The Six Shooter: Coward

James Stewart as the six-shooter. The man in the saddle is angular and long-legged. His skin is sun-died brown. The gun in his holster is gray steel and rainbow mother of pearl. It's handle unmarked. People call them both the six-shooter. Coleman, America's leader in modern automatic home-heating equipment and the national broadcasting company, present James Stewart as the six-shooter. A

A transcribed series of dramas based on the life of Britt Ponson, the Texas Plainsman who wandered to the Western territories, leaving behind a trail of steel-remembered legends. Now in just a moment, immediately following this important announcement, you will hear Act 1 of The Six Schuver.

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Now, act one of the six-shooter, starring James Stewart. I had a grandstand seat, a rock and chair on the front porch of the Temple City hotel. Not that there was much to watch, a couple of women looking at the bonnets and the windows of Bradley's Mercantile and some kids playing mumbly-pig over in the alley next to Bank,

and the checker game in the shot of a big elm cross the street. But it was a couple of days before I was due to pick up some cattle and out of berry for Mrs. Pritchard.

Well Temple City seemed as good a place as any to stop over. I was considered taking a little nap when I saw well. At least that's who I thought it was. He was coming out of the General's store carrying a box of groceries.

I couldn't be sure though because just as he started to climb into a wagon another man rode up alongside and shut off my view. Well, look who's in town? You doing the market in will?

Thought the women usually did that. But I guess in your case it's such a bad idea to switch things around. I'd run into your temple. Two of my cows have been killed this week. You mean your wife's cows don't you will?

It wasn't two. It's three. A boy found another one to raise on my side of the creek this morning. You're gonna have to do something about that fence of yours. You won't have no stock left at all.

That fence was all right yesterday. Maybe. This is today. Now you're listening to me, Temple I... I figured it's about time you've done the listening will. I want your wife's ranch. Ain't made no bones about it.

She was willing to sell until you came along. She ain't willing now. I'll give you two dollars an acre. That's more than a fair price. Anybody will tell you that. We're not going to be shoved off that land, not for $2 an acre or 20.

And maybe I'd better talk to Sarah, Dean of the Tower of Fair Property. No! No. I'm warning you. You stay away from our ranch and our cattle are off? Or out? Well, go on. Tell me what you'll do, Will.

I'd be real interested to find out. Come on, Bill. It was Sarah giving him the warning. I might take it seriously. Dean of the Tower, see you where it's the ranch and the family. Wagon moved in closer where I was sitting. I got a good look at him now.

He changed a lot since last time we met up. It was older. There were a couple of those squint wrinkles between his eyes. Even so, he still could have been more than 23 or 4.

Seeing as how he was only about 20 when we worked on the West Star Round up together. Hey, well! Well! Hey, well! I thought he'd recognize me, but I... Well, I guess I'd change some, too.

I wasn't getting aged or... Like that, but I'd... I'd write him up a bit again. Anyway, we'll kind of glance my way and then... ...grow on. And from the way he was holding those reins, I had a pretty good idea of what he was thinking.

This temple fella he'd pushed him too far. And if I knew Will, he was getting ready to do something about it. Well, there was no point in trying to run him down. Now we'd probably meet up later.

So I went into the hotel and looked around for places to down. Clerk behind the desk would plan a game of solitary. How are these ponset? Is that my new for you? No, no, no, thanks all.

Real more, Ryan? Yes, fine, real fine. Real pleasure having you standing with us. Anything you'd like? The black queen, huh? That plays on the king of diamonds. Oh, oh thank you. Like the look of Denver paper just came in on stage.

No, no thanks. Just the same. I sort of figured on a little snooze. Well, too much racket outside. I know what you mean. No, a temple's got a voice that carries out. I could hear him and Will arguing clearing in here.

Yeah. Join him out and that's fine. So I've been squaring off like that ever since we'll move to town and marriage sale Blake. Oh, looks like I'm stuck. Everything I'm not playing with the game and I'll be out fifty bucks.

You see, no, I've got the idea by answer. I was right. And there's gonna be no stopping him coming by. Well, he need her land, probably, right? Sure thing, he does. Now, if I can just get me the easiest page.

Forty years ago, Noah's grandpa, the start of this town, he owned all the apron between the foothills and the creek outside. Well, Temple said it was name for him. That's all. Well, you know, the old man's son Fred, well, he wasn't much good.

First thing you know, he sold off nearly everything his dad had left him. Nowhere took over. He swore he'd get all the Temple property back again. Guess I saw the stuck on his craw that Temple's wasn't the biggest outfit in the valley, no more.

You got on that black seven. How's North Temple ballooned? Well, first folks didn't take him serious. They thought it was just a talker like his father, but he sure fooled him. And today he's got more acres than his granddaddy ever had.

There's only one piece of the original temple cut up. He ain't been able to buy back. That land is sad. Oh, sure, it was a surprise when Will wouldn't let us sell it. Nobody ever figured he'd stand up to know a man like him.

Was there something wrong with him? There's seven, eight, nine. What's that? Oh, well, you see Mr. Bonta, Will's a coward. And this he is, he's yellow, clear through. He won't ever wear a gun if there's a posse being formed, but he don't go wrong.

And if there's a fight, he lays low. You can call him names, you can insult him the way, no a temple, and he just takes it. Okay, that sure don't sound like him to me.

You know Wilbur's tomb? Years to? Years to? A couple years ago we worked around up together. All that must have been before he moved to Temple City. Yeah, as down Texas. There Willie Techman wasn't afraid of nobody or nothing and for a young tree's mighty fancy with a gun Technic, I tried yeah

But that ain't his name mr. Panchit will his name is fetter. Oh Yeah, will fetter. I don't know when he was surprised about him being yellow you you got the wrong man Uh-huh well, they must look alike. It's friend of yours and will fit. Yeah Yeah, I guess I do I went upstairs to my room, started to pull my boots off, you know, it's funny.

I hadn't been doing anything but sit all day and my feet hurt worse than would have been walking twenty miles. I looked out the window and my son had just about even if the church steepled us on the beer on three o'clock.

I had a couple hours for supper so I let myself down in the bed. Bonin, c'mon! Mr. Ponson... Oh, excuse me, ma'am. I didn't know it was a lady. I'm sorry to bother you, Mr. Ponson.

Well, not at all, not at all. I wasn't exactly what you'd call busy. Who's down here? Oh, thank you. Yeah, wait, I'll get those boots all your way. Mr. Ponson, I'm Will's wife. Oh, oh, please, meet you, ma'am.

Will... Will told me you were in town today. He saw you. And you saw him, didn't you? Yes ma'am, at least I thought I did. Well you can't tell anyone he's here, Mr. Ponson. Aww.

You didn't come to Temple City looking for Will, did you? Will thought maybe that was the reason. We heard about what happened in Prescott last winter when you came across Bar Cleaver. Ah, well you heard wrong ma'am, I didn't come across Cleaver, he came across me.

And as for Will, he... He's made a new life here. A good life. If he has to go back to prison... Prison? Oh. You knew about the bank robbery in Austin and about him breaking up before you...

You knew, didn't you? No, man. Oh, I haven't been back that way since... You wouldn't have told the Marshal. We thought... I'll just take it easy, ma'am. If I hadn't come to see you, nobody would have known it was Will Techman.

You know, things have a way of coming out sooner or later. How much longer was Will supposed to serve? Two years. Well, that's not so long when you're young. We're going to have a baby, Mr. Puffs.

But I almost wouldn't want to have him that he was going to grow up known as Father if been in prison. Why should Will have to go back? Why? Well, I guess maybe you'd better ask the judge who sent us a man.

What I mean is they say that a man will live a decent, respectable life when he comes out. And Will's already live in the decent respect of her life. He works hard. He never makes trouble for anybody.

He doesn't even wear a gun and he promised me he never will. Was that your idea not wearing a gun? Before we were married he told me about the trouble in Austin and how it broke out of prison.

I didn't put that. I should have made him go back. But I was so much in love I couldn't. So I asked him to give me his word he'd never use a gun again. I've even carried one.

It must have been kind of hard on the fellow like well to keep holding himself back that way. I haven't been easy. I've heard what men like Noah Temple call him. But Will takes us.

He's kept his word. This fellow Temple, the way he and Will were going out of today, it sounded like they were heading for trouble. Won't be anything serious. Will just doesn't want us to be pushed off of the ranch.

You can't hold that against him. Oh, no. Oh, there's none. Then you you won't tell the Marshall over in Ataberry or anybody? Well, I don't imagine Marshall Sanders like me mixing into his business. This is his district.

I guess he can take care of it. Anyway, I have so far, but not look here. Thank you, Mr. Pontius. Well, no, no. And thanks for Will too. Well, wait, wait, just wait. Most of what she said was true.

A sudden world back to prison might do more harm than good, but... And it wasn't up to me to sit judgment on him. I was going to be leaving town up there, so anyway, and if anything happened after that, wouldn't be my concern.

So... Of course, a man does have certain duties, even if he's not wearing a badge. A man who spots a wanted criminal, he's supposed to report it. I always had before. I scraped some of the mud off my boots and washed my face, put on a clean shirt, and went downstairs into the lobby.

The clerk was still playing solitaire. Just beat myself again, Mr. Ponsit. I was playing in the garage, they're ahead of $140. Pretty good for one afternoon, eh? Ah, yeah, real good. A lot of time for supper?

Yeah, go right on, and Molly will fix you up. I got big hands on that. Fine. Oh, say, uh, Miss Ponce, yeah? Remember us talking about Will Feder and him being afraid to carry a gun?

Uh-huh. On the downest things this happened. Oh, it wasn't anymore. 50 minutes ago, I guess everybody was talking about you and the Bradley's Merkin team. They bought himself a car being. Oh? Of course, he's just trying to bluff, know a temple.

Folks are giving ten to one, and Will don't even know how to load the rifle. Where are you going, Miss Ponce? I didn't even go there. I guess maybe I'm not hungry. I'd say, where abouts as well as ranch? I think maybe I'll take a little ride, maybe work up an appetite.

We'll return to James Stewart as the six-shooter in a moment. First, a word from Coleman, America's leader in modern automatic home heating equipment. When winter comes, does your house shrink like this? Well, I guess it's time to close off that back room. There's just no way to heat it.

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Look for his name in your telephone directory. Remember, comfort costs so little with a Coleman. Now, Act 2 of the Six-Shooter, starring James Stewart as Brit Ponson. Their ranch was about two miles south of town.

And from the outside looked neat and comfortable. They all kept up. The ground stretching out behind it was good grazing land. Those were at least five dollars an acre, maybe more. I tied Scar to a cottonwood in the yard and walked up the door.

By the time you got home, Will's has a... Oh, Mr. Ponson. Even, man. Come on in. Uh, Will's not here. You know he was gone when I came back. You must be out ten in the south.

What's wrong with him? He hadn't changed your mind, had he? Where's the temple ranch live in there? It's all around. There's all four sides of our land. And temple's ranch house, where's that? In the dwees.

What's that got to do with it? What's happened? Will was in town this evening. He bought a rifle. I don't believe it. He promised me. You're wrong, Mr. Parnett. I said, Will isn't gunning for Noah Temple.

He's out to end in stock. He'll be home any minute. You'll see. Maybe. Where are you going? Here Temple got quite an odd set. Worth time on the budget. You won't find Will there. He gave me his word.

He'd never use a gun again. You won't find him. I had a do-ee for about a quarter of a mile. And when I came to the edge of Will's property, I saw a sore old brother to a fence post.

looked like Willard decided to go the rest of the way on foot, so I climbed out of the saddle, looked around, there was a big break in the fence that the cattle hadn't made. That barbed wire had been cut. There were four heifers and a couple of steers lined just over the temple boundary. They just wasn't much question about it. They'd been shot. So I crawled through

the opening and went right past a big sign that said, Temple Ranch Tress Passers will be shot. I'll call it some footprints. I'll figure they were wills. About 30 minutes later I caught sight of the ranch houses, built about halfway up the side of a pretty steep hill, big straw on building. There was a light inside and I could just

barely make out noise into the desk working on some papers. But where was Will? I said, oh, he had plenty of time to get here. And I heard a step and swung around. I was in one of Temple's hands, pacing up and down near the stable, alongside the house.

The way he was holding the rifle, it looked like an army separate, instead of a cow hand. All of a sudden, he gave a little gas. I saw a shadow tighten around his throat. And Temple went down, and it was a struggle.

Not very noisy, though. Not the noisy enough for Temple to hear it. And then everything was quiet. The shadow stood up. It was Will Tackman. He was inching his way toward the house toward the window where Temple was sitting.

I came up behind a makhola, my gun. He would start the image rifle. Will drop it well. Yeah. Give me a rifle Will. Could get off his shot. me even not a temple. Temple gets our ranch and I go to prison is that enough?

We'll talk all about that as soon as we get back to your place now come on. I carried Will's rifle and let the way. About 20 minutes later we passed another one on Temple's garage.

He was gozing denoted. We still had a couple of miles to go before we'd reach the fence where we left the horses. Will was sort of panting for breath. Alright let's rest in that. Okay.

Okay. I thought you promised your wife you'd never take up a gun, you know. Mr. Ponsett, I... She didn't dead heifers of about a fence. Yeah. I had about wives I heard of. I found them.

I had to do something. As long as you knew who I was anyway, as long as I was going back to prison. I had to fix it so Sarah wouldn't have the ranch taken away from me.

I wouldn't think a piece of land would be worth everybody getting so excited about it. I've been shoved around, Brad, ever since I was a kid I've been shoved around. Even when I held up the Austin bank, I wasn't the one who...

The one who what? Since I married so. I've had to take a lot that other men wouldn't put up with because of her and because of her knowing what I was. This thing with temple got under my skin.

I made up my mind to stand up to him. My man's got to take a stand sometime, somewhere. I'm sorry, well, but... Hey, what's that? Get down, well! I ain't alone, Temple! Rick passes with me!

What? Ponsit? That's right, Temple! I'm not alone, but I wouldn't come alone. I'll just, four of us, take care of two of you. He won't be much use the opponent, one of five. Okay, boy, move it.

I can see one of his boys firing from behind a tree behind him. So I aim to his arm, and then go ahead and hit him on the shoulder, and he alerts the other one.

his arm and then bullet hit him on the shoulder and he lurched forward. That met only three of them now but they were closer. Will still didn't say anything. He was waiting for me to make the next move. I tossed him the rifle. Thanks, man. He got to his knees and started across a little clearing. Still all right when he died behind a boulder. I knew where he was

heading to. No temple had been shooting from behind a clump of pines about 50 yards back. For a couple of minutes I didn't get a chance to watch him. Temple's two guards weren't either side of me now.

One of them was more than eight, ten feet away. I saw the barrel of his car being rise up and behind the bush. Only one guard left. About that time it seemed like he'd had enough.

Anyway, I moved across the clearing toward the pine trees where a willow disappeared, pulled up behind a rock. There was no one temple. crouch down low, his gun ready. I left a bit of movement in the brush, caught my eye.

It was Will. It was right behind Demo. Demo didn't know it. He was looking my way. Will had a perfect shot. I saw Will's finger growl around the trigger. Will didn't fire. I couldn't figure out what got into him.

He didn't fire. Then he threw his rifle to one side and let out a yell. Temple! Temple turned and got off a shot. he was surprised he couldn't do much aiming. Then Will was on top of him, twisting the gun out of his hands.

And after that I saw a fight the like of which I'd never seen before in my life. There, Will hit Temple across the face and he went over backwards. And then Temple picked and is put lifted Will right off the ground.

But before Temple could pick himself up, Will was right on top of him again. And Temple tried to reach for his gun and Will brought his boot right down on Temple's hand. Temple Quit region, and then will back the way and let Temple up again.

And as soon as Temple was studied again, will Drobe's dish right in the temple stomach. And Temple's hand flew apart and he was wide open the wheel. Hit him again and hit him again and again.

And finally Temple managed to send his fist into Will's face. Will looked like maybe he was going to get good on, but still had a fight left to land to write that snap temple can't wipe back. And it was temple a tall floor over and then I knew he wasn't going to get up again not for quite a while. Feel better well? Yeah. Yeah, that's

better. You had your chance to kill him. You had a perfect shot. You didn't have to fight him this way. The only way I could fight him, Brett. Huh? I had him in my sights. Something kept me from pulling the trigger. Maybe you think I'm crazy, but I can't remember what I'd promise Sarah that I wouldn't use a gun again. I couldn't pull that trigger, Brett. I just

couldn't. Let's see if we can't get Temple here to a doctor. You know, it looks like he needs one. We left no with the dark temple city and I started off for out of area. I've made up my mind to tell the marshal about Will. All about him.

Sarah and Will they agreed. They take a short film. But then again, the way I see it right now, the state of Texas is looking for a gun-toting bang lover named Will I just don't think Marshall Sanders is very much interested in the law by the ranchers called Will Sutter.

I'd like to take a minute here to remind you about some of the great entertainment that's in store for you on NBC Radio. Now, for most of us Monday evening is a time to relax, sit back and take it easy.

NBC had exactly that in mind when they designed their Monday night of entertainment. You'll want to listen to the delightful music of the railroad hour as they resume their fall schedule of popular operatas that have entertained for so many years. Gordon MacRae will be your host and star, and during weeks to come you'll have many charming guest stars to add to your listening pleasure with their famous

voices. And you'll want to relax to the melodies of the Firestone Orchestra and chorus under the direction of Howard Barlow on the voice of Firestone. Another great Monday night favorite is the telephone hour with its wonderful program of music directed by Donald Borys. Yes, every Monday night here, these three fine musical programs on NBC Radio. America's leader in modern automatic

home heating equipment and the National Broadcasting Company have presented Jane Stewart as the six-hooter. Mr. Stewart may currently be seen in the Universal International Picture Thunder Bay. Others in the cast were Michael Anne Barrett, Herb Ellis, Howard McNier, and we'll write.

The Six-Shooter is an NBC Radio Network production in association with Review Productions, and it is based on a character created by Frank Burt, and today's transcribed story was written by him. Special music was by Basil Azim, and the entire production is under the direction of Jack Johnstone.

All characters and incidents were fictitious, and any resemblance to actual characters or incidents is purely coincidental. Hell, give me speaking.