 Down 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 guns 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, the United States Marshal, the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancey job, but it makes a man watchful and a little lonely. Circle B, I think. Come on upstairs and have a drink with me. I got to get it clear up here for a few minutes. All right, let's go. Fed up with it, Matt? With what? Everything. Come on in. Make yourself at home. Thank you. What's bothering you, Kitty? Nothing special. Just the whim whams, I guess. Who else to drink, huh? Okay. You know, centuries have fed up. Why don't you get out of it? Go back east. And get married and settle down. Nice, quiet, bank clerk, tub of wash, cook stove. And kids. I'd like kids. Let's have that drink, huh? I'm not getting out and neither you. So let's live while we still have it. Oh, if that's some drunken herders, I help me up. Yes. Well, let's sit downstairs. The marshal was up there. Come in, Matt. What's on your mind? I thought maybe you could give me some information, Marshal. I'm looking for some folks named Crail, Mr. and Ms. John Crail. I understand they got a place around Dodge somewhere. Yeah, Ms. Crail does. John Crail died about three years ago. No. Are you old friends of theirs? They're my folks. My mom and pa. What? I'm Billy Crail. Maybe they've mentioned me. Yeah, your mother's always said that you'd come home someday. She's never given up hoping. How is she, Marshal? She's not too good. She's got a big ranch on her hands. We've been trying to run it alone since your dad died. Uh, you think she'll recognize you? Well, she might not at first. It's been 17 years since I run away from home. But I'll convince her, all right. Yeah, you probably will. Where have you been all these years, Billy? Just drifting. Here, there. You know how it goes. Yeah. How do I get out to the place? I'm anxious to see you. It's about five miles east of town. Follow down a river. You can't miss it. Oh, thanks a lot, Mark. I guess we'll see each other again since I'm going to settle down here. Oh, sure. So long. All right. Let's have it. What do you mean, Kitty? Something was wrong there. What was it? Just this, Kitty, a few years ago, Miss Crayle asked me to try to trace her son. I did it, and I didn't have the heart to tell her. Tell her what? I got a report back from the War Office. Billy Crayle had joined the Union Army at the start of the war. He was killed in action at the Battle of Shiloh. Dog, you know all, Mr. Dill and I went through these cussed circles lying blue in the face, his cutthroats, cattle rustlers, horse thieves, bank robbers, everything you can think of. They ain't an area one of them, fits the description of that Crayle fella. Keep looking, Chester. It might be two or three years back, but I've seen that face of his somewhere, and it has to be in one of these circulars. Just don't understand how he figures to get away with it. You can't fool a man's own mom. You might in this case. She hasn't seen him since he was a boy. She's pretty old now, her eyesight's failing her. Her memory's not too good. Well, apart with that ranch and all the money she's got put by, he sure is saying, come on out. Wait a minute, wait a minute, Chester. Find something, Miss Dillon? I'm sure it'll look like him. It is him, Chester, three years ago. Height 6'1", weight 185, sandy complexion. Sure fits him. Wanted and Lubbock for questioning and connection with holdup of the Lone Star Bank. Previous arrests, Pekka's crossing for cattle theft. They quit it for lack of evidence. Convicted San Antonio eight years ago, armed robbery. Served four years paroled. Known associates, Nate Barger, an Apoca City kid. Reward $1,000. Calls himself Johnny Redd. Hello, Chester. Yes, sir. Let's go get him. Begin now from here. We will now commence our lesson in stereophonic reproduction. Listen to the call of the spotted bull snicker on ordinary stereo. Now then, on a Columbia Stereo-1 phonograph. Home, obvious difference, what? The Columbia stereophonic system really causes all others to blush. For it is not composed of just a few separated speakers. Columbia is the originator and exclusive conveyor of stereo projection. Only Columbia fills every inch of a room with real life-like sound. Now, when I was bird-watching with the duchess of... But let that pass. You simply must hear the Stereo-1 phonograph by Columbia. Ask your Columbia phonograph dealer for a demonstration. And, chaps, portables are priced as low as $39.95. The home sales commence at $129.95. Low, that bird. I was hoping I could talk to Ms. Crail first. Can you put up a fight, Mr. John? I don't know. Good to see you, Marshal. And you, too. Mr. Proudfoot, ain't it? Yes, ma'am. Oh, weren't you sure? My eyes ain't quite... Come on in, gentlemen. Landscapes, I do like company. It seems like nobody ever comes out this way no more. Now, set yourselves down there now. Thank you. Rest your feet. I'll get you a cup of coffee. No, don't bother, Ms. Crail. We don't have much time. No time. Won't take no time. Got already made. Just fixing to have some myself. That's a lie. Everybody can't do a little something for a company. She ain't fit to have none. As, ma'am, I guess it does get pretty lonesome out here. Oh, dead. I got a big surprise to tell you about, Marshal. You mean your son? Shucks. The way gossip flies around Dodd City. The body don't have a chance to get ahead of it. He's come home. Just like I always knew he would. As, uh... Has he changed much, Ms. Crail? Oh, good heaven, Jess. You were just a boy when he went away. Now he's a grown-up man. Fine, strong. But there's no doubt in your mind that this really is Billy. Oh, boy, that's downright silly, Marshal. You can't fool a mother. She can always tell her own. Well, the second Billy walked up on that porch and said, How are you, ma? I knew him just like that. I see. You know, I'd been sort of going downhill since John passed on. Work was hard and seemed like I'd kind of lost my reason for living. I don't think I'd have lasted, Marshal. Well, now I... But it's different now. Well, I'm happier than I've been in years. You sure seem to be. My son has come home. Could a mother ask for more? No, ma'am, I guess not. I suppose that's all that matters. That's all. Well... Oh, I'm sorry, Marshal. Here, I've been talking a leg off of you and I haven't even thought to ask what brings you out this way. Oh, nothing, Miss Crale. As a matter of fact, we just rode out for a friendly little visit. Well, I'm mighty glad you did, Marshal. You'd just stop by anytime. You too, Mr. Proudfoot. Thank you, ma'am. Goodbye, Miss Crale. Goodbye. You couldn't have done nothing else, Mr. John. I had to broke her heart, if you'd have told her. I guess so. But she's gonna find out anyway sooner or later when he steals her blind and then runs out on her. And that's a bad deal, Chester, anyway. You look at it. Marshal, look. Kind of sets you a problem now, don't it? Well, I may set a few problems for you before I'm done with you, Johnny. And breaking old lady's heart? I don't think so, Marshal. And the name is Billy, by the way, Billy Crale. Not in Lubbock. Lubbock? Where is that? Don't worry, Johnny. When I send you back, there'll be somebody along to show you the way. I don't know why you keep on calling me Johnny. Because that's your name, Johnny Redd. Bank robber, gunman, cattle thief. You fill out the list. Maybe you could get my mother to fill it out. Miss Crale's an old woman. She doesn't know that her son was killed at the Battle of Shiloh. That report was a mistake, Marshal. But I figured it was best to let it stand. I deserted two weeks before Shiloh. Yeah, sure you did. I don't know where you got this crazy idea. I'm somebody named Johnny Redd. A man's own mother ought to know. And before you go off half-cocked, I'd say it might be a good idea to check with the sheriff in Lubbock. Meanwhile, I figure it's like your friend there was saying, you wouldn't want to break an old woman's heart, now would you? Afternoon, Mac. Oh, terrible, terrible, Matt. Lost another patient this afternoon. Oh, somebody died? No, no, no, no. You figure on that happening. But you don't count on them getting well on you. Oh. And they don't very often. Well, who was it that pulled this mean trick on you? Oh, Lady Craio. Oh? Mm-hmm. A month ago, I wouldn't have figured it had lived through the winter. Even thought you might leave me something, and I will. But, darn it, she was jumping around out there this morning as chipper as young fully. Threw away all her medicine, told me not to even bother coming out any more. She's a young mother now. It's no joke, Matt. That's exactly what it is. That boy of hers has been home three weeks now, and it's made a new woman out of her. Yeah. Only he's not really her boy, Doc. He's not really her boy. What do you mean? He's an ex-convict from Texas. I had a reward circular on him from Lubbock. Oh, now, wait a minute, Matt. No. He might be able to fool other people, but his own mother. I know, I know, Doc. A mother can always tell her own. And that's right. Well, maybe this is the exception that proves the rule. Well, if you really think that, and if he's wanted, well, then why don't you go out there and arrest him? Because I got no charge against him. A wired Lubbock, it seems that he was wanted, but he's not any more. They'd already picked him up, and then they turned him loose for lack of evidence. No, no, I just can't believe that, Matt. If he's not Billy Crale, then what's he up to? Huh? You know how much that ranch is worth, Doc? And Miss Crale keeps ever since she's got out there at the place because she doesn't trust banks. Now, what more reason would a man like that be? You better come quick, Mr. Dillon. What's wrong, Chester? Jake just brought Simmer on stage in. He got held up right outside the town. They shot the guard. Let me get through here, please. Will you stand aside? Please, let Doc get in here, please. Will Marshall? He finally got to me. How'd it happen, Jake? The boldest thing I ever seen. It was about three miles out of town. They'd throwed some cottonwood limbs across the trail, so they'd have to pull up. And that's when they jumped me. How many of them? Just two. A couple I never seen before. Brassy as sin, didn't even bother to wear masks. And they hauled off and shot Barney there without even giving them a chance. But what have they got? The cash box. I don't know how much was in it. Matt! Yeah, Doc? There's nothing I can do for Matt. Two bullets right under the ribs. I'd doubt if he even knew what hit him. Well, take charge of it, won't he, Doc? Matt? Matt? Somebody said Barney got shot. Yeah, he's dead, kiddo. Jake, would you recognize either of those men? I sure would. One of them was a tall, skinny fella. The other one was kind of a kid. The tall one called him Ponca. Ponca? Yeah. They were strangers, though. They ain't from around here. That sounds like a couple of fellas I saw in the long branch today. Talking to Billy Crale. Oh? Billy finally left, and they stayed another hour or so. Talking real serious together. Well, it's still gunman. Jake, where did they head for it when they left you? Well, it was a funny thing. Well, I figured they'd make a run south. But instead, they rode east, down river. Now, that trail don't lead nowhere. That's right, nowhere's except to the Crale Ranch. Like London-born Hermione, the darling of the music halls, and Kenny Del Mar and Parker Fenley, graduates Magna Cum Laude of Allen's Alley, is a man-sized job even for Burt Park. Keep your funny side up every weekday with this delightful new comedy show, CBS Radio's Funny Side Up. Burt's new comedy panel show has taken its place in the CBS Radio Daytime family of hits. Joining shows like Art Linkwetter's House Party and Pat Buttrom's Just Entertainment. Always a grab bag of listening surprises, Art Linkwetter's mad cap Hollywood House Parties are ever among the liveliest of fare on the air before dark. And Pat Buttrom's Monday through Friday excursions in humor and song make Just Entertainment just that for all takers. Land on your weekdays and we'll fill it with the new funny side up, House Party, Just Entertainment, and the rest of the best from CBS Radio. Now the sound of life, McDonnell, looks real quiet. Yeah, too quiet, maybe. Ain't no lights, neither. Let's walk from here. Right now watch yourself, Chester. That's right, I will. Jerk the screen open, I'll go in fast. I'll keep you covered, Mr. Allen. Chester, come on in. See if you can find a lamp. I think there was one over here on the table the other day. All right, light it and bring it over here. The lamp down, Chester. Be bad, too. Well, it's not questioning that he's wanted for now. It's murder. Rage! It's you, Marshall. Who are you expecting, Johnny, Nate Barger and the Ponca City Kid? That's right. They're down there digging by the river bank, but they'll be back. They won't find what they're looking for. Now who shot you? I don't know which one of them it was. It don't matter, though. I'll last till they get back. But not long enough for murder charge, Marshall. I don't try for your gun, Marshall. I'm not that much of a fool, not with yours on my back. I wouldn't want to shoot you. I got nothing personal against you. But your way of handling this ain't the way I aim, too. Put out that lamp. They're coming back. They're out there now. You stay where you are and stay quiet. I gotta get to a window. All right, Chester, let's ease out the back way. Come on. Yes, sir. Stay close to the house. They'll walk toward the porch. We'll have a chance to take them from the side. Yes, sir. She sure won't lie about it this time. A hot brandon iron, Michael. All right, hold it. You're covered. Over there at the corner, Parker. Y'all get him. Now drop that gun, Parker. Drop it. All right. All right, I did. I'll give up. Don't shoot. Keep your hands up. That's right, Nate. Keep them up high. Johnny, no. Say hello to Parker for me. Now you drop your gun, Johnny. Sure, Marshall. He had his hands in the air. You had no call to shoot him. You took him alive. You might have got out of it. This way works out better. More sure. Yeah, Marshall. I guess you know how you stand. You don't have a chance. It don't matter. I lasted till it was finished. What started it? An argument over the split? There was no split. I wasn't in with him. They followed me here from Texas. That's right, Marshall. I'm Johnny Red. I never doubted it. They thought I was double crossing them. They laid for me out here at the ranch. They thought they'd killed me and her. They beat them, Marshall, trying to find out where she kept her money. But she wouldn't tell. She lied to him, said it was buried down by the river bank. Where is it buried? No place. I took it into the bank for a last week. What? I figured it wasn't safe for her to keep it here. So you still think her mother can't tell, huh? Sure, Marshall. I've been called Johnny Red for years now. But my real name is Billy Crail. I wasn't lying about that. She was, my mother. That's that. He was Billy Crail, after all. If he'd only just stayed away, hadn't come back home, she'd still be alive. It was her own son. You might say that caused her death. Doc says she wouldn't have lived through the winter anyway. And Billy made her happy for one month, at least. But there are much more to parents whose children attend them. When your children and mine are in those buildings, they take on personal importance. They influence the futures of our young people. Schools are our only buildings, but to ignore them is to ignore those precious futures. We do the very minimum for our young and we take part in community efforts to build better schools. If we do less, we flagrantly shortchange our own. If your community is like many, the chances are there's a real and growing need for better schools, better school rooms, higher teaching standards, new textbooks, and more room. This miracle won't come about without help from all of us. If you want to give that help, but don't know how, write to Better Schools 9, East 40th Street, New York 16, New York. For Houston, directed in Hollywood by Norman McDonald, by William Conrad, as Matt Gillan, U.S. Marshall. The story was specially written for Dunn Smoke by Les Crutchfield, with a tutorial supervision by John Messon, featured in the cast with Sam Edwards, Helen Cleed, McFerrin, and Luke Rubin. Farley Bear is Chester, Howard McNeer, is Doc, and George McNeer. This is George Walsh, inviting you to join us again next week, when CBS Radio presents another story on Dunn Smoke.