The Soldier | Gunsmoke (04-25-53)

Summary

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Old Time Radio Westerns – Gunsmoke: "The Soldier" (Original Air Date: Apr 25, 1953)

Podcast Host: Andrew Rhynes
Date Released: July 23, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Andrew Rhynes presents a digitally restored Gunsmoke classic, "The Soldier." The story centers on the harsh realities of military discipline, justice, and personal integrity on the American frontier. Marshal Matt Dillon becomes embroiled in the fate of two soldiers—Spear and Gallagher—who fall afoul of both army regulations and local law after a drunken brawl in Dodge City. Through encounters with rigid military authority and the personal turmoil of the men involved, the episode explores themes of justice, trust, and loyalty under the ever-present shadow of violence.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Drunken Brawl and Its Consequences

• Setting: Dodge City, with soldiers in town for supplies.
• Incident:
  • Gallagher, heavily drunk, is in a saloon with fellow soldier Spear, who tries to get him back to the fort.
  • A drunken fight ensues, and both are arrested by Marshal Matt Dillon (03:56 – 06:04).
• Quote:
  • "You plan to show up at the fort fist drunk, lady?" – Matt Dillon (04:08)

2. Military Justice and the Inflexible Captain Shaw

• Aftermath: Dillon releases Gallagher and Spear, but they worry about repercussions from their commander, Captain Shaw.
• Fear of Punishment:
  • The soldiers are to be court-martialed for being late and jailed during their supply mission; possible punishments include heavy fines and humiliation (07:12 – 08:49).
• Character Insight:
  • Gallagher: "Captain Shaw can be awful hard. They say one time he gave a man 10 days provisions and had him drummed out of camp with a straw hauler around his neck..." (08:31)

3. Matt Dillon's Attempt at Intervention

• Marshal’s Guilt: Dillon regrets jailing Spear alongside Gallagher, recognizing he only tried to fulfill his duty as a soldier (09:40 – 09:55).
• Marshal’s Attempt:
  • "All right, what can I do? Ride out and explain it to Captain Shaw. I don't like interfering in army matters... but all right, I'll do it." – Matt Dillon (09:44; 09:57)
• Captain Shaw's Response:
  • The captain refuses leniency, emphasizing military discipline over fairness to individuals (12:15 – 13:49).
  • "A soldier must learn to take care of himself, Marshal. Evidently, Spear hasn't learned, so it’s my duty to teach him." – Captain Shaw (13:24)

4. Harsh Discipline: Digging Graves as Punishment

• Symbolic Task:
  • Both soldiers are forced to dig graves as a form of psychological punishment, based on old army tradition (12:00 – 14:04).
• Quote:
  • "It's a grave."
    "A grave? Whose grave?"
    "Mine. Or somebody like me." – Spear (11:55 – 12:00)

5. Growing Desperation and Escape

• Spear’s Breaking Point:
  • After relentless punishment, Spear deserts from the fort. Lieutenant Adams comes to inform Matt Dillon (18:33 – 19:11).
• Quote:
  • "Captain Shaw hasn't had those men guarded very close. Spear took off when the guard was at the back of the fort near Gallagher, that's all." – Lt. Adams (18:47)

6. A Choice: Surrender or Ruin

• Emotional Climax:
  • Spear is hiding out in Kitty's room, desperate and hopeless. Matt Dillon confronts Spear, urging him to take responsibility (20:53 – 23:24).
• Quote:
  • "If he doesn't, it'll ruin him inside. It won't be any good again. You understand what I mean?" – Matt Dillon (20:34)
  • "Give yourself up? You mean you're not taking me in? I got nothing to do with it. This is between you and the Army." – Matt Dillon (23:16)

7. A Moment of Trust and Its Consequences

• Dillon’s Risk:
  • Matt Dillon puts his faith in Spear, even letting him hide in a closet with Marshal's own gun (24:21 – 24:42).
• Lieutenant Adams’ Subtle Cooperation:
  • Despite a formal search, Adams appears to intentionally overlook Spear’s hiding place, respecting Dillon’s judgment (25:00 – 25:22).
• Quote:
  • "I see you got your gun back, Marshal. You don't miss much, do you?" – Lieutenant Adams (27:18)

8. Resolution and Fate

• Aftermath:
  • Spear turns himself in and endures a rough patch before Colonel Dobie returns and decides enough punishment has been given.
  • Soon after, Spear and Lieutenant Adams are sent on a scouting mission and vanish—possibly killed, possibly lost in the wilderness (28:11 – 29:30).
• Quote:
  • "Neither man was seen or heard of again... A formation is to be held at Fort Dodge, honoring those two good soldiers." – Matt Dillon (29:12)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• 24:21 – “All right, spare. I'll prove that I trust you. They won't find you till you're ready to give yourself up. Now get in that closet and hurry. You mean it? Here, take my gun with you. Now, do you think I mean it?” – Matt Dillon
• 13:24 – “A soldier must learn to take care of himself, Marshal. Evidently, Spear hasn't learned, so it’s my duty to teach him.” – Captain Shaw
• 20:34 – "If he doesn't, it'll ruin him inside. It won't be any good again. You understand what I mean?" – Matt Dillon
• 27:18 – “You don't miss much, do you?” – Matt Dillon to Lieutenant Adams
• 29:12 – "A formation is to be held at Fort Dodge, honoring those two good soldiers. The colonel thought I might want to be there." – Matt Dillon

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 03:56 – Gallagher and Spear's argument and arrest in the saloon
• 07:12 – Marshal releases the soldiers and discussion about Captain Shaw's character
• 09:40 – Dillon agrees to intervene with Captain Shaw
• 12:00 – Spear forced to dig his own grave at the fort
• 13:24 – Captain Shaw’s philosophy on discipline
• 18:41 – Spear deserts the fort
• 20:53 – Kitty informs Dillon about Spear hiding in her room
• 22:19 – The emotional confrontation and Dillon's challenge to Spear
• 24:21 – Dillon hides Spear in the closet, entrusting him with the Marshal's own gun
• 27:18 – Lieutenant Adams and Dillon's parting exchange
• 29:12 – Epilogue about the fate of Spear and Adams; invitation to the memorial

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Tone & Language

The episode balances the gritty realism of frontier law enforcement with the strict, sometimes unjust discipline of the old army. Characters speak in plain, direct, and often tense dialogue, reflecting their inner conflicts and the harshness of their environment. The interplay between irreverent humor, personal loyalty, and the iron logic of military justice gives the drama its emotional heft.

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Final Reflection

"The Soldier" uses the Gunsmoke formula of moral complexity and imperfect justice to probe the costs of both authority and loyalty. By restoring these old-time radio dramas with modern fidelity, Andrew Rhynes’s podcast elevates the emotional starkness and psychological drama at the heart of the frontier mythos.

Listeners are reminded not only of the historical context of such stories but also of the resonance of these questions today: what happens when rules and justice do not align, and when personal responsibility becomes a matter of honor—and survival?

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Transcript

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[Andrew Hines (Old Time Radio Westerns Host)]

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 date is April 25, 1953 and the title is the Soldier. Hope you enjoy and again, thanks for listening.

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[Narrator (Gunsmoke Introduction and Closing)]

Around God 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. Gunsmoke Starring William Conrad. The story of the wild violence that moved west with young America. The story of a man who moved with it? Matt Dillon, United States Marsh.

[Gallagher]

What'd you say your name is, soldier?

[Matt Dillon]

Gallagher. That's my name.

[Gallagher]

All right, Gallagher. Now, don't you think you've had enough? It isn't even night yet.

[Marshal Spear]

I'll never have enough.

[Gallagher]

You plan to show up at the fort fist drunk lady?

[Matt Dillon]

Maybe I won't show up at the fort at all.

[Marshal Spear]

What do you think of that, Gallagher? You better start worrying about what Captain Shaw's gonna think, not her.

[Matt Dillon]

Hey, what are you doing here, Spear?

[Marshal Spear]

I've been an hour looking for you all over Dodge. How'd you get that drunk in an hour anyways? Drinking? Are you responsible for this?

[Gallagher]

Oh, sure. The Indians pay me to keep you soldiers drunk.

[Matt Dillon]

That ain't funny.

[Gallagher]

He's a grown man, isn't he?

[Marshal Spear]

That's not the point. What's the point? You shut up. Gallagher will be an hour late now. And that's all Captain Shaw needs to fix us.

[Matt Dillon]

Captain Shaw can go hang you.

[Marshal Spear]

Wasn't so drunk, I'd leave you and just ride out alone. Yeah, that'd be just like you, Spear. Just like you. Come on, get up out of that chair. I'll drag you out. Oh, leave me be.

[Matt Dillon]

Come on. I ain't have started here yet.

[Marshal Spear]

Cut your peaches, gals. Thunder ain't rain.

[Matt Dillon]

Shut up, Gallagher.

[Gallagher]

Why don't you listen to your friend? You're just gonna get into trouble here.

[Matt Dillon]

Who's kissing your hand anyway?

[Marshal Spear]

That's no way to talk.

[Matt Dillon]

I'll kill you for that.

[Marshal Spear]

All right. You want the same treatment, soldier, huh? I had nothing to do with it, Marshall Buds. He was drunk and you're cold sober. Of course I am.

[Gallagher]

It's true, Matt. He just came in looking for him on the floor there. Gallagher.

[Marshal Spear]

I'll take your gun, soldier. Well, you can't do this, Marshall. Right now. Pick up your friend. We're going to town.

[Gallagher]

Listen to me. Gallagher started it. He was only trying to get him out of here, back to the fort.

[Marshal Spear]

He can take him back tomorrow. Fighting's against the law. In doubt?

[Gallagher]

No, man.

[Marshal Spear]

Come on, let's get going, soldier. Pick him up. The past week we'd had nothing but trouble in Dodge. Men had fought and gouged and knifed and shot each other. That I began to wonder if they gave a thought to anything else in the world. It had set my temper on edge. And I suppose I'd become as bullheaded as they were. Anyway, I threw the soldiers in jail and went off to and forgot about him. For some reason, the town was Reasonably peaceful that night. The change sort of took the edge off of me. Next morning, I felt half human for the first time in days.

[Matt Dillon]

I turned that cowboy loose early, Mr. Dillon. He seemed tolerably repentant.

[Marshal Spear]

Well, he should be, Chester.

[Matt Dillon]

But those two soldiers look pretty glum. What are you gonna do with him, sir?

[Marshal Spear]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, you better go back and let him out, huh, Chester? We'll have the army in here looking for him. We don't miss you.

[Matt Dillon]

You done your time, Mince. The law has forgiven you. Out you go. Free as a little bird.

[Marshal Spear]

Oh. Oh, that sunlight will blind me this morning. We ain't about done our time, mister. In real trouble now. No. Why do you say that? Because it's true. We were sent to Dodge to pick up supplies, not to go to jail. You're not the first soldiers who camped here overnight. Colonel Dobie's a just man. Captain Shaw's in command right now, Marshal. Colonel went to St. Louis for a time. Well, I don't know Captain Shaw, but I'm sure he's just about as reasonable as you are, Marshal. Just about? You're Spear, aren't you? And I was as sober yesterday. Remember, I locked you up for fighting, not drinking. You locked us up. That's all that matters now. Spear's right, Marshal. I guess I deserve what I'm gonna get. But Speer don't. Nobody was killed. You're not gonna hang. You don't know Captain Shaw. He can be awful hard. A little extra duty won't hurt you. First off, will be fined $10 by court martial. One month's pay. That's a little high. I agree. Nothing of what the cat might do. On top of it, he's old army. They say one time he gave a man 10 days provisions and had him drummed out of camp with a straw hauler around his neck and his coat turned inside out. And that was Indian country, Marshal.

[Matt Dillon]

Not around here. Well, the man's a scoundrel, that's what he is. Say, how'd the fellow make out, anyway?

[Marshal Spear]

You'll have to ask Captain Shaw about that. If he knows, the man must have done more than get drunk and fight. He won't get that kind of punishment. No, we're close to it.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Captain's dead.

[Marshal Spear]

Sit against liquor. Not a man in the company's been allowed to drop since Colonel Doby left. Is that so? Sure is. Look, Marshall, I got it coming. But Spear here, all he done was try to get me back to the fort. You gotta try to do something about it. Never mind Gallagher. He won't do nothing. Spear, I guess I was a little hasty locking you up. I. I'm sorry about it.

[Matt Dillon]

So am I.

[Marshal Spear]

All right, what can I do? Ride out and explain it to Captain Shaw. I don't like interfering in army matters,

[Lieutenant Adams]

but.

[Marshal Spear]

All right, I'll do it. You will? Yeah. But I can't today. Well, tomorrow won't be too late. I'll be out there tomorrow afternoon. I don't know whether to trust you or not, Marshall. Then you'll have to find out if you can, Mr. Spear. Yeah, you can't blame him much, Marshall, but I sure hope you do. All right, boys, you're late enough. Now, you better get going. Come on, Spear.

[Matt Dillon]

While you're talking to Captain Shaw, I think I'll go see the sutler, Mr. Dillon. He's an old friend of mine.

[Marshal Spear]

All right, Chester.

[Matt Dillon]

Name's Larson. Been selling goods to soldiers for 10 years that I know of. Say, I'll eat with him, too, in case you should get asked for supper.

[Marshal Spear]

Oh, fine, fine. Doesn't that look like Spear there?

[Matt Dillon]

Where?

[Marshal Spear]

Just outside the fort.

[Lieutenant Adams]

There.

[Marshal Spear]

The man with a shovel.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, see? What's he digging anyway?

[Marshal Spear]

Come on, let's ride over there. Hello, spirit.

[Matt Dillon]

You're too late, Marshall.

[Narrator (Gunsmoke Introduction and Closing)]

Why?

[Marshal Spear]

What's happened?

[Matt Dillon]

We've already been tried, that's what.

[Marshal Spear]

Well, what'd they give you? 2 months pay and a month punishment. What punishment? I don't know, Marshall. The captain will work on that from day to day.

[Matt Dillon]

He's got lots of ideas. Is this one of them? Digging that hole out here isn't exactly a hole, mister.

[Marshal Spear]

It's a grave.

[Matt Dillon]

A grave? Whose grave?

[Marshal Spear]

Mine. Oh, now, wait a minute, Spear. Well, it's for me. Or somebody like me. That's what he said. Ask him about. Here comes the guard. Gotta keep busy. All right, I'll talk to you later, Spirit.

[Matt Dillon]

I won't be hard to find.

[Marshal Spear]

And that's the whole story, Captain. I locked Spear up, too, and for no justifiable reason at all.

[Matt Dillon]

He was fighting, wasn't he, Marshal?

[Marshal Spear]

He was trying to get Gallagher out of there, that's all.

[Matt Dillon]

I have already decided. Gallagher's punishment will be the more severe.

[Marshal Spear]

Yeah, but Spear doesn't deserve any punishment at all. Don't you see that?

[Matt Dillon]

If I may ask, Marshal, what is your interest in this case?

[Marshal Spear]

Look, I made a mistake, Captain. If I hadn't thrown Speer in jail, he'd be all right now. The man's been done an injustice.

[Matt Dillon]

Not exactly. It'd been an hour late in Any case.

[Lieutenant Adams]

What?

[Matt Dillon]

He and Gallagher had orders to report here to Lieutenant Adams at 6 o'. Clock. But at 6 o' clock they were arrested in Dodge. If they had not been arrested, it would have taken them an hour to ride to the fort. Therefore, they would have reported in at 7 o', clock, one hour late.

[Marshal Spear]

But Captain Spear spent that hour trying to find Gallagher.

[Matt Dillon]

A soldier must learn to take care of himself, Marshal. Evidently, Speer hasn't learned, so it's my duty to teach him.

[Marshal Spear]

This just doesn't make sense.

[Matt Dillon]

I am a soldier, Marshal. You are a civilian. I wouldn't expect you to understand.

[Marshal Spear]

Anybody can understand what's just.

[Matt Dillon]

The army has its own justice, Marshal.

[Marshal Spear]

Like making a man dig his own grave.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, you saw him? Of course. Gallagher's digging one behind the fort.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Why?

[Matt Dillon]

Sentimental reasons, I suppose, of mine, to be sure.

[Marshal Spear]

What does that mean?

[Matt Dillon]

It goes back a long way, Marshall. You see, I served under General Winfield Scott at Veracruz in 47. And I remember an order he once sent down, and it concerned soldiers who'd been found drunk.

[Marshal Spear]

Don't tell me General Scott had him shot.

[Matt Dillon]

No. His idea was to impress upon the command that such a grave would be wanted sooner or later, either for the drunken man or for some drunken companion.

[Marshal Spear]

And did the soldiers understand that?

[Matt Dillon]

Soldiers understand orders, Marshal. Or they can be made to.

[Marshal Spear]

Tell me, Captain, what do you think Colonel Doby would do about this?

[Matt Dillon]

In Colonel Doby's absence, I am in command of this company.

[Marshal Spear]

Then Spear will be punished even though he's innocent, huh?

[Matt Dillon]

This is an army matter, Marshall.

[Marshal Spear]

Yeah. Goodbye.

[Matt Dillon]

Goodbye, Marshall.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Marshall Dillon?

[Marshal Spear]

Yeah.

[Lieutenant Adams]

I'm Lieutenant Adams.

[Marshal Spear]

How do you do, Lieutenant?

[Lieutenant Adams]

I'm the officer spearing Gallagher were to report to the night before last.

[Marshal Spear]

Oh, yeah, yeah, the captain mentioned that.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Tell me, how'd you make out in there?

[Marshal Spear]

Well, I don't think Captain Shaw and I understand each other completely.

[Lieutenant Adams]

I knew it was hopeless. Thanks for trying, Marshall.

[Marshal Spear]

Tell me something, Lieutenant. What's the matter with Captain Shaw?

[Lieutenant Adams]

I couldn't say, Marshall. But he's been 30 years in the army, so Colonel Dobie's been intent.

[Marshal Spear]

I see.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Will you join us at mess, Marshall? We eat in about 10 minutes.

[Marshal Spear]

Oh, thank you very much. I'd like to, if you don't mind.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Sorry I can't offer you a drink. Captain's order.

[Marshal Spear]

Yeah, I know, Lieutenant. When does Colonel Dovey get back from St. Louis?

[Lieutenant Adams]

We haven't heard. Soon, I hope.

[Marshal Spear]

Yeah.

[Lieutenant Adams]

You see, Gallagher can take it. He knows he's guilty for one thing. Spear, I'm worried about already he's not the same man he was.

[Marshal Spear]

I suppose he's lost faith in people.

[Lieutenant Adams]

He was always a fine soldier. I just hope he can hang on long enough.

[Marshal Spear]

No. Long enough for what?

[Lieutenant Adams]

Oh, let's say long enough for Colonel Doby to get back before Captain Shaw drives. Spirit or something like. Come along, Marshall. We'll wash up.

[Narrator (Gunsmoke Introduction and Closing)]

We will return for the second act of Gunsmoke in just a moment. But first, this Monday night here, CBS Radio suspense, starring Herbert Marshall in the man within by Graham Green. Also Monday night, on most of these same stations, Deluxe Radio Theater presents Betty Hutton and Jean Berry and a delightful musical comedy, Somebody Loves Me. Now the second act of Gun Smoke.

[Marshal Spear]

I was pretty busy the next few days and there wasn't much time to think about Spear. But when I did think about him, I got to wishing I'd never let myself be hired for this job. Nearly a week passed, and then one day, about noon, I went to the office and found Kitty waiting there with Chester.

[Matt Dillon]

I told her you'd be along any minute, Mr. Dillon.

[Marshal Spear]

It's nothing serious, I hope.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Kitty.

[Gallagher]

Well, it could be Matt.

[Matt Dillon]

She wouldn't tell me a word about it. I offered to help, but. No, she said she'd wait until you got here and then.

[Marshal Spear]

All right, Justin. Well, Kitty.

[Gallagher]

Matt. This morning, about 8 o' clock it was. I was.

[Marshal Spear]

Wait a minute. Lieutenant Adams.

[Matt Dillon]

Hello, Marshall.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Jesse.

[Matt Dillon]

Hello, Lieutenant.

[Marshal Spear]

This is Miss Kitty, Lieutenant.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Oh, yes, of course. I didn't recognize you, Miss Kitty. I mean that.

[Gallagher]

That's all right, Lieutenant.

[Lieutenant Adams]

I'll be brief. Marshall, it's about Speer. He's deserted.

[Marshal Spear]

What?

[Lieutenant Adams]

Last night, just before chow.

[Matt Dillon]

How'd he get away?

[Lieutenant Adams]

Well, Captain Shaw hasn't had those men guarded very close. He's still digging graves and with only one guard for the two of them. Spear took off when the guard was at the back of the fort near Gallagher, that's all.

[Marshal Spear]

Well, have they found him yet?

[Lieutenant Adams]

No, but the Captain has the whole company out after him. I just posted a couple of men at the depot. Most everyone else has fanned out over the prairie. Horseback.

[Marshal Spear]

You think maybe the Captain wanted him to run off, Lieutenant? Maybe that's why he made it so easy, huh?

[Lieutenant Adams]

A lieutenant doesn't judge his captain, Marshall. But I'm worried about Speer. He might do anything now. Yeah, I knew you'd be interested, so I just dropped by to let you know what's happened.

[Marshal Spear]

Oh, thank you, Lieutenant.

[Lieutenant Adams]

There's something else, Marshal.

[Marshal Spear]

What?

[Lieutenant Adams]

Captain Shaw has ordered me to search the town. He's sending me two more Men, I hope you won't object.

[Marshal Spear]

Ordinarily I would, but. I understand.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Thank you, Marshal. Goodbye, Miss Kitty. Goodbye, Jester.

[Matt Dillon]

Goodbye, Lieutenant.

[Gallagher]

Matt. That's what I came to tell you about. Spear is hiding in my room.

[Marshal Spear]

What? Since when?

[Gallagher]

This morning. He showed up about 8 o'. Clock. Said he has to hide during the day. He promised to leave tonight.

[Marshal Spear]

Why did he come to you?

[Gallagher]

Well, he remembered I tried to keep him from being arrested that day. And he said I was the only person he could trust.

[Marshal Spear]

I see.

[Gallagher]

I don't know what to do, man.

[Marshal Spear]

It's the arm, Kitty.

[Gallagher]

Yeah. Yes. He can't. He said if anyone but me tried to get in the room, he'd kill him. He's awful desperate, man.

[Marshal Spear]

Yeah. He's gotta turn himself in, Kitty.

[Gallagher]

After the way he's been treated, he'll catch him anyway.

[Marshal Spear]

Sooner or later. He's gotta face this thing on his own free will. If he doesn't, it'll. It'll ruin him inside. It won't be any good again. You understand what I mean?

[Gallagher]

Yeah. Yeah, I think I do.

[Marshal Spear]

All right, then go tell him.

[Gallagher]

I can't, Matt. I'm not a man. He wouldn't listen to me.

[Marshal Spear]

All right, I'll go.

[Gallagher]

You can't. He'll shoot you as soon as you open that door.

[Marshal Spear]

Well, look, you'll have to help us trick him.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Kitty.

[Gallagher]

No. Please, Matt, trust me.

[Marshal Spear]

You want to help him, don't you?

[Gallagher]

Yeah.

[Marshal Spear]

All right, Chester, go out and buy a big bag of groceries and hurry.

[Matt Dillon]

Groceries?

[Marshal Spear]

Yes, sir, Mr. D. We'll wait for you here. Stay off of your heels. Chester. Be quiet. All right, you go ahead, Kitty. We'll be there when he opens the door.

[Gallagher]

All right. Mad, It's me, Kitty. Open the door. I can't hold all these groceries much longer.

[Marshal Spear]

All right, come on in. Quick.

[Gallagher]

Take this. My arm's breaking.

[Marshal Spear]

All right, I got it.

[Gallagher]

All right.

[Narrator (Gunsmoke Introduction and Closing)]

All right.

[Marshal Spear]

All right. Close the door, Chester.

[Matt Dillon]

Yes, sir.

[Marshal Spear]

Come over here and take his gun away from him.

[Matt Dillon]

I got it, sir.

[Marshal Spear]

All right. All right, now get up. I said, get up. Now, sit in that chair and don't try anything. I hope you're real proud, Kitty. Now, wait a minute, Spear. Nobody's betrayed you. We're trying to help you, that's all. Why don't you just shoot me, Marshall, and have it over with? Spear, you've got a bad deal all around, but the trouble you're in right now is your own. Do it. You're the one putting me in jail. I'm talking about your desertin' well, what about it? I'm just telling you, you're responsible for that yourself. And you're the only one who can square it. Give yourself up. Give myself up? You mean you're not taking me in? I got nothing to do with it. This is between you and the Army.

[Gallagher]

Please, Speer, do it. He's right.

[Marshal Spear]

You mean I can. You mean I can walk out of here right now? You won't stop me? That's right. Why are you doing this, Marshall? Spear, I've been told that you're a good soldier. But right now you're in trouble. And you and I are both responsible for it. I shouldn't have thrown you in jail, and you shouldn't have deserted. Well, so I'll do my part, and I think you'll do yours. You'll do yours by turning yourself in. I don't know.

[Matt Dillon]

Marshall is.

[Marshal Spear]

Yeah, What, Chester?

[Matt Dillon]

Down there in the street. Lieutenant Adams and two soldiers and are headed right in here.

[Marshal Spear]

Give myself up, huh? You got it planned pretty neat, Marshall. Maybe the army will give you a reward for this, huh?

[Matt Dillon]

Maybe they'll.

[Marshal Spear]

Adams said he was gonna search the town. That's all I know about it.

[Matt Dillon]

And followed you right here, didn't he?

[Marshal Spear]

You sure trust me. All right. Shut up a minute, Kelly. Is that a closet there? Is it empty?

[Gallagher]

Well, almost, yeah.

[Marshal Spear]

All right, spare. I'll prove that I trust you. They won't find you till you're ready to give yourself up. Now get in that closet and hurry. You mean it? Here, take my gun with you. Now, do you think I mean it? Your gun? Go on, take it. But I. I didn't. All right, hurry up. Get in there.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Mr. Dillon, are you sure you aren't

[Matt Dillon]

to take a chance like that?

[Marshal Spear]

Open the door. Kidding?

[Gallagher]

No. Come in, Lieutenant.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Wait here, man. Well, hello, Marshall.

[Marshal Spear]

How are you, Lieutenant?

[Lieutenant Adams]

Yes, sir. Hello. Sorry to bother you this way, Miss Kitty. We're searching the town for Spear, like I told you.

[Gallagher]

Well, I know, but how'd you get here so fast, Lieutenant?

[Lieutenant Adams]

Mr. Hutch. Guess it was a bad one.

[Matt Dillon]

It sure was. Miss Kitty'd never hide a fugitive of any kind in this world, no matter what he might have done.

[Marshal Spear]

Chester.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Yes, sir. I hope you'll excuse me for bothering you, Miss Kitty.

[Gallagher]

Oh, that's all right, Lieutenant.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Well, goodbye.

[Gallagher]

Goodbye.

[Lieutenant Adams]

So long.

[Marshal Spear]

All right, Spear, they've gone. You can come out now.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Well,

[Marshal Spear]

here's your gun, Marshall. Thank you. We'll leave you here, and I'll send Lieutenant Adams back alone. That is, if you've decided. Okay, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

None of that's fine.

[Gallagher]

You're doing the right thing, Speed.

[Marshal Spear]

Chester, give him his gun.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Yes, sir. Here you are.

[Marshal Spear]

Thanks. Come on, Kitty. Justin.

[Matt Dillon]

Mr. Marshall.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Yeah.

[Marshal Spear]

I'll be all right now, Marshall, no matter what that captain thinks up. Sure you will, Spirit. Good luck to you. Thanks, Marshall.

[Gallagher]

I thank you.

[Matt Dillon]

There's Lieutenant Adams right across feet.

[Marshal Spear]

Mr. Dillon, you and Kitty go on into the Texas trail, huh? I'll join you later.

[Matt Dillon]

All right, sir.

[Gallagher]

Hurry back, Matt.

[Marshal Spear]

Lieutenant. Lieutenant Adams.

[Lieutenant Adams]

Yes, Marshall?

[Marshal Spear]

Where are your men?

[Lieutenant Adams]

Oh, they're scouting the Alphaganza there. I don't think they'll find him, though.

[Marshal Spear]

You don't?

[Lieutenant Adams]

No, I don't. I see you got your gun back, Marshal.

[Marshal Spear]

You don't miss much, do you?

[Lieutenant Adams]

Kind of wondered at first why you didn't have it upstairs, eh? And, Well, I don't suppose Captain Shaw'd much appreciate an officer who searched a room didn't even bother with the closet,

[Marshal Spear]

would he, Captain Shaw? Might not, Lieutenant. But I think Spear will

[Lieutenant Adams]

be waiting for me. Marshall. Mm. It was a mighty long chance you took.

[Marshal Spear]

It was worth it. Let me know how he makes out, Lieutenant.

[Lieutenant Adams]

I sure will, Marshall. Especially seeing as how you kind of got a stake in him now.

[Marshal Spear]

Well, so long. Goodbye, Lieutenant. I heard later that Spear was treated rough for the next few days, but that he took it fine. And then Colonel Dobie returned to his command and he decided that Spear had been punished enough. Two weeks later, Lieutenant Adams, accompanied only by Spear, was ordered on a scouting mission down toward the Cimarron. It may have been Indians, or it may have been the river, but neither man was seen or heard of again. Yesterday I received a message from Colonel Dovey. A formation is to be held at Fort Dodge honoring those two good soldiers. The colonel thought I might want to be there.

[Narrator (Gunsmoke Introduction and Closing)]

Gunsmoke, under the direction of Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. Tonight's story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Meston, with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Featured in the cast were Lawrence Dobkin, Harry Bartel, Paul Freeze, and Vic Perrin. Harley Bear is Chester and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. Gun Smoke is heard by our troops overseas through the facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service. Join us again next week as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal, fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the west in Gunsmoke.

[Matt Dillon]

Foreign.

[Narrator (Gunsmoke Introduction and Closing)]

CBS radio now brings you a full hour of fun and melody with Arthur Godfrey and all the little Godfreys. It's 60 minutes of the best features from Arthur's shows heard during the week Remember Arthur Godfrey, Frank Parker, Jeanette Davis, Holly Loki, The Mariners, Julius LaRosa and all the rest of the gang are yours on most of these stations for a full Sunday hour presented by CBS Radio. Tomorrow, George Walsh speaking. And remember, Amos and Andy are here every Sunday on the CBS Radio Network.

[Marshal Spear]

Sam.

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[Gallagher]

Foreign.

[Andrew Hines (Old Time Radio Westerns Host)]

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 Facebook 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 copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.

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