 around Dodd City and in the territory on west. There's just one way to handle the killers in the spoilers, and that's with the US Marshal and the smell of gun smoke. Not exactly. You're dressed like a preacher. If you'll excuse me. Back up, fancy pants. You ain't no preacher. I figure I'm making you dance some for the folks. You think you can hoor on me? Dude, I said dance. Charlotte, take off one of your toes. I don't think I'd like that. Pull it down here. Marshal, you move aside. I'm going to make this grin and do kick up his heels for us. I'd say that might be quite a trick, Thorn, unless he's changed a lot since our last meeting. Happy, Doc? Not for the good, Matt. I was afraid. You pacy face tender foot. I said shut up, Thorn. You just don't know it yet. I'll take it good if you'd make me litter at my office. All right, Matt, for you. Well, that's sure a lot of talk. Shoot that dude's booty. Fire one shot, and I'll pistol whip you, Thorn. What's that? You're kind of forgetting who's holding a gun, ain't you? I wasn't forgetting. Oh, my wrist. You broke my wrist. I doubt it. Now, let's go to jail. You can't put me in jail. I'm Thorn Finley. Move. Oh, you wouldn't like L.B. Jack about this. And I will, too. Do that. He might be grateful to me for saving your neck. You've pulled some fool's stunts, Thorn, but you've never been closer to dying than just a minute ago. Do you mean from that fancy pants? Oh, I could handle six like him. That makes you a lot of man. I can name a dozen pretty good gunhands who can't handle one of it. What? That's dark holiday. Arizona's dry there, better for my lungs. Thought I might. Wyatt invited me to visit him. He and Virgil and Morgan have a law down there. Some little mining town called Tombstone. Oh, it sounds peaceful, anyway. It isn't it will be by the time Wyatt Earp gets through. He is the peacemaker this man I ever met outside of you. Matt, who was the teller head down to Depot, anyway? No, Thorn. He just a spoiled kid. Kid? Couldn't be much younger than you. Sure, but Thorn never grew up. His father has coddled him and protected him and gotten him out of scrapes ever since he was a putt. He's never had to be a man, not with big Jack or a wet nurse in him. Big Jack. Big Jack. Finley. Oh, you know him? I've heard of him. Well, that figures he owns about half of Kansas. Starring a box runs more cows than he can count. Swings a lot of weight and dodge. Yeah, too much. Mr. Dillon, somebody said the dark holiday could come into town today and he would. Oh, excuse me. It's all right, Chester. Why don't you shake hands with him? Don't mind if I shake with my left hand. Kind of habit. Yeah, I know. Mr. Dillon has the same habit. He would. How about dinner tonight, Matt? Sure, sure. How long will you be in dodge? Not long. Just till I finish a chore. How many things to do with Big Jack, Finley? I'd say so. I'm going to kill him. Close the door, Mr. Finley. You're going to turn my boy loose? I'm going to have to do it for you. You got a writ of habeas corpus? Rit? Thorn didn't commit no crime. Charges are dropping disorderly, disturbing the peace and attempted assault with a deadly weapon. I will. You still need a writ. But man, Judd and Nathan does what I say and you know it. But you think I can get a writ? I'm sure you can and will, you always do. Then what's the point, Dillon? It's just a lot of useless red tape. It's the law. Close the door on the way out. Honey, you're going to learn you can't slave the speech. The law can't touch a Finley. You ought to get smart, Marshall. Like you? Sure, like me. Hi, big Jack. You OK, son? Fine. Anything else, Mr. Finley? Well, yes. My boy here is a little boisterous sometimes. I know. High spirited, you understand? So? So I want to put a stop to all this nonsense of yours arresting him every time he kicks up his heels a bit. I go on. Well, I'm offering you a job. Let's say protecting my interests, $200 a month. And no work, naturally. I see we understand each other perfectly. No work, of course. All I have to do is just shut my eyes whenever junior here breaks the law, huh? I said we understand each other. There's no need to elaborate on it, Dillon. There's a big need. Only how do I explain to a person like you that some men don't wear a price tag? How do I explain how I feel about a so-called respectable citizen making the law his private doormat? Hey, you're nothing but the stupid gunman I've always thought you were. I understand you took the part of Doc Holliday against my son. I kept thorn from committing suicide, yeah. You sided with a notorious killer against an important citizen of this community. Now I'm telling you, Dillon, I don't want him in dodge tomorrow. Doc may be a gunfighter, but he's clear with the law friendly and a better man than your son will ever be. What? Boy, I'm. That hurts, doesn't it? You. I'm serving notice, Marshall. You run that killer out of Dodge City, or I'll do it myself. Self-made king of southern Kansas. No better or worse than most of the men carving empires out of the west. Until love for his son blinded into the fact that thorn friendly had gone bad, and hereon I knew the war was on between Big Jack. So Big Jack fellow is going to run me out of time? No, unless I do it first. Oh. I do something naughty, man. He was threatening the man's life. Oh, that. And just between friends, man. Anything else, Doc? Not murder. Murder? I can give him an even break. With you, that's still murder. Don't you think you better tell me about it? Mm-hmm. What if I don't tell you? How then my job's to warn friendly and try to protect him. You're a tough man to be friends with, man. That applies to you, too, doesn't it? Guess maybe better than that. Didn't realize how I put you on the spot by spotting off my good intentions. Sorry. Forget it, forget it. You want to talk to me? Remember a girl named Ruth Davis? Mm-hmm. She died in a rioting accident a few months ago. I always wondered if that wasn't suicide. She lost her brother two weeks before that. No accident. No suicide. Sure. Sure. You know, Ruth and her brother ran a ranch along. Mm-hmm. A man started pestering Ruth, and she hated him. Her brother kicked the man off the ranch. He spelled a dry ghost. Ruth's brother made it look like a robbery. You have any proof of this? Yeah. Ruth was afraid to go to the law, so she's not allowed it to me. Here, read it yourself. She says the man was Finley and says she expects him to try and shut her up for good. That doesn't mean it's big jack. I went to see Ruth's folks. They had her belongings. Among them I found this. Watch, Jane. Engraved JF on the class, Jack Finley. You see why I've got to kill him, man? He forced Ruth's horse over that cliff shore. But you still think she died accidental? No. But who's responsible for something for a court to decide court? With Finley's money and influence, he wouldn't spend five days in jail, even if he was convicted, which he wouldn't be. He doesn't own the court. Maybe not, but it's still the most powerful man in the state against a dead girl whose only friend is Doc Holliday. How do you think a judge will decide? Doc, I'm going to ask you a favor. Make it one I can give. I got an idea, but you must let me handle it my way. Give the law a chance. All right, Matt, I can wait. Thank you. I'll keep this letter in chain for a while. All right, but if the law fails, I'll brace Big Jack Finley when he walks out of the courthouse. And you'll be bracing two men, Doc. Finley and me. You fine, Dave? Well, you're up kind of early just to bring me a weather report, aren't you, Judge Nathan? Oh, I want to see you. Now go right ahead. Do you mind if I finish shaving? No, no, please do. Just thought I'd chat with you about the... About the Finley? Uh-uh. Yes. It seems that Big Jack's very upset by your attitude. I'm not surprised. Tealed you're a little rough on his boy like yesterday. Yesterday he was just plain high. Tell me, Judge Nathan, how do you like being on Finley's payroll? What? You know, you used to be a pretty decent person. You can't talk to me like that. Yes, I can. I'm sending a copy of Thorne's record to the governor. Governor? And with it, I'm sending a list of the rich you've issued to get him out of jail and a copy of the court records. I've only tempered my justice with mercy, that's all. Thorne's been arrested for 18 offenses, convicted of 10, spent no time in jail, and paid a total of $15 in fines. I'd say you've been very merciful. You said you were sending this to the governor. You haven't actually mailed it yet? No. You've got enough. Not that I don't feel justified in any decisions I've made, but such a report might cause undue talk at the Capitol. And ruin your political hopes. Well, my conditions are simple. Get off Finley's payroll now, and give me cooperation from here on, no matter who's involved. Do that, and I shall the report. I'll do it. Mr. Dillon, troubles are making. What kind of trouble, Chester? It's Big Jack Finley, Mr. Dillon. He's rounding up his crew at the Alapherganza. They're gonna ride duck holiday out of town on a rail. Did you cut yourself shaving? For the second act of gun smoke in just a moment, but first, don't forget, starting Monday, CBS Radio's tremendous new staff will start bringing you the complete coverage of the Democratic Convention in Chicago. As you found during the Republican Convention, CBS Radio never misses, so starting Monday, stay with CBS Radio all day and evening for the Democratic Convention. Now, the second act of gun smoke. This committee of his own hand-picked men come to West Court, you all at home. On a rail? Yeah, that's the general idea here, take a shot. Yeah, I'll hide it under the covers, modest like that. I'll wait against the wall here. Good. It'll put them in a crossfire. It comes to that. There's enough of them, we're in a spot. And likely we are. You're risking your neck to save me some bruises. One I owe you, friend, Matt. It's my job. Still one I owe you. You think you're going to stop us, Dillon? I think so. Me and Doc. Doc. Show them, Doc. Sure thing, Marshall. Look, boys, surprise. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I sure do love surprises. Dillon, I've got a dozen men with me. Well, sure about six of them will die, Finley, if you don't crawl out of here fast. And guess who'll die first, big Jack? You there, Montcrete. I always figured you for some brains. Get your boss out of here quick. Sure talking sense, big Jack. Shut up, Montcrete. You showing yellow. Oh, but man, there's nothing here for us to die over. Listen to him, Finley. That greener, Doc, is holding, has 18 buckshot in each barrel. He'll get slaughtered if he triggers that thing. And I'm getting edgy, Finley. And me, if I get a coffin spell, I'm liable to shoot without meaning to. All right, all right. This is twice you have made a Finley back down. You'll never get a third chance. Let's get out of here. When are you going to arrest him? When I'm ready. Not long. I hope not. Getting impatient to see that man dead. Hope it's important. It is, Montcrete. How long have you been foreman for big Jack? 15, 16 years. You know him pretty well. Would he be the kind to kill a girl? No, of course not. If he killed a man, if he got mad enough that he wouldn't kill no girl, Marshal. I have proof that he did. A girl and a brother, but it doesn't set right. I'm hoping you can help. What's your proof, Marshal? A letter that names Finley as the man. Ruth Davis wrote it before she died. Ruth Davis. And this watch chain was found with her belongings engraved on the back. I know I was with big Jack when he bought this chain in Chicago. It was right after his wife died. Big Jack wore it all the time? You rode the right hunch, Marshal. Well, Thorin is your man just like you figure. He had a yen for the Davis girl, but he kept it quiet because he didn't want it known. She throwed him over. But the watch chain. Big Jack gave that to Thorin on his 25th birthday. Whole ranch contestified on that. Good. All right, thank you, Montgomery. You going to try and arrest Thorin? Why? If Big Jack believes Thorin killed that girl, it'll break his heart. Broke her neck. If he don't believe it, then he'll protect Thorin. And Marshal, there's not enough lawmen in the state of Kansas to make Big Jack give up his son. Dr. This is Judge Nathan. Holiday. Oh, yes. I've heard of you. I've heard of you, too, Judge. One to which is heard the worst. What's that? Why? Judge, I'm here on business. Oh, of course. Come in, won't you? In my study here, so we won't be disturbed. I want you to swear out a warrant for Thorin Finley's arrest. Charge, murder. Matt, you wouldn't make me a lawman. If you go, you go as my deputy. I'm not letting you make this a private fight. And with my friends, if they hear I wore a star, all right, Matt, it's your show. You swear to uphold and enforce the laws of this community, the state of Kansas, and the United States, to the best of your ability, as deputy Marshal, so help you God. All of that? All of that. I swear I've been on this badge. All right, man. You know, I'm feeling this badge is going to cramp my style, something terrible. The slug seems to have bounced off his thick skull. Pull your teeth. Better you do it. Hand reach down and across slow. Pull your gun out with your fingertips and toss it away. Nervous? Just cautious. Or maybe this queen doesn't exist, huh, Thorin? Queen's one of dad's, man. But I pay him extra to work for me. Any more questions? I guess not. Here's my gun. The rifle next. You know why Holiday came to dodge? Yeah. Yeah, I guess you do. You wouldn't be riding with him. And he's not going to tell any stories to my dad or anyone else. You can't kill us, you stupid. Not planning on killing you. And what have you got planned? A queen's kind of a magician. He's going to make Holiday just disappear. Folks won't care much about one of his kinds. I would. I'd care so much I'd hang you for it. No. No, with Holiday gone, it's your word against mine. And he won't be able to approve a thing, Dylan. You sure of that? I'm sure. Otherwise, I'd take care of you along with Holiday. Now, get out and start walking back to town. Just like I told you. Law can't touch a finley. It was no time for heroic, so I walked. Cut back through the rocks, but it was too late they were gone. And with them, the horses, guns, and Doc Holiday. Two miles up the road, I found my horse turned loose. And with a mindful of cold hate, I raced onto the star in a box. On the front porch of the ranch house, I wanted to pick Jack out of my way, Mr. I'm in no mood to shake hands. Where are you heading, law man? You don't hear well. It's Holiday. How should I know? Get off my ranch. And where's that prized son of yours? What? Trot him out, I want him. Do you now? What enough for? Thorne, put that gun away. Oh, no. This is just in case the Marshal loses his temper. I've lost it, Junior. Sure. Dylan, I've had all I'm going to stand from you. You just think you have. Where's Holiday, Thorne? Where'd Queen take him? Holiday? Well, I have him the faintest idea. Where is Queen Dad? The righty fence line. Mr. Marshal, we don't know where your friend is. You're under arrest, Thorne. What's that? Ask him to show the warrant. Here, read it, Fenway. What? Oh, no. No, that's not possible. The judge wouldn't issue a warrant without proof. He has proof, Thorne. This is a lie. Thorne couldn't be guilty of murder. No. Take a look at his face. Son. Dad, he's trying to frame me. Don't let him get away with this. Oh, I won't. I won't. Get out, Dylan. Man, open your eyes. This is not going to help me. You heard me. I don't believe you. You're warrant or your proof. I believe my son. So get off this ranch. Get out of the state. You let me see you again. So help me. I'll kill you myself. Forget me. You're bucking the law. You can't do my own law. You so do I. Dark Holiday. You're supposed to be dead. Queen was supposed to be... You're the one who's dead. I carry a knife in my boot just for men like him. Thorn. God help me. You are guilty. He sure is. And if he knows any prayers, he'd better get him over with. No, Doc. He goes back with us as our prisoner. You're wrong, Marshal. I'll take care of my son. Dad. Dad, no. You rotten lying murderer. Please, please, don't do that. I should have strangled him to death. Right on you and... You won't stay around a while, Doc. Yeah, we're good friends, man. But you're a peace officer. I guess I'm not a very peaceful man. You could be, Doc. No, I'm not going to change. And you shouldn't. Law needs men like you. No, if I stayed there, it's too good a chance I might cross you. Yeah. And I'd have to meet you over gun barrels. It's one thing I'm afraid of. So long, man. And I would have thought Dark Holiday was scared of meeting anyone in a gunfight. Hmm. You don't understand, Chester. Doc's afraid, cuz he might beat me. Donald stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal. Tonight's story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Herb Purdom with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Featured in our cast where Harry Bartel is Dark Holiday with Les Malar, Nestor Piva, Ralph Moody and Tom Tully. Harley Bear is Chester. Join us again next week as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal, fights to bring law and order out of the wild bun smoke.