 brought to you by L&M, the modern cigarette that lets you get full exciting flavor through the modern miracle of the pure white miracle tip. Live modern, smoke L&M. 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. Marshall and the smell of gun smoke. Gun smoke, starring William Conrad, the transcribed story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man who moved with it. I'm that man, Matt Dillon, United States Marshall, the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancey job, and it makes a man watchful, and a little lonely. Ready, Chester? No, sir. Oh, why not? Well, I didn't like to ask Alfred for no more credit. Oh, yeah, I heard that you were Chuck Beeson's pharaoh table again last night. Read me a sermon. I deserve it. I guess an empty belly will do you more good than a sermon. I tell you what, you can think about that while I'm eating, huh? Yeah, that's where I'm heading right now. But I think a sermon would do me good, too. You know, all about the evils of gambling. It kindly would lift me up, Mr. Dillon. The best one I ever heard was back in Prairie Falls. Yeah, well, that's very interesting. This here circuit rider was a real hellfire and brimstone. He'd come right into the gambling hall, he didn't, and stood up on the table. He liked to get shot before he finished the first sentence. But he outshouted him and went right on. Took up a collection afterwards and must have got $40, $50. But there was only one trouble. Yeah, what was it, Chester? Well, nothing much, really. Only the money was in chips. See, he could cash them or play them. He played them, and he won. That kindly sorry to everybody on the sermon. Yeah. Well, I'm going to go eat now, Chester. I'll be back. Well, hello. Are you the Marshal here? Yeah, that's right. Do you want to see me? If you're not too busy. No, no, come in. This is Chester Proudfoot. Hello. How you doing? My name is Ascom, Marshal. Clint Ascom, I'm a gambler. I kind of figured that. But you're not from around here. I'd say maybe you work the Mississippi River Boats. It's pretty close. In Ohio. Well, you're a long way from water here. Thanks to the Santa Fe Railroad. But that's only a temporary necessity. I have a matter to settle. Oh, well, how can I help you? I'm looking for a man. I've traced him to this vicinity. Now, you know his name? That's all I know. His name is Cass. Jameson Cass. Oh, Jim Cass. I never figured him to get mixed up with gambling. You do know him. Yeah. Maybe you can direct me to him then. Well, he has a place out in the country. Those aren't very explicit directions, Marshal. No, they're not. But they're all I'll get. Well, I'd like to know what your business with him is. It's a personal matter. Oh, sure. But what? You told me what I wanted to know, Marshal. He's here. I'll find him without your help. Ask him. Why do you want to kill Jim Cass? What makes you think I do? A man eating up by hate gets a look in his eyes. I've seen it too often. Now, why? I've got reason. Better be a good one. You say you've never even seen Jim Cass? No. Now, he's a peaceful little man. He doesn't even wear a gun. The murder is illegal around here. I'll remember that. You better remember something else too. Jim Cass is a friend of mine. You go anywhere near him and it'll be a pleasure to run you clear out of the country. It wouldn't do any good, Marshal. I'll get him sooner or later. Good afternoon. Well, what in the world? You don't mean that. I'm afraid he does, Justin. But why? I don't know, Mr. Littlefell. Anywhere is an old Jim Cass. What do you suppose could bring a man to hate him? I don't know, but I better find out. Chester, you watch things here. I'm going to write out to Jim's. Sure, but aren't you going to eat? I can do that later. You keep an eye on Askham, and if he should, head that way. You follow and warn me. Sure, I will. I just came down to eat with you. Are you going out? I'm just writing out to Jim Cass. Now that's a long hot ride to make for nothing. What do you mean for nothing? You won't find anybody there. I saw Jim Cass over the long branch, and I'm 15 minutes gone. Free yourself of old-fashioned ideas. Why don't you live modern? Live... Free up, freshen up your taste. Smoke and L&M Today, all over the country, more people are changing to L&M than to any other cigarette. It's all because only L&M gives you full, exciting flavor through the pure white miracle tip. L&M draws easier. Taste richer. Smokes cleaner. So free up, freshen up your taste. Live modern, change to L&M. Make today your big red-letter day and start to live the modern way. Live, live, live modern. Get L&M. It's America's fastest growing cigarette. Have you seen Jim? I'd be ask him. Kitty, can I talk to you for a minute? Sure, ma'am. Is Jim Cass still around, Kitty? No. You know where he went? Home, I suppose. His wagon was hitched right outside. He got in and drove off about ten minutes ago. All right, thanks. What's the matter, ma'am? I just want to see him alive. Alive? Jim Cass? Kitty, do me a favor, will you? When I leave, you see that Ohio River gambler is entertained for a while, will you? Sure, as long as he's got money. OK, thanks, Kitty. Marshall, have a drink. And no thanks, ask him. Marshall, I've never had any trouble with the law. I don't want any now. This has got nothing to do with you. A deliberate killing is the business of the law anywhere, ask him. He'll have his fair chance. Sure, house odds, huh? I told you Jim Cass is not a fighting man. So you'll do his fighting for him? If I have to. I'm sorry, Marshall. Sure, but you won't stop it, will you? No. You must have a powerful hate. I have. I could lock you up, you know. And postpone it for a few days, that's all. And as for running me out of town, I'm leaving anyway. To go out to Cass's. If you want to warn him, you'd better go now. So you can follow me? I can find him without your help. Ask him, I'm gonna warn you. You harm Jim Cass, and I'm gonna jail you or kill you. Fair warning, Marshall. If you can do it. I can do it. I'll bring you out here. Can I come in? Sure. I'll sit in the coffee table, I won't take a minute. Hey, comes Clark should eat it. Yeah, it sure is. Yes, sir. Gonna be a late winter. Must be something important to bring you out here on a day like this. It is, Jim. Something about to me, Matt? Yeah. Say it. You know a man named Ascom, Clint Ascom. Ascom? Nope. A gambler, slick, young, dark-haired. No, not lightly. From Ohio, Riverboats. No. I was back east, Pennsylvania, a couple of years ago. You remember that? Yeah, I remember. I met some people, but I don't remember no gamblers. Not no Ascom. Jim, is there any reason why a man you've never even seen before would want to kill you? Kill me. Yeah, that's right. This fellow, this Ascom, he's here gunning for me? He probably followed me out here. Says he's got good reason. Well, it seemed to me like you ought to know about it if there was a reason like that. I don't know if I any man I ever met wanted to kill me. Okay, that's good enough for me, Jim. What are you going to do? Wait for him to come and then take him. Oh, seems like I ought to help. No, you just sit tight. At least I'd like to ask him why. Do you reckon that could be him? Yeah, maybe. I'll take a look. No, it's Chester. Hey, come! Shut up out there now! Stop it! Come! Oh, howdy, Chester. Hi, there, Jim. Nice dog. Say, Mr. Dylan? Yeah, Chester. Ask him apologize out like you thought. But soon as he spotted the place he turned off, I come in to tell you like you said. That's my mistake. Now we've lost him. He's out there somewhere waiting for us to leave. Well, what do we do? Now, Jim, maybe you better ride into town with us, huh? And let a gunman scare me off my place. Something no Kiowa or Comachi was ever able to do. All right, Jim. Come on, Chester. We'll head back to our town. Yes, sir. And then circle and come back. Well, he'll likely use that drawback with a barn. That's the way the Kiowa come in. All right, Jim. But you stay in the house. Well, don't worry none about me. I ain't got my old scattergun. Don't use it unless you have to, Jim. Come on, Chester. Free yourself of old-fashioned ideas. Why don't you live modern? Free up. Press it up your taste. Smoke it out of there. Only the modern miracle of the pure white miracle tip can bring all of L&M's full, exciting flavor through to you. And that's the big reason why today more people are changing to L&M than to any other cigarette. Remember, L&M draws the taste richer. Smokes cleaner. So live modern. Change to L&M. Make today your big red letter day and start to live the modern way. Live, live, live modern. Smoke at L&M. It's America's fastest growing cigarette. But you stay here, I'm going on. I'll just take that gun. My mistake, Marshall. I guess I underestimated you. I guess you did ask him. Just I got the horses and we'll get out of here. Jim, I told you to stay in the house. A man comes to kill me. I gotta ask him why. Just hold to your pistol, Matt. This scattergun will keep him quiet. Now, wait a minute. Do you like what I said, Matt? You too, Chester. Mr. Dunn. All right, Chester. Maybe I'd like to hear this too. Yeah, but I don't like to look in his face. All right, now, mister. My name is Jim Tass. You tell me yours. Ask him. Clint, ask him. I'm supposed to know you? No. We ever met? No. But you got the notion to kill me? Then I'll do it. Not while you're looking down this gun. Now, you're going to tell me why. Talk, mister. You killed my best friend. Without reason or sense in cold blood. Well, I shall lie. I never killed no man. Jameson, Cass, of Kansas Territory. On the night of June 12th, two years ago, in a bar room on the Cincinnati waterfront, you pleaded self-defense and they let you go. Only it wasn't self-defense. It's taken me two long years to track you down. But that was an Indian. That was a Delaware Indian. He was my servant and he was my friend. The best friend I ever had. He was as good a man as you are. Or any other white man. Jameson's true. We're mad. Ain't nothing to kill an Indian. You know that. You had no reason. Well, he joshed me and bothered me. Had no right being there at all with white men. Oh, I killed you with my bare hands. Stand back down. Ask him. You're still taking his part, Marshal. You hate Indians too. No, ask him. I hate killin' of any kind. But Indians don't count. Is that it? If it'd been my friend, I'd probably feel like you do. Eh? Not this murder. Ask him. Did you ever think maybe Jim's got a reason for the way he feels too? A reason? What reason? Well, out here there are plenty who feel his way. The situation's different. Indians aren't all like your Delaware. You take a look up there behind a house, that little grass plot with the flowers and the three headstones. Those are Cass' reasons. His wife and his two kids. And Kyle has put them there. I don't hold with what Cass did, but what you're doin' is no better. I don't care what his reason is. I come here to kill him. Now I'm gonna do it. Ask him. If you don't get your chance, give him back his gun. Now, Jim... Stand back, Matt. This is between him and me. You stay out of it. Give him the gun, Chester. No, Chester. Jim, can't you see that Jim making... I see he ain't gonna be satisfied short of blood. Well, now I ain't either. Now, wait a minute, Jim. Stand back, Matt. I'd hate to have to blast you. Use your head, Jim. Man comes to kill me. It's him or me. Mr. Dillon, that's a shotgun. Stay back, I told you. Put it down, Jim. Matt, I won't be stopped. Mr. Dillon, look out! Jim. Matt, I... I should've known you was faster than me. I'm sorry, Jim. No, you had to. But I figured I had to, too. Chester, give me your kerchief. Here, Marshal. Take mine. Ask him. Maybe I had this coming. I never thought much about that, Indian. Maybe I should've. Now, you be quiet, Jim, and I still... Marshal, I... Marshal, I'm sorry I caused this. It's a little late to be sorry, isn't it? Ask him. Now, why don't you get out of here? I'll find him going. Matt, was he dead? No, no, he just fainted. Chester, ride into town and get Doc out here as fast as you can. Will you let me get him, Marshal? At least I can do. All right, ask him. Go ahead, but hurry. Mr. Dillon, you think he'll really bring Doc back? Yeah, Chester, he'll bring him back. Why, you took a awful chance at that cousin shotgun. It was a gamble, Chester. Yeah, but one you could've lost. Maybe you better read me a sermon on the evils of gambling. Moment, our star, William Conrad. When your child raises his hand in the classrooms, does the teacher have time to answer his questions? How many questions go unanswered in your schools because teachers in crowded classrooms just don't have the time to get around to each child? This is only one of the serious situations that's going to be faced again and again this year in schools all over the nation. Every child deserves the best possible educational facilities. Though a good deal has been done since the postwar years, increased enrollments for this term threaten to wipe out all gains. Our schools are packed by the largest enrollment in history. There will be critical shortages in school rooms, staff personnel and transportation unless you do something about it. Join and work with your local civic group and school board now. Through the PTA and other groups, you can take action to improve the schools in your own community and help find more qualified teachers who are so desperately needed. Don't waste time. Your child's education is at stake. Don't leave it up to the next fellow because you're the person who can help improve our schools. This has been a public service message by CBS Radio. And now, William Conrad. You know the frontier saw its share of needless killings. But next week, Dodge City watches the most useless of all. Because of a bullet fired two months earlier, three men die. And that was the West. Gun Smoke, produced and directed by Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal. The script was specially written for Gun Smoke by John Dunkel with editorial supervision by John Meston. The music was composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Sound Patterns by Tom Hanley and Bill James. Featured in the cast were Lawrence Dobkin and Ralph Moody. Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. Join us again next week for another specially transcribed story on Gun Smoke.