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This is the Relic Radio Show. Old Time Radio entertainment still standing the test of time from relicradio.com with another 60 minutes of golden age radio drama. This is the Relic Radio show. Thanks for joining me. This Tuesday our first story comes from suspense. This week we'll hear the man who threw acid from July 18, 1956. After that it's Trojan War from Gunsmoke. That story aired February 28, 1953. And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. Tonight we bring you the story of a man who wanted to become important and the crime he committed to accomplish it. So now, starring Mr. Tony Barrett with Mr. William Conrad, here is tonight's suspense play, the man who Threw Acid. It was a young serving his second year in the city assembly. And because he believed in honest government, he wanted to enact restraining legislation against the racketeers. At first the older men, the wheels of the political machine laughed at him, patted him on the back, gave him a cigar. They liked him because he reminded them of their lost ideals, wasted energies. And then they began to listen to him. Wondering. The young assemblyman said in council, I wasn't elected to this office to see my wife and kids or anybody else's wife and kids dictated to by the the racketeers and the hoodlums in this city. That's what's happening. Dope, gambling, mugging. The protection racket started again. If the chief of police won't or can't do anything about it, I say we should make laws, put teeth in them, get rid of the big boys who run the rackets and we'll have a clean city. It wasn't a brilliant speech, not in content or in delivery, but it made its and the young assemblyman kept on making his point. The older, wiser city fathers began to take notice. So did the press and so did the big boys, the racketeers. And the man who was considered the boss called a meeting. There was no red tape involved, no orders and triplicate a simple direct edict from the top. And the organization was such that by 7:00 that evening, the hireling had been contacted. His name was Steve Clyburn. Thin, pasty faced man of 42 who looked no more than 35. He lived on the fringes of gangster society and like so many of his kind, was still considered a punk. He was desperately trying to gain a toe before it was too late. Because a middle aged punk is the lowest form of underworld life. A lackey. The boss's contact explained the situation about the assemblyman. That's a snap, Steve. Just throw acid in his face and be. Yeah, that's him for doing nothing. You get the asses for me? Sure, sure, Steve. You put the finger in, I'll be all set. There's nothing else too? I told you this assembly guy is important. How lucky. You want the job? It's none of your business. How come? Just you want to do it? Oh, I'm just thinking maybe if it is kind of important and you want me, maybe you put in a word for me, huh? With the boss? Maybe. Oh, nice. The boss don't know anything about this. This is a private grudge. Okay? Sure. You gonna pay me now? Half now. The other hundred when you've done it. Yeah, okay. Cliver was told to wait until he was contacted again. Then the asset would be delivered to him with further instructions. The hired man went home to his apartment and to his girl. He was happy. He had a big job. He had been accepted by the mob. Perhaps his luck had changed. He told his girl. 200 bucks, honey. This could be it. What I've been waiting for. Just a drop in a bucket to what I'll get in the next job. Oh, swell, Stevie. What do they got you doing? Honey, you know better than ask, but I tell you this. It's big. Oh, I tell you that some of the wise guys are going to be saying hello to Steve Kleiber before long. You can take me out for Chinese dinner for celebration. Sure I will. We'll have anything, anything you want. It was a night for celebration because plans had been made to throw acid in a man's face. The boss celebrated and took his wife to a movie. The contact man celebrated, got drunk and cried about his dead mother. And Steve Kleiber went to bed with indigestion following a too rich dinner. The assemblyman sat up late into the night writing the draft of an anti racketeer speech to be made at Rotary the next day. A week later, Kleiber received a phone call. He was told to meet his contact in the park at 11 o'clock. He went to the designated place. Hi, Steve. You're on time. That's good. Get ahead, boy. You like me late. Now here's the stuff, miss. Bags in a pint jar with a wide mouth. That way you won't have as much chance missing. Oh, you better wear a glove too. You don't want to get burned. There's a glove in the bag. Are you right handed, lefty? So word on the left hand, it won't matter. Why Do I do it? 5, 5:30. Today? Yeah. What now? He'll be coming out of the Athletic Club. He's got a 6 o'clock appointment. He'll leave the club about 5, 5:30. How am I gonna know him? Pictures. Here, take a look at him. Yeah, he looks like these pictures, so you won't have to worry. You can't miss him. Yeah. Can I keep this? Yeah. What do I do after I throw this stuff? Ditch the bottle, break it. And don't touch it without you wearing a glove. No prints on it. Okay, then what? Take off? Think when I have a car to pick me up. Ah, it's too risky. Cars can be traced, someone sees a license. You shouldn't have any trouble though. It's a quiet street. Buildings, you know. It is on the corner. Yeah, yeah. Okay, you're right off the main drag. Just get lost in the crowd and don't run. By the time anyone figures out what happened, you ought to be home. Hey, seems to me I'm taking some chance for a lousy 200. Give me back what I gave you. I'll get somebody else. No, wait, wait, wait. It's okay. But I sure hope you guys appreciate the risk I'm taking. We appreciate it. Or Steve. Yeah. Anything should go wrong. Like, say, you do get picked up. You don't talk. No names. Not even Mike. Nobody gets me to talk. Nah, that's my boy. No, I'll be seeing you. You come around to the bar for your dough when it's finished. Now, I'll leave it there for you. He had six hours to kill before doing the job. Standing outside the entrance to the park, he was undecided. Six hours and he moved casually to the bus stop and correctly, obediently took his place in line behind three other passengers. As the bus pulled in. A very ordinary man carrying a paper sack in which was a jar of acid and a glove. He went to a favorite hangout, a bar at the east end of town. Not because he needed a drink, he wasn't nervous. But rather because he hoped to run into some of the boys. Well, he wouldn't tell them anything, but he'd let them understand that he was onto something big. Hey, what do you say, Harry? Steve and the boys been in, huh? Early. What's it gonna be? You want a beer? Nothing like that. Something fancy. I'm celebrating. Boy, give me something fancy. What do you want? Oh, I don't know. Something with bourbon. Huh? Good bourbon. Soda water. Old Fashioned. Put everything in it. Make an Old Fashioned. Oh, make one for yourself, Harry and me. Too early. Come on, help me celebrate. I never celebrate till after 5. Well, at 5 I'm gonna be tied up. I'm sorry. At 5 I got an appointment. Big appointment. Uh huh. How are you, Harry? Morning, Lou. How's everything? Couldn't be better. Fine. What do you say, Lou? Oh, Steve, what have you been keeping yourself? No, no. Hey, hurry. Break a quarter for me. Gotta make a phone call. Sure. How about joining me, Lou? Old fashioned. Why not? It's a good drink. Say, Lou, got any good tips? I changed, Lou. Oh, thanks, Lou. What I say, anything good running a day? Thought I'd put 50 across the board. Where'd you get 50 bucks, punk? You know, it's funny the way you guys call me. That's really funny. Old fashioned. 65 cents, huh? Oh, sure, sure. Thanks, Harry. Hope you can change your 20. It's the smallest I got. Yeah, that's what it is. And you guys call me punk. It's pretty funny. You got a little surprise coming to you, boy. Yeah, well, I'll live. Thanks, hubby. It's okay. Forget the tip, Lou. I just thought I'd do you a favor. Give you a fin if the horse come through. But from now on I do my business uptown. Direct. You do that punk nerve that guy, you hear? Small time and he's calling me. Oh, it's good. Old fashioned. Hell yeah. That's the best. You sure know how to make them all right, huh? The drink was too sweet. He didn't like it, but it was gulped down. He wanted to show them the bottle of acid. Tell them that would make them know he wasn't a punk anymore. Instead he pocketed his change and sauntered out. There was little better than five hours to kill, so he went to a movie. It was a triple feature and when he came out, blinking in the strong sunlight, the time was 4:00. Holding the paper sack carefully, he took a bus uptown and noted the traffic was getting heavy. At 4:30 he walked past the Athletic Club and into a door drugstore across the street. Sitting at the counter, he leaped through a detective magazine and drank two large Cokes. The assemblyman had played handball taking a shower and the five o'clock was dressed and on his way out his companion suggested a cocktail. But because of his appointment at 6 he baked off. Wish I could, but it'll take me an hour to get out there. I'll take a rain check for next week. So I'm say hello to the wife and kid. Steve Kleiber was waiting Outside the drugstore. When the assemblyman emerged from the athletic Club, he recognized the man immediately across the street. By the time the assemblyman reached his car and was unlocking the door, Cliver was behind him, the jar held firmly in his gloved hand. There was no one else in sight. Hey, mister. Yes? Here's something for you. Steve Clyba didn't see the assemblyman clawing at his face. He dashed the jar out of the street and ran to the corner. And a moment was lost among the 5 o'clock homecoming crowds. He felt pride in the smoothness of his accomplishment. His nerve had held up. He proved himself as a man to be trusted. Any punk could do a good job with. But he had performed a task few men could have done better. Cold. Sure. Perfect timing. He went home to his girl. And as he relived the moment in telling he felt himself become flushed hot with excitement. So I figured it out. See, just like a shotgun. You know, when you shoot a shotgun, the lead spreads out. So I figured the same with the acid. Get close enough, just close enough so it won't spread. I was three feet. Three feet. That's when I said, hey, mister. And he turned around. Boy, he could have put me on the Olympics. The way I took off. You should have seen me. I didn't. Huh? Honey, I'm just telling you. It's an awful thing doing a thing like that. I don't get you. It's a job, that's all. How come you didn't tell me that's what you were gonna do? Why should I tell you? It's none of your business. I tell you not because I thought you'd be interested. I'm not. Well, that's a fine thing. I'm hungry. Let's go eat. Oh, no. Give a couple of days. Lay low. Just to be sure, you know. Look, you go on down delicatessen, get some stuff and lady can go down to Harry's and pick up a hundred bucks for me. It'll be there by 7 o'clock the extras were on the street. By 10 that night the entire city knew what had happened. And the man who had ordered it to happen, the boss was at home smoking a cigar, reading. His wife came in and said, I just heard the news on the radio. What news? Some man threw acid in somebody's face. He's a representative or a senator or something in the city. No kidding? Gee, that's terrible. Awful. Boy, I hope they get him. The man that did it. Yeah. And a phone call came into the boss on his private line. He listened for a long time. His cigar went out. He looked puzzled. You still there? Yeah. Yeah, I'm here. Oh. Well, it's like I said. He ain't dead. But it might be better if he was. The cops are really out tonight. Who did the job? Oh, some punk. Steve Kleiber. Does he know anything? I don't think so. I had a good boy give him the word, then we're in the clear. Don't worry. In a couple of days it'll quiet down. But the boss was disturbed. His wife's reaction disturbed him. The phone call, what he had heard himself on the newscast disturbed him. The violent act had all the earmarks of a boomerang. Rather than instilling fear, the purpose for which the deed was done, it had brought out swift and great anger. Kleiber was worried too. His girl had gone to the bar and returned empty handed. The second hundred dollar installment of his payment was not there. His contact had not been seen that day. The next morning a reward of $5,000 was posted for the apprehension of the man who threw acid. And by afternoon the prize money had risen to 12,000. Klieber read the newspapers that night and was frightened. Listen, honey, I better get out of here. Some of these rats get an idea to turn me into that kind of dorm and trouble. Yeah, maybe you better. Look. Look, honey, you can out of Harry's again. I need that hundred bucks. I'll have to. Have to get out of town for a while. What's the use? He ain't gonna be there. They made you a sucker after all I done from you. Crazy. A nice clean job. Listen, I'm gonna hide out. I know a place. It's in town here till you get the dope. Me, huh? How can I get it? Well, try, will you? He's a flophouse. I'll write you down the address. If I'm not there, I'll be in the Grand Theater. You know where it is? I know. Okay. If anybody asks you to see me, you say no. I left town. All right. Okay. Hey, what about me? What do I do for money? Money? I gave you 10 bucks yesterday. Well, it might take a couple of days to get your hundred. Yeah, all right. Here. There's 20. I can't give you more. All right. Now, look. You won't let me down, kid. You'll find him. He'll give me the door. What do you want me to do, write it in black? All right, all right. Thanks, honey. I'll put. I'll make it up to You? Not bad, I see. What a dirty little punk. At first, only a handful of people knew who had done the job. The boss, a half a dozen of his associates, the contact man and Clyber's girl. And then the bookmaker. Lou remembered the incident with Clyber and Harry's bar. Howie? Yeah. None of the same. A minute. Hey, you seen Steve climb around last couple of days? No, I was just wondering. Oh. Remember the day he was in? 2, 3 days back? Day the guy got a face full of acid. Remember him talking big, flashing at 20? Yeah. What do you think? I tell you, his girl's been a few times looking for an envelope he's supposed to get. She's been asking for someone, if that means anything. Yeah. You know what the reward is? Last I heard, 12,000. 20. It's a big stink. I wouldn't want to be in that guy's shoes. If Steve did it, I wouldn't want to be in his shoes. Me then the police had no leads, but they had an aroused city on their side. They weren't working alone. Every citizen was a potential ally. Every news agency a powerful voice. The reward mounted, and a week it had reached $40,000. The money was offered by the city, by indignant groups and individuals. Kleiber was no longer a punk. He was a dangerous animal. Animal. A big man. And he waited in dark places. Waited for his girl to bring him a hundred dollars so that he could run further. To get away. The police, the district Attorney's office began asking questions, Lots of questions. And they started with the boss. They weren't playing games. Now, why do you keep after me? I don't know anything about it. Some nut probably, who doesn't like a no smoking law or something. Why don't you guys lay off me? But they didn't lay off him. And he knew something had to be done. Done quickly. He called his associates together. This city is not healthy with Clyburn running around loose. I get the feeling we better get to him before the cops do. He might know something. If he starts talking, we're all in trouble. Shouldn't be high. Must be a dozen guys on the look for him right now. 40,000 bucks ain't hate. I don't want him turned in. I want him killed. Yeah, well, we'll get on it right away. It took three hours, and the word was out to every petty racketeer, hoodlum, gunman. The word was fine, Clyburn. If you turn him into the cops, we'll get you. Just find him and pass the Word to the right man. You'll get paid off. The boss wanted him dead, not alive. Clyba hadn't heard from his girl for two days. In desperation, he took a chance and telephoned Harry's bar. Asked for the contact men. Harry said, that's you, Steve? Yeah, Harry. Yeah, it's me. Is he there? Where are you? Never mind. Is he there? Wait a minute. Ella, this is Steve. Listen, I want that money. I've got to have it. What are you trying to pull? Don't get excited, kid. We had a little trouble. Handle a law. I'm sorry about it. Where are you, Steve? I'll get it to you right away. Never mind where I am. You give it to your girl. Well, Steve, I would, except haven't you heard? She left town yesterday. She's gone off the coast. Now, Steve, why don't you tell me where you are and I'll get. He was afraid. More afraid than he'd ever been in his life. He'd read the papers, knew the whole city was after him. And now he knew from the sound of that voice. They were after him too. There was nobody to trust now. His girl, everything gone. And even in his fear, he still didn't quite understand why it was happening. He'd done the job he'd been told to do, done it well. And they'd all double crossed him, the big boys. He didn't understand one thing. He did know now, however, he was valuable. He was worth money. But was it his life that was valuable? Or perhaps they'd find him, kill him and then turn him in. The rewards didn't say anything about being alive. As he left the cigar store, he didn't see the proprietor pick up the telephone. Hello, this is Shackley on the corner fifth. I thought you'd like to know Steve Kleiber was just in here making a phone call. Yeah, he just went out walking East. I'm in trouble. I'm in bad trouble. Punks, a lot of them. Double crusts. I'm in trouble. I'm scared. I shouldn't be out like this. I gotta find someplace to hide. Where? Where? They'll get me. They'll be looking. They'll get me. And he felt safer walking. Because every place, any place that he might want to go, a shelter was now a trap. He saw the police station at exactly the same moment. He saw the black car around the corner. And a sixth sense told him what was about to happen. He started to run toward the police station. You cop. You give me protection. I'm the guy who he asset? I'm the guy. Suspense. In which Mr. Tony Barrett and Mr. William Conrad starred in tonight's presentation of the man who threw acid. Be sure to join us next Wednesday when we again bring you another presentation of radio's outstanding theater of frills, suspense. Suspense is produced and directed in Hollywood by Anthony Ellis. And now a public service message from CBS radio. Remember that phrase, one of our aircraft is missing. Another time around it might be one of our cities is missing. Radar can spot enemy aircraft before they reach our cities, but there are gaps which only your eyes can fill. CBS radio suggests write or telephone your nearest civil defense center. Or write to ground Observer Corps, air Force, Washington, D.C. to learn how you can serve in our ground observer corps. Stay tuned now for five minutes of CBS news to be followed on most of these same stations by my son, Jeep. You hear America's favorite shows on the CBS radio network 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 a 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. Why, it's a cold morning, Mr. Dillon. Yeah, I'm ready for spring, Chester. The tail end of winter always gets on my nerves. Well, it shouldn't be long now. The worst of it bound be over. I hope so. Here, let's try Delmonico's. Here. I'm always ready to eat, Mr. Dillon. Morning, Matt. Chester. Oh, how are you, Kitty? How about joining me, huh? Well, thank you. Pull up a chair, Chester. Yes, sir. You're up early this morning, Matt. Usually you don't even start breathing till noon. It's too cold to sleep, Kitty. That jail stove always burns itself out about 5 o'clock in the morning. From then on, you just have to. Well, what is it, Matt? Chester, that second table from the window over there. Those three men there, do you know them? No, sir, I don't think I do. Well, I do. Ran into them about four years ago out in Arizona territory. That's the Pueblo gang. Never heard of them coming this far east before. Well, you want some help, mister? No, just sit tight. Order me some sausage and buckwheat cakes. Kitty with you? I'll be right back. I don't want to stay in this town. I don't like it enough, but go ahead. Morning, boys. It's the Parks brothers, isn't it? Ed and Rio and Chuck Evans. Well, what about it? Easy, Rio. It's still in the US Marshal, the one I told you about. Yeah, I bet you did. What'd you tell him, Chuck? Look, Dylan, our food's getting cold. You got something on your mind or not? Nothing important, Rio. I figure it's quite an honor to have the Pueblo gang in town. I just thought I'd drop over and tell you how I felt about. And how do you feel? Well, that depends, Ed. Are you boys here own business or pleasure? Does it make a difference? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it makes a difference. I know your reputation. West of here, half the stage holdups in the last five years in Colorado to the California border can be laid right at your door. As far as I know, you're clean in Dodge City so far. All right, you just keep it that way. You make one move here and your time's up, right? Then you're short. And I'll take you. All three of you. You understand? Sure, we understand. We'll think it over, Dylan, let you know what we decided. Rio, you talk too much now. See you around, boys. You can put the gun away now, Chester. All right. We're just gonna be ready in case. Math. I thought I'd tell you those boys are mean. They're in the Texas trail last night. They're just downright mean. Yeah, I know. What do we do, Mr. Dillon? Run them out of town? Not unless they give us some reason to. Chester. Yes? The law doesn't say you can hang a man because he might steal a horse. Yeah. Forget it. Let's eat, huh? Our old train's just about ready to pull out, looks like. Yeah, it's on time. It's 3:00. Be in St. Louis tomorrow night, Chicago the next day. If the engine holds up. They don't break down so much anymore. They're getting them worked out. So they're pretty dependable. Yeah, I guess so. You ever get a hankering to take a trip back back east, Mr. Dillon? Just to see how things has changed? Not me, Chester. I've been on the frontier too long. I'd be lost back there. I wouldn't know how to act, I guess. Man could get his rope kinked over which fork to use or what to do. Oh, hi, you. Will you down watching your competition pull out? There'll be stagecoach running for a long time to come yet. Railroad's not bothering me any. Well, I'm glad to hear that. Something else is, though. No, Matt. The stage from Buckeye is more than two hours overdue. I'm Getting a little worried. Why? It's usually late, isn't it? Not on this particular day of the month. What's today? Particular gold dust. It's the day those placer mines out there always ship their cleanup. Charlie's never missed getting it here at 3 o'clock on time for the eastbound Santa Fe. Not once. Who's riding the shotgun, Will? Houston Jack. He's a good man. I doubt if there's any cause to worry. That shipment runs 80 or $100,000 sometimes, Matt. Never been laid before. Oh, Charlie will probably roll in any minute now. We'll see you later, Will. So long. What do you think, Mr. Dillon? Same as you do, Chester. Let's ride up and meet that stage. I still think I heard a horse went in, Ms. Dylan. Yeah, I thought I heard it too. We must be an hour and a half from town. The way the stage runs. I'm sure he is late all right. I hope late is all it is, Chester. I hope. There, there. There it is again, Mr. Dylan. Yeah, it came from that draw over there somewhere. On that sumac thicket. Come on. Look, Mr. Dylan. Wheel track leading off the trail. Yeah, running at a dead gallop and out of control. Well, Chester, there's the stage. I don't see any sign of life, Mr. Dillon. Let's take a look. There's tracks all around. Must have been three or four horses here. Three. The way I'm figuring it, I'll lay any odds you want. This is some of the. There's Houston Jack, Mr. Dillon. Yeah, shot in the back of the head and he didn't take any chances. He must have ridden up behind the stage and fired without any warning. That's probably what spooked the horses and started to run away. Yeah, they shot the lead horse. It's an old trick. Charlie's still up here on the box. They got him too. That strong box has been forced open. It's empty. All right, Chester, let's cut these horses loose and get them out of the traces. Come on now, boy. It's the same way they used to work it out west. Shoot the guard in the back and let the team run until the they far enough off the trail. And then kill the lead horse to stop them. You mean that do have little gang? Yeah, who else? That's a good thing there wasn't any passengers. They got the same treatment. All right. There you go, boy. I think there were some passengers, Mr. Dylan. One at least. What? There's a couple of trunks tied on top and a carpet bag of some Kind inside the stage. Here, let's have a look. Now, the only bodies are the guards and the drivers. They. Maybe one of the gang was riding as a passenger. They wouldn't leave trunks behind it. What is it? There's stuff in the carpet bag. Belongs to a woman. There's no woman here. Yeah, I know, apparently. And they must have taken her. Yeah. It's almost dark. Come on, Chester. Let's try to pick up their trail. And it's just no use going any farther, Mr. Dylan. It's too dark to tell what we're doing. Well, they were heading towards the river. Here, let's take a look through these willows. And if we don't find anything, then we'll ride on back to town. All right. I still keep getting a faint whiff of wood smoke from somewhere. Sure wish we would find the fire getting colder in the. Wait a minute. Look over there. Well, I'll swear it's fire, all right. Or what's left of one. Mr. Dillon, you suppose there's still. I don't know. Let's leave the horses here and go up on foot, huh? All right, sir. There's nothing moving. No signs of life. They couldn't have left too long ago. That fire would have burned itself out. Well, I'd say we're too late. Mr. Dillon, I think they've gone. Yeah, it looks that way, all right. Yeah, half hour or an hour ago. Made a fast camp, stayed long enough to warm up. And then they. What was that? I don't know. They're over here. Chester. There's somebody lying on the ground. Help me. Help me, please. Throw some brush on the fire, Chester. Yes. No. It's all right, Ms. Andy. It's all right now. Three of them robbed the stage, killed the driver. And the guards brought me with them. Anything I can do, Mr. Dillon? No, Chester, I'm afraid. Nothing. Love it. Chester. Get some light over here. Grab one of those branches that's caught fire. Just a second. Easy now, ma'am. Just easy now. It's gonna be all right. I pleaded with. Begged them to let me go. Here, Ms. Helen. Yeah, hold it over here, Helen. But they wouldn't. They wouldn't let me go. Helen Ford. And when they left, they drew their guns and shot me. Easy now. They shot me. You know who they were? Helen. Helen, can you hear me? One. One named Rio. One called Chuck. They sat on their horses, shot. Then they laughed. She's in awful bad shape, Mr. Nellen. We ought to get her to dog shock me and laughed. But it didn't matter. Not well. Guess it's too late now. Yeah, it's too late. I'll carry her back to Dodge. Get me your saddle blanket with you. Just her. You knew her, Mr. Dillon. A long time ago. When things happen the way they do. Later she married Bill Ford and went out to Colorado. It's a long time ago. I didn't expect I'd ever see her again. It's a bad thing, Mr. Nellen. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm gonna see him hang. For we will return. We will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment. But first, everybody's got a heart. That's a plenty solid reason for everybody to support with generous contributions the annual fund drive of the heart campaign. Don't forget what your money pays for is aimed at making the sick well and keeping the well from getting sick. Support the heart campaign again this year. Now for the second act of gun smoke. Over here, Chester. We'll check the livery stable first. They could have pulled out, of course. But I'll lay out as they came straight back into town. It won't take long find out. Let's go in. Who's there? Who is it? Matt Dillon. Is that you, Mr. Coven? Oh, yeah, sure is, Marshall. Hey, let me get a lantern lit. Just fixing to lock up the stable and go over and grab myself a bite to eat. Running things alone again tonight. Confounded boy didn't show up. Like he's not drunk there. Come on, Marshall. We got a fire going back in the office. Come on back, set us back. I'd like to, Calvin, but we don't have time. I'm looking for some horses. Well, I got him, Marshall. You want to buy, trade or hire a. Just look. There are three fellas staying over at the Dodge House. They've been there about a week. Ed and Rio Parks and Chuck Evans. They're keeping their horses here. There they are. Right back here. And if I ever saw a ruination of good horse flesh, this is it. There. Take a look there. That one belongs to the oldest Parks boy, Ed, and the one next to its Rios. They been rode, Mr. John? They've been rolled plenty. Yeah. What time they come in, Kelvin? About an hour ago, more or less. Gone since forenoon. Just come back a little while ago. Look at that horse. Been rubbed down twice. He's still wet. They didn't say where they'd been, did it? No, not damn. They the talking kind. Just left their horses and went on over the hotel. Wherever they was though, they must have been riding like the Devil himself was chasing them. Or maybe he was. Thanks, Mr. Kelly. Yeah. Well, I guess there's not much doubt of it, Chester. No, sir. It was them, all right. And I could have stopped it before it happened. A man shouldn't be jailed on suspicion. I figured just because he might do something wrong. Well, my. Everybody has to play it the way he sees it. Only sometimes you can see it a lot cleaner afterwards. What are we gonna do? Go get them, that's all. Well, where do we start looking? The Texas Trail? I. One thing, Chester, before we go in now, you leave the play on this to me, huh? Just keep me covered, that's all, Mr. Dylan. What was her name before she was married? Marlo. Helen Marlo. All right, come on, let's go. Well, it was a real dull Easton up until now. Hiya, Max. Chester. Hi, Miss Kitty. Kitty. I'm looking for the Pueblo gang. Have any of them been in here? Why, yeah. One of them's here now. Bill Parks. He's over there at the faro table, huh? Well, what's wrong, Max? What happened? They held up the Buckeye stage, killed Charlie and Houston Jack and a passenger, a woman, Helen Ford. All right, Chester. Be careful, man. Yeah, sure. Kidding. Just cover me, Chester. That's all. Yes, you. 500 says I've got the car. Too much. Are you going to cover me or not? What's the matter? You all a bunch of bikers? Maybe they haven't been out robbing stage coaches. R. What do you mean by that? Maybe they don't make their living by killing women, Bill. And a man could get in trouble shooting off his mouth that way. You're already in trouble. All right, boys. Rio's checking in his hand. The game's over. You can slide out at the end of the table over there. You're under arrest for murder, Rio. Don't know what you're talking about, Dylan. Murder. A murder that you're gonna hang for. Now, where are the other two? Go find them if you want them. I'm gone, too, as soon as I finish with you. I said you're under arrest, Rio, and I. Get your hands up. Oh, I don't. You're not gonna make any play. You don't have the guts. Shooting a man in the back is more your line, Rio. You're killing a woman. Now get your hands up. That's about on. All right, Chester, get his gun. Seems like it's getting colder, Mr. Dillon. Clear as a bell, though. Look at that moon. Where do you suppose they are? You've been in nearly Every saloon on Front Street. I don't know, Chester, but wherever they are, we're gonna find them. And you know something, Mr. Dillon? When we do arrest the other two, they're as good as hung with the evidence we got on them. I haven't arrested them yet. Maybe them other two. You won't be taken as easy as Rio. That's up to them. If they want to surrender, they can. I've never shot a man with his hands up. Chester. Ben's barbershop owner, the man that he's shaving. It's kind of hard to tell with all that lather. No, it's Ed Parks. Come on. And there's just him and Ben in the shop. Wonder where Chuck Evans is. We'll worry about him later. Just help yourself a seat, gentlemen. Be ready for you just as soon as. Oh, evening, Marshall. How you been? I didn't know you were in the habit of shaving outlaws. Well, maybe you're mistaken, Marshall. Just have a seat there and I. No, I recognize him, all right. It's Ed Parks. Well, looks like you got the advantage of me, Dillon. Well, we can't have that, Ed. Wipe the lather off his face, Ben. Yes, sir. Sure thing, Marshall. Just a second now, Mr. Park. There. There you are. It's too bad you have to leave that shave half finished, Ed. But they'll give you a free one just before they hang you. What are you talking about, Dylan? Now, gentlemen, if you're under arrest for murder, get your hands up. Your brother's waiting for you at the jail. You arrested real. What about the hand said? Are you going to put him up? No. Dirty kiddo, huh? That was a fast move for a barber, Ben. I. I knew he had a gun under the towel, Marshall, but of course, I couldn't say anything about it. Oh, thank you, Ben. And if you'll send the bill for your shaving mug to the stage company, they'll probably take care of it for you. Yes, sir, Mr. Dillon. Chester, spill some water on him. I want him to walk to jail. I bet Chuck Evans got clean away, Mr. Dillon. The word must have got to him. Well, he had to do it awful fast. The clerk said he checked out of the hotel less than 10 minutes ago. Kelvin. The light must hurt his eyes. He never keeps a lantern burning. Afraid of fire, maybe. Kelvin, Are you there? Kelvin? Yes. Hey, what's wrong? Who is it? Matt Dillon. Oh, strike a light. A man could fall over something in this stable and break his neck. All right, all right. Don't get excited. I'm Used to it myself. I know just where everything is and don't see any point in wasting oil. Now, what's on your mind, Marshall? Chuck Evans. Is his horse still here? Indeed, it most certainly is. As a matter of fact, he's back there saddling up right now. Good. I told him it seemed like a full time of night to start out on a trip. You can't reason with anybody that treats horses the way that bunch does. I guess not. But go on answering. Yes, what is it? Give me a hand back here, will you? Tell him yes. All right, I'm coming. What's this all about, Marshall? Nothing to get yourself worked up about. Just stay right here and stay out of the way. All right? Cheskel. Yes, sir. He's got a lantern back there at the stall. Yeah. You were right about one thing, Chester. He's trying to leave town. Give me a hand with this, Kelvin. I can't seem to get the. You going somewhere, Chuck? Now, look. Look, Dylan, you got nothing on me. Lay off. The Parks boys are in jail. I don't know anything about it. Dylan, you can't prove a thing. And you can't shoot me. I'm not even wearing a gun. It's hanging there on the saddle horn. Yeah, so I see. If the other boys did something, I don't know anything about it. You're a liar, Chuck. And you're a coward. You've got no call to talk like now. You're under arrest. Chester, get his gun off his saddle. Look how much you. Dylan, he's got another gun. I'll kill you. Dylan. Sir, help me. You're scared, Chuck. You're too scared to shoot straight. Help me. Well, I guess that does it, Chester. Come on. Where's it? Marshall? What happened? Evans is dead. The Parks boys are going to hang your short three customers, Col. Well, who's going to pay the stable bill? The stable bill? You got their horses. Sell them. Oh, yeah, I never thought of that. Well, it serves them right. Anybody that would treat a horse way that bunch did. Davies. Guess it's over, Mr. D. Yeah, it's over, Ches, and it's just as well. This country'd be a lot better off with them fellas dead than alive. I guess so. Even the moon looks brighter. Yeah. Mr. Dillon, you're still thinking you should have jailed him on suspicion, aren't you? I'd have half a dodge in jail if I started that. Northchester is the kind of a chance a lawman has to take. Yes, whether he likes it or not. Yes, sir. But I'm not liking it much right now. In the morning I'm going to have a talk with the preacher about holding the service for Helen. It's about all I can do for her now. Gunsmoke, under the direction of Norman MacDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. Tonight's story was especially written for Gunsmoke by Les Crutchfield with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Featured in the cast were Lawrence Dobkin, Tom Tully, Paul Dubove, John Boehner, Harry Bartel and Louise Lewis. Parley 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 Gun Smoke. More God yes. Starting tomorrow on most of these same CBS radio stations, there will be more Arthur Godfrey and his Gang, presented by CBS Radio for our Sunday listeners. Folks who are regular Arthur Godfrey fans know there's been a 30 minute roundup of Arthur Godfrey time Sundays at the Stars address. But starting Tomorrow, there'll be 30 minutes more with Arthur Godfrey and all the wonderful Arthur Godfrey gang. This is Roy Robert Rowan speaking and remember, Lionel Barrymore is your host on the Sunday Night Playhouse on the CBS Radio Network. 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