Gunsmoke: The Juniper Tree

Down Dodge City and in the territory on West, there's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers. And that's with the US Marshal and the smell of gun smoke. Gun smoke. Starring 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. This Marshal. I see you receive my complaint. I got it, Mingo.

Where's Stanley? Where do you think upstairs? Brandy, naturally, she always does mother him when he's in trouble. Be careful, Marshall, he might be dangerous. Marshall, you got a sweet word for Dixie? Yeah, move. Oh, it's not very sweet.

Move to the point. Say a lot of Jim for me, huh? It's me, Brandy, Matt. Come in, Matt. Join me in a drink? Where is he, Brandy? In the next room.

Cried himself to sleep. Save it, Brandy. I got to take him. Oh, why, Matt? Jim Stanley never did a mean thing in his life. He's no bad, man. He stole money from Mingo's roulette table and he threw a bottle at him when he was caught.

Mingo's present charges. Stanley can clear himself in court. Ah. Against Mingo's witnesses? Do you bring Stanley Otter? Do I go get him? Go get him. But I wouldn't be proud, Matt. Stick to running dance, all girls, Brownie.

Let me run the wall. Stanley? Stanley. Mm. Mm. Oh. It's you, Marshall. Very sleepy. I want you to come with me, Jim. Come with you. I sure wish you were Marshall. You better get up.

Come on. Come on. Oh, yeah. Oh, where are we going Marshall? Would you like to visit my ranch? I got a new cold. You prettiest little soil you ever saw. Well, we're going to jail.

Jail? Me, Marshall? Do I have to? Yes, Jim. I've never been in a jail. I'm sorry, Jim. No. No. I can't go in there. Oh, Marshall. I ain't never been locked up before. Please don't make me. I have to I Didn't mean to do it honest. I just lost my head when I realized my money was gone. I

Wouldn't have kept those chips. I know that I just grabbed him. I don't know why They were there and I just grabbed him and then Mingo started in on me kept saying things bad things about it days they said I wouldn't have cared except that well Dixie was there he kept yelling at me and I was at Steve right right in front of her I tried to make

him stop and he wouldn't then something happened the bottle was there and throw it at Mango no no I just threw it marshal I was crazy I didn't mean to hurt nobody I believe you, Jim. Marshall, will you ask Dixie to come and see me later?

Yeah, sure, I'll ask. Thanks. I just want to tell her not to blame Mingo for all this. She might say something or give up her job. Don't worry, Jim. I don't think Dixie's going to give up anything. He won't eat his dinner, Mr. Dillon. He just sets there staring. Yeah, poor devil. He won't really be convicted, Willy. I hope not,

mingle's the one who are being jay look Chester this isn't exactly my idea just as either shady gambler against a simple-minded horse rancher hello Marshall bye Chester hmm oh goodbye you stay put Chester oh no Marshall I want to be a long way I sent for you to come and visit Jim Stanley and you

better be nice to him. Well, it's fella's a tickle pink if I like him. They say I'm pretty. You're pretty enough. That's better. I knew you like. I said you were pretty. I didn't say I liked you. No, that's nasty. Would you like to hear what I really think of you? No, don't bother. I get the idea. Your

Mango's girl. When I feel like it. And why do you have to tease a man like Stanley? Drive him to drinking and gambling and trouble like he's in now. He's sweet. He thinks I'm beautiful. Yeah. But even men like him wake up. Stick a Mango.

So I drop in and see if your prisoner was all set for trial of murder. Mango I want should have withdraw those charges and let that potential murder go free and new you got back the chip Stanley took from your table and his assaulting a man like you is ridiculous he doesn't even wear a gun a bottle constitutes a

deadly weapon look it up why are you doing this mingle why pick on a man like Stanley let's say I don't like him always slobbering over Dixie she's private property for that greedy little vixen he had sent Stanley to prison knowing that it'll probably crack his mind completely.

That's his problem. You don't understand, Mingo. I don't like to see people push around. Or don't cross me, Marshall. I already had. People get dead, that way. Yeah, so I've heard. Now just who are these witnesses of yours against Stanley?

Knit cold, sagging all Henry. Both on your payroll. Dixie? Some of the other girls. All working for you, Jim Stanley's as good as convicted, Marshall. There's not a thing you can do about it. Yeah, man. Drink this.

Thanks, Brandy. You know, all you need to do is stop fighting yourself, Matt. You're mixed up? Yeah, that's short, true, Brandy. You know, it's funny. When it's something you can fight with your fists and your guns, it's easy.

How do you fight a deal like this? You've got to clear, Jim, somehow. Those witnesses against him Jim can't win in court technically he's a criminal Oh criminal my for he admits the crimes the judge will have to sentence him to at least a minimum jail term We know there are witnesses who can prove he's innocent

Now a smart man had find a way to make him talk I've been thinking about it Well, I'll tell Jim you were asking after him I think he'd like that He's Dixie's. I had me a man once, Matt.

I traded him for a bottle of brandy. I paid a stiff price for my name. You're not through yet, Brandi. Oh, sure. I claim mother to everybody. Take everybody's troubles on my shoulders. Help save my conscience.

Don't ever hurt a person, Matt. You never get through paying for it. Well, I better be going. Why? They try to get some of those witnesses to talk. I lost Saginaw. Oh, it's you.

I've been looking for you. Then you've been looking for trouble. Well, you're beginning to sound like your boss, Mingo. It's late. What do you want? I want to read you something from this book, Bloodful.

This law book. Oh, so? First law I see says that anyone given a drink to an Indian is liable to fine up to $500. of five hundred dollars i saw you by an indian peter drink only last week pizza stableboy he knows that i don't say savage says indian pizza indian so technically you broke the law you can make a next one says any man that

this robs in the public places guilty of committing the public nuisance carries a fine of a hundred dollars what what the devil is all i saw you breaking a horse down in harrison's corral a little while back you took your shirt off and That's this robot in a public place.

Technically. You can't get away with this, Dylan. How much you make a month, Saginaw? Fifty-seventy-five. Well, the way it looks, I can get you fined on enough of these laws to keep you broke for about five years.

Five years? We can start all over again. You're bluffing. I never even heard of these laws. Well, look for yourself here. If you witnesses are going to send Jim Stanley to jail on a technicality, then a lot of you are going to jail the same way.

Well, laws may be there, but it ain't fair. Alright, Saginaw, that's how you want it. Come on, let's go to jail. No, uh, wait a minute. Well, then start talking. Well, Dixie shills Stanley into losing his money and me and Ned Cole egged him into grabbing a couple of chips when the wheelman wasn't luck on Mingo's orders.

Sure, Stanley looked down at the chips we swiped, and he reached out to hand him back when Mingo jumped him. What was Dixie doing? Trying to keep him laughing. Yeah, I'll bet. Then what? Mingo rode Stanley high to make him break down in front of Dixie.

Finally, the poor, long-ket seemed to go crazy. Yelled and tossed a bottle at the bar. Not at Mingo? No, missed him by ten feet. Stanley was just working off his mad by busting the bottle.

Fade for it, I guess he had the right. Yeah, I guess he had. First I think Mingle was just devil in Stanley, and he got the idea to press charges and send him to jail.

We got orders out of testifying. Uh-huh. Well, thanks, seconder. A martial, huh? I'd like you to know something. Yeah. I'm glad I told you about Stanley, because framing him into prison isn't my idea. Something to be proud of.

It shouldn't be. Oh, good evening, Chester. My? What are you so happy about Mr. Dylan? Everything, Chester, everything. Is it about Jim Stanley? It is about Jim Stanley. He's going to clear himself in court tomorrow.

Come on, let's go, Tolly. Well, gracious, that is good news. He couldn't have taken much more of being locked up. I know. Hey, Jim, wake up. We're going to pre... Jim. Mr. Dillon, he's gone.

Both window bars are cut. Yeah. And here's what cut him. A hacksaw blade. And lookie-honda, there's another. Oh, that fool. Why couldn't he have waited one more day and it had been free? Jim Stanley didn't have those hacksaw blades on him.

Mr. Dillon, I know I searched him good. You searched Dixie good? Mm-hmm. Oh, mercy. No, Mr. Dillon. She's a girl. He didn't have any other visitors. No, sir. Mingo is going to be awful mad when he finds out his girl helped Jim Stanley get away.

Come on. You gonna arrest Dixie, Mr. Dillon? I don't know Chester. First I gotta find her. We will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment, but first, every Sunday on CBS Radio, here both sides debate the issues on Pick the Winner.

It's a program that brings in the top people from Democratic and Republican camps, standing their ground and delivering their views on the biggest questions of the campaign. Don't miss Pick the Winter Sundays between now and November to be fully informed when it comes time to vote and remember straight through election time make CBS radio your election

headquarters. Now the second act of gun smoke. Where's Dixie Mingle? Dixie, she's gone. I don't know where she is. You're lying. I swear she disappeared ours again. I still think you're lying. Dixie's here someplace. No, he's telling me the truth

for once, man. Dixie's gone, all right. Are you sure, Brandy? Saw her ride out of town. Was Stanley? Yeah, I'm at. But two of them. Dixie and Stanley? Dixie passed him some saw blades he cut his way up and rotten double crossing hell caches your girl mingle I'll be a laugh and stuck a dart city good I hope they laugh you're

Clarota Kansas it's the last thing I'll do I'll find a boat of them finding them as my job mingle go ahead but you better beat me to a move you'll be arresting them dead yeah they stop here all right probably changed horses and got some supplies that wasn't why Stanley came home look Chester what what

The stock trough is right up to the top. The barn's open. Feed pulled out by the stock and reach it. Even scared to death, Jim thought about his animals first. Mr. Dylan, you think Mingo's trailing standing in Dixie too?

Yeah, perhaps. It's one good reason why we'd better catch him quick. Come on. Still no sign. That looks like we've lost him for good, no. What do we do? Go back, Mr. Dylan. We can't let Mango find him.

Sure, but the way they've been zig-zagging back and forth for the last four days, we don't have a chance in a thousand. I'm not so sure, Chester. You know, there's a certain pattern about the way Stanley and Dixie have been moving.

I don't think they're trying to leave this section at all. Yeah, we have been getting closer and closer to Dodge with every circle lately. And not only to Dodge. Mr. Dillon, you got my idea?

And maybe. Come on, we'll ride back to Stanley's ranch. You think they came back here? I will soon find out. From what we saw here before, I'll bet Stanley's not the kind to stay away from his ranch for a very...

I'm hit the deck, get out of here! Behind the drop, yeah. It's Jim Stanley. There's his horse. Yeah, right, keep your eyes open. And lay! Damn, it's Matt Dillon, let me talk to you! You go away Marshall.

I don't want to hurt you. But I ain't called back that jail. You go away now. Jam listen to me. I got a witness. You're better leave quick now. Mr. Dillon, I'm getting wet. It's better than getting shot. Keep your head down.

Yes, you. Sure is wet. Stanley's in a good position. Closest cover for us is the barn. That's across 50 yards of clearing. That's a long run. You can pick us off before we made 10 feet.

Jim, I'm not leaving until I've talked to you. Leave me alone, Marshall. Can't you leave me alone? I'm coming to talk to you, Jim. No! Mr. Dillon, don't do it. That's how crazy man is.

That's a frightened man, Chester. I'm coming unarmed, Jim. I don't think you're a murderer, but if you are, this is your chance. Good luck, Mr. Dylan. Stanley shot sliced across my side like a branding iron.

It was all I could do to ignore my fear and keep going. But somehow I reached the ranch house alive. I opened the door. Jim Stanley stood there holding his gun. and crying. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it. I was only trying to scare you. I'm not a killer.

I've never shot anybody in my life. I'm just marshall. I can't even shoot a rabbit. I know that Jim. I'm afraid I've always been afraid of things. I try to be like other people that only seem to bring trouble.

You can stop being afraid of the law and jail right now. That's all over with. You mean that, Marshall? Really? Really? But I shot you. Did you? No, I don't recall. Oh, but Mr. Dillon shot hit your side right there.

You see it? It's bleeding. Now, Jim, listen to me. You didn't shoot me. Oh, well, all right. If you say so, Mr. Dillon. I say so. Here, I'll take that rifle. Now, let's go back to Tom and get this business settled, huh?

You've been good to me, Marshall. Forget it, Jim. There is one thing, though. Dixie. Oh, she brought me hacksaw blade. I know that. She said you were going to hang me that I had to escape.

She kept saying that. She was riding with you. Where is she now? Oh, she left me. Last night I was glad. I was nearly wild listening to her talk about you and prison. They even swore I'd kill myself before I'd go back to jail.

I'm glad you didn't mean it. Oh, I meant it at the time. Oh, I was sure scared. You feel better now? Yeah. Yes, I know everything's just going to be fine. The rifles sludged, splashed the side of Jim's face with red, and he crumpled into the dirt.

From the water trough, Chester opened up and drew the fire of whoever was hiding in the hayloft of the barn. I could see a gun barrel poking up from the side of the hay lot.

And I picked up Stanley's rifle, Mango. Hey, T'ilin, are you all right? Yeah, just a... but Mango's dead. Well, how about Jim Stanley, Mr. Mango? Yeah, he was scared more than hurt. He should come to any minute.

Good news. Oh, this looks like a sure enough war's been happening around here. Who have you been, Dixie? Sure, now, Marshall. A girl's got a right to look after her investments. My mingle and Stanley both dead. Well, now that's a real shame.

Well, the Jim's dead, are you going to do it? Chester, are you set investments? The only investment you've made is prison time for helping Jim escape. Me? Well, how are you going to prove anything, Marshall?

with Jim Dad. But he's Chester, why don't you look after the horses? But Mr. Dillon, yes, sir. It's a right good thing because I'm going to be terribly busy, you know, taking care of poor Jim's ranch and money and of course the funeral and everything.

Why should all that concern you, Dixie? Because I'm Jim Stanley's widow. What? I married him three days ago in that city. It was such a sweet wedding. I'm sure it was. And now all I have left are some memories.

And of course, this little old ranch and Jim's money. Dixie, there's something you should know. You also got a husband. Have you heard enough, Jim? Enough. Jim, I saw you fall. You're... you're bad, Dixie.

Oh, Jim, you mustn't pay no mind of what I said. I was upset. Didn't I come back just to be with you? No good, Dixie. Jim's under you now. Jim, are you gonna let him talk to me like that?

He's my friend. And I don't like you now, Dixie. Oh, it's too bad. I'm still your wife. Marshall? Can she make that stick? Well, by law, you have to support her, Jim. Of course, I don't say how.

Well, I'll show you stuff, putting ideas in it. And of course, she has to take care of your house for you, Jim. Clean it, do the chores, cook for you. Cook? Me? He can make you, Dixie. It's his right.

All right, and not. I'd like to see him try. He can do it, Dixie. Yeah? Well, they can't if I'm not here. And I'm reading right now. You want to write in the time with us, Jim?

No, I think I'd rather stay here for a while, Marshall. If it's all right. Yes, sure, sure. I'll fix it. But in a few days when you feel like it come in and see me and we'll help you get that divorce taken care of.

You do work on grounds of desertion. She just deserted you, remember? Chester and I are your witnesses. Oh, well, thanks, Marshall. Marshall. I sure do thank you. So long. Bye. Come on Chester. Let's go. He's headed to rough out here on the frontier hasn't he. It's addled in sort of. Yeah I guess

Yes, that's interesting. Men like him need looking after. Now we get all kinds out here, Chester. Come on, let's get back to town. Gun smoke under the direction of Norman McDonald's stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, US Marshal.

Tonight's story was specially written for Gun smoke by Herb Purdam with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Featured in the cast were John Dana and Michael Ann Barrett with Paul Duboff, Vivi Janis and Bill Lelly.

Early Bear is Chester. 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 gun smoke. Tomorrow's speakers on Pick the Winner representing both the major parties will be Harold Stassen Republican and George Ball Democrat.

Listen for this important program, pick the winner tomorrow and every Sunday from now to November. This is Roy Rowan speaking, and this is the CBS Radio Network.