 Tired of the everyday grind? Ever dream of a life of romantic adventure? Want to get away from it all? We offer you... Escape! Escape! Designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure. You're in a wild and dangerous country, riding to stake your claim. While the man who follows you, without conscience or fear, is waiting for the moment when he will stop you with a bullet in the heart. Listen now, as transcribed, Escape brings you William J. Radcliffe's exciting story, The Notebook. The trouble started about a week ago after we broke camp and headed for the little town of Deadwood. You see, way over there, Robbie. Over there, way over there, there's old volcanoes. Engines around here say their folks of spirits live there. About 20 miles or so that way is the trading post. Hey, maybe we can file our claim there. No, have to make Deadwood for that. Hold up, Robbie. What's wrong? What do we do? I don't know. Stand steady, I guess. When I say it, head for them rocks and move fast. Then we better wait. I'll scatter. You all right, Matt? I tore my dog on pants. The same guy ain't it? Yeah, same guy, whiskers and all. I sure like to give him a shave. From ear to ear. Let's see about getting our rifles. Jenny, oh girl, here, come here, girl. Get down, he'll see you. You're almost as bad as some people have noted. We get across to that ravine, we can back trail out of here. Yeah, all right, get going. No, wait a minute, I got an idea. Throw your hat the other way and draw his fire. Good idea. Come on, let's go. Watch them rocks. I'm watching. Keep moving. This way over here. I see the burrow. Yeah, yeah. Easy, Jenny now. Easy, easy girl, easy girl. I got the rifle, Matt. And the polecat. Wait. Now look, he's tried it twice now. Reckon he'll try again. Yeah, he wants that gold pretty bad. So do I. Would you kill for it, Robbie? It's an awful lot of gold, Matt. Would you kill for it? I don't know, maybe. I can't say. Made a dry camp that night and cooked early so we could douse the fire before dark. We took turns watching and sleeping, but nothing happened. Next afternoon, late, we got to Deadwood, a dirty town of mud shacks and old cabins. Half-naked Indian kids kicked the dry dust around us begging for smokes. The half-breeds and whites just stared at us. Some town, huh? Yeah, yeah. It's a wildin' all right. Beats me how they make a living. Oh, sheep mostly. I trade with Indians. Robbie, you see that, that there tree? Yeah. You know, I see the fuller get hanged there once. Oh? Yep. Hold him up like a sack of wheat choked him there. Terrible. I'll never forget it. What'd he do? Killed somebody? No. Bunch of guys just got drunk and wanted a hangin'. He just happened to be there. Well, let's go across to that sloon, Robbie. I got me a thirst. I guess we can afford one. Only one? A bottle, I mean. Oh, yes, very, Robbie. I don't know. Hey, gents. A bottle of whiskey. I'll stick to beer. Okay. Oh, Robbie, I still think you oughta... What? That third guy into the bar. It's his or is it? Fellow. Huh? I've been looking for you. What? What? Get out of here. You're like I tell you. All yourself and that other bum out of here. You all right? Yeah, but who's he? I don't know, but he sure crocked you on. You the law. And he fighting to be done and I'll do it. Yeah, that guy. That guy with the whiskey, bushwhacked this. Yeah, twice. You're lying. He works for me. Oh, come on, Robbie. Hey, just a minute. Yeah? Jones, he did fight to shot you. And I ain't sayin' he did, it didn't. I'll come. I'll come? Yeah, why? Oh, figuring to jump our claim, I reckon. Claim? Mack. Come on. There's another bar on down the way. There all it is. Hey, Robbie, you heard any? Jaws, sir. Those whiskers, I reckon. You socked him pretty good. What's so funny? You know, Robbie, I didn't pay for them drinks. What are you laughing at? We didn't get to drink them. I shouldn't have talked about our gold claim back in Deadwood. Mack, for two days now you've been doing nothing but talk about it. Now, forget it. It's been all right if we found an office there to stake our claim. How far we come? Oh, about 30 miles, I reckon. We'll get back to the gallow by nightfall. Make Silvertown tomorrow, maybe. Hold up a minute, Robbie. Well, you're tired? No, no. Listen. Now, wait a minute. What's the matter? Nothing, I'm just listening. Did you hear that owl? Yeah. Remember hearing it a ways back? Well, yeah, I guess so. What's wrong with the owl hooting? Generally, wild animals only squawk when something bothers them. I don't know, it's kind of peculiar. Let's keep moving. Hey, you see what I mean? You sure big for crows? Sure are. Ever eat a crow stew? Crow stew. It's pretty good, especially when you're gosh darn hungry. Hey, Robbie, see them tracks? Yeah, I've been noticing them. They look like dog tracks. Sorta. It's a wolf pack. Tracks about a day old. Oh, lots of them around here. Oh, they're mean devils. Let's get back into them rocks. Come on. Whoa, easy. Hold that crater, Robbie. Were you in trouble again? Of course, we flushed back there and went back to eating again. Oh, so? So, we set tight and listened. Mack him. It flew away. It sure did. Robbie, we're being followed. I hope it's whiskers. Get the rifles. Yeah, I will. It's whiskers all right. There's two of them. Yep, him and the big guy that runs the saloon. You know, the guy that clobbered you. Hey, yeah, that's him all right. Remember Mack, you asked me if I could kill for gold. Maybe I can give you an answer now. We will return to escape in just a moment. But first, wood for your home, water in the faucet, the newspaper on the front porch every day. Behind all of these taken for granted items of everyday life are America's forests. Whenever a forest burns, those things are being destroyed and we ourselves are destroying them because nine-tenths of all forest fires are man-made. Let's stop this needless destruction and be careful of fire in forest areas. Now, back to escape. We'd come 30 miles from deadwood and kept thinking if we'd been able to stake our claim there we wouldn't be waiting behind rocks. Waiting for the two guys who made shadows in the clump of pines as they came riding through on their horses. You're a pretty good shot, ain't you, Robbie? I can handle it. I'll just be nice and easy. We'll cover them first and see what they're up to. Gold, Mack, that's what they want. I reckon. Funny about gold, Robbie. A body near kills itself, a grubber and a sweatin' for it and then starts killin' others just to keep it. Yeah. But it's a pile of gold, Mack. You take the big guy. Yeah, I'm gonna work that boy over real good. Yeah, but just wait till they get around that boulder. Yeah. Stand right still, you guys. What are you following us for? Get off them horses, the both of you. Robbie, go get their guns. Look out, Robbie. Mack. Easy now. Easy, Mack. Where'd he get you? Chest hurts. Oh, Mack. Gotta think. Take it easy, Mack. Take it easy here. Let's see what it looks like. I'll see you now. Man, I gotta stop the blood. Come on, Jimmy. Jimmy, come back. Get ready. Come back here. Yeah, yeah. My burrow get away. Give me my rifle, Robbie. Now, Mack, just lay still. Easy. Mack. I'm goin' over behind those rocks and talk back to that guy. Now, don't you move. Don't take chances. I get him, Robbie. Yeah, you got whiskers. But easy now. Easy, Mack. What would even it be? Here. Here's some water for you. No. Easy, Mack. Come on now. Drink it. The big guy's tailin' out, Mack. Yeah, I'm here, Mack. I know. We'll get home. You're gonna be all right, Mack. You hear? Mack. Mack. I buried Mack on the bluff there and piled heavy stones on his grave. I stood there for a long time after I'd said the prayer. After a while, I left him and hunted for the burrow. Late afternoon, when I found her and back up the trail, I found what was left of her after the wolf pack pulled her down. I went back to the river and made camp for the night. And that's where he found me. And that's where he found me. That's where he found me. Stand right still, Mr. You. Get over there. On the blanket? Where's your grub? It's in the canvas there. Never mind. I'll help myself. You better go easy. It's all there is. Shut up! Well, that food's gotta last till we get back. You ain't gettin' back. There's a gold. Where is no gold? Don't give me that. I said where is it? I ain't foolin'. Ain't gold. Ain't no gold. I might get through with you. You'll be diggin' it for me. I said where is it? You just lay down and think about it. You got the coffee. I told you. There's no gold. That ain't what I ask you. Where's the coffee? Oh, coffee? In the sack. Tell me where your strike is. That's all there is to it. You might even cut your head. Answer me. Look, tell me where it is, and I'll let you in for half of it, huh? I... Tell me! You're gonna tell me. What? Let's bother them. Dreams of the horse made my blood run cold. A big guy went nuts, I guess. All of a sudden he started yellin' crazy things and runnin'. Heard him pound along the river bed and splash into the water, and then he was gone. I piled sagebrush and wood on the fire and stood in its light and tried not to hear the agonized sounds of the horses. The wolves got him, and they left sometime in the night, but the morning was long coming. Then I saw what was left of the horse and took sick to my stomach. I got what gear there was and rolled it in a pack. I had three shells left for the rifle. I followed the river down through the gorge, and I guess I'd gone about a mile, and there he was. What are you, fool? This is empty! I know it, and I told you I want water! I've been following this stream as no use carrying water. I'll get it for you. No! Dumbo! Are you hurt? It's broke. You want me to look at it? See this rifle? I see it. You'll try something you're dead. Let's see the leg. Get away from me! Listen to me. You want me to help you then put down that rifle? How stupid you think I am! Shut up! I do like I tell you. Cut them two saplings off. Get your letter out of that blanket. I can't drag you that far. I'm going to kill you. Then what? Miles nowhere. Loan can't walk. That wolf pack's still around. I reckon there's been enough killing. What's your name? Morris. Jack Morris. Let me see your leg. Yeah. Hey, I'll look at it. Yeah. It's a bad one. It's real bad. Hold it. Hold me up. He passed out then and I tried to set his leg. He was all swelled up and bloody. I did the best I could and then haul him up the hill to his cave. That was four days ago. I kept the fire going, made him easy as I could. And I put these words down in my notebook. Last night, the wolf pack found us. I built up the fire at the front of the cave and they stayed back, howling. They're still there this morning. Seven of them. But I can't kill any more. Got no shells left. Morris died a few minutes ago. There's no more wood. The fire's low. It'll be gone soon. Transcribed under the direction of Anthony Ellis, Escape has brought you the notebook by William J. Radcliffe, starring John Danier as Robbie, Joseph Kearns as Mack, and William Conrad as Jack Morris. The special music for Escape is composed and directed by Leith Stevens. Next week. You are alone in a giant forest, seeking a way of escape. While around you, gaining with your every step, the relentless enemy, which is fire, is closing in from every side. Until there will be only one way out. And that way is death. So listen next week, when Escape brings you Anthony Ellis' exciting story, The Red Forest. Tonight and most of these same CBS radio stations, listen for another dramatic hit from Screenland on the Lux Summer Theater. Every Monday night, CBS Radio invites you to enjoy your favorite Hollywood stars in arresting comedies, dramas, and mysteries. Full-hour productions throughout the warm weather months on the Lux Summer Theater. This is Roy Rowan speaking.