The Sod-Buster | Gunsmoke (05-28-61)

Summary

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Old Time Radio Westerns: Gunsmoke - "The Sod-Buster" (05-28-61)

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Release Date: November 23, 2025
Episode Featured: "The Sod-Buster" from Gunsmoke
Primary Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester Proudfoot), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Howard McNear (Doc), special guest actors as Sedge and Bessie May Wilker

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Overview

This classic episode of Gunsmoke, "The Sod-Buster," is brought to life with modern digital restoration by the Old Time Radio Westerns podcast, hosted by Andrew Rhynes. The story, set in Dodge City, revolves around the arrival of Sedge Wilker and his daughter, Bessie May, and the events that unfold when a bank robbery leads to suspicion, mistaken identity, and unexpected confessions.

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Main Theme

The episode explores themes of deception, desperation for a better life, mistaken identity, and the consequences of small-town misunderstandings on the lawless frontier. The Wilkers’ pursuit of a new start in Dodge City collides with the grim realities faced by both law enforcers and dreamers on the prairie.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Arrival of Sedge and Bessie May Wilker (04:32 – 07:19)

• Sedge Wilker and his daughter Bessie May arrive in Dodge City, seeking a fresh start.
• A comic exchange sets the tone: Sedge aggressively queries Chester about town lodging, not realizing Chester is not the actual marshal.
• Chester, left "in charge" during Matt Dillon’s absence, bluffs authority but is quickly overwhelmed.
• Sedge apologizes and introduces himself, mending the rough first impression.

Quote:
Sedge Wilker: "We've been on the trail for quite a spell, and sometimes. Well, sometimes a man gets a mite short, you know." (06:35)

2. Chester’s Mistaken Identity and Bessie May’s Interest (07:41 – 16:32)

• Bessie May develops an affection for Chester, believing him to be Dodge City’s marshal.
• Chester unsuccessfully tries to correct her misunderstanding, but Sedge and Bessie May won’t hear of it.
• Chester confides in Matt about his “marshal” mix-up and Bessie May’s pursuit, leading to humorous exchanges.

Quote:
Chester Proudfoot (flustered): "Bessie May and her pa think I'm Marshal at Dodge City. I’ve been trying to tell ’em... but they wouldn’t listen. And you sure wasn’t helping none." (15:06)

• The arrival of the real Marshal Dillon furthers the comedic confusion.
• Bessie May’s buggy ride plans with Chester provide both comic relief and emotional weight, hinting at her hopes for change.

3. Cliff Meadows, the Prisoner, and the Bank Robbery (11:28 – 18:35)

• Marshal Dillon returns with Cliff Meadows, a wanted man, and locks him up in Dodge’s jail.
• A sudden bank robbery is discovered (18:32). The teller claims to have seen Clifford Meadows leaving town, implicating him with the crime.
• Chester and Matt are thrust into a chase, but questions linger about how Meadows escaped jail.

Quote:
Narrator: "The bank's been robbed." (18:35)
Teller: "It was that prisoner of yours. Just a few minutes ago, I saw him riding out of town—just as fast as he could go." (18:51)

4. The Pursuit and Confession (21:19 – 26:59)

• Matt and Chester track down Cliff Meadows. In a tense standoff, Meadows is mortally wounded.
• With his dying breath, he reveals that it was not him who robbed the bank—rather, a "scrawny old coot" (Sedge Wilker) released him.

Quote:
Meadows: "Scrawny old coot. Come in and said something about that lyin’ Chester. Then he unlocked my cell." (23:09)

• The investigators (Matt and Chester) surmise that Sedge Wilker orchestrated the breakout to commit the robbery and frame Meadows.

5. The Reveal and Consequences (24:13 – 26:59)

• Chester and Matt confront Sedge and Bessie May as they hurriedly pack to leave town.
• Sedge confesses to freeing Meadows as a petty act of revenge against Chester, then indirectly admits to robbing the bank.
• The heartbreak unfolds as Bessie May realizes the full extent of her father’s actions, and she confesses her role in the plan: she was supposed to distract the "marshal" (Chester) while Sedge robbed the bank.

Memorable Quotes:
Sedge Wilker: "Never had nothing, Marshal. Never had nothing at all." (25:28)
Bessie May Wilker: "He didn’t mean no harm, Marshal. He just got tired of scratching in the ground for a living and never quite making it... The real plan was me. I was supposed to fix up all purdy-like, then shine up to the marshal... You was the only marshal in town then, Chester. But you lied to us. You wasn’t no marshal at all." (26:13, 26:40)

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Chester’s sheepish handling of romance:
  "I swear I've saw prettier faces on a warthog." (16:07)
• Matt Dillon’s empathy:
  "A lot of people don't [have anything], Sedge." (25:35)
• The heartbreak of Bessie May’s realization:
  "He didn’t mean no harm... just got tired of scratching in the ground for a living and never quite making it." (25:58)

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Episode Highlights by Timestamp

• 04:32 – 07:19: Arrival of Wilkers and mistaken-identity comedy
• 11:28 – 16:32: Chester’s predicament, Bessie May’s affections, and confusion over the marshal's identity
• 18:32 – 19:03: Discovery of the bank robbery; Meadows implicated
• 21:19 – 23:09: Meadows’ escape, confrontation, and confession
• 24:13 – 25:15: Confrontation with the Wilkers, Sedge’s confession
• 26:13 – 26:59: Bessie May’s role unveiled, heartbreak and resignation

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Tone & Atmosphere

The episode fluidly combines the signature Gunsmoke mix of tense drama, frontier ethics, and moments of poignant humor. The cast’s performance brings each character to life with authenticity and warmth, from Chester’s befuddled sincerity to Matt Dillon’s steady, compassionate authority. The dialogue maintains the show’s classic, slightly folksy tone, layered with moments of raw emotion and Western stoicism.

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Takeaway

"The Sod-Buster" stands as a classic illustration of Gunsmoke's enduring appeal: deep empathy for its characters, moral ambiguity, and the trials of ordinary folks driven to desperate acts. The episode concludes with both justice and sorrow—a reminder of the struggles etched into the Western landscape.

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For more digitally restored Western radio adventures, visit OTRWesterns.com

Transcript

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[Chester Proudfoot]

Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[Limu Emu]

Cut the camera.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings vary underwritten by Liberty Mutual insurance company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.

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[Andrew Rines]

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and I'm excited to bring you another episode. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly. For your enjoyment, you can find more western shows at our website by going to otrwesterns.com now let's get into this episode.

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

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 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.

[Matt Dillon]

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 lonely.

[Limu Emu]

Limu game and Doug, here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people custom their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[Limu Emu]

Cut the camera.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

They see us only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty, Liberty.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Liberty.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

Liberty Savings Very unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. Affiliates excludes Massachusetts.

[Bessie May Wilker]

The lively crown Today you're green those who think young say Pepsi they pick the right one the modern light one now it's Pepsi for those who think young so go ahead and pick the drink that lets you drink Young as you think yes, get the right one the modern light one now it's Pepsi for those who think young.

[Chester Proudfoot]

No, no, no, sir. It just isn't right, Chester. It just isn't right. What ain't right? What are you talking about, Doc? What am I. I'm talking about Matt out traipsing all over the country after some killer, maybe getting himself shot. Oh, my goodness. And here you sit sunning yourself with your feet propped up on the porch rail, half asleep. You just look here. Shameful. Just shameful. Doc, you know, Ms. Dillon told me to stay here and watch after. Well, then it seems like you could find something more useful to do with your time. You know, I'd feel a little bit guilty if I were you, Doc. You're just plain cantankerous, that's what you are.

[Andrew Rines]

Hold up there.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, my.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Look at that. Well, looks like we made it, Betumy.

[Matt Dillon]

Sure does, Pa. Now, there's a pair of real beauties.

[Chester Proudfoot]

They look like they both come off a hog farm. Hey, you reckon he's younger than us?

[Matt Dillon]

You, not me.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Hey, you talking to me, mister? Of course I am. That there, the Dodge House, it's got a sign. Says it real clear. Now, folks tell me that that there's the only staying place you got in Dodge City. Is that right? You mean a hotel? I suppose that's right. You suppose? Well, it seems like you ought to know if you belong here, Mister, I belong here, all right, but maybe you don't. I go where I please, sonny. Well, with an attitude like that, you ain't gonna go far. Who's gonna stop me?

[Bessie May Wilker]

Now, Pa?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Mister, if you wasn't so old and scrawny, I, I, I swear I'd throw you right out in the middle of that street. Well, don't let nothing stop you from trying. Wait now, just a minute. Here. Here. Who are you? Doc Adams? It seems to me that you walked up here with a pretty big chip on your shoulder. That ain't no concern to yours, so you just keep shut. Now, here, you. You listen. You cause any trouble, and I'll throw you in jail if you cool off, son. Jail? How you going to do that? You ain't no lawman. Well, I'm the only law they are in Dodge right now.

[Bessie May Wilker]

You?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Yes, me.

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

Well.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, no offense, men. I mean, we've been on the trail for quite a spell, and sometimes. Well, sometimes a man gets a mite short, you know. I don't give you no right to go around smarting off at folks like that. You're right, Marshall. You're purely right, and I'm sorry. Well, Wilker's my name. Sedge Wilker. And this here's my very own daughter. Step up here, Bessie May.

[Bessie May Wilker]

I'm right, please.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I do, ma'.

[Matt Dillon]

Am.

[Chester Proudfoot]

And what might your name be? Marshall Chester Proudfoot.

[Bessie May Wilker]

But I've never seen a real marshal before.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, look, see, I, I, I figure Bessie May and me might stay right here in Dodge while. Well, that'll be nice. But I want to tell you that I ain't look like a fine town. Real fine. Ain't that so, Betty?

[Bessie May Wilker]

Man sure is, Pa. You know, it.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Just might be we're going to find what we're looking for here in Dodge City. Yes, sir. It just might be.

[Bessie May Wilker]

Hello, Chester.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You drinking alone or do you want some company? Well, hello, Miss Kitty. Sam, bring me a beer, will you? Yeah, sure, Miss Kitty. You want another one, Chester? No, thank you. No?

[Bessie May Wilker]

You heard from Matt yet?

[Chester Proudfoot]

No, ma', am, I ain't. Seems like he's been gone an awful long time. Better than a week now. Hey, here you are, Miss Kitty. Thanks, Sam.

[Matt Dillon]

You're welcome.

[Bessie May Wilker]

Wonder if Matt ever caught the man he was after.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Cliff Mattis. I sure do hope so. Them folks up in Hays City got a rope waiting for him. Feelings runs pretty high when a man kills a whole family just to steal a few dogs. Oh, I hope Matt kept him. Well, if he's gonna get caught, Mr. Dillon can do it. Sure do wish I could have went with him, though. Well, somebody had to stay and keep the town from burning down Chance. Yeah, well, I suppose he could.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, my.

[Chester Proudfoot]

What? What? That ornery old sod Buster. Sedge Wilker. Hey, Joe. I've been looking all over for you, Chester. You have? Yeah. Oh, ain't you going to introduce me to the lady? Oh, well, this Miss Kitty, she. She owned the long branch. Oh, I do, ma'.

[Andrew Rines]

Am.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Wilker's my name. Sedge Wilker, Mr. Wilker. Say, this is the right nice place you got here. Right nice, Mr. Wilker. You said you was looking for me. Yes, sir, that's true enough. Bessie May's waiting for you. Bessie May's what? Yeah, she went and found herself a cook stove, and then she baked the pie. Well, that's fine, Mr. Welker. Well, the fact is, Bessie May, she baked that pie for you. Kind of make up for all them things I said. Oh, well, now, that ain't necessary. Oh, yes. Tis. We figure we owe you a proper apology. This is our way of showing it. No, no, Mr. Roker, I. You ain't going to refute our apology, are you? Bessie May's got herself all fancied up. Oh, she'll be mighty proud to see you. Oh, go on, Justice. The Maya will do you good. Well, now, that part sounds fine, Miss Kitty. But to tell the truth, that ain't what's concerning me.

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[Chester Proudfoot]

Of what you need.

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[Chester Proudfoot]

Come on.

[Matt Dillon]

What's the be.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, all right, all right. Who is this? It's me, Chester. Open up. Oh, my. Mr. Dooney, you're back.

[Matt Dillon]

The middle of the afternoon. What have you got the door locked for?

[Chester Proudfoot]

I've been hiding.

[Matt Dillon]

What?

[Chester Proudfoot]

How? I can explain.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, never mind. Jesse.

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

All right, get in.

[Matt Dillon]

Matters no push, Meadows. Ah.

[Chester Proudfoot]

So you're meadows I knew Ms. Dillon had get you.

[Matt Dillon]

Catching me in and holding me is two different things.

[Chester Proudfoot]

He sure must have made you chase him all over the territory. Mr. Dillon, you've been gone the best part of two weeks.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah. Lock him up, Chester. I'm gonna keep him here a couple of days before taking him to Hayes City.

[Chester Proudfoot]

All right, Jim.

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

Come on, you get your hands off. Now, listen.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Get your hands off, mister.

[Matt Dillon]

I've been pushed around just all I aim to be. You can walk or get carried, but you're gonna go into that cell. Okay, but it's a long time between this flea bit town and Hay City, Marshall. You better remember that.

[Chester Proudfoot]

All right, Metis girl, through eating. I'll take that tray.

[Matt Dillon]

Come and get it.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I ain't gonna fool with you, mister. Now, you just pick up that tray and things and slide them through these bars right now.

[Matt Dillon]

That's better. Kind of touchy, ain't you?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, you ain't making it easy not to be. And I'll tell you something else. It's gonna be mighty nice to get you out of here. You ain't been nothing but trouble to me since Mr. Doane brung you in.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, you better just hope I don't get loose before he takes me to Hays City.

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

I just might come looking for you.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, you ain't gonna get loose, so don't fret about that.

[Bessie May Wilker]

Chester.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, no.

[Bessie May Wilker]

Chester, you back there?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Yes, Bessie May.

[Bessie May Wilker]

My goodness, I just been looking everywhere for you.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Bessie May, you ought not to come back here.

[Bessie May Wilker]

Why?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, this is where the prisoners is at.

[Bessie May Wilker]

Oh, he's a prisoner?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Yes, he is. Now, go on. Come on out of here.

[Bessie May Wilker]

I got everything ready. The buggy and all.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Buggy?

[Bessie May Wilker]

Outside?

[Chester Proudfoot]

What for?

[Bessie May Wilker]

You're gonna take me on a ride?

[Chester Proudfoot]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I tell you, Matt, that's the only.

[Matt Dillon]

Way I.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, hello, Chessy. Bessie May. Well, say, maybe we ought to leave, man.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, maybe you're right.

[Chester Proudfoot]

No, no, Doc, you come back here. Well, Chester, we wouldn't want to interrupt any. You in?

[Bessie May Wilker]

We're going for a buggy ride.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, buggy ride, Bessie? Me? I told you buggy rides are nice this time of year. Buggy ride, Mr. John?

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

What?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, this here's Bessie May Wilker.

[Matt Dillon]

How are you, Miss Wilker?

[Bessie May Wilker]

How do?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Seems her and her PA come to Dodge and they just. I mean, she just. Well, will you just tell her I got too much to do to go on no buggy ride?

[Matt Dillon]

Chester, I can't very well do a thing like that.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Of course, you can. You can, too. You can send me down to depot or something.

[Bessie May Wilker]

How come you're doing that, Chester?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Huh?

[Bessie May Wilker]

I mean, asking him for orders and such. You're the marshal, Marshall?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Him? Yeah. Well, now, that's another thing, Ms. Dylan. Bessie May and her pa thinks I'm Marshall at Dodge City. I've been trying to tell em. Oh, now, Chester. Well, I have, I have, but they wouldn't listen. And you sure wasn't helping none.

[Bessie May Wilker]

Yes, sir.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Bessie May, Bessie May. I ain't going on no buggy.

[Bessie May Wilker]

I ain't talking about that. It's what you just said about not being marshalled.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Mr. Dillon's the marshal. He always has been.

[Bessie May Wilker]

But you, when we come to Dodge.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You say I never neither. I, I said I was the only law in town at. And that's because Mr. Dillon was gone after that Cliff Meadows fella. That, that prisoner right back there.

[Bessie May Wilker]

Then you just ain't been telling the.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Truth about nothing, Bessie May.

[Bessie May Wilker]

Just a proud foot. You're awful. You're just awful.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Here, now, you.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, her thinking you were Marshall seemed to mean a good deal to her.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Just yes, sir. But I never told her no such a thing. Not really.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, well, she's just mad. Maybe she'll say get over it.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, I just soon she didn't. I tell you, Miss Dung, that woman was near driving me out of my mind past few days. She's the lady I was hiding from the day you come home. She likes you, Chester. Well, I don't like her. I swear I've saw prettier faces on a warthog. Oh. Oh, now, Chest. Well, I have since she started painting her face off. I tell you, it's just become pitiful.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, maybe she's never had a man to corner before. Chester, you should be kind of easy on her.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I have a hard enough time just keeping hidden from her.

[Matt Dillon]

Come on, I'll buy you a dock of beer.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Thank you. Yeah, that's a good idea. Man, my throat does feel a little dry. You know, I, I, I, I still can't figure out Bessie May acting the way she done it. It just don't make no sense. Well, it's like I said, she likes you. It hurt her when she found out that you weren't what she thought you were. Well, it seems funny, though.

[Andrew Rines]

Yeah.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You Jessie. Bessie May's. Yeah. I knew it. I'd find you crawling around somewhere. Crawling around? If you ain't crawling now, you will be when I finished with you. Now you look here, mister. If there's anything I hate It's a liar. I suppose you're talking about me not being Marshall. You bet I am. Bessie. Big just told me. I tried to explain all that to you before. It ain't my fault if you wouldn't listen now. Oh, it ain't, huh? Well, I think you done it a purpose. Now I'm calling you a dirty liar.

[Matt Dillon]

All right, Wilker, that's enough.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Who are you?

[Matt Dillon]

Matt Dillon.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Dylan. Oh. Oh, then you're the real marshal, huh?

[Matt Dillon]

That's right.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, this Chester's a cheat.

[Matt Dillon]

I said that's enough.

[Chester Proudfoot]

No, it ain't. Not near enough. Ain't nobody gonna make a fool out of Sedge Wilfer. Nobody ain't tried to make no fool out of you. Liar. I've took just about all I'm gonna take off of you. Yeah, you ain't. There's a lot more. And I tell you, when I get through it. Doggone crazy old fool. What's he want to get so riled up about? Something that don't really matter for?

[Matt Dillon]

Seems like it does matter to him. That Bessie. May.

[Chester Proudfoot]

That coffee's kindly weak, ain't it, Mr. Dillon?

[Matt Dillon]

Huh? Tastes fine to me.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, it ain't got much of a bite to it.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, it doesn't grab you and throw you down, if that's what you mean.

[Chester Proudfoot]

No, no, no. What I meant.

[Matt Dillon]

As soon as you're finished. What did you mean?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, it's just kind of weak.

[Matt Dillon]

No, as soon as you're finished. Let's get some food over to Cliff Meadows. I want to get an early start for Hayes City.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Marshall. Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah?

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

You've got to come quick.

[Matt Dillon]

What's the matter?

[Chester Proudfoot]

The bank's been robbed.

[Matt Dillon]

What?

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

I just opened up for the day.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I went in and there was the safe.

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

It was wide open. Mr. Botkin lying on the floor unconscious.

[Matt Dillon]

Chester, go get Doc Marshall.

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

I know who did it. It was that prisoner of yours. I'd seen him once before, so I knew what he looked like.

[Matt Dillon]

What?

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

Cliff matters?

[Matt Dillon]

Yes, sir.

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

Just a few minutes ago, I saw him riding out of town.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Riding just a. As fast as he could go.

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[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

Boy, am I glad this day's over. My athlete's foot is killing me. Itches and stings.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Hey, try NP27. Really worked for me.

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

NP27 treatment roots out. Athlete's foot penetrates below skin surface where other remedies can't reach, even into toenails. NP27 Liquid stops itch, relieves pain, promotes healthy tissue. NP27 Powder guards against new infection. NP27 Treatment roots out athlete's foot. Or your druggist will refund your money.

[Matt Dillon]

Over here, chester.

[Chester Proudfoot]

That him, Mr. Dun?

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, it's him.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I've been thinking. How in the world you supposed he ever got out of jail in the first place?

[Matt Dillon]

I don't know. Come on. All right, hold it right there, Meadows.

[Andrew Rines]

What?

[Matt Dillon]

Don't try anything. Where'd you come from? We've been following you for two days. I ain't going back to Dodge, Marshall. You'll go. How? Do you want to tell me how you got out of jail? But you'd like to know, wouldn't you? I'll find out. Not from me, you won't. You didn't break out. Somebody opened that cell for you. Is that a fact? All right, unbuckle the belt and drop your gun. Like I said, I ain't going back to Dodge, and I ain't going to Hays City neither. You gonna go back with us, or we're gonna bury you right here. Now you decide. I already have. Don't be a fool.

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

I ain't gonna hang.

[Matt Dillon]

You should have waited for your trial mothers. Maybe. Maybe I like it better like this. What did you do with the bank money? It won't do you any good now. Bank money? The Dodge City Bank. You robbed it. The bank teller saw you right out of town. I didn't rob no bank. You were seen. No, I didn't do it. Then your partner did it. The one who turned you loose. I don't have no partner. Didn't even know the old fella who turned me loose.

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

Old fella?

[Matt Dillon]

What old fella? Scrawny old coot. Come in and said something about that lion, Chester. Then he unlocked myself. Well, Frau, too bad about that trial, Marshall. I don't think I'm gonna make it.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Mr. Dun, the man that let him out of jail, you.

[Matt Dillon]

You don't suppose it was Sedge Walker? Yeah, I think maybe it was Chester.

[Chester Proudfoot]

It don't make no sense, mister. It said Wilker snuck in and turned Meadows loose. And maybe even rob the bank. He sure wouldn't still be here.

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

Why not?

[Matt Dillon]

Nobody really saw who robbed the bank. Nobody saw who turned Meadows loose.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Yes, I know, but it seemed like they just cut out and run.

[Matt Dillon]

Is this her room?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Yes.

[Matt Dillon]

But.

[Chester Proudfoot]

What do you want?

[Matt Dillon]

I want to talk to you, Walker.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Come out of the car. I'm busy.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, we'll talk now.

[Chester Proudfoot]

What do you mean, busting in? You ain't got no right.

[Bessie May Wilker]

Oh, what are they doing here?

[Matt Dillon]

You and Bessie May packing to leave?

[Chester Proudfoot]

What if we are? It ain't none of your business.

[Matt Dillon]

Why did you do it, Sedge?

[Chester Proudfoot]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[Matt Dillon]

You turned Cliff Meadows loose from jail.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, you're crazy. Why would I do that?

[Matt Dillon]

So you could rob the bank and everybody would think Meadows did it.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, he did. Everybody's seen him. Find him and you'll find the robber.

[Matt Dillon]

We did find him. Huh? I had to kill him.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well. Well, then what's all the fuss about?

[Matt Dillon]

Just before he died, he told us that you'd let him out of jail.

[Chester Proudfoot]

All right, all right. So I turned him loose. I wanted to get back at you and Chester. But that don't prove I robbed no bank.

[Matt Dillon]

We've been asking around town, Wilker. You bought over a hundred dollars worth of things in the past two days. Where did you get the money to do that?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Where did I get it? I shaved it, that's what. We had us a farm and we growed things.

[Matt Dillon]

It won't work, Sedge. There's too much against you.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You ain't gonna take my money. Not after all I went through.

[Andrew Rines]

You.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I'll kill you first.

[Matt Dillon]

No. Don't. Why did you do it, Sedge?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Never. Never had nothing, Marshall. Never had nothing at all.

[Matt Dillon]

A lot of people don't.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Bet she may.

[Bessie May Wilker]

I'm. I'm right here.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Take care of yourself, you hear?

[Matt Dillon]

Now, you take care.

[Bessie May Wilker]

Pa.

[Matt Dillon]

I'm sorry, Bessie.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Man.

[Bessie May Wilker]

He didn't mean no harm, Marshall. He didn't mean no harm at all. Just got tired of scratching in the ground for a living and never quite making it. Yeah, Pa's awful smart, though. Did you know that?

[Matt Dillon]

You mean blaming Cliff Meadows for the robbery?

[Bessie May Wilker]

Oh, no. That was an accident. Like the real plan was me.

[Matt Dillon]

You?

[Bessie May Wilker]

I was supposed to fix up all purdy like, then shine up to the marshal.

[Matt Dillon]

What?

[Bessie May Wilker]

You know, thought he'd be too busy to notice when Pa was robbing the bank.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Bercime you. You mean it? Is that why you was tagging after me all the time?

[Bessie May Wilker]

You was the only marshal in town then, Chester. But you lied to us. You wasn't no marshal at all.

[Shopify Announcer]

I never.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I tried to.

[Bessie May Wilker]

Had it been for that, everything would have worked out just like Pa said. But it all went wrong, didn't it?

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah. Betsy. Ma', am, I'm afraid it didn't.

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[Grainger / AMPM Announcer]

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[Chester Proudfoot]

Of what you need.

[Grainger / AMPM Announcer]

Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Narrator / Gun Smoke Announcer]

Like to take a quick hop to Paris tomorrow. It's not Paris, Kentucky we're talking about, it's Paris, France, the great city on the Seine, a long way from blue bluegrass land. The CBS Radio Network is offering you a lightning fast tour via the Monday through Friday feature entitled your man in Paris. Your man happens to be CBS News correspondent David Schonbron, whose perceptive eye makes for fluent, fascinating observations about many matters. Gaelic, your man in Paris Weekdays Also heard each Monday through Friday a Woman's Washington with Nancy Huntsman, which takes you on a gal oriented tour of the nation's capital. There's In Hollywood, hosted by Ralph Story with absorbing vignettes of Celluloid City. Personal Story brings you autobiographies in sound of a new celebrity each week and for entertaining rewarding data on a host of topics. Information Central with Alan Jackson and Sidelights with Charles Collingwood. Weekdays hear each of these stimulating features right here on CBS Radio. 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 ray kemper with editorial supervision by john meston. Featured in the cast were ralph moody, gene bates, john dana and barney phillips. Harley bear is chester, howard mcnear is doc and georgia ellis is kitty. This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week when CBS Radio presents another story on Gun Smoke, The laughs on arthur godfrey every weekday on the cbs radio network.

[Andrew Rines]

This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate this episode within your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube become one of our ranch hands and unlock some exclusive content. We want to thank our most recent ranch hands, Steve and Ron W. Who joined us recently. You too can join by going to otrwesterns.com donate send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com and you can call and leave us a voicemail 707-986-8739. This episode is copyrighted under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copy have a great day and thanks for listening.

[Limu Emu]

And Doug, here we have the Limu emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[Limu Emu]

Cut the camera.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty, Liberty. Liberty Savings Fairy, underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.

[Grainger / AMPM Announcer]

What do you think makes the perfect snack?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Hmm. It's gotta be when I'm really craving it and it's convenient.

[Grainger / AMPM Announcer]

Could you be more specific?

[Chester Proudfoot]

When it's cravenient.

[Andrew Rines]

Okay.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Like a freshly baked cookie made with real butter, available right down the street at a.m. p.m. Or a savory breakfast sandwich I can grab in just a second at a.m. p.m.

[Grainger / AMPM Announcer]

I'm seeing a pattern here.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, yeah, we're talking about what I.

[Grainger / AMPM Announcer]

Crave, which is anything from ampm.

[Chester Proudfoot]

What more could you want? Stop by AMPM where the snacks and drinks are perfectly craveable and convenient. That's cravenience. Am, pm Too much. Good stuff.

[Limu Emu]

And Doug here we have the Limu emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[Limu Emu]

Cut the camera.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty. Liberty Savings Fairy, underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.