The Wager: Have Gun, Will Travel (July 26, 1959)

“The Wager” is an episode of Have Gun, Will Travel, the old-time radio show, first broadcast July 26, 1959. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Paladin is hired to escort railroad man Morgan and his fiancée Stacy to Silver City, as Morgan has been threatened by a syndicate determined to buy him out. On the desert journey, Paladin spots a mysterious gunman following them and discovers he is Howard Gorman, a hired killer with a reputation. When Gorman confronts them at dinner in Rough and Ready, a fight erupts and Paladin is forced to kill him—but Paladin remains puzzled about why Gorman was really after Morgan.

1875 San Francisco and the desert trail to Silver City, including a stop in Rough and Ready.

Characters: Paladin, Mr. Morgan, Stacy Neal, Howard Gorman, Danbury

Listen for: Paladin's growing confusion about Gorman's true motives and why the hired killer seemed so eager to die in their confrontation.

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.