 Take one man who rides alone at a voice in the night in the bargain sealed in the hot flash of gunfire. That's our story. The Marshall of Morgan County taken from the files of John Steele, adventurer. Each week we get together at this time for an old-fashioned session of yarn screening. Sometimes our stories are filled with action. Sometimes they're about places. But this one is the story of a man. I first met this fellow out in the big lonely prairies of Texas. And to this day I'm still not 100% sure I know where he fits in. Maybe you'll be able to figure out. What's his name? Alkins. What does it makes one man stick close to the town while the other lines out for the hills? I never have known rightly but ever since I was a young man I found it easiest and best to move alone. Living by somebody else's laws all right for them as likes it but I always had a mind to own myself. Being a loner you learn pretty quick how to take care of yourself. You just don't get along just as simple as that. You learn to let the other fellow do the talking while you do the watching. You learn to respect the split second between a word and an action. And you learn a lot by looking on a man's eyes. Of course any man even a frightened one can be a killer. Well that's how I'd move for a big piece of my life and no complaints neither. And one night I rode into Abilene. It was spring and the snow on the mountains was beginning to thaw and the creeks was beginning to raise. The riders were stringing out toward the horse country and the air was clear as spring water. Things was moving and it was good to be alive. I think I'm actually first. Well I'm telling you it is true. That's stuff but he ain't that tough. Are you? No man he. Give me a drink. Sure. Honey me. Who is he? Yeah. Just leave the bottle. Sure. That's all. Sure. Yeah. Name's Wendy Allen this year please. You're looking for a place to stay. Going to be in town long. Maybe. Just got the thing for your room upstairs. Barnard's back for your horse. Shut up Wendy. I said we were talking. I don't like being interrupted. Shut up. Why don't you go down there and drink your drink and I'll stay here. What's your name. I said I know what you said. What's your name. Why is it every town's the same. I asked your question. There's always a little squirt wants to show off. Missy. Dozens of your kind every time. I said what's your name. Now let's squirt go down there and finish your drink. I don't want to get married. And don't go reaching for your gun either because I'm not reaching for mine. You won't be able to claim self defense. I told you I wasn't going to draw. I'll finish your drink and get out of here. Sam or won't be even at the floor. Hey play something Sam. Hey you're a cool one mister shot right in front of you and you didn't even blink. Yeah a little squirt. He didn't mean because that Ralph Ford they say he hangs out with Hamey. Every year Judd Hamey. Yeah. He's bad been kicking up quite a fuss around here for the last year. I know gun down a couple of marshals and hey wait a minute for a stranger you know a lot about Abilene. Maybe you're the new marshal. They told us you was coming but they didn't say when. Hey what's your name. Elkins. Sure that's the one Tom Elkins. Well why didn't you say so. Well I wanted to get the lay of the land first I know. Hey this here's a new marshal fellas. I'll be back. I was watching. I like what I saw. Who are you. Dean I work. I'm Tom Elkins I know. I'd watch Ralph Ford. Why were you. Why. Mean. Here is a friend of Judd Hameys. What they say. What do you mean. Nobody's been dead for two months. They say he's out in the What's the sheriff and doing. Isn't one right now. Nobody wants a job. I see. It sounds wide open. Be careful. Wide open. Yeah I'll be careful. Next morning I headed over to what used to be the sheriff's office. The lock was gone off the door and inside the one cell in the back of the room was just like the town. Wide open. I know at best I only had three days to work in and that didn't leave me no time to waste. I straightened up the place those things look right and lined out for the world's cargo office. Good morning. What can I do for you. My name's Elkins. Oh glad to meet you marshal. I'm John Steen. Howdy. Heard about you and young Ford last night. Whole town talking. That's right. That's about time somebody tightened up on that cold. What can I do for you. Well from what I hear you folks been hit harder by this Hamey and his boys and anybody else. That's right. They've caught us twice in the last nine months. Well I ain't to do something about that but I'm going to need your help. You name it. But first off I want to know when your next big shipment is. I don't suppose as much of a secret. Every year about this time we bring down quite a piece of cash from the federal bank up at the Capitol. When's that going to be. Two weeks. I want you to change it. Why. Think it might be a good idea. To when. Tomorrow the day after. I don't know. Clans are all made. They can be changed. I don't know. It's a big thing you're asking Elkins. Mind if I see your credentials. I don't have them with me. I see. Maybe we better go back to your office. Ain't there neither I was held up on the way down took my wallet papers everything. I know the town council got a telegram saying you were coming but no matter as important as this I'm sure you understand I'd rather wait for confirmation that'll take a week might look still you don't have to know who I am to save your company thousands of dollars no if that shipments coming down next week I know one thing Judd Hamey knows about it. Maybe you bring it down a week early you might fool him I'll see what I can do good you want me for anything the sheriff's office is open again all right I'll let me know how you make out yeah morning Jean I've been looking all over why there's a crowd of men over at your office what do they want they said something about a party can you saddle a horse sure go over to Wendy's bar and get my horse ready I have a few I'm going to be needing it all right see you later Wendy's opposing you start well I'm watching the fellow scene how you handle young Ralph last night and I guess that's what they've been waiting for I see and what are you going to do well Ralph took off took off into the hills this morning we all figure he's headed straight for Judd wherever he's holed up so we figure all we got to do is follow right now wait a minute I think you're making a mistake man well if you get up there in them hills Judd's going to be taking pot shots at you from back of every rock a lot of you men will get hurt you might not even get any I think your mind is made up Tom they're going to ride with or without you then it'll be without me sorry Tom I thought you was going to be different go on you better get riding I saw the posse right out the north end of town I hit it for Wendy's barn Jean had my horse waiting and I let out fast as that pony had run Ralph had about a two hour start on me but he wouldn't be riding hard and I figured once I got past the posse I might catch him before dark when I got out of town I headed straight north keeping a low range of hills between me and the posse about five or six miles out I cut through a draw and sure enough there they was about a mile behind me and moving slow but nothing between me and Ralph I gave that little horse all the leather he'd take and by late afternoon I picked up a dust cloud dead ahead I keep him to the timber and crossing back and forth on his trail I figured I thought well I ought to catch him by sundown it was slow going but at least I wasn't raising no dust and my coming up on him should have been something of a surprise but when I topped the rise an hour later and looked down in the canyon ahead his dust cloud had disappeared first I thought he'd pulled up for the night and I heard a twig snap them a left and the voice was speaking at me down the barrel of a coat supposing you keep them hands up Helton okay Ford I thought you were smarter than this when you spot me about an hour ago I've been watching you Chris crossing ever since I guess I thought you was dumber in this take it easy for you nobody out here to say it weren't self-defense no there ain't you won't I won't know of course killing ain't your line why'd you follow me out here first to tell you to get the lead out of your jeans and get riding there's a posse a man about four or five mile back they're aiming to trail you to your pal Judd and do a little shooting you're bluffing well you'll see that dust cloud pretty soon if it don't get too dark we're just wasting time get down off on that horse what you heard me you know I could be wrong about you get down maybe you could get we're reaching the point where I don't take chances get down look for the dust cloud well get back this bullet crashing to my shoulder and I felt like I hit a stone wall when I was on and dragging him off his horse he rolled across the ground like a field of spurs raking my legs I saw the gun shining in his hand I knew I had to get it and I was on my feet and my boot heel was driving down hard on his hand the gun dropped on the dirt and I kicked it away and I picked him up and hit him with everything I had again and again and again and again get up now is it going what get up on that horse and ride now hold the posse off long as I can I keep going crazy Elkins and tell Hamie I said the next time he pokes his nose and I believe I'll blow him from here to California now get going forward took off up the canyon I thought of my shoulder best I could and rode back toward the posse but a mile from him I roped a bush and tied it on behind me then I let out to the west the dust cloud that bush kicked up was something to see and pretty soon the posse was following me like a cold tags after his manny I let him around through the canyon until it was dark then I took to the timber and headed back to town by the time we got back that little pony was lathered to an inch of his life the pain in my shoulder was spreading like a new brand it was a sorry looking rig when we turned into Wendy's barn I was bedding him down when I heard steps behind me in a light flash in my face turn off that light maybe others get back it nobody's in the bar all night usually come in for tea I had a gift it's a matter you're hurt lean on me my plane ran out of sand I guess I felt like I was riding a wild horse only in slow motion and there was nothing I could do about it the barn was swinging round like it had come on nailed in the high wind I felt an arm go around me grabbing my waist then I stopped trying next thing I knew I was lying on the bed and Jean was leaning over me feel that was a real cut be all right now how'd you do it you weren't much probably best the matter was to care of my head slugs in me before but always rolled till I was holed up then I took him out myself never gives much he shouldn't be here did you summon a maid for that sort of I'm not all right you don't understand I was just thinking out loud I'll get rid of you know what do you want Wendy you'll be all right next morning my arm was stiff but I figured if I was careful nobody would know the difference couldn't take a chance on laying in my bunk all day time was closing in I had to be ready for anything that happened I'd come down here with three days to do the job but I'd wasted one of them chasing around the prairie after a nervous squirt two days left and those signed things was going to go my way I spent the day sitting in the sheriff's office all my lines was out and there was nothing to do but wait and the other time it would have struck me funny sitting there with my feet on the desk the cell door opened behind me but right now minutes were sliding away the flies was buzzing in the sunlight I must have dozed off because I didn't hear him come until the door bust open what's the idea of busting it here like this we aim to do some talking with you okay Wendy you seem to be the speaker for this group supposing you do the talking we want to know what kind of martial you are anyways who wants to know we do the whole town the whole town does first night you come here I know something was funny whoever heard of a martial letting the kid draw on them and get away with it that's a martial's job if he ain't getting shot out he ain't doing his job maybe so but what about yesterday what about it but come in here busting to make a posse and what did you do now wait a minute wait a minute it's easier ways to get a hamion to go hooping and hollering into the hills while he sits up on a rock and shoot you down one by one what kind of ways there's ways that's all you expect Judd Hamie is going to come to you maybe can you one thing it's the marshals place to call for a posse be informed and not the towns let me tell you something mister this town's been without law for a long time and we had to do the best we could so the man comes along that can change things that's the way it's going to stay you know that kind of man what's up Wendy it's all right Sue we would just ask a Mr Elkins here a couple of questions like what like what was he doing yesterday why cause when I got back to the barn last night your horse was lured up like it had been rid a hundred mile and this morning when I snuck down to the kitchen early I found the girl down there stuffing a shirt in the stove it was your shirt and the left sleeve with all blood seemed to me that's mighty strange acting for a marshal I did some riding yesterday where that's not your business go garnered I'll make it my business wait a minute wait a minute wait a minute here listen man I don't know anymore about Elkins and you do maybe he is a marshal maybe he isn't I don't know but I've done something about finding out all that I sent a wire to the state capital asking for credentials on Tom Elkins we ought to have an answer by tomorrow it's late I suggest you all go home to suffer and we'll take this up again tomorrow can anybody say he isn't marshal well I guess he's innocent will prove guilty come on let's break it up man almost forgot to tell you what I came over here for but I got word back from the company they're going to advance the shipping day the win well they couldn't get it down to day or tomorrow but uh it ought to come through in four or five days huh I don't get it well don't look so worried do you think I was going to steal it from you I don't know what I thought till now and they come in wait a minute who's coming I was riding out off the town my son so who Ralph Ford and Justin they come in this way we'll get a possible out of it but look you said I was still marshal we'll do it my way I want everybody off that main street I'll go meet him alone okay I'll get going yep I don't understand what's going on Tom does this have anything to do with it no Jean I got out on the street word had spread like fire and dry timber there wasn't a soul in sight but as I walked up the middle of the street every once in a while I caught a blind being lifted or a curtain being powdered there was a lot of watching being done and aberring read straight ahead to the country outside of town in the half light I could see the hill at the top of the street where the last house left off and the prairie begun if a light held Amy and me couldn't help but see that night comes fast in the west before I got halfway to the hill it was dark and I couldn't see the houses on the side of the street I stood still and listened a horse fell in the distance but outside of that there wasn't a sound I started walking again and this time I loosened my coats and their hoses the dog was barking at the other end of town maybe fussing over the unnatural like quiet I remember thinking the sound of the dog and the nice accompaniment when you don't hear much when you're a mover once before I heard it I knew it was coming I hit the dirt the shadow moved between the houses on my right I'll get you I'll get you the squirt I should have known sniffing up on the side of me like that I didn't want to mess around with him but I knew I wasn't going to get the Amy to afford to settle one way or the other the dirt was cool against my face but when I started to crawl from the shadows on the houses my shoulder was half the pain he hadn't fired for two or three minutes and it was hard to tell where he might have moved and I heard a rattle a stone I knew which one was hiding by I was in the shadows now I got up on all the doors and crawled to the back of the house and I stood out forgot my cold and stood around the other side there he was lying in the dirt about half way to the road and looking the other way I measured the distance careful and on the 10 feet he turned the shot went wild near and my gun butt hit his head I took his gun from out in the road and left him there I figured five maybe six minutes it went by when I was chasing forward Amy had to be near now I was out in the middle of the sweet again walking north when I see him just a shadow about 30 feet away and standing smack in the middle of the road I guess he's seen me the same time too he's going to chase me out of town kid you're making a mistake Amy this ain't Tom what you're going to get it what are you back why get back judge you're talking to water I know what's the matter Tom is riding in here tomorrow is Marshall I heard I come down ahead of him just to make sure everything went smooth for him he's no match for you Amy what do you ever do for you nothing you're no more like brothers shut up the Elkins if that's the way you want it soon as he said Elkins I was falling for the dirt and firing as I fell I saw him start to fall then twist up on his feet again he fired once more and I answered him twice and he crashed to the dirt and was still down in the other end of town the dog was barking comforting sound a dog in the night comforting like to stick around for a day or two still help you get that shipment in safe but I got to be moving the town will never forget what you did last night reckon it'll be a few days for I forget it too oh boy oh Tom can I ride part away with you you do a lot better staying here all right all right what's the matter Wendy there's a fella down in town says he's Tom Elkins says he can prove it too he's heading up this way I was just about you sit tight young fella he'll be here in a couple of shakes now that's the one shot Judd hey last night which one of you's Tom Elkins there might be two Tom Elkins maybe I bet rode through a town and swapped freedom for justice and if you like word story why not come back again next week friends I'll have a man who found his own eyes to be the key to life or death I like to call it eye witness so until next week this is John Steele saying a life of adventure is yours for the taking wherever you find it only don't look for it it may find you well goodbye and good hunting John Steele adventure is produced by Robert Monroe written and directed by Elliot Drake grant riches with hers is Ward also an our cast were Ross Martin Connie Lemke and Phil Stirling John Steele is played by non-douglas musical effects were created by Doc Whipple and your announcer has been Ted Melly remember next week mutual presents eye witness another story of suspense and action from the files of John Steele adventurer this program came from New York follow clues down mutuals mystery lane to further thrills and chills along the sunday avenue of mystery and suspense who Martin Kane the two-fisted gumshoe the shadow and a cloak of invisibility true detective mysteries with real life cases Roy Rogers with action western style and Nick Carter master detective weekdays here I love a mystery every night over most of these stations with the fabulous adventurers jack darken reggie and eerie investigations remember all roles lead to mutual when you travel the mystery trail where you hear the announcer say this is the mutual broadcasting system