 Gunsmoke, 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. Marshal and the smell of Gunsmoke. Gunsmoke, 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 Marshal, 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. Marswell, put away that cribbage board. It won't be playing tonight. Oh, why not? Have you found an easier mark? No, but you're going to hightail it up the street once you hear the news. Yeah? Matt, Belle's back. Well, Belle who? Belle who? Belle Ainsley, that's all. They got a mighty short memory for a man who used to eat dinner out of her place two and three times a week. Well, she was a good cook, I saw. Besides, it was three years ago. Oh, Matt, you know Doug Gunwell, you... Why don't you forget it, Doug? Um, has just cried her with her? No, she's come back alone. Well, it's too bad. Too bad? Why? Just cried her's no good. That's just why. He was wanted three years ago when he left here with her, and he's wanted even more now. Here, take a look at this bulletin from Wichita. Hold up at the Stockman State Bank, wanting two bank guards. Santa Fe, three counts of highway robbery. Lord'sburg, hold up at the Butterfield Stage, driver killed. All right, so just cried her's a thieving killer. Everybody knows that? Well, that's why I'd like to see him come back. Mr. Dillon? Yeah, what is it, Chester? Guess who is back, Mr. Dillon? I already know, Chester. Yeah, but that ain't all. She's... Chester, if one more person comes in here and tells me about Belle Ainsley, so help me up. You're what, Matt? Belle? She was right outside, I was going to say. Well, come on, come on, Chester. I'll buy you a beer. Well, I... gosh, well, I'll see you later, Mr. Dillon. How are you, Matt? I'm fine, Belle. And you? Well, a little older. Are you a visitor, or are you planning on staying? Well, I'm staying. It's a town to let me. Uh, what about just Criter? Where is he, Belle? I don't know. And I don't care. I left him in Durango. I'm through with him, Matt. I see. I want to stay here with my father. He's getting old, and my kid's sister, Phyllis. Well, she's grown into a young woman since I went away. And pretty bitter, I understand. When I come see you. Uh, she'll get over it. Everybody will, if you'll help me, Matt. Help you? Three months after I left, I came back, if you remember. And I found the good people of Dodge had already tried and condemned me. What could I do but go back to class? Well, you chose to run off with him in the first place. Sure. Who knew whether I had? Who bothered to ask? You? Anybody? What are you saying? Matt, I rode out of Dodge, thrown across the back of Jess Criter's saddle, with a gag in my mouth and my hands tied. Why didn't you tell somebody that? Who'd have believed it? But he didn't keep your hands tied for three years, Belle. Matt, a woman has to have somebody. Somebody will want to. And nobody here did. As bad as he was, Jess was my man. What do you want me to do, Belle? Just tell people, that's all. If you believe me, just tell them how it happened. Only with L&M can you enjoy the full, exciting flavor of today's finest tobaccos through the modern miracle of the L&M miracle tip. Through the pure white miracle tip, L&M tastes richer, smokes cleaner, draws easier. No other cigarette, plane or filter, gives you all the flavor you want. The rich, exciting flavor you get only from L&M. So light up, free up, let your taste come alive. Live modern, smoke L&M. Make today your big red letter day and start to live the modern way. Live, live, live modern today. Oh, the crowd. A trail herds in. The bar double D from the Panhandle. I, uh, I understand an old friend of yours came back last week. You know, a man tips his hat twice to a woman around here, and he's married. Is that really all you did, Matt? Tip your hat twice? Yeah, just about. Have you talked to Belle? Well, in passing. I heard a story. You believe it, Matt? That's possible. It's the kind of a thing just criteria do. Yeah, I don't know for sure. Well, if it did happen that way, and she's left him for good, then I guess maybe she's got some sympathy coming to her. Yeah. She sure didn't get much at home. What do you mean? Well, she moved back down at the ranch. Yeah, so I heard. She was all right with her father, probably on account of her cooking. You remember her cooking, Matt? I remember old man Ainsley well enough. He worked both those girls after death. Well, anyway, I guess her sister really raised Cain. Well, I figured that it happened. She's hated Belle ever since the night she ran away with Clyder was taken away. But I didn't think she'd carry it so far. Now, what do you mean? Phyllis left the ranch yesterday and moved into town, Matt. She's got a room over the Dodge House. What? Uh-huh. A 15-year-old kid living here alone? Yeah, I know. I'll go see her and talk to her, kiddo. But I don't think it'll do any good. How are you, Dovey? Some of my guests have been kicking up their heels, have they? Uh, Dovey, I understand that the youngest Ainsley girl Phyllis took her room here yesterday. Is that right? Yeah, she certainly did. Want to get away from that environment, I reckon. I can't say I blame her, Marshall. I know if my sister had been cavorting around for three years with a cutthroat like Jess Crider... Dovey, would you mind telling the girl that I'd like to talk to her? I can't very well do that, Marshall. Why not? Well, of course, she up and left this evening. What? Yep. I've already let the room somebody else. She said she was leaving the country and wasn't coming back. Leaving the country? Or was she alone? Well, now she walked out alone, but... I kind of had the impression there was some man waiting for her outside. And you let her go? Well, there was nothing I could do about it. Well, you could have told somebody, or family, or me. She's only 15, Dovey. Well, let's grow it up the way I look at it. Anyway, I figured it's just another case like our sister Belle. And it sure ain't none of our responsibility. Jester and I settled up and rode out to the Ainsley Ranch, or a homestead it was actually. A broken back spread with a flinty range and short water. When we got there, we sat and talked with Belle and her father all polite and formal like. And nobody's saying much of what they meant. Jester kept looking at me funny because I didn't mention young Phyllis, but I decided against that two minutes after we walked in. And I still hadn't said anything when we left. Belle came out of the yard with us. It was nice of you to ride out, Matt and Jester. Well, I... Nobody else in town's even been near the place. Now, there's slow people to change, Belle, and take some a while. And I guess they've got to get over feeling kind of awkward around you, I guess. Oh, it's not only the outsiders who feel awkward around me. Oh? Well, I guess you wondered where Phyllis was. She's moved out, Matt. She took a room in town. Well, she'll get over it. The girl can be pretty flighty at that age. I suppose so. Well, thanks for coming out. Sure. You ready to ride, Jester? Yes, sir. We'll see you again, Belle. I hope so. Good night, Matt. Good night, Jester. Mr. Dillon, you didn't say one word about Phyllis. Wait a minute, Jester. We're going to ride away from here now, but we're coming back later tonight. What? Didn't you notice how they acted? Old man Ainsley was scared to death. And Belle was jumpy as a young coat. Well, I did notice that, but... Belle didn't come back home alone, Jester. Just criders around somewhere. Yes, live modern. Smoke modern. Smoke L&M. Enjoy a modern cigarette. L&M gives you the full, exciting flavor of today's finest tobaccos. No other cigarette, plain or filter, gives you the flavor you get through the modern miracle of the L&M miracle tip. Through the pure white miracle tip, L&M tastes richer. Smokes cleaner. Draws easier. So light up. Free up. Let your taste come alive. Live modern. Smoke L&M. Today your big red letter day and start to live the modern way. Live, live. The crider was right there in the house tonight. And we'll... Jester, there's no place for him to hide. Probably hold up in the barn. During burning inside. Yeah. Now you wait here and keep me covered. I'll go in fast. You be careful. Now, but he has been. You see that blanket on that straw there? It's made up for a bed. Well, maybe he's up at the house now. I don't think so. The only horse in here that old spab and mare Ainsley uses on the book board. Jess Crider would have the best money could lay his hands on. Maybe the two of them got spooked up and made a run for it. Well, maybe, but I don't think so. Get your hands up, man. Well, I... You too, Jester. Oh, well... Jess? Yes. Forget it, Bill. He's too far away by now to hear you. What are you talking about? Let's take a look around. Didn't you have a couple of horses in here? Sure we did. Now, don't move. Either one of you. They're gone. Yes! You might as well save your breath, Bill. He took both saddles and the packs. Do you know where he went? Now, I can guess. Where? When's the last time he saw him this evening? Just before dark. I brought him out some coffee and he said he was going to try to sleep. Matt, where'd he go? Tell me. There's not much point in holding a gun on us. Not now. Stay back, Matt. Let's have it, Bill. No! You can breathe the mind easier without that thing staring him in the face. What's happened to Jess? Tell me. What do you care? You've left him, haven't you? You said you hadn't. Oh, I only came and told you that so you wouldn't get suspicious. Jess caught a bullet in that hold up at Elko. It was bothering him some and we had to find a place to stay for a while. So you brought him home to the family, huh? In less than a week, your kid's sister ran away from home. She didn't run away. I sent her into town. And why? Because Jess was bothering her. Is that it? What are you saying? He's always been known for it, Bill. Was that the reason? All right, that was a reason. She's my sister, Matt. And she's only 15. And Jess is your man, huh? Isn't that what you told me when you came to my office? Sure, that's what I told you, but never mind that now. I want to know what's happened to Jess. The same thing that happened to Phyllis, I guess. She checked out of the dodge house this evening, Bill. He said she was leaving the country for good. What? A man was waiting for her outside. And Jess Crider left here with two horses. Get him, Matt. Go after him and get him. You know where he might be. Of course I know. I know everything about him. I've had three years to learn, haven't I? All right, then. Where is he? He'll only ride at night. He'll stop at Sunup. There's an abandoned shack about a mile west to where Little Deer Creek runs into the Arkansas. Yeah, I know the place. Well, that's where he'll be. We've used it before. We stopped there on our way in. All right, Bill. Uh, that business about your hands being tied, being thrown across the back of Crider's saddle. That part was true, Matt. All right, Bill. Come on, Chester, let's ride. Jack all day, Mr. Dunn. He will, Chester. They just got here. Those horses are still sweating. He won't leave them standing there subtle for long. It wouldn't be too hard to chore to slip up through that plum thicket there at the back. No. If he fights, I don't want the girl in it. We'll just wait till he comes out. And out gone if I can understand women at all, Mr. Dunn. Well, I've had the same trouble myself at the time, Mr. Chester. But why would that nice young girl want to go running off with them, murdering out all like Jess Crider? Maybe it's more a matter of hitting back at her sister. She's let her hate for Belle build up till it's driven her half crazy, I guess. Somebody's coming out. It's him. Yeah. Easy now. We'll just let him get clear of the cabin. You stay down, now. All right. Hold it, Crider. You're under arrest. He's going for his gun. I'll let you away. Okay, Chester. He looks like maybe he got out of hanging. Yeah. Do you know what you've done? I know, fellas. Oh, no. No, you don't. Yes, I do. I kept you from making an even bigger fool of yourself than you already have. Oh, what are you saying? I love him. We were going to be married. Well, we were. Phyllis, you better go home and talk to Belle about that. Oh, Belle, I'll never say a word to her again as long as I live. Now, you listen to me, Phyllis. You got to get rid of that hate of yours. If you don't, it's going to ruin your life for good. Now, you go home and you talk to Belle and you listen to what she's got to say before you judge her. No, I won't go back. Yes, you will. I can't. Not now. Nobody will ever know about this, Phyllis. I promise you. Jess Crider was alone when I found him. Now, there's your horse. And he's still saddled. I can't. I don't want to. I know what you need, young lady. You see that plum bush over there? Well, I'm going to cut me a switch off of that. And if you're not out of here in one minute... Oh, you wouldn't. Oh, I wouldn't, huh? Would you just watch me? Marshall, I've been thinking, Marshall. Maybe I'll go home after all. In a moment, our star, William Conrad. Learn more now. Earn more later. That's Amato CBS Radio, wishes every college student would paste inside his or her wallet. A lot of those collegiate wallets are a good deal fighter than usual these days, thanks to summertime jobs. And as a result, quite a few young men and women are finding themselves tempted to forget about school this fall and keep on with that job. This isn't such a smart idea as it may seem. It's a plain and simple fact that dropouts from college are less likely to find and keep better paying jobs. Quit school before you've finished and you're not only cutting down on your chances for a really good job, but also throwing away thousands of dollars of possible future income. Finish college, get all the education possible and your lifetime income is many thousands of dollars higher. America needs well-educated young men and women and the rewards are sure. So if you're wavering now that school's about to open, don't decide against your future. Go back and remember, learn more now, earn more later. And now, William Conrad. You know, when men on the frontier were able to prove up some good land, they were usually content. But next week, after building a prosperous ranch, two lifelong friends nearly lose everything, even their lives, because of some side meat and hominy grits. 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 Les Crutchfield, with editorial supervision by John Meston. The music was composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Sound patterns by Ray Kemper and Bill James. Featured in the cast were Virginia Christine, Ralph Moody and Sammy Hill. 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.