 The man in the saddle is angular and long-legged. His skin is sun-died brown. The gun in his holster is grey steel and rainbow mother-of-pearl. The handle unmarked. People call them both, the six-shooter. Coleman, America's leader in modern automatic home heating equipment, and the national broadcasting company, present James Stewart as the six-shooter. A transcribed series of dramas based on the life of Rick Ponson, the Texas Plainsman who wandered through the western territories, leaving behind a trail of still-remembered legends. Now, in just a moment, immediately following this important announcement, you'll hear Act One of the Six-Shooter. In a few years, our public schools will be as behind-the-times as the Little Red Schoolhouse, and it's estimated that by 1956, there will be some 7 million more children in elementary schools than there are now. More equipment will be needed, and above all, more elementary school teachers. To help assure your child of proper education, join and work with local groups and schoolboys. And for free information about how people in other communities are improving their schools, write to this address. National Citizens' Commission for the Public Schools to West 45th Street, New York 19, New York. Now, Act One of the Six-Shooter, starring James Stewart. It was hot that afternoon, and a low, calm kind of heat that seemed to be following us as we rode along. The sun hadn't come out in the morning, but about noon it pushed through the clouds. Boy, it was hot. By four o'clock, when it should have been cooling off, it seemed hotter than ever. We still had about 15 miles to go before we'd hit Lead Creek. Now, that's where I figured on getting a job, helping lay track on the new spur line to Salt Lake City. I'm not just going to, frankly, head it down a little gully. His ears pricked up and he jerked his head. I wasn't sure whether he'd heard something or just sensed it. You know, with a horse, it's pretty hard to tell if we're here and leads off and sense and begin. Yeah, what's matter, boy? Well, then I heard it too. I wheeled the car off the trail and went about 20 yards before I saw him. He was lying in the shade of a yellow boulder and a pomp of mesquite. Young fella, just lying there. He looked comfortable and relaxed like he was taking a siesta. But he couldn't have been enjoying himself too much. He looked with a big red stain like that across the front of his shirt. What's the trouble? I had a little accident. Yeah, yeah, it looks that way. What happened? My horse threw me a couple hours ago. I had to land it on my gun. You see, you haven't got any water, have you? Sure, sure. Lucky, lucky you came by, mister. Well, I'm just passing through. Yeah, I'm not much of a doc. Maybe I can fix a bandage for you for the time being. I already fixed one. This is my shirt tail. Don't seem to be doing much. Well, yeah, let me see if I can tighten it. Hold on a while. You think you can ride? I don't know. You ain't seen my pony yet. Uh, you know, with a half moon on his flight? No, no, I can't say I have. Let's run off. Oh, no, just don't worry about him. My horse will get us into Lead Creek. Lead Creek? Yeah, it's close to town, isn't it? Yeah, I guess it is. All right, now let me give you a hand here. It ain't no use, mister. No, no, you gotta try. Just lean your weight on me. Okay, okay. There's a cabin. It's a little wet. I might be able to ride that far. Oh, that'll be better than staying here. Now, I'm going to lift your feet up. That'll hurt plenty. Once you're in the saddle, you'll be all right. Here we go. There we are. Take it real slow, and I'll walk alongside. There you are. Where's your saddle? Yeah. I sure do appreciate this, mister. I sure do. He's heeled over in the saddle. I managed to keep him sliding out when he started off. About 15 minutes later, I saw the cabin he'd been talking about, and there wasn't much more on his shack, only two, three rooms and a couple of acres of fenced in pasture on a barn. I led Scar up to the front stoop and lifted the young fella off. He was still unconscious, which was all a bit good, of course. Carried him up the front door and gave it a couple of kicks. Kicked again, and he sprung open. Anybody home? Yeah, now you just lay there. Try and get some rest. I'll look around. Up where? We passed out again. Covered him with a blanket lying across the foot of the cot there. The supper was on the kitchen stove. The stove smelled pretty good. I opened the back door. I saw somebody cutting up a pile of kindling over near the barn. Whoever it was sure knew how to handle an axe. Where'd you come from? No, I'm sorry if I frightened you, ma'am. I knocked on the front door, but I guess you couldn't hear me, huh? I ain't got no hand out for a tramp. Go on, get out. Well, I'm not exactly a tramp, ma'am. Although I'm not blaming you for thinking that. I've been riding for quite a spell. Well, what do you want? Well, I run across a fella a little while ago, and a gully just Easter here. He'd been shot up. Shot? Yeah, he said his gun went off accidental. He hurt pretty bad, and since this place yours was the closest. Where is he? Well, I put the liberty of putting them in a cot inside there, so I hope you don't mess with me. She didn't wait even for me to finish. She just marched past me like I wasn't even there. I watched her for a second, and then I followed her into the house. I'd never run into a woman exactly like her before. At first I thought she was a man, you know, the pants that I could shirt she was wearing, the way she'd shot up the end of them, they fooled me. She walked like a man, too. His stiff, square shoulders. Her eyes. They were a woman's eyes, all right. Kind of soft, and young, and frightened. Yeah, the rest of her had been putty as her eyes. She'd been a real fine little girl. Take that rag off him while I fix the new bandage. Yes, ma'am. Shame to tear up a fancy petticoat like that. I've got no need for petticoats, mister. Can you turn him on his side? That's better. Now, if I can just get the bleeding to stop. You, uh, you know him, ma'am? No. Why should I? Oh, I just thought since he was in your neighborhood. Why aren't the folks passed by here? That don't mean I know him. I don't know you neither. Oh, oh, sorry, my name's Ponsett. Rick Ponsett. Ponsett. I've heard of you somewhere, haven't I? No, no, not likely. This is the first time I've been around, led, correct, here. You got a pocket knife? Uh, yeah. Thanks. I enjoy you doing a real good job on him, you know. Your, uh, your husband off somewhere today? I'm not married. Oh, I must get kind of lonely out here all by yourself, isn't it? I like being alone. I don't want a lot of people around me. No, I can't say I blame you. I haven't been much on congregating myself. I always feel like, uh, well, you know, that bleeding's letting up a lot. Oh, I guess I'll be shutting off, ma'am. When I get into town, I'll send a doctor out here. No. Uh, uh, no, no, you can't. What I mean is, uh, there is no doctor in, led, correct. Oh? He moved away a couple of years ago. Well, there must be a doctor somewhere, Robbie. No, not within a hundred miles. I have to take care of him myself. Well, maybe I can find somebody to help you, you know. Since I brought him in here, I sort of feel like... I'd rather do it alone. I'll manage all rights. Well, it's quite indecent, Robbie, but I can't be in a stranger. All right, well, it's all right. Mr. Pontiff? Yes, ma'am? You won't tell the folks in town he's here. Hmm? Well, he's a stranger, like you said. He don't concern them, and... and I don't want him laughing at me. They'd say Jenny Garber's finally got herself a man. If he wasn't unconscious, he'd never manage it. So you won't tell him, will you? Well, I... I don't suppose anybody will ask me about it. All right. Easy, boy. Easy, easy. What are you looking at? I was just noticing those horses over in the pasture there, though. They're both yours? Yes, yes, they are. Why? No reason. No, I just... a tentacle looks like a good animal to them. What do you call them? Name's Moon, because of the martin on its flank. Looks like a half-moon. Yeah, yeah, I can see it. Yeah. Well, I hope this patient doesn't give you too much trouble. All right, so, come on. The sun went down, but it didn't cool off much. Maybe when the moon came out, there'd be a little breeze. I've been riding for a couple of hours since I left the cabin. I've still had five or six miles to go for a hit-led trick. We were coming through a narrow canyon when I heard a little rustling sound. Of course, I thought maybe there was that breeze I'd been waiting for. The next thing I knew I was behind a rock. I wasn't quite sure how I got there. I guess my legs sort of took over without me having to tell them what to do. You ain't got a chance, Ness. We're all around here. Come out from behind those rocks and keep your hands up. Well, I'll be glad to oblige, but I ain't Ness. I'm whoever he is. Hold it a minute, Sheriff. Hmm? Oh. Well, it's like they made a little mistake, boys. You all right, mister? I know it's very damaged, I guess. I'm trying to bond with you, but what are you doing out here anyway? I was heading for town. I heard there might be some work on the new railroad, but I might sign up for a spell. I guess they can always use another man. My name's York, Sheriff Jim York. Please make yourself. I'm Britt Pontes. Pontes? Is that what they call a six-shooter? I didn't know you were in these parts. Boys meet Britt Pontes. Britt, this is Sam Noible. Tom Jackson. Harry Potter. Harry Potter. Britt's the man who brought in the Phoenix kid. He had the drop on him too, but he never got a chance to pull a trigger. At least, that's the way folks tell it. Yeah, well, between the door and the tunnel, you know, there's have to be some exaggeration. Well, anyway, I'm sure glad we run into you tonight. That six-gun of yours might come in handy. Huh? Yeah, we're looking for net landings. That's who we thought you was at first. I figured something like that. Now, what's this landie been up to? Trouble. For the last three months, pulled up a couple of suit and sprees, spoke in the Harry's bank last night and killed Harry's brother. I see. I've taken a part to ask him before, but we always seemed to lose many hills. We were getting the night though. Picked up his trail this morning. Even spotted him for a minute or two on the far side of Devil's Kang and over in the trees. I got off a shot, thought I'd hit him for sure. Not again. My aim was off. Anyway, he gave us a slip again. What'd he look like? Oh, he's young, about 23, I'd say. Short, wiring, flat hair, rides a pinto. Pinto, huh? You ain't seen him. Yeah. Yeah, I guess I have. Yeah? Well, where was he? I left him at a cabin about nine miles back. And your aim was all right this morning, Sheriff. He's carrying a bullet in his stomach. Of course, he said he'd shot himself by accident. The only cabin out this way is Jenny Garber's. That's the woman. That's the woman who lived there. Oh, come on, boys, let's go. Aren't you coming too quick? Oh, no, you won't need any help, Sheriff. That landing's unlikely to last long enough for you to get him into town, I don't think. Well, we'll get him in all right. Doc will see to that. The doc? But I understood there was any. Sure. Damn, here's the doctor. See, that's what he's been claiming for the past 20 years. Yeah, just wait a minute, Sheriff. Just hold on, you know, I've changed my mind. I think that there will ride a fairway. We'll return to James Stewart as the six-shooter in a moment. First, the word from Coleman, America's leader in modern automatic home heating equipment. You'll be glad this winter you bought a Coleman heater this fall. Yes, as you sit back in your easy chair snug and comfortable, you'll be glad you bought a Coleman heater. You'll enjoy floor-to-ceiling warmth in those rooms you could never heat before. Get your Coleman oil or gas heater now during Coleman's big bonus sale. Here's what you get. First bonus, a new low price. Yes, now you can get a dependable Coleman automatic heater at a new low price. Second bonus, a new low operating cost. Coleman saves you up to 25% on heating bills because Coleman gives you maximum heat from your fuel. Third bonus, a 32-piece set of Libby's Safe Edge Glassware worth $14. It's free with your new Coleman heater. Get three big bonuses. Get your Coleman oil or gas heater now during Coleman's big bonus sale. It's for limited time only. So see your Coleman dealer tomorrow. You'll find his name and address in your telephone directory. Now, act two of the six-shooter starring James Stewart. About an hour and a half after I met up with a sheriff, we came to a little stream trickling down the hill just off the trail. I'd missed it from the past five or four. I hadn't noticed any water around and it scarred and smelled it, either air being too quiet or anything. Oh, he pulled up and gave the horses a chance to get a drink. Well, I guess there ain't no rush. And that's as bad off as you say. Nothing funny, shall I? I was just thinking about any garbage. Yep, he's finally got herself a man. He's going to be real temporary, though. Yeah, and if he didn't have a bullet in him, I bet he'd take off the first time he got a look at her. Well, I said, take more than a bullet to keep me there. Me too, Sheriff. Oh, there's something wrong with Johnny? Well, you've seen her, ain't you? Yeah, yeah. Well? Well, I guess she's no beauty. Now, that's given her the benefit of the doubt. Now, if you ask me, my horse is better looking. No, you know, Sheriff, a lot of plain women seem to get along all right, but I'm some of the pretty ones, you know? Well, it ain't just that Jenny's ugly, but she's so darn awkward and big. Why, even when she was a little girl living in town, she was always a head taller than any boy in her age, and stronger too. Well, I guess they've had enough things. Yeah, the thing was her folks are peculiar about Jenny. Wouldn't admit she was any different from the other girls. You remember how they used to dress her? All those fancy clothes with frills and ribbons. What made her look twice as sweet as she would have otherwise? No. Her father used to make her the party too, when her square dancers looked at her. He was the only one who ever danced with her. No, sir? I don't think a single boy in town courted her. Not one. You're forgetting Willie Franklin. Oh, sure, sure. Well, Franklin? Yes, yes. He was quite a cut up. Made a bet one night with some of the fellas. He said he'd get Jenny to agree to marry him. He took her out in his wagon and proposed. Of course, he said yes. But he didn't know that Willie's friends was all hidden in the back of the wagon. At least why she didn't know it until he all busted out laughing. Well, right after that, her folks died, wasn't it, Sheriff? Yeah, yeah. That's when she bought this cabin. About five years ago, come to think of it. Well, Jenny can't be more than 25 or six. She looked a whole lot older, though. Wouldn't you say so, Britt? I don't know. I'm not much good at judging ages. Especially a woman. There's a place up ahead. Lance still lives. Sure, she's up all right. First time she ever had a man within the touch and disincented. Ooh. What's the matter? Yeah, better leave the horses here and go the rest of the way on foot. Oh, now, Landy's not after giving you any trouble. Oh, you never can tell. You may be feeling better by now. Yeah, but not that much. Hey, these seniors didn't waste no time about it, either. I guess he wasn't as sick as you thought, Britt. Or else he made a mighty fast recovery. We don't ever hit him from down here. What do you suppose happened to Jenny? I don't know. I've forgotten about her. She's probably got her half scared to death. Well, we'll have to rush him. Ain't gonna be easy, Sheriff. With this moon, he should have spotted us. That's all we can do. Sam, you and Harriet see if you can make it up to the fence over there, right? You okay? Okay. Now, I'll fire twice. That'll be the signal to close in. Now, just hold on a minute, Sheriff. Just hold up a minute. Now, if we go plowing up in front of that cabin, somebody's gonna get hurt. Well, what's the matter, Project? You've been shot at before? Well, that doesn't mean exactly I like the idea. And besides, there's another way of getting in that door around back and a couple of trees back there. Oh, no, he'll be watching the back door. That's no fool. I know, but it's worth a try, isn't it? All right, I'll go with you. No, wait a minute. Let me go along. One man ain't as apt to be seen. Now, you just keep firing. And if I ain't back in five minutes, we'll take him your way, huh? Five minutes. He won't wait no longer. I hunched down along. I started circling toward the rear of the cabin. There wasn't much cover. There was just rocks and a couple of scrub pines. Anyway, nobody was shooting at me yet. Still found nobody to see me. I came up along the side of the barn. And the back door was just ahead now. I still had about 20 hours to go. I ran forward in the footcuff. I tripped over some of the kindling. Jenny had stacked up there in the afternoon. I lay quiet for a minute. It was weird. It sounded to me like I'd made enough noise so they could hear it through down the lead creek. Now, shooting wasn't in my direction. So I got up on my knees. I raced for the cabin. I opened up the door. I kept on going. When I got into the living room, I... I thought I'd figured right. That was on the cop just where I left him. I hadn't moved. It was Jenny who was doing the firing. She swung around. She pointed the revolver out of me. Her eyes weren't soft, not anymore. You told him you brought him here. I had to, Jenny. I would have taken him away as soon as he was well enough. Why couldn't you let off alone? That killed a man last night. I don't care. I don't care what he does. As long as he needs me, I'll stand by him and help him. He needed a hideout, didn't he? They must have been staying here for some time, or his pony wouldn't have enough sense to record. I'm going to start closing in, Jenny. You're not going to take him away from me. I won't let you. Net likes me. He told me he likes me. And he's the first person who ever did. Give me your gun, Jenny. Even if it isn't true. Even if he didn't really mean it. He doesn't laugh at me like the others. He doesn't mind my looks. Everybody said I'd be his own maid. Even my mother said it. But I won't. Not now. Never save me with it. Don't marry me. I know he will. Jenny, listen to me. Don't you understand? I can't let you take him away. No matter what. Not even if I have to. Now killing me won't help Net. It's the only way I can keep him. I've got to stop you somehow. You and the others out there. Well, there's no way you can keep him, Jenny. He's dead. Don't turn around. Turn around. Look, I'm not trying to catch you off guard. Just turn around. He hasn't been breathing since I came in. Oh, he loves me. All right, boys, come on in. You all right? Got him, huh, Brith? Oh, there he is. I might have known you'd take care of him. That was me, Sheriff. It was you. Huh? Your bullet from this afternoon. Well, I'll be darned. I told you I was sure I'd hit him. Remember, Tom? I told you. And how come he was able to hold us off just now? Well, he was a tough one to kill. He wouldn't give up. The strain of shooting at us must have finally finished him. Ain't that the way you figured, Brith? No, something like that. What's the matter with you? Did the gun play bother you, Jenny? Come on. Come on. Get a hold of yourself. It's all over now. Well, it sure is funny how women are scared of gunfires every one of them, even Jenny. Well, it just goes to show you that underneath, they're all pretty much alive. Yeah. Yeah, I guess you are. Well, that was bad the next day, and there was one bunch of flowers at the funeral, wild daisies. Folks just couldn't figure out who sent them. And, you know, they tell me that it was right about then that Jenny Garver started acting different. Oh, I don't mean she got pretty or anything like that, but she did seem more confident. She just seemed a little more sure of herself. People said if they didn't know about her, they'd swear that a man had something to do with the way she changed. But, of course, they all knew about her. I'd like to take a minute here to remind you about some of the great entertainment in store for you later in the week on NBC Radio. Next Friday night marks the fall return to the air of both the Bob Hope Show and the Phil Harris Alice Faye Show. Both these great comedy programs, formerly heard on different days, now join forces to make Friday night a top-listening night on NBC Radio. The new Bob Hope Friday Night Show will feature well-known guest artists. The music of Les Brown and his band of renown and the vocal talents of lovely Margaret Whitey. And, of course, Bob will be in there delivering his rapid-fire topical humor. You'll find that the Bob Hope Show is most enjoyable listening each Friday night on NBC Radio. And, immediately following Bob Hope, listen to the Phil Harris Alice Faye Show. And Alice has her brother William to keep her informed of Phil's hilarious actions. Also, in the talent field cast, you'll hear Julius Abruzio and little Alice and Phyllis. You'll hear wonderful comedy every Friday night beginning this Friday night on NBC Radio. Yes, for the best in Friday night radio entertainment, remember to tune where you hear the familiar three chimes for the Bob Hope Show and the Phil Harris Alice Faye Show. Two great programs returning this Friday to NBC Radio. Krollman, America's leader in modern automatic home heating equipment, and the national broadcasting company have presented James Stewart as the six-shooter. Mr. Stewart may currently be seen in the Universal International Picture, Thunder Bay. The six-shooter is an NBC radio network production in association with review production. It is based on a character created by Frank Burt, and today's transcribed story was written by him. Special music was by Basil Adlam and heard in the cast were DJ Thompson, Jeff Kirkpatrick, George Nees, and Terry Barthel. The entire production is under the direction of Jack Johnstone. All characters and incidents were fictitious and any resemblance to actual characters or incidents is purely coincidental. Hell, get me speaking.