 The stakes are high, and I'm here to see that the boy wins. You'll be the loser, whether you try to use that knife or your gun. Have Gun will travel, starring Mr. John Daner as Paladin. San Francisco, 1875, the Carlton Hotel, headquarters of the man called Paladin. Mr. Paladin. Yes, Miss Wong? Do not wish to interrupt while you read newspaper, but if you move to sofa, Miss Wong can take breakfast, dish it downstairs. No, that's all right. I think I'll have another cup of coffee. Just leave them here. Hey boy, I'll be up to get them later. Oh, very well. Would you like Miss Wong to pour coffee? Yes, thank you. Mr. Paladin, why you dress so nice early in morning? Well, I'm expecting a visitor, a Mr. J. Wellington merry-weather of Boston. He's coming up to my room this morning to discuss a business matter. I haven't met him, but men from Boston usually dress with great dignity, Miss Wong. Oh, so Mr. Paladin also dressed with great dignity. Very good. Here's your coffee. Thank you. Miss Wong, go now. Oh, Miss Wong, would you tell Hey Boy to bring some brandy with him when he comes up? Mr. Merry-weather might like a glass of brandy. Oh, yes. Someone at your door. I'll get it. Perhaps Mr. Merry-weather? I didn't expect him this soon. Yes. How do you do? Are you Mr. Paladin? That's right. What can I do for you lad? May I come in? Well, right now I'm expecting someone. But I thought I had an appointment. Didn't you receive my message? Your message? I'm J. Wellington Merry-weather. You? Oh, oh, I see, I see. Yes, please, come in. Thank you. Oh, Miss Wong, this is J. Wellington Merry-weather. How do you do? Still happy. Miss Wong, I guess you'd better tell Hey Boy to bring some lemonade instead of brandy. Ah, yes. Lemonade. I told Hey Boy he'd bring lemonade right away. Hello, amigo. You want to know about stereo phonographs? Listen to my last bullfight on ordinary stereo. But now, Columbia Stereo 1. Ah, there is a corrida de toros. Real life like Magnifica. There is such a big difference in stereo phonographs. With most, all you get is a couple of speakers shooting in different directions. But with Columbia, ah, hombre, you get fantastic stereo projection. What he does is to send circles of sound sweeping through every inch of a room. You are surrounded with live sound, live feeling, live passion. Howdy, howdy! How they cheered me. Ask your Columbia phonograph dealer to demonstrate stereo 1 by Columbia. Prices start as low as $39.95 for portables, $1.29.95 for consoles. El picador, who let them pull out? J. Wellington Maryweather sat stiffly on the edge of his chair, long-legged and earnest. The scared little boy showing through his poise in big and street manners. He looked to be 13 or 14 years old. I tried to remember what it was like to be that young, but too many years got in my way. Now, sir, shall we get down to business? Yes, yes, of course. How did you happen to contact me, Mr. Maryweather? I learned about you quite by chance from the captain of the ship. I've just arrived around the horn from Boston. How was the trip? Quite pleasant. After they found me and put me to work, before that I was getting rather hungry. Found you? Yes, sir. I was, uh, stole away. Are you in San Francisco alone? Of course. Would your parents know that you're here? My parents are dead. I live with my aunt and uncle in Boston. I ran away from home, Mr. Paladin. I see. Then you better tell me why you came here, boy. Honestly, uh, perhaps this will explain, excuse me, I, I have it pinned to my undershirt. Ah. This, sir, is a map. It belonged to my father, and it came to me through the mail six months ago along with this note. You may read it if you like. Yeah. You know, I fear I'll never be well for your father, talk to him about you before he dies. That promise he once made to you, I guess you, Kelly. Who's this Kelly? I, I don't know, sir, but there was a return address on the envelope. Lighthouse Saloon, Sacramento, California. Well, tell me, what do you think this map indicates? Buried treasure. Oh, I, I know it's childish of me to say that, sir. It's undoubtedly the location of a gold mining claim. But you see, that's what my father said when he left and came west. He said he was going to find a buried treasure. And he left you with your aunt and uncle? Yes. It was after my mother died. He didn't want to leave me. I understand that now, but he had to prove something. And that's what I must do. Prove what? That they're wrong. Aunt Amelia, Uncle Gus, all of them. All I ever heard from them was how my father ran out on his responsibilities, how he was worthless, a failure. Well, he wasn't a failure, and I'm going to find this treasure and prove it. Very important to you, isn't it? Oh, yes. You understand, don't you, Mr. Paladin? I think I'm beginning to understand. I shall need your help, and I wish to hire your services. Now, regarding financial arrangements... Oh, yes. Would you consider Havzies on the treasure? Havzies? Don't you think it would be wiser if you went back to Boston and waited until you're older to come out here to find your father's claim? Well, I'm almost 16 years old. Mr. Maryweather, if you don't have enough respect for me to tell me the truth, then you better find someone else to go with you. I guess you're right, sir. I'm sorry. I'm 14. Ah, that's more like it. But you should let your aunt and uncle know where you are. Perhaps, but I can never go back until I can prove to them that my father was just as good as they are, that he wasn't a failure. Well, if you're that determined, you'll need some protection. I'll go along with you, Mr. Maryweather. Oh, thank you, sir. By the way, the J stands for John. You may call me that if you like. All right. John. Half of the buried treasure that probably existed only in the hopes of a young boy wasn't very good business. But since he had come to me for help, I could not let him wander around the California wilderness alone. Two days later, we arrived in Sacramento and checked into a hotel. After an early dinner, I sent the boy up to his room to get some sleep. My next move would be to find Kelly, the man who had sent the map. I wanted more information about Lee Maryweather, John's father, before we started for the lost mining claim. I inquired at the hotel desk. Oh, Mr. Paladin, is your room satisfactory? Oh, yes. Yes, it is. Could you tell me where I could find the lighthouse saloon? The lighthouse? Yes. That's three blocks north of here. You just take Montgomery Street. You can't miss it. Fine. Thank you. Oh, Mr. Paladin? Yes? Did that gentleman find the boy? What gentleman? Well, he was inquiring about the boy. He checked in with you and said he was a friend of his. I told him he could find Maryweather up in his room. I didn't know he was in the dining room at the time. Did this gentleman go up to the boy's room? Well, I don't know, but he might have. Is there something wrong, Mr. Paladin? I'm not sure. John. John. What's the matter, boy? What happened? Oh, somebody hit me on the back of the head. Here, let me help you up. You better lie down on the bed. I think I'm quite all right, sir. Just sit here. What happened? I came up to the room after I left you downstairs. When I opened the door, I remember thinking it was peculiar that the light was on. And then someone hit me over the head. Did you see who it was? No, sir, I didn't. Mr. Paladin, look. My valise. My clothes all over the floor. Yeah. Somebody was looking for that map. But why would they hit me over the head? Do you think they'd ask me for it? Probably didn't want you to know who they were after they began rummaging through your suitcase. I'm awfully glad you had the map with you. What do you make of this, Mr. Paladin? I don't know, John. Maybe your friend Kelly will have the answer. Now go to bed and get some sleep. And you keep that door locked while I'm gone. Winston tastes good like a cigarette should, because... There's filter blend up front. Up front ahead of the filter. And the fiber you get in a Winston cigarette comes from filter blend. Filter blend means find an echo. Filter blend up front. The fiber you get in a Winston cigarette comes from filter blend. Filter blend is a mighty good reason for you to smoke Winston. Because it means tobaccos specially processed for filter smoking. A Winston secret. You get Winston's own pure white, modern filter. Plus the rich, delightful flavor of fine tobacco. There's filter blend up front. Up front ahead of the filter. The fun you get in a Winston cigarette comes from filter blend. And makes Winston taste good like a cigarette should. Winston tastes good like a cigarette should. You know anybody here by the name of Kelly? Oh, you're new in town, ain't you? That's right. Yeah, Kelly's the boss. I'd like to see him as he's here. Oh, yeah, right over there. At the money table. The pink dress. I mean, that's Kelly. Sure is. Oh, thanks. Miss Kelly. Yes? My name is Paladin. May I talk to you? Sorry, I'm busy. Well, let me ask you just one question. Did you know Lee Meriwether? Lee Meck. I guess my business can wait. Take over for me, Ben. We can sit at that table over there, Mr. Paladin. All right. May I order you a drink? No, thank you. What about Lee Meriwether? Did you write to his son in Boston? What's that got to do with you? I'm a friend of the boys. And since you sent him that map, I guess you are too. The boy and I are here to find that lost mining claim. Lee's son is here in Sacramento. Yes, he came to San Francisco to stow away. Why that little punk? Mr. Paladin, I'd like to see the boy. Certainly. How do you fit into this? Take him to my hotel and ask me to help him find the mine. I agree to do it. Do you want to tell me what you know about him? Did you know the boy's father? No, I don't. He was a man worth knowing. Didn't talk much except about his son. But I think I had him figured. He felt he had to strike it big to prove to the kid that his old man was a success. He prospected all over this country. I never knew a guy who could run into so much bad luck. Well, Miss Kelly, what about the map? He stayed out there three weeks at times. When he came back, he had a pouch full of samples of high-grade ore. Finally made it? Uh-huh. He never worked the claim. He staked it and hurried back into town to file. When he got here, it was late. The assay office was closed. So he gave me the map of the location and the pouch to keep for him. He went out to celebrate. I guess he had it coming. Word got around about him making a rich strike. Somebody must have realized he didn't have time to file and figured he had the map on him. He was way late, knifed and searched. Left for dead. Did they find who did it? No, no. Lee somehow managed to get back here to my place. That's when he asked me to send the map back there to Boston to the kid. He said something about how he kept his promise. Mr. Paladin, that claim hasn't been filed. So it belongs to anyone who finds it. Yes, I understand that. Don't let anyone know you have that map. That's a trouble, Miss Kelly. Someone already knows about it. They ran Satch's room tonight while we were having dinner. You know who it was? No, no. I thought you might be able to help me answer that. That could be one of a dozen men. Whoever it was, he knows you're in town. You'll find out soon enough who it was. You're right, Miss Kelly. I'll find out. It was late when I reached the hotel. A single dim lamp burned in the lobby. And it took me a moment before I noticed John sitting in the corner talking to a strange man. Oh, Mr. Paladin. John, you're supposed to be in bed. I couldn't sleep. I came downstairs to see if I could get a glass of milk and I met Mr. Morse here. Mr. Morse, Mr. Paladin. Hello, Paladin. Morse. You know my father. Yeah, I knew Mary Weather very well. I understand you're going out looking for that lost claim of his. If we are, it's a private venture. I'm afraid you're wrong. It belongs to whoever finds it first. A lot of people are interested in that claim. Are you, Mr. Morse? Well, of course I am. I'm a mining man, Mr. Paladin. What are you doing to me? Would you be interested enough to knock that boy over the head for a map you think he might have? Oh, I don't know what you're talking about. If you were the one Morse, I'll find out soon enough. Meanwhile, you stay away from that boy. Constipation is something people don't talk about much, but it can be a problem for anyone, even doctors. And when constipation occurs, it's interesting to see just what doctors consider important about a laxative they might use or recommend. Well, a majority of the doctors we heard from had this to say, a laxative should be effective, gentle, as close to natural acting as possible, and a medicine that can be used with complete confidence. Now, x-lax has been popular with many doctors and millions of people over the years because pleasant tasting chocolate at x-lax is effective. Overnight, it helps you toward your normal regularity. X-lax is gentle. Next morning, it gives you the closest thing to natural action. And that's why many doctors and millions of people use x-lax with complete confidence. X-lax, the laxative that helps you toward your normal regularity, gently, overnight. Is x-lax in your medicine cabinet? It was important to have time on our side now that it was known we had the map. I got geared together and we started early the next morning. I told John about Kelly and what she had said about his father. He seemed pleased. The map was clearly marked and well drawn. And on the second day, we found the staked-out claim. Well, there it is, John. No wonder no one could find it. Oh, but where? I... Tunnel opening is all covered with that brush. But this has to be it. Here's the discovery monument. Monument, sir? That pile of rocks? Yeah, the location notice is buried there. The rocks are set up to mark it. Can I see the tunnel? Yeah, sure. Help me clear this brush away. All right. Your father must have tunneled into this hill just far enough to satisfy himself. There was gold. There. May we go in? Yeah, come on. Bring that pick. Right. Watch for falling rock. There's no shoring. Wait a minute. Now, here's the alleged work. This is where he took out that ore sample he brought back. Hand me that pick. Oh, yeah. Let's see what we have here. Pretty dark in here. John, would you get a couple of those candles we stored in our gear? Yes, sir. I'll be right back. Huh. That's strange. You can stop your work now, paladin. I'm taking over this claim. Morse? Yeah. You didn't waste much time. Much obliged to you for showing me the way since I couldn't find the map in the boy's room. Is that a knife you have in my back? That's right. A knife killed Maryweather. Yeah, I got quite an investment already in this claim. The poor investment. This claim is worthless. Yeah, I saw some of the ore that come out of here. I don't know. It was a shallow pocket. Maryweather was too excited over what he'd found to check it. I don't believe you. You're a mining man. See for yourself. I can't be... I can use a gun too, paladin. Mr. Paladin, are you all right? Yeah. When I came back with the candles, I heard you're talking with Mr. Morse. I wanted to help you, but I was afraid to come in. No, I'm glad you stayed out of the way, John. I will have to go back to town and tell the authorities we found the man who murdered your father. You mean... I mean, that was the man? Yeah. He's dead now. Was he the one who hit me in my room? Yes. Mr. Paladin, when I was outside, I heard you're talking. That was clever what you told him about the claim being worthless. Wasn't being clever, John. That's the truth. Oh, no, sir. It was a long, silent ride back to Sacramento. I knew that Kelly could help me make the boy understand. We found her in her office. She met John for the first time. You look like your father, boy. Thank you. We thought you should know, Kelly. We found the claim that... didn't pay out. Well, that happens. Yeah. It was a great disappointment to John here. Of course it was. Wait. I have something for you. I've been saving this for you, John. These are the ore samples your father dug out of that claim. It's good ore. Rich. Too bad that's all there is. But it's yours. Your father kept his promise. Thank you, ma'am. Let me tell you something, John. That little bag full of a ton of this stuff doesn't measure the worth of a man. No, ma'am. Boy, you had a father you can be proud of. Believe me. And if they try to tell you any different back there in Boston, spitting their eye. Yes, ma'am. Hello, hey, boy. I did not expect you back so soon. Well, the ship left on time. Where's he? Many wonder boys still sad about leaving? Oh. He managed a smile or two. You'll be glad to see his aunt and uncle when he gets back to Boston. That young missus the comforts of home, but he'd never admit it. Oh, Isa. I could tell that he was homesick. Perhaps out of place here in California, huh? Maybe someday he'll come back to visit us. Perhaps. Oh, did you get the tickets for the opera tonight? Oh, Isa. When I mention your name, everything all right. And the young lady? Oh, yes. She's very anxious to go with you. Oh, really? But hey, boy, I also think she more interested in Mr. Paladin than seeing opera. Oh, well, now, hey, boy. Sounds like I may have a very congenial evening. Oh, yes, sir. Very congenial. HaveGun will travel. Created by Herb Meadow and Sam Rolfe, he is produced and directed in Hollywood by Frank Parris and stars John Daener as Paladin, with Ben Wright as Hey Boy and Virginia Greg as Miss Wong. Tonight's story was specially written for HaveGun Will Travel by Ann Dowd. Featured in the cast were Virginia Christine, Barney Phillips, Joe Cranston and Joel Davis. This is Hugh Douglas inviting you to join us again next week when CBS Radio presents HaveGun Will Travel.