 in the dark city and in the territory on west, there's just one way to handle the killers in the spoilers, and that's with the U.S. Marshal and the smell of gun smoke. William Conrad, the story of the violence that moved west with young America, the story of a man who moved with it, Matt Dillon, United States Marshal. Everything was all right until about a mile north of the Semeron. This one my horse got a hoof caught in a frozen dog hole and broke his leg, so I had to shoot him. It made me feel awful bad. I didn't feel any better thinking about the walk ahead of me, close to 40 miles to dodge and carry in my saddle all the way. Guess I'd been on the trail about an hour and here's I could figure this around three in the afternoon, and I'd ease the saddle off my shoulders for a rest and a smoke. And that's when I saw the stranger riding up from the way I'd come. He was tall and thin, and his horse was taller and even thinner, and they made quite a pair. No, my horse busted his leg a way back. I am on my way to dodge. Well, it's your house, huh? I saw it. Yeah. On your way to dodge, huh? Yeah, that's right. You got any more of that to back him? Yeah, sure. Thanks a lot. That's okay. A big walk you've got ahead, ain't it? Kind of. You're going to be dark soon, you figure making camp? That's the idea. Well, it's too bad, yeah. Do you need any food? No, no, no thanks. I got none. I thank you for the tobacco. Sure. Anytime. The yarn? Not saying this beast won't drop dead from the shock foot. Do you want to climb on behind? Save you a piece of boot leather for a while anyway. I'd be much obliged if you think that animal of yours can carry it. Well, she won't mind. She should have been dead a long time ago, except she don't know it. She don't mind. Oh, okay. Thanks. Here, will you hold my saddle, don't I get it? Yeah, give it here. Yeah. Can you manage this saddle? Yeah, give it to me. Yeah, I got it. Now, let's go. You heading for dodge, too? Not in particular. Just north. Uh-huh. This beast will do about ten knots with the wind behind her, but we ain't going to get more than five with this load. You ain't no hurry, are you? Well, I was kind of hoping to get back tonight. It's a Christmas Eve, you know. Oh, yeah, that's right in it. Yeah. That backbone of hers sticking into you? Oh, no, that's okay. Thanks. Well, there's that tin do-jigger tied to you. You with the law? Yeah, yeah, I'm a U.S. Marshal. My name's Matt Dillon. That's, uh... I've never seen a Marshal on foot. Well, that happens sometimes. How is it you're down this way? And did the mite off your cost? Mm-hmm. So you Marshal down here as well as dodge? No, no. The prisoner across the simmer on into Oklahoma territory turned him over to the army there. Did. And then he shot up tight. He must have ridden a couple of miles without a word. I got to thinking about dodge, and Chester, and Doc, and Kitty, and the rest of them. You know, there's something pretty special about any place at Christmas time. Backbone on the stranger's nag was just about to split me in two when he talked up. My name is Cowley. Huh? Cowley. With a heave-to spell, she's breathing mighty hot. All right, hold up. A little chilly, isn't it? Yeah. Did I trouble you for another smoke? Oh, sure, sure. Here you are. What's it like? Well, what's it like? Oh, it's like any other town, I guess. Pretty big, huh? Well, yeah, I guess so. Not so big as New York, though. Oh, no, no, no, no. Not as big as that. You know, I haven't been in a big town now for more than 10 years. Oh, is that so? No. Been down the territories, drifting. Thought I'd move up north this time, maybe go back east. Now, you're from the east, huh? Some time back. Say, what's it like? What? Well, Dodge, any town. At Christmas. Seems it used to be. I guess so. What do you do? Well, same as most people, I guess. What most people do at Christmas? Well, that ain't saying a lot. What are the folks like? And what does it look like? I just kind of like to know. Well, I don't know. Well, there's Front Street. That's most of Dodge right now. Of course, it's getting bigger all the time. Do you have any kids? No, no, I'm not married. Yeah. Kids have fun Christmas. Yeah. Yeah, they do. That's certain. And Dodge, they sometimes have a party for the kids. A couple of days before Christmas. Kids like that. And then everybody gets feeling good looking forward to Christmas Eve. Like last year. There was snow on the ground. But the sky was clear. You could even see the stars. I was going down the street to the Texas Trail to meet Doc and Chester. Chester, he's my deputy. Doc's a doctor in town. We had some work to do later on in the evening. You could see the light shining behind the curtain windows. Almost everybody had a sprig of holly berries hanging up. They got some from the east a couple of days earlier. I remember running into John Bumbie. He's a kind of general handyman in Dodge. He never says much, but he sure had a lot to say that night. Oh, hello, Marshall. Oh, hi, John. Lovely night for a Christmas Eve, isn't it? It certainly is, John. Yeah. Pretty fine night. Peace on Earth. Good will to man. Mr. Dillon. Yeah, that's the way it should be, John. You know, Marshall, this is going to be quite a night for me. Yes, sir. Oh, is that so? Oh, yes, sir. Tonight, I'm asking Mrs. McNish to become Mrs. Bumbie. What? Mm-hmm. Well, John, I didn't know that. I know it's been a mighty fast secret, but I'm popping the question tonight. Well, I wish you a lot of luck, John. Hey, I'll tell you what. Come by to the Texas Trail later, and we'll have a drink on it. I will. I really will, Marshall. You're good and kind, Marshall. Good and kind. Merry Christmas, Mr. Marshall Dillon. Merry Christmas. Oh, the same to you, John. That may sound kind of funny to you, but John Bumbie's a good man. A little peculiar sometimes, but good as they come. And they don't make enough like him. Of course, most everybody in Dodge's suspected Doc and Mrs. McNish were sweet on each other. Well, it just goes to show you. I'll tell you about John and Mrs. McNish a little later. So I went on down the street. You know, it's a funny thing about those words Merry Christmas. Men say it to each other, and well, it makes them feel kind of good. I know what you mean. It used to be a seafarer in man myself when you're on the sea and it comes Christmas. Things like that can, they can count a lot. Yeah. And we might as well get underway again, huh? Sure. You want to take my saddle? Yeah. Give it here? Okay. I guess you'll miss it in Dodge tonight. I mean, won't you? Well, if you could get a little more out of this nag of yours, we might make it tonight. Oh, there's not a chance. She'll be on her B-men's pretty quick. He's been on a long reach since then. Oh. Mighty bear country of this way. All right, depends on what you're used to it. Mighty bear where I've been too. It's not like the sea. That's always different. How come you left it? Always heard of. Silver doesn't ever get it out of his blood. The sea? I guess you can get it out of your blood all right. You got the right reason you can. Yeah, I guess so. Hey. You trying to get something out of me? Well, no. Get what? I would just remind you. You want to ride with me? I don't want any talk about the sea. Well, you brought it up. And for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment. But first, tomorrow night, Jack Benny and his whole fun-making gang make a personal appearance at a Long Beach, California veterans' hospital. It's going to be a Christmas they'll never forget. As Benny and the bunch cut loose while they assist the folks at the hospital in trimming their Christmas tree. Be sure to join the fun tomorrow night on CBS Radio when it's Jack Benny time all across America. Now for the second act of gun smoke. Amos Cowley sulked his way along the trail for the next while. And then it was almost like he couldn't stand the quiet. Or maybe he had things on his mind. He turned his head. Go on. What? Go on. Tell me some more. Oh, about Dodge? Yeah. Well, I don't know. Well, you try some more. Well, they got a little pine tree in the Texas trail. The tree? Yeah, come down a long way from the north. Kitty Russell, she's a hostess in the Texas trail. Well, she got a lot of ribbon and geegars and made it look real nice. That was last Christmas. The star at the top? The star? Yeah. Yeah, I think so. It looked like a star, I guess. It sure looked pretty. And there was, well, a difference in the place that day. Everybody was celebrating and feeling real good. The doors had swing open and somebody had come in. You know, maybe somebody you just knew to nod at, but because it was Christmas Eve, he'd come right up and say hello. Maybe that's a good reason, maybe not. I don't know. Anyhow, it was still kind of early. Kitty and Chester were standing off looking at the tree. Good evening, Mr. Dillon. Hi, Kitty, Chester. How do you like it, Matt? Christmas tree. Oh, that's real pretty. Only tree but one in the whole town. Yeah, Kate's got one over the Elf again. Oh, well, I'll have to see it later. Where's Sam? I don't know. Maybe he started celebrating too soon. Doc's taking over the bar. Yeah, that's right. You want a drink, Kitty? Sure. Oh, right away. I'll get you a drink. I'll get you a drink. You haven't forgotten anything, have you, Mr. Dillon? Forgotten? What, Chester? There? What did I tell you, Miss Kitty? I knew just as sure as my nose. Oh, that. No, no. I hadn't forgotten. Oh, well, I thought as soon as it gets Sam sober enough to take care of the customers, we could go on over to Doc's like we planned. Sure, we'll do that, Chester. Here you are, Matt. Ah, thanks, Doc. Do we have a steel snowing out? No, no, it's stuck. Just want a look outside. Man thinks of a lot of funny things that don't mean much. Kitty's hand in the tador sniffing the cold air and the warmth inside and the whiskey in me. It was a good feeling. And then Chester and I decided to take a bottle over to Mr. Hightower. He's the telegraph operator over at the depot. He runs a print-and-shop on the side. Say, Mr. Dillon? Yeah, Chester. Do you mind if I stop by the church for a minute? No, I don't mind. I just feel kind of right tonight, Mr. Dillon. Figure out how to thank somebody for it. Sure, but we stop by the church. I've never been much of a man for a church, I guess, but I went along with Chester. Wasn't anybody else there just the two of us? Guess we sat for ten minutes in that place. Chester a little way off of his head bowed. You know, there's a lot of peace in a church. Maybe it's the quiet. Maybe it's the good that people find in there. Whatever it was, it made a man feel glad about pretty much everything. I haven't been in the church since I don't know when. Oh, is that so? Ah, yes. Well, she's becalmed again, Mr. Okay. She sure wasn't built for it, I'll tell you. You ever see anything like that? She is kind of old, and I've had her going on eight years. She hasn't changed a mite. Eats like a pig and looks like a four-legged mismist. Smoke? Don't mind. Hey, what about that fellow high-tower? Did you get that bottle to him? Oh, sure, sure. Yeah, I guess it was lonely over in the depot all alone. He was glad for the company. There was a wood fire burning in the stove, but it didn't keep out the cold, Mr. High-tower. Oh, slow, Marshall, slow. A bit of excitement about an hour back, though. That so? 9.15 got stuck between here and Hutch's. Lots of snow back there. They getting her out? Sure, they're trying, but I'm sure glad I'm not on it. It's going to be a cold night on that train. Well, it's kind of chilly in here, isn't it, Mr. High-tower? And it's warmer, and I'm going to sleep. It will say we brought you over a bottle of Irish for company. James, that's well. I declare I was just thinking about a top before you boys come in. Now, that's real friendly. Will you have a drink with me? Well, let's open her up. A couple of glasses up on the shelf here, Chester. Get them down, will you? I don't know if you get an idea about the folks in Dodge or not. They're not any different than any other people. Or the town either. I guess maybe it's a pretty small place at that. The depot, the hall, a few stores, a church, Doc's office, a Texas trail, a Gallifreganza, my office. Well, not much, but it's where you live, you know? Sounds all right. I lived in a town once back east, small. I know what you mean. Well, maybe you'll be going back. Maybe. Say, kids, they still believe in St. Nick? Oh, sure. There might be a few kids down where I've been. Indian kids, they don't believe in St. Nick. No reason they should, I guess. I used to believe in it, you know that? Well, I guess most people did one time or another. Hey, you figure we come maybe 10 miles? Maybe. It's getting dark. Yeah. Well, come on. You want to ride the saddle for a bit? Oh, no, no, that's okay. Well, then okay. I thought about last year about Kitty, Doc, and Chester and me going over to Doc's place after Doc got tired at Tendon Bar at the Texas Trail. It was about a quarter to midnight, and we stood around and sang Christmas carols. And I remember how it sounded that night. How it looked. The glow and the stove in the middle of the room. And the frosty windows. It was Christmas Eve, all right. It was so deep, nowhere. That was just fine. Yes, it was. Say now, what do you say if we... Listen. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. You know, I feel sentimental. That's exactly what I feel, I feel sentimental. I know what you mean, Doc. I surely know. Okay, Doc, bring them out. And I remember how Doc scuttled over to the bureau and brought out some packages. The presents weren't much, but it didn't matter what they were. And when we'd finished opening them, it was Chester who said what we were all thinking. I just... I just want to say, Miss Kitty, Doc, you, Mr. Dillon, I just want to say that this is the best doggone Christmas I ever had. And that's what I want to say. Who's going to tell me about that fellow John was caught in that woman? Oh, yeah, Miss McNich. That's right. Well, she said yes, and you've never seen two happier people in your whole life. Yeah, she's Miss McNich bumpy now. That's good. You know, you might settle for a bit in Dodger. You could get work there. Sure would be fine if you could get back tonight, wouldn't it? Well, it can't be helped. I'd be a lot further away and a sight more tired if you hadn't come along. And listen, how far do you figure before there's a place you might pick up a horse? Oh, I don't know. 15 miles or so, maybe. Oh, I'm not going to make any 15 miles in this nag tonight. That's for sure. Oh, it's all right. Now, I tell you what. You go on alone, you see. Oh, no, forget it. Now, you go on alone. She'd hold out with one man on her. And then you get a fresh horse and you ride into Dodge tonight. Well, thanks. That's great. Now, I'm telling you, I want you to go. Don't be fine. I've walked before. Probably make it almost as quick as you. Look, it's real nice of you, Mr. Cowley, but no thanks. Now, Christmas don't mean nothing to me. You've got friends waiting for you. Well, I'll see them tomorrow. Now, you're a fool. Oh, that may be. All of them nice folks. I'm going to make them feel pretty bad. Look, I'll stay if you want to go on along. Well, thanks for the ride. Well, let's well make camp then. I guess so. And listen, you want to tell me some more about what you was telling me before we turn in? Well, sure. I take it kindly, Mr. I'll get yourself settled. I got some stuff in my pack we can eat and maybe get a fire going. Then after we eat, you can tell me some more. We made a fire and then shared what we had for supper. He seemed to soften up after that and we talked for a couple or three hours. It was like he was starved for news of people, everyday things, and just plain company. And that's how we spent Christmas Eve together out on the plain. And then when the fire was dying down and I was about ready for sleep, he said, Marshall. Yeah, I want to tell you something. I've been needing to tell it for a long time. Do you mind? Of course I don't mind. Well, then I'll tell you. A few years ago I was skipper of a little schooner. Used to sail up and down the east coast, you know, Boston, New York. Yeah. Well, one night we hit dirty weather off New Jersey. Real dirty. Blew us off course and we piled up on the rocks and knocked a bottom out. That's too bad. There was 18 passengers aboard, Marshall. Four of them was kids. We never saw them again. No. And my own... my own wife and my kid went down, too. I'm sorry. Well, now, something must have happened to me after that. I didn't want nothing to do with... with ships or the sea, and I started to drift out this way. I couldn't forget, though, do you know? And I didn't want to be near folks, especially kids, to remind me, do you know? Yeah. Well, that's how come I've been slewing around ever since. Sure, I understand. Just kind of wanted to get it off my chest. Marshall, I'd like to ride into Dodge with you tomorrow. You think I might meet some of them, folks you was telling them about? Oh, I... I don't see why not. That'd be all right. Maybe I wouldn't need to drift no more. Maybe I could... drop anchored, you know. Yeah, you might at that. Yes. Well, good night. Good night. Merry Christmas, Marshall. Merry Christmas, Mr. Cowley. Guns spoke under the direction of Norman MacDonald Star's William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshall. Tonight's story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Anthony Ellis with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Featured in the cast were Lawrence Dobkin with Harry Bartel and John Daener, Polly Bear as Chester, Howard McNeer as Doc, and Georgia Ellis as Kitty. Gunsmoke is heard by our troops overseas through the worldwide facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service. Join us again next week as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshall fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the West in Gunsmoke. Edgar Bergen's real-life daughter, Candy, pays him and you a visit on the Edgar Bergen Show with Charlie McCarthy. Candy and Charlie hit it off fine, but Edgar is paused to regret his hasty decision to invite his six-year-old daughter into the show, especially when she starts throwing her voice. Sounds like fun tomorrow night on most of these same stations when CBS Radio presents the Edgar Bergen Show with Charlie McCarthy. This is Roy Rowan speaking. And remember, Eve Arden as Armist Brooks teaches you how to laugh every Sunday on the CBS Radio Network.