 This is William Conrad. Because so many of you took the time and the trouble to write to Liget and Myers, Gunsmoke will continue to be heard right through the summer months. The time this summer starting Saturday, July 2nd, 12.30 p.m. Eastern Time. Be sure and check your local radio listings for the earlier time on your station. Gunsmoke. Brought to you by L and M Filters. This is it. L and M is best. Stands out from all the rest. Around Dark 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 Gunsmoke. Gunsmoke. 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. Oh, this dang horse has trumped in every prairie dog hole since we left Simmeron. He'll break his leg yet. You should have brought your mare. That horse is getting too old. Maybe his eyes are going bad. My gracious, he ain't gone 12 yet. He's just pure ornery, that's all. You know, you've grumbled about that horse ever since you first got him. Why don't you sell it? They ain't nobody in heaven. Besides, I kind of like the old goat. You know, I don't think there's a man in the world with as many problems as you have. Well, I don't know that I have too many problems, Mr. Dillon. For that matter, I don't really have none. It's just up my nerves. All right, Justin, never mind. Hey, Mr. Dillon, look yonder. Is the wagon over near that dry wasp? Yeah, it is. That's a mighty poor place to make camp. Nobody had made camp in the middle of the day, and not unless there were some trees. Why'd they stop? Some kind of trouble, maybe, huh? I will swing around that way and find out. Okay. Looks like one of them big studio-baker wagons, don't it? Uh-huh. Could be their nesters. I don't think so. If they were, they'd likely be trailing some stock. It could be their awful poor nesters. Now, you see, they lost a wheel. By golly, they sure have. Yeah, come on. We'll see if they need help, huh? You must have thought we were shying. What happened to your wagon, Mr. Cotterpin fellow? We set no wheels, no job for a woman. We can manage. That's a heavy job for one man. We'll give you a hand. Mighty unsociable for people with a busted wagon. Now, look, you mystery, it's our trouble, and we'll take care of it. There ain't no need for you to bother yourself. You're from around Dodge. I mean, Mr. No. You know, I've been trying to place you ever since we rode up. We're just headed west to Homestead. A week or so back, an officer from Fort Dodge gave me a description that, uh, fits you mighty close. I don't know nothing about Fort Dodge. Could be your name is Cook, and you were stationed there with a 26 cavalry. Mr., you got it all wrong. I don't think so. I'm putting you under civil arrest, Cook, for desertion. Shoot him, Jed. Shoot him. You lift that rifle one inch, Cook, and I'll put a bullet on you. Marshal Dillon, when I seen him riding up here. I heard you. Then why don't you shoot him? I couldn't do that, Dillon. Maybe you couldn't. But I sure could. It stands out from all the... Miracle tip, much more... Ellen Dem is best. Stands out from all the rest. Ellen Dem's got everything. Everything? Everything. Best flavor? Ellen Dem stands out for flavor. The Miracle Tip draws easy. Let you enjoy all the taste. Best filter? Ellen Dem stands out for effective filtration. No filter compares with Ellen Dem's pure white Miracle Tip for quality or effectiveness. Best tobaccos? Highest quality tobaccos. Low nicotine tobaccos. L and M tobaccos. Light and mild. Every way, Ellen Dem is best. Stands out from all the rest. How easy they draw. How mild they are. Ellen Dem is sweeping the country. It's America's best filter tip cigarette. All the way back to Dodge, Chester and I rode alongside the wagon while Jed and Della sat on the box staring down and talking quietly to each other. It was well past sundown by the time we found a place for Della to stay and put the wagon up in Mosch-Rivick stable. Later, I rode out to Fort Dodge with Jed Cook. It was nearly midnight by the time I turned him over to the officer of the day and signed the papers connected with the civil arrest of a soldier. Next morning, I was eating breakfast at Delmonico's when Kitty came in. Well, you're up early, Max. Hello, Kitty. Hello. Why don't you sit down? How about some coffee, huh? Yeah, thanks. Where's Chester? Don't tell me he's not hungry. No, he's down at Mosch-Rivick's. Stable, what for? Well, he went down to give Mars some instructions about a wagon we brought in last night. A wagon? Yeah. Belonged to a man and a woman we picked up about 20 miles outside of Dodge yesterday. Deserter. Name's Jed Cook. Jed? Yeah. Do you know him? Well, sure I know him. Him and Della Masters, both. They've been going to get married ever since Jed got transferred out here to the fort. Well, they'll have to wait a while now. Deserter, huh? What'll the army do to him that? The war was still on. They'd shoot him. Well, that's the way the army operates. They both seemed real nice. Jed came into town every chance he got. Never caused any fuss, just had a few drinks and spent the rest of his leave with Della. They've been planning awful hard and getting married. She's special, I think. Marshal, I want to know what they're going to do with Jed. Well, uh, he'll be court-martialed, Della. Then what? Then they'll sentence him. A rotten, stinking army. He fought all through the war and then had eight years of moving around. Pennsylvania, the Dakotas, Missouri, and now out here. A soldier can't pick his post, Della. What do they need Jed for? He's just another man. The army's got lots of men. Maybe they don't see it that way. The army ain't going to keep him. No matter what they say, they ain't going to keep him. He'll just bust out and we'll get married like we planned. And we'll still get to Colorado. You'll see, Marshal. I'll tell you something else, Marshal. There ain't nobody going to find us once he gets loose. We've got a place we'll meet and he'll wait there for me. He'll wait no matter how long before I get there. Della, Jed's an army sergeant. He deserted and he's got to be tried. Now you know that. I don't know nothing of the sort. He knew what the consequences might be when he decided to desert. He just didn't plan on getting caught, that's all. You're the one who arrested him, Marshal. You're the one who caused all this trouble and don't you forget it. Because I sure ain't going to. There's a woman who speaks her mind. Matt, she can't seem to get it through her head that the army runs by its rules, not hers. Since the first time I met her, all she's talked about is her and Jed. The place they're going to have. The family. There isn't much she can do about it now. Matt, you ever had a woman who loved you fight for you? It'd surprise you. They can be pretty fierce. Yeah, I guess. What are you going to do now? Nothing. Just wait until the court, Marshal. They said they'd want me to testify out there. And after that? And then I'm shut of the whole business. I wouldn't be too sure, Matt. A week later, Jed Cook was brought before a special court, Marshal, at Fort Dodge. And I went out to testify as the arrested civil officer. I set my peace and left. Somehow feeling a little sorry for him. What I'd heard, he'd been a mighty good soldier before he deserted. And that's all I knew about it until one evening after supper, Doc and I were walking back towards my office. Mr. Dillon, Mr. Dodge. Oh, for heaven's sakes. When in the world is Chester going to learn there's no use shouting like that. Perhaps it's important. Important. It can't always be important. Well, maybe Chester doesn't believe that. I've been looking all over for you, Mr. Dillon. Oh, what for? It's that Lieutenant Dustman from out to Fort Dodge. He's waiting in the office. How did he say what he wanted? No, sir. I asked could I help, but he said he'd talk to you. Okay, Chester. Well, I'll leave you here, Matt. I think a little rye whiskey would kind of soothe my innards after that supper. So I'll see you later, Matt. All right, Doc. Good night. What do you suppose that Lieutenant Dustman does want, Mr. Dillon? Maybe he thinks that you want back in the Army, Chester. Me? Back in the Army? Anybody who thinks like that just got two bricks less than a load. Why am I back in the Army? All right. Okay, Chester. Oh, man. All right. Lieutenant Dustman. Hello, Marshal. And Chester here says you want to see me. Yes, I do. First, let me show you this. Oh, what is it? Read it. Before a special court, Marshal, which convened at Fort Dodge, Kansas, and so forth, and so forth, and so forth. The violation of the 58th Article of War specification and the Sergeant Jetta Dyer Cook Troop A-26 cavalry did at Fort Dodge on her about the sixth day of March. Dessert, the forces of the United States. I don't need to read this. I know the verdict. Marshal, the court found him guilty of the charge and the specification. He was sentenced to two years at hard labor with forfeiture of all pay and allowances doing. Wow. Following the court, Marshal, I was put in charge of the detail, taking him to Fort Leavenworth. The second night out, he tricked one of the guards and escaped. We couldn't pick up his trail, but I believe he circled back to Dodge. Now, if a man had a few silver dollars and wanted to hide here, it wouldn't be too hard. That's why I've come to you. You get more cooperation from the townspeople and the army can. And I want this man back where he belongs. I'll search every house in this town to get in there. Uh-huh. How many troopers are with you? About 20. All right, Lieutenant. I'll do what I can to help you, get those soldiers out of town. That's ridiculous, Marshal. I won't pull them out until we find Cook. Lieutenant, no man is going to break and run if there are soldiers posted around town. And anyway, before the week was out, they'd be shooting down some citizen by mistake. Now, look here, Marshal. I don't want 20 men all looking for a target. Do you want my help or not? Yes, I do. All right, then get your men back to the garrison. I'll find Cook for you, if he's here. When you do, Marshal, I want him turned over to me. If I find Cook, he'll be turned over to the commanding officer at the fort. Good night, Lieutenant. Good night? Just one thing. Yeah. Cook knows what's in store for him if he's caught now. He won't be taken easily. If I like that, it just makes you wonder how either side won the war, don't it? Chester. Yes, sir. I'm going over to talk with Della Masters. You better stay here. What in the world are you going to talk to her for? She just ain't about to tell you where Jed's at, even if she knows. Maybe not. But if she's sensible, she can make things a lot easier for it. I'll see you later. Can I talk to you, Marshal? You're going to. What do you want? A couple of nights ago, Jed escaped from the soldiers who were taking him to Fort Leavenworth. Has he been here? Maybe he has. Now, look, Della, I got Lieutenant Dussman to agree to take his troopers out of the town to take him back to the garrison. What difference does that make to me? It means that Jed could give himself up. Jed ain't going to give himself up to nobody. If Jed surrenders himself, the court won't be as hard on him as if the Army picks him up somewhere later. Look what they did to him before. Send him off for two years hard later. Della, don't you understand? I'm trying to help you. We don't need no help. Sooner or later, Jed's going to get caught. You can't run away forever. Once we get out into Colorado territory, they won't nobody find us. Della, when will you get it through your head that you can't fight the whole United States Army? Jed's done his share of soldiering. More in his share. We've been waiting to get married two, three years now, and I don't need to wait no longer. Why are you sticking your nose in this anyway, Marshall? You ain't the Army. I'm paid by the government, Della. It's part of my job. Well, I'll tell you something, Marshall. You come sniffing around me and Jed. I'll shoot you. That's a pretty foolish talk. No, it ain't. I planned it out how me and Jed are going to meet and wear and ain't nobody going to interfere. This is all your idea, wasn't it? What? His desertion. What if it was? I ain't going to wait forever. You're making a mistake, Della. Not the way I see it. I just want my man and the life that goes with it. Besides, I know what's best for Jed and me. Maybe. We'll see. Now, Della. Why? Sooner or later, I'm going to find Jed. I just hope nobody gets hurt. To smoke L&M. To the millions more who should try L&M. Here is your assurance. L&M gives superior filtration because of its superior filter. Superior taste because of L&M's superior tobaccos. Yes, L&M tobaccos are tasty. Full of flavor, yet light and mild. Take a closer look at L&M's superior filter. The purest tip that ever touched your lips. It's white. All white. Truly the miracle tip. Because when it is added to L&M's superior tobacco, it actually tones up the taste. Actually improves your enjoyment of this great cigarette. L&M's got everything. Superior taste, superior tobacco, superior filter. That's why it's America's best filter tip cigarette. Try L&M today. Gene, come near it. Say it once or twice just to get some things out of it. Well, keep on watching, Chester. She'll leave one day soon. We'll just follow her to where that bell of cooking is, huh? Yeah. Well, that don't sound too hard. No, it shouldn't be. Marshall. Hello, Moss. Oh, Moss. Something's wrong, Marshall. What's that? You know that big stew to bake a wagon of Miss Della's down to my place? Yeah. What about it? It's empty. Empty? All the equipment. She took it all out. Well, that don't matter, Moss. She can't get no worse without that wagon. Chester, Manichester. Go on, Moss. Well, I don't often have the occasion to walk out back near where that wagon is. I just kind of spell Chester keeping an eye on her like he told me. But the day after he left, I had to go back for some barrels, Steve. That's the first time I looked at it. Close light. Moss, when was the last time that you saw Della? Two nights ago. She was out back in a little spring wagon. Said she could buy for some blankets. I'd just stew to bake her. And you say that she'd been by a couple of times before that, huh? Yes, sir. She's outsmarted us. What do you mean, Mr. Della? We missed her. She got her stuff and headed out. You better get our horses started, Chester. I see. We'll swing by our room and house to make sure she's gone before we try to pick up her trail. Now get moving. Twenty minutes later, we checked the room where Della lived and the landlady said that she left two days before. She didn't know where. I knew now that my only chance to find Jed Cook was to track Della the best I could. She couldn't travel fast driving a spring wagon across country, but tracking was still a chore. And the next evening about sundown, I realized that we lost her. What are we going to do now, Mr. Della? That is no use trying to track her any farther tonight, Chester. We'll pick up our trail in the morning. Yes, sir. We, uh, we'll camp in that cottonwood grove up ahead there, huh? If she should pass near here, well, she won't see her horses. Hey, Mr. Della? Yeah, what? Don't it look like there's a hut of some kind in them trees? It sure does. Do you suppose this is where that Jed is hiding out? That's a likely place, and Della was traveling in this direction. You mean we beat her here? Ah, maybe. She could have known we were following her and dropped off in one of those dry washes to lose us. We was pretty lucky then. We don't know who he is here, though, Chester. No, sir. All right, we better pull up. We'll go on from here on foot. He less has slipped like that. Isn't it gracious? Mr. Della? Look, he won't go back for trial now. No. You reckon it was Indians done that to him? Yeah, he's been tortured. He sure didn't have much chance. All by himself, did he? No, not much. Poor fellow. Hold it, Chester. There's somebody over there. It's Della, Mr. Della. It was Indians, Marshal. They hurt him. They hurt him real bad. But he was still alive when I got here four or five hours ago. He was lying right there where he is now. Didn't want nothing. Not even water. Except for me to talk to him. By Colorado. Or farm and such like. Della, I... Then, after he died, I had a long time alone here. Time to do some thinking. I got things figured straight now. Too bad it took this to do it. Yeah. But it wouldn't have worked the other way. The way I had it planned. I know that now. We only had another year to go. And then he got discharged. We could have gone to Colorado like we wanted. I loved him so much I guess I just couldn't wait. Women like that sometimes. What can we do now, Della? Well, I'm buried dead right here. Right here. He'd like that. It's about as far west as he'll ever get. No. Our star, William Conrad. Mild and plenty quick on the draw. That's L&M for you. And the pure white miracle tip on the business end of every L&M filters out everything but the taste of the world's finest tobaccos. All you have to do is pick up a carton of L&M's and you'll see what I mean. L&M's got everything. Flavor, taste, mildness. The best possible filter. Try them. L&M filters. Goodbye, Norman McDonald stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal. The special music for gun smoke was composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Sound patterns by Tom Hanley and Bill James. Featured in the cast were Vivi Janus, Lawrence Dodkin, Harry Bartell and Jim Nussar. Farley Baer is Chester, Howard McNeer is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. Put a smile in your smoking. Next time you buy cigarettes, stop. Remember, only Chesterfield is made the modern way with Accuray. This amazing quality detective electronically checks and controls the making of your Chesterfield. Giving a uniformity and smoking quality never possible before. For the first time, you get a perfect smoke column from end to end. From the first puff to the last puff, Chesterfield smokes smoother. Chesterfield smokes cooler. Chesterfield is best for you. Next time you buy cigarettes, stop. Remember, Chesterfield is made the modern way with Accuray. Put a smile in your smoking. Just give them a try. Light up a Chesterfield. They satisfy. As William Conrad told you, starting Saturday, July 2nd, gun smoke will be heard specially transcribed for L&M filters at 12.30 p.m. eastern time. Check your local radio listings for gun smokes earlier time on your station.