 Gun Smoke. Brought to you by LNM, the modern cigarette that lets you get full exciting flavor through the modern miracle of the pure white miracle tip. Live modern. Smoke LNM. 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 the U.S. Marshal and the smell of Gun Smoke. Gun Smoke starring William Conrad, the transcribed 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. It makes a sense in his head. I swear to goodness, Mr. Dillon, these times a man's got to choke his words right back down in his craw to keep him starting up a ruckus. Oh, what's the trouble, Justice? There's a fellow over at the Dodge House, a traveling drummer out of Baltimore, and you know what he said? Now what he said? He said they got a railroad train over there in England, somewhere, as it goes 150 miles in three hours flat. Oh, is that so? He said they'll have trains like that here one these days, going clean across the country. In 30 or 40 years, according to him, a man can get on one in New York City and get off a week later in San Francisco. You don't say. Well, now, you don't believe that, do you, Mr. Dillon? Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see, Justice. Well, I don't believe it. A human body just ain't built to go that fast. It'd get a man's inner jaw out of whack, choke him to death trying to breathe. Maybe, maybe. The good Lord wanted a man to go 50 miles an hour. He'd have put wheels on him. Well, yeah. Good morning, Matt. Oh, come on in, Doc. Oh, man, I just been at the delivery stable, Matt. Well, what's the matter? Is Moss sick? No, it's old crow bait Bob. Moss Grimmick's been letting him sleep in the hay loft in return for helping with the chores. Yeah, I heard he has. Well, old crow bait took sick in the night sometime. He couldn't get up this morning. Oh, what's wrong with him? Nothing that 30 years off his age wouldn't hear. And a thousand or so less bottles of rock got whiskey. Well, if he's sick, we ought to get him out of that hay loft. Well, but I can't figure any place to move him. He wants to see you, Matt, right away. See me? What for? Well, I wouldn't say, but he claims it's mighty important. It's something he wants to do before he dies. Before he dies? I'm just trying to make him comfortable, Matt. That's all I can do. First, I'm concerned, Marshall, you're the only man in Dodd City that's worth a hoot in the holler. Except Moss Grimmick. Well, but for him and Marshall, I'm a God-earned liar. Oh, what do you mean by that? Oh, there's lots of nice folks here. Of course there is. I reckon the only ones I'm really talking about is that high-flute niece of mine and that sneaky old husband of hers. And I was wondering, Bob, if maybe we ought to let Ruth and Albin know about you being sick. No, sir, no, no. Let them know nothing. Let them sit out there in a precious ranch and rock. Ain't sure it'd be no care for years. Well, it's up to you, I guess. Hey, Marshall, the reason I sent her is because I want to make my will. Make a will? Oh, I know, I know. It don't seem likely worth a so hoot like me and have a reason to, but that's where you're wrong. Well, Bob, I'll do whatever I can, you know that. And I've only got one thing to leave. And she's here. Yeah, it's right here in this here leather box. Why don't you take care of it for me, Marshall? See that thing's open till after I'm gone. Ah, Bob, that'll probably be years. Oh, no, no, you don't know. Doc's trying to fool me, too, but I know where I stand. All right, Bob, I'll take care of it for you. Look, Doc's gone after a rig and we're going to move you over to the jail, huh? At least she'll be warm there and there'll be somebody with you. And I'll write up a will of some kind and you can sign it. Yeah, much obliged, dear Marshall. That there box is many, many, but I want to be sure of the right part to get you. Sure. Ah, how does it go to, Bob? It goes to Miss Kitty. Kitty Russell? Yep. Yeah, she's fine, girl, Marshall. Just a girl-durned angel, that's what she is. Just a girl-durned angel. Be yourself of old-fashioned ideas. Why don't you live modern? Free up. Price it up your taste. Smoke and L&M. Today all over the country more people are changing to L&M and to any other cigarette. And it's all because only L&M gives you full, exciting flavor through the pure white miracle tip. L&M draws. It's richer. Smokes cleaner. So free up. Price it 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. It's America's fastest growing cigarette. How does it feel to be an heiress? Oh, stop it. That's all I've been hearing for the last three hours. How's the old man, Matt? We got him moved over to the jail, Kitty. He fixed up a cell for him. Chester's staying there this evening to look after him. Must be terrible to know you, Diane. Be all alone like that with nobody on your own. Yeah. I asked him about sending for his niece, Ruth Guttler, and her husband, but he was dead set against that. And I don't blame him. Not the way they treated him. Yeah. Seems like they might have done something for him. They could have found a place for him out there in the ranch. So he drank too much. Maybe he had a reason to drink. Yeah, maybe. Maybe he is worthless. But he never meant any harm to anyone. No. Corbett's all right. I didn't know that you and him were so thick, though. I treated him like a human being. That's all. Good evening, Matt. Hello, Diane. Well, Kitty, I hear you're about to inherit a million dollars. That's foolishness, Doc. Oh, Bob never had two quarters survived together. I never can tell, no. At least you get it, Kitty, whatever it is. I wish he hadn't done it, Matt. I didn't expect any payment. Payment for what? Enough. Matt, you mean you didn't know? Didn't know what, Doc? Doc, you keep quiet now. Where do you think Crow Bates been getting his meals? All right. I suppose Mars, the delivery stable, was feeding him. Mars has been letting him sleep theirs all. Doc, if you don't... Why, Kitty's been feeding him for the last two years. Kitty, is this true? All right. Whatever. They're wasting enough food here in a long branch to feed 10 men like him. It didn't cost me anything. It was just... Oh, come on, let's have a drink. We got visitors? No. I miss Godler. Alvin. What brings you people into town? You know dang well what brings us, Marshal. Poor Uncle Robert laying back there sick to his death, maybe. And this upstart saying we can't see it. Upstart? Well, I'll be... Now just take it easy, Jess. Take it easy. Poor old Uncle Robert. Would that be Crow Bates Bob by any chance? Marshal, now you're insulting a dear relative of my wife. What a thing to call, Uncle Robert, why we had no idea he was took down and ailing this way. No, I don't suppose you did, since you haven't spoken to him in the last five years. Well, that was just a family misunderstanding, Marshal. When one's own kin is took bad sick about it, it'd be mighty heartless if they didn't let bygones be bygones. Yeah, sure. Why, I even brung him some nice chicken broth and baked him an egg-custard pie. That's real thoughtful of you, Miss Gutter. You must have heard the rumors. Rumors? About him turning out to be wealthy. Well, we haven't... That old girl ain't getting one cent, Marshal. No, sir. We'll take her to court. Why don't you do that, Alvin, if you know some way of beating the legal will. Well, he was out of his mind. Doc and I'll say different. We demand to see him right this minute. I'm sorry. He left orders against it. Well, then take that food back to him and tell him who brung it. That'll change his mind. Chester. Yes, sir? Take this back to the cell with him. All right. He was asleep the whole little while. Well, if he's asleep, just leave it. All right, sir. You be sure and tell him we brung it. Oh, I'll hire a brass man. Now, Marshal, you know that's a terrible thing. A woman like that to undermine a man's feelings for his own kin. Look, Alvin, if you want to do something for him, why don't you pay off some of his bills around town? Pay off his bills? That's right. $10 or $15 to Moskremic, 20 or so to Wilbur Jonas at the general store. Why don't you pay him his self if he's got all that money? Now, wait a minute, Ruth. You might just make him stop and think twice if we was to pay him off. Pay him good money on bills that with a gold coin. Oh, shut up, Ruth. All righty, Marshal, we won't bother you no longer. We'll be going now. Come on, Ruth. Good night, Marshal. Mr. Dillon. What's wrong, Chester? You better find Doc in a hurry, Mr. Dillon. That old man don't look too good. Be yourself of old-fashioned ideas. Why don't you live, mother? Free up. Freshen up your taste. Smoke an L&M. Why are more people changing to L&M than to any other cigarette? Because only L&M lets you enjoy full, exciting flavor through the pure white miracle tip L&M draws. Taste richer. Smokes cleaner. So, free up. Freshen up your taste. Get full, exciting flavor. Live modern. Smoke L&M. Make today your big red letter day and start to live the modern way. Live, live, live modern. It's America's fastest growing cigarette. Good pie, Mr. Dillon. Even if Ole Miss Guddler did bake it. Yeah, it looks real good, Chester. You feel kindly funny eating it, though. No. Well, I reckon old Kobe wouldn't want to go to waste. No, I don't think he would. I wonder what is in that box, Mr. Dillon? I don't know. We'll find out as soon as Kenny comes over. Died in his sleep, Doc said. Peaceful as anything. Mm-hmm. Uh, if you really ain't going to eat that last piece of pie... I haven't eaten any of it, Chester. Well, why don't you finish it, huh? Yeah, he had art in it to go to waste, Artie. No. Oh, oh, Kitty. Kitty, come on in. Doc told me, Mac. I'm real sorry. Yeah, I'm not kidding. Oh, fella. Well, I hope he had a good life somewhere back along the line. The years sure weren't very happy. No. Well, here's a box, Kitty. It's all yours. I wish he hadn't done it, Mac. Why not? Oh, I don't know. Looks like I did things for him just because I expected something. I just felt sorry for him, that's all. Well, I wouldn't count any chickens ahead of time. I don't even care what's in it. Just that I... Marshall. Oh, come in, Elvin. You tricked us. Oh, that's good hard cash. You folks are acquainted with Miss Kitty Russell here. I know who they are, Mac. Yeah. How do you figure I tricked you, Elvin? How do I... Well, them bills are his. I paid out $86.40 in that old soak before I run into Doc, found out he died and him without even knowing what we'd done for him. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Oh, mighty fine talk for you doing his kin out of what's rightfully there. Oh, you beady-eyed old folk. Now, take it easy. All right, settle down. So you think I tricked you, Elvin? Well, you don't think I'd have paid them bills if I'd known he was that far gone. I thought I was giving you a chance to do something decent for once in your life. We ain't responsible for his debts. No, not Ligard. Well, now he's gone and died. He left all his wealth to this year. This year, woman. The way I hear, that box is full of diamonds and emeralds. Whatever it's full of, it belongs to Kitty, so you may as well forget it. Forget it? When a fortune that's rightfully owned is laying right there on that table and about to slip through our fingers? You get your hands up, Marshall. You too, Chester. Elvin. Elvin, that was a real foolish move you just made. You know. Now, you hand over the gun. Stay back, Marshall. I'll shoot. Elvin, I said, hand over the gun. Marshall, so help me. If you take him, Marshall will be right. You hit him. You hit Elvin. All right. Drag him back and lock him up, Chester. Yes, Miss. If you don't. All right. Come on. You're locking up Elvin? Assault with a deadly weapon. Judge Pendle figure it's worth about $100 and good hard cash, Miss Guller. And court's at 10 in the morning if you want to be there. But what'll I do tonight? Why don't you get yourself a room over at the Dodge House and meditate on your sins? My sins. Good night, Miss Guller. Now I suppose you want to take a look at your diamonds and emeralds, huh, kitty? Can't we just burn it, Matt? Not even open it? Crow bait wouldn't have wanted you to do that. Yeah. I know. Anyhow, you got too much curiosity to do something like that. And you know it. Well, you win, Matt. Okay, let's see now. Yeah, I guess if we break the seal on the catch, there we go. Matt, it's full of banknotes. Yeah, confederate banknotes, kitty. Of what do you know? You suppose he thought they might fight the war over again someday, Matt? Maybe. Now, wait a minute. There's something underneath it. Oh, what is it, Matt? It's an army medal. Bravery in action, field citation. Awarded to Lieutenant Robert Danford Conroy. So that was his name? Freaking aspicuous heroism during the storming of Chipultepec Heights, September 13, 1847. Signed in the One Field Scott Commander-in-Chief United States Expeditionary Forces in Mexico. Here's a silver dollar, Matt. Uh-huh. Well, at least that's worth something. Oh, look. It's a ribbon. Yeah. So careful that I'd do a curl like a hair. Matt, I wonder who she was. Well, whoever it was a long time ago. A medal, a curl, a dollar. A box full of worthless paper. A story of a man's life, Matt. Yeah. And there have been worse stories. I'll keep the curl and the medal. You know something? What? He'll spend the dollar on a drink. All right, kitty. I think I'd have pleased him. Come on. In a moment, our star, William Conrad. Every year in America, property losses through fire amount to around $800 million. And 90% of these fires are caused by human carelessness. We put a match to $720 million bills every 12 months unnecessarily. Every 20 seconds, fire breaks out somewhere in the United States. Three fires will start while this announcement is being read. The cost in human life is even more shocking than the property losses. 11,000 people die every year in fires. And thousands more are severely burned and disfigured for life. These losses do not have to continue. Each of us can protect his home from fire by following these simple safety rules. Don't smoke in bed. Clean out flammable debris and have it carted away. Repair or replace worn and defective electrical equipment. Use cleaning fluids that won't burn. In other words, don't give fire a place to start. This has been a CBS Radio Public Service announcement. Hello, this is Bill Conrad. Dropping the roll of Matt Dillon for a moment to remind you to cast your vote next Tuesday in one of the most important elections of our time. After you've voted, don't forget CBS Radio is going to be reporting to you over this station the election story with the most comprehensive coverage and broadcasting history. Be with us next Tuesday, won't you? After you've voted. 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 Ray Kemper and Bill James. Join us again next week for another specially transcribed story on Gun Smoke.