 city and in the territory on west there's just one way to handle the killers of the spoilers and that's with a u.s. Marshall and the smell of guns smoke William Conrad the story of the violence that moved west and the story of a man who moved with it I'm that man Matt Dillon the United States Marshall the first man they look for and the last they want to meet it's a chance a job that it makes a man watchful but a little lonely like you said the one sorry it's looking bunch of cowboys I ever did see now I guess I didn't really hurt any of them just being banged on the head of the six gun ain't that gently to end the evening pleasure but they'll live well as they've been taking their pleasure too seriously yes sir but things quieted down a little last night after you locked up them five they might have been real trouble otherwise you clear I don't know what's going to everybody let you mr. Jones now it goes like that Chester things will be peaceful enough for a while till some wild outfit like this drag our herd is down and you got to come down on them hard and fast before they really get the bit in their teeth are you sure did last night and it isn't over yet I shall Dylan yeah that's right my name is rats I'm glad to know you're right I bossed the drag our herd up here from down around my Dakota that's in Texas Marshall yeah I've been there yeah but you better not go back oh we might give you the kind of welcome you're giving us what's your complaint rats buffalo and my men five of them come into camp this morning with blood in the air they said you done it that's right I did and if I hadn't they might have been shot or shot somebody else good thing for you you took them one at a time I'd have taken them anyway look grants this town was on the edge of a riot last night and I stopped it I stopped it without any killing the man's all business he wants to pull out his gun not around here it isn't Marshall I can't ask men to come up the trail the way to do then take the drink and soda water and talking and whispers what kind of a town is this anyway it's a good time and your men can drink and gamble all they want in but they can't shoot the mirror off the wall at the long branch and they can't grab town's woman on the street and they can't break the bartender's arm in the Oasis and they can't offer to shoot anybody that tries to stop them it isn't that kind of a town rants for sure I get a little frisky there's no harm in it I can see sooner or later it would lead to killing and I gotta draw the line somewhere so do I Marshall no what does that mean I mean I won't drive cattle the dyes no more I'll spread the words no good town and you people can live off side busters and buffalo hunters this place will stop the death I'm hired to keep the peace rants any way I can keep it then we won't bother dyes no more goodbye mark you think they're up to run away Mr. Green told you it was a businessmen's meeting didn't they yes sir and I expect they're worried about business that's there I'll be out shortly gentlemen Mr. Green you asked me to come here we all did Marshall Mr. Pepper and how and well all of us practically every man who does business and dodges here I don't see rants he says he does business here too he sure does and that's what we want to talk about all right go ahead well we've had a meeting Marshall we've decided you've got to go easier on these cowboys oh why well we can't afford to lose all that business that's why there's always been some trouble the first day or so after I heard Richard's dodge all I do is buffalo a few of the wildest and gradually the rest of the cowboys calm down a little they won't stand for your slugging men and throwing them in jail nobody got killed last night today well that isn't the point according to the law that's a pretty good point Mr. Green will now the laws of fine thing Marshall but well we're also interested in business you're scared because one hard-headed trail boss has threatened you how you know they're not all like rants well there's no use to argue Marshall we've got our minds made up you're too rough with those men Mr. Green would you like to run this town well no no no of course not not me but we thought maybe if you'd kind of leave dodge alone and do your work in the country then we'd hire somebody the cowboys here take do a little better if you know what I mean yeah I do it's a good thing for me I'm employed by the government isn't it well now Marshall we're just making a suggestion sort of sure and you know what Mr. Green you men are acting like fools well not it's true it's true there's only one way you'll learn gentlemen I won't make any more arrests and dodge until you come and ask me to it's your town and you can blow it right off the map if you want good day look at it later I should but you just wait a little word gets out that bad just wide open they're gonna be nothing but trouble maybe this is the only way I can handle it so they won't listen to me otherwise excuse me Marshall well what for it well I don't want to bother you but I thought it better come see you you're not bothering me she or hope not what can I do for you Marshall you don't know me but I heard about you oh seems like a lot of people have lately I know Marshall I go ahead mr. there's not gonna be afraid of yeah I'm the new constable you're what the new constable they picked me I've had to take it Marshall I'm I'm so broken all you sound like you're apologizing well I reckon I am I didn't want you to be mad at me I need the money that's why I'm doing it's alright somebody had to take the job I didn't know they were gonna call it constable well they wanted to sound as peaceful as possible I reckon yeah what's your name mr. Dillard Dillard yes sir Dillard banned the way you run well I used to be a cowboy but when I got so fat and all I just sort of worked around or ever again I've been awful broke Marshall yeah you mentioned that yes sir how come you're not wearing a gun oh shucks Marshall I don't never wear a gun I don't even know how to use one very good you're a whole lot better off without one and I don't aim to get into any fights Marshall there's any trouble maybe I can sort of talk them out of it yeah maybe well Dillard I wish you luck well thanks I got to be going now Marshall I'm on pay already so long so long Marshall reach us what they ruin that poor fella if he tries to stop he won't even raise his voice against him but they sure might ruin dodge the boat Dillard banned broke and fat and humble wasn't going to manhandle any Randy Texas cowboys and thrown behind bars as peacefully enough was busy moving their herd across the air Kansas and didn't get in the town but the next day seemed like all of Texas had come to dodge by midnight no man unless he was armed and ready to fight should have been on the street it was dark we told us what it was like when he came into the office where Chester and I were sitting it out playing a little two-handed 21 well it's a fine thing the U.S. Marshall holes up in his office when men are getting shot up and nived all over town I hope that's not true dark well it is true just came back from trying to save the second victim first ones already did cowboys are citizens cowboys citizens I suppose those done their heads would have been in here and their knees begging you for help I don't want them on their knees duck I know Matt but it's getting worse but that last fella they wouldn't even let me bring him back to my office he said he might as well die right there on the floor the Texas tree they did they sure did and they ran me right out of there what they took me by the arms and a half carried me as far as the door I called them everything I could think of a while they were doing it to Dr. you think that man's dead yet he will be soon if I don't get him to where I can work on it all right we're going over there and getting come on Chester I told him I wouldn't make any arrests and I want nobody's gonna push back around and say that we have a little bit man she was a tunnel under the streets I know Z Dillard no worse you ought to be out here talking his head off if that's his plan now he's lucky if he doesn't get hung tonight watch your gun Chester don't let anybody grab it carry my hand on there Matt lying in front of the box see if he's still alive he doesn't look very good fears with dock or die on it and understand it in the other way just put it the doctor come in now in the lift not have been trouble here now they talk it over and settle this peacefully for that the doctor's office I'm sure Marshall sure peace I say get out of here while you still can't tell everyone let's hurry that man won't live long if we don't it's no worse in the long branch and you ought to go home I'm going I'm all through till somebody puts a lid on this town that branches over there right now Matt getting drunk and calling for blood there's been enough blood around here already how's that cowboy the one you got out of there well dark was down a while ago so he took a bullet out he thinks he has a chance now good you say rents is working up trouble on it he's trying I guess he didn't take to your bashing him on my head quieted things down for a little while anyway sure got that poor constable treed dillard what's his name seemed like a nice enough fellow heard a hope they don't hurt him well when I left they had him dancing on the bar he looked about to cry that's harder on the bar and he's undo it he about the fattest peace officer I ever did see well it's gonna be better than ever after tonight every time he opens his mouth to talk somebody pours a glass of beer dotting sort of pitiful Matt it's worse than that kitty yeah I know that's why I got out of there you can kind of feel when a crowd like that stuff I guess listen to him out there well I'm not even staying in town tonight I'm going out to Mars small that's a good idea kitty chester you go along with her I better stick around oh my little pillar fellow beat me up he beat me up bad he certainly did Marshal we came here to ask you wait a minute mr. Green chester take Dullard up the docks place I sure will come on Billy thanks Chester you come back for kitty here all right all right mr. Green you wanted to ask me something you've got to stop them Marshal another man's been killed mr. Howell's brother he caught a stray bullet out back of the Texas trail oh I'm sorry to hear that I wondered why mr. Howell wasn't here and he told me to tell you that he'll trust your judgment from now on we shouldn't have interfered Marshal but we're all behind you now you do something won't you Marshal all right it's pretty late but I'll try it all thank you I'll start with Rance he's the worst of the lot I'll go get him and throw him in jail but before I go I want every saloon keeper and dodge to put out his lights and close up we'll do now you gentlemen have to pass the word for that I don't want to be seen until I go for a rat we'll do it Marshal we'll do it right now all right then get going before it's too late doesn't talk close up the saloons the lights gradually went out up and down the street and I left the office alone I found Rance in front of the long branch I was able to reach him before I was recognized he was stupid drunk but he was being held up by a man who was fairly sober well Marshal let's shoot a man here Marshal we ain't in no mood to fool neither the streets closed gentlemen be no town by tomorrow good drunk he wouldn't have a chance go out and shoot him I'm waiting cowboy I ain't no gun fighter go on you coward now why should I die it's in my business anyway well somebody do it that I'll fight any man here I'll fight him fair when I don't be a fool Rance he'll kill you get out of my your gun I got an hour I'll slug you I was smarter you mister but he's still going to jail you got a lot of nerve Marshal bucking a crowd like this I'm one man against any other one man here I'm not bucking a crowd you cowboys aren't built that way I've been in Texas too mister guess you win Marshal it looks that way now you want to take Rance to jail or do you want me to do it his head might be less lumpy tomorrow if I do it Marshal start walking Rance directed in Hollywood by Norman McDonald stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon U.S. Marshall the story was specially written for Gunn's book by John Meston featured in the cast will Ralph Moody Ken Lynch Bartlett Robinson Vic Perrin and Howard Culver Ari there is Chester Howard McNeer is Doc and Georgia Ellis is Kitty this is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week when CBS radio presents another story on guns most latest news follows then Mitch Miller with tonight's best stars on the CBS radio network