 Gun Smoke, 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 a U.S. Marshal and the smell of Gun Smoke. Gun Smoke, starring William Conrad, the 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. Play that, go down, double six, I know you got it. Okay, Doc, that's how you want it. There it is. I know it. Fine way for a couple of grown-up men to spend their time playing dumb. Well, it's better than fighting that storm outside anyway. Maybe you're right at that. I wouldn't go out that way with a man if a plague were raging. Sure play, Doc. Or a dozen babies were about to be born. Sure play, Doc. Quit stalling, will you? Come on, lay one down. Don't rush me, don't rush me, man. He's got to think in this game, you know. Not if he can count to twelve, he doesn't. You're his president, he is, man. Yeah, still hasn't hit his peak. Oh, how's Kitty getting along, Doc? Well, her throat's pretty sore, but just a touch of the grip. I told her to stay in bed for another day or so. Come on, play. Will you, Doc? It's your play. It's your play, Doc. Doc. I don't know, I... That's the problem. I never do have any luck playing in my own office. I thought you said this game was a matter of thinking. That's about it, young man. Oh, Chester, close the door. I found the door. I told you, of course, it's Doc. I didn't think you'd step a foot outside that jail for the next two days. What's the matter? The journey got away. Got away? You mean Clay Macklin? Yes, sir. Well, what happened? Well, sir, I was thinking some coffee, and he yelled out for me to sell and asked could he have some. And when I took it to him... He jumped you, huh? Yes, sir. He jumped me. That's all. I wouldn't have been so careless with nobody else, but he ain't never tried to get away before. He jumped you, though. I don't know why I tried it this time. You've got no case against him. Clay Macklin's been wrestling cattle for the last two years, Doc. But you can't prove it, and you know it. Judge Bent will turn him loose the minute he's brought the truck. That may be, but he's gonna stand trial anyway. Well, what are you planning to do? Go after him, of course. It'll have to be in this weather, Doc. I don't know any way of changing it. All right, time to have some. Well, I'm pretty near there, Mr. Dillon. I'd have been locking that dog on his cell, too, yet if Ben Elder hadn't seen Macklin riding out of town, he'd finally got curious enough to come over to the jail. Well, that took him long enough. That's because he figured Macklin had been turned loose. Whoa. Everybody in town knows who will be sooner or later. Well, it may be. Marshall. Marshall, tell him. You sound like Old Judge Bent. Yeah. Over here, Judge. Well, why don't you turn that blame landing up so a man can see his way around? And I guess I've been saddling horses long enough not to need much life. Even, Judge. Oh, just a... Hey, Matt, what's this duck tells me about you heading out on a wild goose chase? I'm gonna bring Clay Macklin back, and so. But why? When a prisoner escapes, I go after him, Judge. But what good would it do to go riding off blind in the woods? But what good would it do to go riding off blind into a storm like this and probably lose your life with nothing? That's not that bad. Macklin was seen riding out of town southwest. The only thing it reached down that way is the Chick-For cattle company. They got two line cabins toward the summer on, and Macklin used to work for the Chick-For. All right. And suppose you do find him, hold up in one of those cabins. Suppose you are able to bring him back. You know I'm just gonna have to turn him loose, don't you? Well, that's your job, not mine, Judge. Now, Matt, for the love of God. Look, I've had Macklin in jail for two weeks waiting trial, and every day I've had to listen to him brag how he'd get off scot-free, hear him snare at the law, and make a big joke out of it. All right, Matt. The night he's out to prove he doesn't even have to wait for the law to decide on his case. I don't like that, Judge. I happen to be a lawman. All right, Chester, if you're settled up, let's start riding. Free yourself of old-fashioned ideas. Why don't you live modern? Free up, freshen up your taste. Smoke and L&M! Live modern. Smoke modern. Smoke L&M. Enjoy full, exciting flavor through L&M's pure white miracle tip. L&M draws easy. Taste richer. Smokes cleaner. That's why today more people are changing to L&M than to any other cigarette. 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. Smoke and L&M. It's America's fastest growing cigarette. You better keep moving. Yeah, but he might not be the first one. The more reason you'll be at this one. No place else to show that. I'll clear it for a second. I thought I saw it. All right, sure. Move the boat, sure. Well, let's head over that way, huh? It'll be dawn in another half hour. Come on. You know what happened? Yeah, we got a lot colder before we got warmer. Only we haven't missed it. You think Macklin's gonna put up the fight? No. I think you'll figure about the way Darkin' Judge Benton only a couple of crazy men would come after him in a storm like this. You know, I kindly agree with him, Mr. Dillon. You still came along, though, didn't you? Yeah, but I ain't sure why. The horse is here and go up on the foot. All right, sure. The horse's standing on the lane, too, there. All right, good one, Mr. Dillon. Yeah, he's got one. All right, I'll hit the door and go in fast and you'll follow me in, huh? Yes, sir. Well, you sure did catch me asleep. That's a bad picture. I always say I'm having to kill you, Macklin. Maybe. I was the weather off. Always look kind of red-nosed. Been drinking, have you? Wow. You're a real cocky fella, ain't you? I didn't figure you'd go to this much trouble just for nothing, Marshall. I didn't think you would. Hey, there's the makings for coffee over there, Mr. Dillon, will it fix this time? Yeah, sure, go ahead. Now, you be careful, Chester. That's what got you into trouble last night, making coffee. Well, you don't ever catch a cock the same way twice, Macklin. And one thing sure you ain't gonna get in on this time. I drunk a pot before I went to sleep. I kind of had it on you boys. I got in ahead of the worst of the storm. Chester. I'll be a slab of bacon around somewhere. Maybe some flour. Why don't you rustle us up something to eat while you're at it, huh? Yeah, well, there's flour here, all right. Bacon's probably one of them cans. They're spitting their rustling money. Don't push a luck, Macklin. Oh, well, now, you're one of them high-minded lawmen. You wouldn't mistreat a helpless prisoner. I'd regret it afterwards if that's what you mean. My gutter, I bet you would, then. I found the bacon, Mr. Young. Huh? Well, don't cook all of it. Well, maybe half. There's three of us got it off that till the storm blows itself out. Maybe a week. Well, then they luck, Macklin. We'll be back in dodge before midnight tonight. What are you talking about? I couldn't stand your company for a week. We're headin' out as soon as we eat. In this weather? Well, that's the craziest fool thing I've ever... Macklin, why don't you shut up? You see yourself of old-fashioned ideas. Why don't you live modern? Free up, freshen up your taste. Smoke an Allen M. 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 easy. Taste richer. Smokes cleaner. So live modern. Change to L&M. Make your day your big red letter day and start to live the modern way. Live, live, live modern. Smoke an L&M. It's America's fastest growing cigarette. A snow trail for a horse. Already on his back with him breakin' trail. We went to the power trailer. Now, easy now. Here's the edge of the ice. Back on the flat, it was a wind cuttin' its pieces in the river bottom where there's a little short of the snow, four-foot deep. Wait a minute, Chester. Let me test that ice. This freeze came out pretty fast and there's still alive water underneath. Pretty solid, Mr. John. Yeah, it'll hold us. Sorry. Hey, Macklin, come back here. How many times have I been telling you to stay close? Well, make on, Marshal. I've crossed as much ice in my time as you have. Now, if we're not out of here in 30 seconds, we won't come out at all. You get pretty hungry in a couple of days, John. I am pretty hungry right now. I never saw that time when you weren't. How are you feeling, Mr. John? Well, I've seen better days. How are you making out, Macklin? I ain't never gonna take another bath as long as I will. Well, you're lucky to be alive, sure. Who ain't? Well, we better get ready to push on. There's only about a half hour out of dodge. You won't be so bad. You know, I just can't figure you, Marshal. Huh? I've known lawmen before. Crooked most of them, but I ain't ever known one like you. That's all right. Take this thing that's coming after me in a storm like this. You didn't have to do that, did you? Depends on how you look at it, I guess. What do you mean? I got a job to do, Macklin. I try to do it right. Besides, I guess I got a kind of respect for the law. Well, what's that got to do with it? Well, I'd say the law is a set of rules that make things run smoother. Red knots so everybody knows what they are and what the penalties are. And the rules hold for all the lawmen the same as for anybody else. Maybe even more so. What rules you talking about? When a prisoner escapes, it's your job to go after him. Bring him back. That's one of them. Even when they're going to turn me loose? And everybody knows it? That's up to the cork. What's that going to do with me? It just don't make sense. Not to you, maybe. I reckon you'll try to tell me there's some rule about you jumping into that water and dragging me out. A prisoner in custody is not able to look out for himself. It's up to the lawmen to take care of it. I wouldn't have jumped in after you if I'd have cut out and run for it. Yeah, I guess you wouldn't. I'm too sure that's why he's done it, Marshal. Just because of some rules. Now, you figure it your way. Anyway, I'm much obliged for you following me out of there. I sure thought I was done for. Come on, let's get started. I got a jail cell waiting for you. Judge Bans finally made up his mind, Mr. Jones. You don't show much respect for the court, Chester. There he goes, old man. One of them judges that deals in a lot of legal jabber. So I'll just say it out plain. Play Macklin, stand up and face the court. Do this evidence over every witch away, Macklin. And I tried to find some way to give you your justice. Me and every man in this court who knows you've been wrestling cattle. Now, judge, that ain't no way to talk. Well, get up. Like I said, you're nothing but a cow thief. But, by golly, there just ain't enough evidence to stick you on it. You wouldn't do no good if I tried because some book judge up in Topeka had voiced me on it just as sure as shooting. Yeah, I'm sorry, Marshal Dillon. I know you went to a heap of trouble. That's all right, Judge. Well, all I can do is throw the case out. This miss? Well, it's a crying shame, that's what it is. Judgement did the only thing he could, just as an outside chance anyway. But everybody in town knows Macklin's guilty. A man's innocent till he's proved guilty in a court of law, just as a Macklin's innocent. And Marshal Dillon? Yeah, what is it, Macklin? Well, the judge let me off, all right? Yeah. But there's something I want to say. You can pick up your stuff at the jail whenever you want. No, no, that ain't it, Marshal. Something... Well, I reckon you wouldn't believe me if I was to tell you. Tell me what? Well, you kind of give me some things to think about, Marshal. Well, saving my life the way you're done. The rules, all that. I don't know for sure, but, well, maybe I won't be doing any more rustling, Marshal. Not that I ever did, Marshal. Well, I just want to say thank you. I guess I'll be leaving now. Never. I guess it's Macklin ain't all bad after all. No, my ass, Chester. No, sir. Tell you what, just to prove it to you, I'm going to buy you a drink. You are? Uh-huh. Right, with a little sugar in it? Why not? Come on. In a moment our star, William Conrad, America's Protestants, Catholics and Jews, are strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and friendship by helping the needy overseas. Through their houses of worship, these three faiths are sending voluntary relief to virtually every free country in the world. Hundreds of millions of pounds of goods, clothing and medicine will go to victims of war, disaster and famine in many parts of the world. More than 80% of American voluntary relief work for the hungry and needy overseas is conducted through the religious agencies of these three major faith groups. When you share with needy persons overseas through your house of worship, you are promoting the spirit of democracy that unites all peoples for peace and goodwill. You are keeping faith with the finest tradition and heritage of America. CBS Radio urges you to keep faith with those in need overseas by giving as much as you can through your faith. And now, William Conrad. The makers of L&M wish to remind you that you can help Hungarian emergency relief by sending your contribution to the American Red Cross, care for your church or synagogue. Gun smoke. Produced and directed by Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshall. The story 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 Tom Hanley and Bill James. Featured in the cast were John Daener and Ben Wright. Harley Bear is Chester and Howard McNeer is Doc. Join us again next week for another story on gun smoke.