gun and he's awful professional with it. Well, he run Bob Horst out of that saloon like he was a schoolboy in a pumpkin Pat. He ran that bully out, huh? He sure did. And Doc, I think he aims to come here and kill you and no two ways about. Oh, Chest, I told You. The man's off balance. That's the whole trouble, Doc. If he was an ordinary man, just a plain gunman, it wouldn't be so bad. But he ain't. And right or long, he's got a grudge getting you. And, well, doggone it, I can't just sit by and let him come murder you. Well, now, wait. Wait just a minute now, you. You really think he means business? Now, I know he does, Doc. I know it, sure as I'm breathing. Well, all right. Yes, I'll start carrying a gun. Dog, how long since you fired that old wreck of a gun? Well, I'm not too sure I ever fired it. Then you just be plain foolish to start toting it now. It'll probably blow up anyway. Well, for heaven's sakes, what do you want me to do? Look, Doc, were you going out any worse than I? Well, I don't generally stay cooped up in here for very long. Well, you stay in tonight, don't you, Bad guy? Oh, now, listen, I got the idea, Doc, and it might maybe. Yes, sir. I'll be back in a little bit. Meant, can you keep that door locked tight? And don't you open it to nobody, nobody at all, you hear? You. You mind what I say. Now, you lock this door, Doc. I'll be back after a bit. Oh, just the. Whatever it is he hasn't mind, I. I might as well go along. Lock that up. And I'll say one thing. Now that you've got the bit in his teeth. You really want it, Doc, It's Chester. What in the world are you doing down there? Shh. Throw down your fire rope. Hurry. Oh, wait a minute. Well, now what? I'm coming up. You break the pool next. Shh. Don't worry. Here I come. Keep coming, I said. You'll make it easy. Don't watch it. Watch it. Oh, well, now I know why the next day. How Will you please tell me what you're climbing in my back window for in the middle of the night? I had to come the back way, Doc. Right. Harp's down the street out in front. Huh? I was on the way here and I seen him. That's why I come in the back way, so he wouldn't see me. What's Harp going down the street? Waiting for his chance to kill you. You know, I've been thinking. If he was really out to kill me, he would have tried before now. Yeah, but he know you was leaving town till just two minutes ago. Leaving town? It's got to be now or Never the way he sees it. Well, what are you talking about? Look, when I left here, I went back over at the Lone Branch and I kind of spread the word around that you were taking the early stage to St. Louis. St. Louis? What? Harp thinks you're up here packing. Right? That's all fine. Yeah, that's just fine. If Harp really is serious about killing me, you set me up like a bird in a turkey shoot. Yeah, I guess. Half time. Would you want to tell him a fool thing like that? Because I figure if he's going to try to kill you, it's better to know when and where he's going to try it. It's a lot better than just sitting around waiting for him to shoot you in the back. What are you fitting with those curtains for? So she'll know for sure you're up here and moving around. I was just trying to make sure that I get my hip blown off. Are you, Doc? We ain't going to try to shoot you from down there in the feet. It'd be too easy to miss. Oh, that's a fine square. Here is. Is your front door still locked? Well, yes, it is. Give me the key. Why did you unlock it? How in the world is Harp going to get in here if the door is locked? If he comes in that door, we're just as good as dead. We're right in the line of fuck horse. I knock, but so is he. You better get yourself a comfortable seat. He may have us a long way now. Wait. What are you doing? Why did you blow off that lamp? With a lamp out you may think you'd went to bed. Then we may not have such a long wait. I hope you know what you're doing, Chester. So do I, Doc. So do I. Well, I do. I guess all we can do now is just wait. Yeah. Hi. Maybe you'll recall this tuneful reminder of times past. This is Dennis James with songs. Something else worth remembering. It's this. You're so right to stay regular with Kellogg's All Brand. See, it's the normal natural way to youthful regularity. The whole brand content of Kellogg's All Brand supplies your system with all the bulk forming food that you need every day. There's only one All Brand. It's Kellogg's All Brand. So relieve irregularity from lack of bulk as millions do with a bowl full of Kellogg's All Brand each morning. A double L hyphen. B, R, A, N. It's Kellogg's All Brand. Well, for heaven's sake, hello kitty. Where's you. Thought you weren't coming back till tomorrow. I ran into Jake Worth at the Benson. Saved me a day's ride. You were close for the night. Oh, yeah. But we can always find a drink for a good customer. That help cut the dust. All right. Beer, whiskey, little coffee. I think we got some. Bring it over the table, will you, Sam? You're sure? Ms. Kitty, you look tired. Bad day as usual. Think about how rich you're getting. Martial. Thanks, ma'. Am. Caught Matt. Did you stop by the office? No, I just rode in. Why? And you didn't see Justin? No. Is something wrong? Well, Chester's got in his mind that some fellow's gonna try to kill Doc. Kill Doc? Yeah. What fellow? I don't know him. He just rode into town. Have you seen him? Yeah, he was in here earlier this evening before we closed up. I'll say one thing, he's handy with a gun. So are half the cowboys in Dodge. Well, yeah. You know Chester, Kitty. He gets the feeling there's responsibility if I'm away. See something suspicious in every shadow. Well, that may be. But as I get the story, this man thinks Doc of some judge up in Wyoming put him in prison and it's gonna kill him. Well, where's Chester now? I haven't seen him in a couple hours. Any. This man that's after Doc, do you know his name? Harp. Chester said it was Bryce. Harp. Bryce. Harp. Kitty, I'll see you. Is Harp still down there, captain? Yep, still standing there. Wonder how long he's gonna. Doc. What? He's coming. He's turned for the stairs. Just sit tight now and don't make a sound. Just. Are you sure? He'll be there in a minute. Chester, You. You all right? Yeah, think so. Get that lamp lit. Looks like you got missing. What? Ain't nothing. You best eat. Well, he's still alive. Just barely. Help me get him up there on the table. How easy docking. You'll make it. He took a bullet in his shoulder, but he went on through. Just a matter of cleaning the wound. But this other bullet here, it's still there. It's gotta come out. What do you think? Well, I don't know, Jesse. Too soon, you know. Just a bag off ear. You know, it don't give you very good feeling to shoot a man. Even a bad man. He may be all right. Jane Green didn't said he'd. Hey, what's happened? This fella came up here to take a shot at me. Matt and Chester put a couple of bullets in him. I heard the shooting from the other end of town. It sounded like somebody was fighting the Battle of Chickamauga Creek all over again. Chester got nicked in the bargain. You all right, Chester? Yes, sir. I can tell you one thing, Matt. I'm mighty glad you got back. I swear I'd age the years in Justice. From the looks of things, you two got along pretty well without me. It's a terrible thing, man. A man getting shot up like that. I wouldn't feel too sorry for Bryce Harp, Doc. Do you know him? If Chester hadn't stopped him, Harp might have killed you. Well, who is he, Michelle? I've never seen him before, but I know his reputation, and I've seen his picture. He killed three men in a gunfight in Wyoming. Got off with 10 years and broke out after seven of them. Kill two guards. Well, there's nothing more I can do here. I think I'll go on home. Yeah, you do that. I'll go along, too, Doug. Yeah, I've got work to do. You two go on, get out here. Yeah. See you tomorrow, Doug. CH Yeah. Yeah, Doc, I want to. And I just want to. Thanks. Sure. Right. Document it. Gun Smoke, 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 John Meston and adapted by Mr. McDonald. Featured in the cast were Harry Bartel and James Nutter. Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc. And Georgia Ellis is getting. This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week when CBS Radio presents another story on Gun Smoke.