Frontier Gentleman: Charlie Meeker

The great chief of the Sioux Indians is sitting bull is a rather difficult chapter meet especially when he's planning for war Run-tier gentlemen Herewith an Englishman's account of life and death in the West as a reporter for the London Times He writes his colorful and unusual accounts But as a man with a gun he lives and becomes a part of the violent years in the new territories

Now starring John Dainer, this is the story of J.B. Kendall, frontier gentleman. The distance from south Sunday to Rosebud in Montana, territory, is about 30 miles. Due to a heavy rainstorm and my lack of funds, it had taken me a week to reach Rosebud.

Luckily, when I arrived, my remittance from England, $250, had already been forwarded I was once again solvent. After posting off my weekly report to the London Times, I went to the most likely place in Rosebud to get local color and information.

Except for the bartender polishing his glasses and a cat on the bar. The place was quite empty. I ordered a drink. Two bits. Thank you. It's alright. I'm a hot shop cat. Where are you from, mister?

London. London, England. That's right. That's right. Where if that don't beat all, my great grandpa come from there? Hey, Jackson Beeson's a name? J.B. Kendall. Well, howdy. Howdy, do you do, sir? Tell me, Mr. Beeson, what's the situation with the Indians these days?

Well, now you come to the right place for that bit in the movie. Oh, get away, Cat. Yes, sir, we're going to have trouble. You can thank your stars if we got General Gibbon here, keeping an eye out.

I hear tell custard's on his way, too. Oh, bad is that, huh? Worse, for just yesterday correspondence fellow, I like you. He come in, works on the Montana Telegraph news. Jackson, he says, them too is working up to a boil.

Oh, it's gonna be wicked, mighty wicked. Do you think it'll mean war? I don't have to think, I know. You can't get outta here. Come on, get out, get out. Hey, hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey.

Turned cat, regular drunkard. This kind of spun in chap is he still here? Charlie Micker? Oh sure, he's around somewhere. I'd like to meet him. Right now he's fella. And on she, you might try up to Dolly's place, cross the street there, second house on the right, can't miss it.

Just ask for Charlie, he rooms at Dolly's. Thanks very much. Mm-hmm, and look, if he ain't there, I'll tell him you're looking for him when he comes back. You stop by tonight. Right. Hm, hm hm.

Bum-bum-bum-bum-bum bum-bum bums. Bum-bum-bum-bum bums. Bum-bum-bum bums. That's a weird thing. Bum-bum-bum, bums. Bum-bum-bum bums. Bum-bum-bum bums. Bum-bum-bum-bum bums. Bum-bum-bum-bum bums. Well, hello, are ya bird?

Ah, good afternoon, uh, madam. This is his dollies, please. Why sure it is, you come on in. He's nice and warm inside. I'm looking for a gentleman named Charles, Charles Meeker. Charlie, what do you want with him?

Oh, well I was told I could find him here. The bartender... Oh, Jack Bison sent you. Yes. Well, all right, well, step inside. I'm freezing my... Very! Go wake up, Charlie. There's a fella here to see him.

I guess you better wait in the parlor. Say now, I hope you'll forgive the looks of this room. Some of the boys got a little rowdy last night. We haven't cleaned it up yet. Not at all.

Charming. You're new in Rosebud, ain't you? Yes. Well, that's nice. That's real nice. I can see you're a gentleman. Always nice to meet a gentleman. Sit down. Make yourself comfortable. Mr. Kendall. Well, Mr. Kendall.

You're a friend of Charlie's, huh? No, no, we've never met. Well, he's a nice boy. He's real nice. He sure never forgets me. Anytime he's in these parts, he brings old Dolly a present. It can't get you drink.

No, thanks just the same. Hey, you ain't a dumb, aren't you? Uh, dumb? A preacher? Oh, no, no, no. Well, I sure do admire to hear you talk. I wish you'd say something else. Somebody looking for me, Dolly.

Oh, this hurts, Mr. Kendall, Charlie boy. All right, how'd you do, sir? Well, you got business to talk, so make yourselves at home. It's sure been a pleasure, Mr. Kendall. Maybe you'll call again. Thank you very much.

You know, I have to excuse me, Kendall. I just woke up big night. And a big head, like an idyll boy. I understand you write for a newspaper, Mr. Mika, Charlie. Yeah, Virginia said he might not have telegraphed knows.

I know, I do some correspondence myself for the London Times. Hey, I'm proud to meet you. May I return the compliment? Look here, is it true what I've been hearing these rumors about a sue uprising?

Yeah, more than rumors, it's coming. Well, this chief sitting bull, have you ever seen him? Once, beers back, big counsel between one of our government commissions in the Indian. Oh, I'd like to meet him.

See him, you know? No, not a chance, not anymore. Well ago maybe, but those Indians don't trust the white man now. I'll tell you, they're getting ready for war. Is there any way to make contact with him?

Probably. Plenty of Indian scouts, interpreters here about, so good, but... For a white man, it'd be worth his scalp. How would one go about it? Are you serious? Completely. Do you know what I could find him?

Hang on, pretty good idea. You want a drink? No, thank you. There's talk of a whole lot of Indians moving off the reservations going up Tongue River country might be headed for sitting balls camp. How far would that be? 30 miles maybe. No listen mister when the Su go on the war path the best place for you and me is someplace else. Well do you

think you could find me one of those Indian scouts someone to guide me to sitting balls camp? You may not don't you? Absolutely. What a story. Interview with chief sitting bull. It's crazy. They'd kill us sure.

No, Campbell. The best thing for you is to talk to some of the old-timers. I'll tell you about him and then you can send your report in on that. It's a whole lot safer. That evening in Beeson's saloon, Charlie Meeker found a half-breed interpreter, Johnny DeShel.

He was a big man, dark with handsome features, and when he smiled, which he did constantly, there was something at odds in his eyes, veiled, a coldness. He was playing a game of solitaire, And as he dealt his cards, I noticed that inside his sleeve was a wrist holster strapped to it a darringer.

You want to talk with sitting bull? That's right, Johnny. Him too? Me too. Suppose he don't want any talk with you. Suppose he want to take your scalp. That would be rather awkward. Johnny, how will he know the chief?

How well does any man know another? Charlie says you've done scouting work for General Crook. So, doesn't that make you sitting bull's enemy? Yesterday I scoured for the soldier. Tomorrow maybe I fight with the Indian.

Who knows? Yes. Well, the point would seem to be whose side are you on if you do guide us. If I do this thing, you put your trust in me. I see. What do you say, Johnny?

Can you take us to him? Uh, black is on the red tube. You got $50, Silver? Kind of high, isn't it? Sitting bowl one big chief. You want me to take you to Red Cloud, crazy horse?

Maybe cost less. What do you think, Anon? I'm not sure. Maybe you find somebody do it for less. He take you to Indian, cut out your heart, huh? Johnny's all right. 25 a piece would be worth it.

All right. When's on him? Tomorrow. Fine. Take no guns. Hey, wait a minute. Indian, see you with guns, they say you coming for no good. Without guns in peace. No gun. Sort of risky, isn't it, Johnny?

Not with me, along with you. What time? We meet outside the stage station. 6 o'clock. See you then. But they can better give it to me right now. Ah, you still want to go? I'm not sure about that, fellow.

That's a chance you take these days. We can back out. No. But to be on the safe side, Charlie, I think two guns in shoulder-hosters that make me feel a bit better. Sure, you got them?

Never use a gun myself. Oh, yes, yes, I've got them. Look here, Charlie. Now, this is my idea. No need for you to come along, you know. What's the matter? You want the story for yourself?

No, not that at all. I'm sorry. I only thought for... Forget it. We'll go together. Hey, how about coming over to Dolly's Whitney for nightcap? No, thanks. Not tonight. Sleep for me. Oh. Well, see you in the morning. We can pick up horses at the leverage table.

So long. I watched him walk away a rather short, thin man show as a little rounded. And then he was lost in the shadows and I had that odd sensation of having lived this moment before.

It had been in Peshawar in northern India. I remember the good friend who had walked away from me in the night. The next morning, his head was thrown through the barracks window. In a moment we returned to frontier gentlemen.

Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Cry, and say, where'd everybody go? Chances are they've taken off in the direction of CBS Radio's Peter and Mary Show. Peter Lindhays and Mary Healy have a magic way of banishing the blues. They're amusing notions about practically everything, the easy way they sing their songs, and the exciting personalities who visit them

all make CBS Radio's Peter and Mary Show a cure for the blues. Listen for them on most these same stations tomorrow. And now we return you to Antony Ellis's production of Frontier Gentlemen. The morning was grey, a bit windy, we left Rose but at six o'clock in road steadily toward the southeast. I could see no sign of a gun on our guide Johnny to show,

but his bulky jacket could have hit an arsenal. For perhaps over an hour we didn't speak. Charlie, Red-eyed from want of sleep and too much whiskey, knotted in his saddle. The half-breed traveled a little ahead of us, cautious.

Watchful. Hey, Kendall. Yes? Never drink Dolly's rod guard. I won't. I can take the pepper, even at the back of Joshi puts in. Put that whiskey. You know, we had a cure for your complaint in India.

Aww. Kerry powder, ginger, a snake's head, preferably a cobra. A big spoon of sugar, stew the whole thing in a pot of strong tea and then drink it down. Exactly, it's a miraculous cure. You'd probably end up chucking the whole mess out the window, but you forgot your headache.

What were you doing in India? Army, mostly. Officer? At one time, Captain. See much fighting? Enough? Oh, you're wet. Oh, cavalry regiment. You don't like to talk about it much, do you? No, not much.

Hey, better hold up, Johnny Stinson. In timber. Cheyenne, I think. You stay. I talk to them. How many? Can you see? Five or six. Might be others in the woods.

You know something funny? I'm scared. Think about your headache. No thanks. It's close to my hair. Do you ever see a scalp man? No. But I shouldn't worry. The tribesmen do much nastier things to get their trophies in India.

Johnny must know them. Look. Haha. Or very friendly. Hello. They must have given their blessings. Do you think so? Either that or Johnny has made an arrangement with him to cut our throats. He looks happier now.

That tall wolf and his brave. They will ride to the council. Tell of our coming. Glad to hear it. We're gone now. Johnny smiled, turned away and we rode on. I had the distinct feeling that he knew exactly what he was doing.

And we didn't. After our past, there were more Indians about, we didn't see them. The terrain was becoming more rugged, and when we reached a narrow stream, Johnny called a halt. We rest the horses.

Alright. I think I'll get myself a drink. Water that is. Funny we haven't seen any more Indians, Johnny. They all have great counsel. You seem pretty sure we won't be attacked. I told tall wolf.

You come in peace. Possibly there are others beside tall wolf who won't feel as he does. Possibly. We see at the council. But you're not worried, huh? I am not worried. You're smiling. Good for a mental smile.

Depends on his reason. I smiled because you paid me $50 to bring you here. Ah. Tell me, Johnny, what will it cost to take us back? The cost to you will not matter. I think you will not be going back.

He made a slight movement with his hand, and a dead angel appeared in it. But a moment I had forgotten his wrist holster. He was standing no more than four feet from me. I didn't move.

If you've ever seen what a forty-one dead angel can do to a man you'd understand, then he brought out a revolver from his jacket and backed away a few steps. That was when I saw Charlie at the stream. He had a rock in his hand. His arm cocked back.

At the moment he threw it, the half peep turned and saw him. Where do you hit? Charlie? Yes. Boy, that feels worse than darlies, right? He's not dead. No, I'm not dead, you're stinking brave.

You can't take off your jacket. Ah. Untie those shoulder holster. I don't fall to the ground. Move back. Stop. You both got more silver.

Give it to me. I'll spit in your eye for it. I told tall wolf. I take you to sitting bull as my prisoner. Alive. He will think well of me. Give me place of trust.

Your own mother wouldn't trust you, Johnny. With much silver, two horses. Even a stinking breed will be important, man. Give it to me. You'll find a bag in my jacket. Good. Now you bolt, you walk.

I ride behind. Can you get up, Charlie? Sure. Yeah, I'll help you. Ah! It's my fault. I should have done something sooner. I wasn't sure about him. Well, cross the string. Follow the trail. Come on. Leave on me.

I can't go on it, boy. He's dead. Let me put him on a horse. He called me stinking breed. Let him walk. He can't. He's done in. Then you'll carry him. Let him rest for a minute.

A minute. Charlie Charlie can you hear me? Listen to me Charlie the trail narrows a few yards along There's a slope on our left. Do you hear me? Charlie? I'm going to let you fall if I can get him to take his eyes off me. There's a knife in my boot Good luck. All right, Charlie up you come

Getting close, Charlie. Now, when you fall, keep your head down in case he starts shooting. What are we doing? I can...I can... Dolly, is it right? Can we get back a lie if I'll join you?

About ten more steps, Charlie. Now, Charlie! For the moment, hide a glimpse of Charlie's sliding falling down the hill slope. Then he disappeared into the underbrush. I turned to face Johnny DeShel, the knife in my hand.

Johnny was standing in his stirrups, craning his head to seal the trail's edge. He was no more than 15 feet from me. It must have been the horse shifting its weight to disturb my aim.

I threw and the knife struck high on his shoulder. He half fell from the saddle and I ran for him. I felt one of the bullets from his gun burn my cheek. Then we were rolling down the hill.

Somewhere on the way, he lost the gun, but the knife was stabbing. Ah! Cut me to the base! Ah! Get down here! Oh! Yup! Charlie!

Alright. Hit it. Charlie! It's alright. He's alright, Charlie. He's finished. He's finished. Nothing tells me. We don't get to say something about it today. Better luck next time. Hey, Kendall. Whiskey's paid for. But I owe Dolly for room and board.

It's only... Charlie. Charlie. I took Charlie. Back to Rosebud. To Dolly's place. If you had me put the little man on the parlor couch.

Then she knelt by his side. Took his hand in hers. Charlie boy. It's Dolly. This was my place on Mr. Like the one I never had. My good bad boy. Dolly misses you Charlie boy. Wake up son. Most of Rosebud attended the funeral of Charles I sent this story to his own newspaper as well as to the London Times.

And for Charlie, I decided to stay on in Rosebud to have another shot at a meeting with Sitting Bull. Frontier Gentleman was written, produced and directed by Anthony Ellis and stars John Dana as J.B. Kendall.

Featured in the cast were Jeanette Nolan, Lawrence Dubkin, Harry Bartell, and Junius Matthews. Music was composed by Jerry Goldsmith and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. Later today, you'll have five more engrossing drummers waiting for you on CBS Radio, starting with suspense, which today stars Herbert Marshall.

You can look forward to plenty of action and plenty of thrills with yours truly Johnny Dollar, The FBI in peace and war, indictment and gun smoke. For good listening, keep listening to CBS Radio. Now stay tuned for the Ford Roadshow which follows immediately over most of these same stations.

Join us again next week for another report from the Frontier Gentlemen. Johnny Jacob speaking, this is the CBS Radio Network.