 Fort Laramie, starring Raymond Burr as Captain Lee Quince, specially transcribed tales of the dark and tragic ground of the wild frontier, the saga of fighting men who rode the rim of empire, and the dramatic story of Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry. This is the patrol. I've got to report to Major Daggett. Yes, sir. And see that their horses are babied right this time. Yes, sir. Captain Quince reporting, sir. Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I thought you'd be alone. That's all right, Captain. This is Major Barlow. Major. My pleasure, Captain. Well, how did your patrol fare? Routine, sir. No sign of trouble. Good. Oh, sit down, Quince. Thank you, sir. Major Barlow is here on orders from General Staff in Washington. He's surveying all the posts in our department. I have only a few days here, and then I'm going on to Fort Dodge. General Custer's command? Yes. I'm looking forward to that. Read hundreds of reports, and certainly that seventh cavalry is doing the best job with the hostiles that can be done. You haven't surveyed them yet. Well, not personally, no. The record reads victory after victory. I wish we could say the same about the second. Well, the circumstances are a little different, Major. They're waging open warfare from Fort Dodge. Here we try to keep hostilities at a minimum, maintain peace. Captain, how much firefight have we seen in the last month? All three or four skirmishes is all, sir. Mostly with dog soldiers driven from the Fort Dodge section. Dog soldiers? There are two kinds of Cheyenne. That's the tribe we've been most interested in around here lately. Dog soldiers are the warriors. They wear three feathers. The ones that don't wear the feathers are the reservation peaceful kind. We don't bother either unless they make us. Yeah. Well, Major, it's the belief of many members of the staff, including myself, that a soft policy such as yours are bound to lead to an uprising. I hope you're wrong, sir. Well, the hostile see it as a sign of weakness. The only way to enforce peace with these savages is to maintain constant pressure, continual display of strength. Will we get a directive to that effect, Major? Or is that a private opinion? It's my opinion at the moment. I can assure you I'll do everything I can to see a directive based on it. Now, Captain, if you'll show me to your troop area. Yes, sir. Major Barlow will be attached to your troop during his stay. You'll place yourself at his disposal to everything possible to assist him in making his survey. It's an honor, sir. First thing I want to do, Captain, is make a complete tour of the reservation camps. I want a firsthand look at the natives. Their condition, their attitudes, extended their weapons, so on. Camps are pretty well scattered, Major. It'll take some time to cover all of them. These reservation people should be centralized so that they can be watched. They've lived in small village bands for hundreds of generations. They kind of need stretching room. They're prisoners of war, Captain. Prisoners of war live under imposed conditions, not their own. Yes, sir. Captain Quintz. Yes, Sergeant. That is. What is it? There's a man waiting for you in the orderly room, sir. Ben Coons. What does he want? He says his stepson was stolen by the Cheyenne. Watch that. We'll go in and find out. Thank you, Sergeant. I've just heard about your son, Coons. How did it happen? I don't know. My place is only five miles outside of town, and he was gone when I got home last night. Look at this. And scalping knife. It was stuck in my door. I've had a Cheyenne lodge oath hanging over my head for a year. And that filthy devil finally found a way to get to me. You mean someone in particular? One of the worst of the breed. Wasiah. I've heard of him. Quite a warrior. You say he's had a personal hatred for you, Mr. Coons? Ever since last summer. I was scouting for the seventh. Run across his camp on that big north swing of the Solomon. You know, Captain, just before it flows into Grand Valley. Yeah, I know. Well, I led the troopers into it. And during the fracas, Wasiah's brother was killed. That's when he took the oath to put me under. Or do worse. Now he's done it. Taken, Billy. I'm sorry about your son, Coons. But the way I heard the story of that attack, Wasiah's wife and eight-year-old son were killed, too, by one of our scouts. I didn't have nothing to do with it. I did what I was paid to. Captain, the man's child's been kidnapped. I see no reason to discuss anything else. The army's supposed to protect the civilians. What makes you so sure it was, Wasiah? Well, he brought his band into the Laramie foothills two days ago, put that and the knife and his oath together, and there's no place else to look. Where'd you hear he was in this part of the country? Your breed scout, Cuando, got wind of it. I should think you would have learned about it in your patrol, Captain. No, we were working in the other direction, Major. No. I heard this morning. Right away, I got the feeling about what happened, and I started looking for sign around my place. I found it right enough to wash about a half mile away. Tracks and nine ponies headed south toward the hills. I want that Cheyenne dog brought in and hung up where I can see it. Sergeant Gorse. Yo. Go look up Cuando. He says there's a band of Cheyenne and the Laramie foothills. I want to talk to their headman. Find out where they are. Pick out 10 good men for the patrol, including you. Yes, sir. He'll make provision for me to go with you, Captain. There won't be much in the way of provision, Major. But you're welcome, sir. Coons, you go tell your story to Major Daggett. As soon as I get word from him, we'll move out. All right, Captain. Oh, Coons. How old is your stepson? Nine years, next month, if he's still alive. Same age with Sire's son would have been. Now, if they're together, I don't think you have to worry about Billy being anything but alive and well. You got a lot to learn about Cheyenne, Captain. Maybe you could teach me. You want to come along? I'll go talk to the Major. There goes a man with a bad conscience. What about your own, Captain? You seem to feel more sympathy for the savage than you do for this poor man who's lost a child. I hardly think your attitude right for a man in your position. I suppose it won't look good in your survey report, sir. But there's a popular idea out here. I've never been able to swallow and keep down. That whatever a white man does to an Indian is all right. But whatever an Indian does is all wrong. You and I are soldiers, Captain. We do not set policy. We follow it. Yes, sir. The fast water talk about's just around this bend, Captain. I know. I caught some beautiful trout in that stretch. That's where their camp's supposed to be. Hadn't you better order your carbines at the ready? A show of preparedness, Captain? A little late for that, Major. They've had their eye on us for at least an hour. Why do you bring a small force into a situation like this? Surely you don't trust them not to catch us in ambush. I don't trust them, Major. I know them. The best place for ambush was about two miles back. We've gone beyond the point of carbines at the ready. Major, up ahead, waiting for us. Those are dog soldiers. Some of the best-mounted fighters in the world. We are well outnumbered, Captain. We always are. Now, they'll come in to meet us at full run and screaming like banshees. That's their way. They don't want you to know whether they mean to be friendly or to open your throat. If we had our carbines ready, their run wouldn't be exactly friendly. Patrol, hold. Keep your hands away from your weapons, men, lest I tell you different. Stay relaxed the way you do on the parade ground when I want you to be alert. You should have ordered out your full troop, Captain. I see him, Gorse. Act like this happens every day, men. Just rest easy in your saddles and talk to each other. Captain, order carbines at the ready. That in order, Major? It's common sense. Show them we'll fight. Don't draw your pistol, Major. You'll spook them for sure, waving that thing around. They'd have opened up by now or if they were going to. Chief among you. Which of you is Wasiah? I am Wasiah. Why do the soldiers come to us? We have done no wrong. I brought you your scalping knife, Wasiah. Here. Where is the one called Coons, the woman killer, the child killer? Did he die of fear when he found my sign? I had that insolent beggar. He says that you came for vengeance and that you stole his son. I have stolen no son. You were at his house, and now the boy is missing. I have stolen no boy. Oh, he's lying, Captain. What does the high soldier say? I say you are lying. Major. I speak true. We'll search your camp and find out how much truth. No. We want no soldiers in our camp. Ain't there any way you can stop him, Captain? You ever been able to stop me, Gorse? Well, I'd sure try if I went off half-cocked like he is. All the soldiers come to our camp. There is trouble. We want no trouble. We are at peace. You don't want us in your camp because you're lying. The search is going to be made. And if you resist us, I'll see the whole second cavalry out to do the job. Bando Niquelo! Patrol! Carbines! That's the ready! Boots are carvings! What was that, Captain? Sorry, Major. They're going back to their camp. Those insolent. Well, at least I've seen a prime example of what a soft policy brings about. The hostiles move up here from the 7th Cavalry Area. Undoubtedly, they rest, repair equipment, and go back to take up the attack again. Some of them do, some of them don't. There are good ones and bad ones with these people, same as there are with whites. Well, until such time as a magician is attached to the second who can distinguish between the two, Captain, pressure should be exerted against all of them. We'll return to the fort. I'm going to recommend that at least two troops are assigned to this matter until that boy's recovered. With your permission, sir, I'll stay here. Sergeant Gorse will take command of the patrol and escort you. Why on earth stay here? I need your statement at the fort. You have plenty of other witnesses, sir. Before you come back with two troops of cavalry, I'd sort of like to see what one man can do in that camp. You're thinking as an individual again, Captain. It's a hard habit to break, sir. If it doesn't work, it'll make a strong point in your survey report. Very well. I trust you don't expect commendation on your stubbornness. I do plan to make reference to your unmilitary behavior. It'd be better if we could send old brass shoulders in alone. Watch your manners, Sergeant. Don't you want me to stay with you? Thank you, Gorse, but I don't need you. This may look crazy, but I don't think I'll run into any trouble. Is that young and seen there, you will, sir? I don't figure he is. I've been thinking. If I was Messiah and had kidnapped the boy, I sure wouldn't have left a knife to point the finger at me. And I would have high-tailed it out of these parts a long time before this. I sure hope you're right, Captain. Sergeant, I'm ready to go. Not far enough. Watch your manners, Gorse. Yes, sir. Good luck. Easy, easy. You're not coming out of camp. Then come out here, Messiah, so we can talk without being bothered by others. Do we talk about the son I did not steal? I believe you. I believe that you didn't steal him. Your high soldier is blind. His words cut like flint. He's new to this country. He has much to learn. He went back. Does he bring more soldiers to attack us? That's what's in his mind now. It'll take a day, so you have time to move your camp. Strange words from a soldier. Why do you stand with me when the high soldier says I lie? I've heard much of you, Messiah. If you were going to steal a son, you'd do it better than this. I say this. The days are gone when a son brought only gladness to his father. Now the father looks to the day when his son reaches manhood and sees nothing but sadness and hunger and fighting a war that will not be won. Some nights when sleep runs away from me, I think of my son. And I am happy that he is not with me to share the trouble that follows us. I would steal no son. I have nothing to give him. Do you truly want peace, Messiah? A peace with honor, yes. We are tired of fighting and running. This is a small thing, a missing child, when you measure it against the bigness of the trouble that we're all in, all the tribes, all the army units. But it's a thing that could stir everything up again. Word from the major could go to Washington. His words from his mind. They'd be believed, because no other words could go to say they were wrong. I'd like to stop it, Messiah. Would you help me? How would a Cheyenne help a soldier? If you and I could find the boy and take him back, everyone would know that you were a man of honor and truth and that you lead a peaceful band. Then the high soldier's word would be lies. You'd be right, and he'd be wrong. For that I would help, but how? Have any other new bands moved into this section that could have taken the boy? One Shoshonean, one from my tribe. Could you find out if they have him? Yeah. Will you do it? I will. While you do that, I'll try and get a line on him. Will you meet me in the wash near Coon's place at sunrise tomorrow? Do you know what you'll ask me to do? To help the man who killed my son and my wife? I know, Messiah. We meet at sunrise, soldier. Hold, hold. Here, soldier. You hide well. What did you learn? The boy is not with the Shoshones and not with the Cheyenne. Then we have another way to go. He has an uncle in the Rock River settlement. He's talked to some of his young friends about going to live with him. He told them the trail he'd take. If I put you on it, would you pick up his sign and follow it? I have followed older sign. We'll go then. He fell here. All right. Look there, a piece of cloth. I'd say he has torn clothing. And a sore knee. He rested here, slept, I think. See, the grass is pressed down. He's traveled a long way for an eight-year-old. I think not much farther than this. He started very slow from here. Billy, we're going to take you home. No, I won't go back. It's all right, Billy. Who is he? His name is Wasiah. He's a friend of mine. You are a good, strong boy to come this far. If I had a son, I would hope he would be so strong. You've got a nasty bruise on your face, Billy. You must have taken a bad fall. He hit me. Who did? My pa. He was a stick. He hit me till I ran away. Let's see him to your shirt. He sure did hit you, didn't he? I won't go back. My pa hit me again. Come on, come on. Stand up, Billy. Look, I don't blame you for running away. I guess I'd have done the same thing. I won't go back. If you want to live with your uncle, I think we can work it out. You rock, River. Yeah. And instead of trying to get there all by yourself, how would you like it if you could ride with the cavalry? Ride myself on a horse? Yes. Horse all your own. Now you're ready to start back? I won't stay with my pa. You won't have to. Come here, boy. You ride with me on my pony. No, I don't want to. I sure you do, Billy. Think what you can tell your friends. I'll bet none of them are ridden with a real Cheyenne warrior. Come on now. Show them how brave you are. Tell me, boy, am I strong enough to lift you up? Do you not know the feel of a white man on his back? You all right, Billy? Oh, yes. Faster than prairie fire. High ball. Wake, soldier. I'm forming the two troops for the big search. I go no further. I know how you feel because I felt the same way riding into your camp. But the major from Washington won't believe you had a part of this unless you ride in with me. You have my word that everything will be all right. I go on your word. Right up to the major, Wessiah. Captain Quint's reporting, sir. Well, this savage did steal the boy. In spite of his surrender, he's to be punished. This is no surrender. Give me the details, Captain. I'd rather you ask the boy, sir. All right, son. What did he do to you? He didn't steal me. He found me. I ran away because my pa hit me with a stick. He does it lots of times, and I won't go back. I just won't. Order the troops dismissed. Yes, sir. Ready to dismount? Ready to dismount? Come on, Billy. We'll find you something to eat. Wessiah, I'd stay out of the 7th Cavalry territory for a while. The high soldier is going to be moving that way. There is very far place where there are many antelopes. I think my people are hungry for antelope. My thanks go with you. Mine stay with you. You grow strong, boy. One day you can beat your stepfather. I leave my vengeance with you. I go. Goodbye. Yeah, guys? Well, I inside sure don't want to admit that such a thing is a good engine, does he? He's a better soldier than we are, Sergeant. What? He operates strictly from the book. Maybe in the next situation, the book will be right. Fort Laramie is produced and directed by Norman MacDonald and stars Raymond Burr as Lee Quintz, Captain of Cavalry, with Vic Perlin as Sergeant Gorse. The script was specially written for Fort Laramie by Gil Dowd, with sound patterns by Bill James and Ray Kemper, musical supervision by Amarigo Marino, featured in the cast were Lawrence Dobkin, Clayton Post, Ralph Moody, Jack Moyles and Richard Beals. Company tension is missed. Next week, another transcribed story of the Northwest Frontier and the troopers who fought under Lee Quintz, Captain of Cavalry. Each Monday through Friday evening, CBS Radio rings you in on the fabulous adventures of insurance investigator Johnny Dollar. Just by decoding the cryptic items in his expense account, you'll learn how a dime spent in a phone booth can lead to a scene of the wildest suspense. Then on to a sum spent for an airplane ticket or an item for a new shoelace, and again you'll find yourself smack in the middle of a thrill pack situation. Each new adventure moves the story forward to its dramatic payoff when Johnny Dollar solves yet another case of arson, fraud or murder. Every Monday through Friday night over most of these same stations here, yours truly, Johnny Dollar.