August 21, 2025 • 24 mins
Frontier Gentleman was a short-lived radio Western series on CBS network from February 2 to November 16, 1958. It was set in the post-Civil War United States and it was different from other westerns like Gunsmoke or The Six Shooter in that it showed the wild west from the point of view of a British reporter from the London Times. That man is "Britt Kendle", played by John Dehner.
Hope you enjoy this episode of Frontier Gentleman! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon
Hope you enjoy this episode of Frontier Gentleman! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
At dear Lodge in Montana Territory, I met a very
unusual young lady. Her Chinese name was Chen shuk Yi,
which in English means gentle virtue.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
This is her story.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Frontier Gentleman herewith.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
An Englishman's account of life and death in the West.
Speaker 5 (00:41):
As a reporter for the London Times, he writes his
colorful and unusual stories. But as a man with a gun,
he lives and becomes a part of the violent years
in the new territories. In just one minute, we will
bring you this latest report from the Frontier Gentleman.
Speaker 6 (00:58):
Hey, what do you think of my new sweat wing
fifty eight Dodge Journey.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Ain't she abute?
Speaker 6 (01:02):
Fine?
Speaker 1 (01:02):
That's really a big car. Big, I'll say, she's big.
Speaker 6 (01:06):
I'll stay here by the grill and you go take
a look at those swept wing fins at the rear.
Speaker 7 (01:10):
Okay, this is the longest lowest car I ever saw.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Come on back by the door.
Speaker 6 (01:26):
I'll show you the inside. Okay, Now look inside.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Wow, this Dodge is leaving side. Look how wide the
seats are. Who are the neighbors.
Speaker 6 (01:43):
I'm charging them a dollar an hour to sit there?
Come on, Wow, you really got a lot of car here.
Speaker 8 (01:51):
And with all this, Dodge's priced below fifty nine different
models of the low price field.
Speaker 9 (01:56):
Hey you want to go for a ride?
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Let me Synonymous and I'm Exhausted.
Speaker 5 (02:05):
Now starring John Dayner. This is the story of J. B. Kendall,
frontier gentleman.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
In Montana Territory, there is a mining town which has
been known variously as Cottonwood, Spanish Forks, and Labarns. Now
it is simply called Dear Lodge. I had stopped there
on my way back to Fort Benton, and there was
in Dear Lodge that I was, for the first time
produced to the card game of poker. It all began
(02:45):
innocently enough after I struck up a friendship with Billy Moore,
a prospector whose claim lay a few miles from town.
Speaker 8 (02:53):
You might call me kind of a cross between a
river sniper and a desert rat river sniper. That's what
I am here, gold panning like this course. M. Diggens
is back there on the hill. But I hit nothing
much yet. Dream's not bad though, keeps me going.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
It's a lonely job.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Imagine sometimes you ever think of settling down getting married? Sure?
Speaker 8 (03:22):
Sure, when I strike it big, I may do that. Meantime,
there's dear lodge close by. Don't get time to be
lonesome there.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
I haven't noticed you much of a drinking man.
Speaker 6 (03:33):
Oh I ain't. But there's always a card game baara, oh,
free card mody.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Poker.
Speaker 6 (03:40):
Poker's my game. Nothing I like more than a night
or two of poker.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Do you win?
Speaker 10 (03:45):
Not much?
Speaker 11 (03:47):
Stay about even mostly? How about you?
Speaker 9 (03:50):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Never played the game?
Speaker 10 (03:51):
In my life?
Speaker 9 (03:54):
You never played poker?
Speaker 1 (03:57):
No, well, boy, we sure got it.
Speaker 11 (04:00):
Do something about that.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
You think it's absolutely necessary.
Speaker 8 (04:03):
Mister candle, How are you going to write about how
people live in these parts if you ain't never played poker?
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Well, I never quite thought of it in that way.
Speaker 8 (04:11):
Well, it's a fact. I'll tell you what. This afternoon,
I'll show you how to play. There's nothing to it,
and then tonight we'll go town. There's always a real
friendly game at Dead Broke Bar.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
That evening we rode back into Deer Lounge. Billy had
pronounced an enabled student, and that with caution, I might
even add a dollar or two to my diminishing funds.
I had promised to limit myself to play with fifty
dollars and no more. When we arrived at the bar
and Billy led me to a table in the back room.
Two men were there, one may meet looking fellow whose
(04:52):
expression was one of constant hurt surprise. The other was
a la dark faced chap. Billy introduced her.
Speaker 9 (05:01):
This here is JB.
Speaker 11 (05:02):
Kendel.
Speaker 8 (05:02):
Boys Turkey jumpson Neil Daggers. Kennel's a newspaper fella from England,
writes for the London Times. Out here, looking it's over,
give us some chips, Turkey.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
How's it going Billy?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
And he pay dirt?
Speaker 11 (05:16):
How about saying I ain't complaining? What about you?
Speaker 5 (05:20):
I'm gonna give it another week and I'm pulling up
steaks you Turkey?
Speaker 9 (05:24):
Look you want to play your talk.
Speaker 8 (05:26):
Turkey ain't into mining business right now. Can't trying to
get steak playing poker trouble as he keeps on losing.
You feel lucky tonight, Turkey.
Speaker 9 (05:36):
And one of these days you're gonna get lead porson
if you don't shut your.
Speaker 8 (05:38):
Mouths nice friendly, because any then blue chips is worth
five dollars.
Speaker 11 (05:43):
Candle the reds two White's one all right.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Card deals king jack eight four?
Speaker 9 (05:52):
Your deal?
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Kennel, Oh oh, yes, the gold of cards boy.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Five five?
Speaker 9 (06:02):
I wait a minute.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Something the matter in these parts we cut the cards.
Speaker 11 (06:08):
Miss he's kind of I'll cut him goroll him around.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
I already cut the play with a green horn.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Sorry, I just deal, mister.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Fare open dollar, call, raise the dollar.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
No, thank you, not for me.
Speaker 11 (06:47):
I got a feeling you're telling a winded turkey.
Speaker 8 (06:50):
I'll see you. Give me three cards, Candle, I'll take two.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
M Billy won the first hand and the second. I
played very carefully, and at the end of an hour
it was about five dollars to the good. I could
see that Turkey Johnson resented both me and my playing,
even more so because he was losing his temper slowly
deteriorated with the quality of his cards. Then the door
(07:21):
opened and a small, pigtailed Chinese gentleman walked in.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
He had an ageless face, impassive.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
I didn't think you'd be.
Speaker 11 (07:32):
Coming, and I right rest saddled.
Speaker 10 (07:37):
Mister JB.
Speaker 11 (07:37):
Candle you he's from England.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
He's a candle.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
I am honor, is it, mister you?
Speaker 9 (07:43):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
How do you do so good?
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Evening? Mister?
Speaker 8 (07:47):
I come on, come on, come on, come on, your
deal I know it well deal chips please, mister Johnson,
fifty off. Hugh keeps a string of burrows, sells him
or ransom ornery as critters.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Oh, very intelligent, very noble animals.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Is that pretty Gurrios? You ain't seen her around?
Speaker 11 (08:08):
He keeps her head from the eyes and you you
are to see your candle. Real nice little Philly.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Is your daughter, mister h oh no, dot no.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
She's a girl from Hong Kong. She helps me with business.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Talk talk talk at your play candle.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
I opened for a dollar. Mister Hugh proved to be
astute but unlucky player, and Johnson began to win. For
the next two hours, the game see sawed back and forth,
and after that it became obvious that unless there was
a startling change, the big winner would be Johnson. The
(08:46):
loser mister u Billy, Neil Deggers.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
And myself were about even.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Then an extraordinary thing happened. I found myself at the
end of a draw, sitting with three aces and two queens.
The betting was up to Neil Diggers. At that time
there was fifty dollars.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
On the table.
Speaker 11 (09:05):
Two Now I'm folding two and I raised three.
Speaker 12 (09:12):
Yeah, this is a big one. All right, boys, I'm
calling and raising five of my own.
Speaker 11 (09:20):
You take it easy, Candle, judge your mouth more.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Ain't no sight playing this game.
Speaker 11 (09:24):
And I don't get riled.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Just keep your mouth shut.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
I'm sorry, gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Just give me a moment. Very well, I'll call ten dollars.
Speaker 9 (09:37):
Candle. You know it's gonna be a pleasure.
Speaker 12 (09:38):
Make you a holler, calf rope.
Speaker 9 (09:40):
It's gonna be no beginner's luck in this game.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
You're playing this to you? Oh and twenty five.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
You're raymon, glad, I'm out of this one.
Speaker 9 (09:51):
You're twenty five and up.
Speaker 6 (09:53):
Twenty five, Candle, you better get out some of a gun.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
I'm saying for the last time.
Speaker 10 (09:58):
More.
Speaker 9 (09:58):
You shut your mound.
Speaker 11 (09:59):
Now listen.
Speaker 6 (10:00):
Turkey's a friend of mine, mister Johnson's.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
He's quite right, Billy. I'd like to buy some more chips, please,
one hundred. Well, what's your play, mister?
Speaker 2 (10:11):
It cost you fifty better fifteen.
Speaker 11 (10:15):
You ain't gonna have enough left to dust your fiddles.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Fifty and raised fifty.
Speaker 11 (10:22):
It's near three hundred in years.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Yeah there, I got the.
Speaker 12 (10:26):
Dead wood on you, boys, But you keep her getting fat.
I ain't grumbling you're fifty, you and my fifty.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
It's another hundred, kindle yes, let's see all right, I call.
Speaker 13 (10:42):
Him mister turkey. There's five hundred dollars. I am now
without money. Still I wish to call you back.
Speaker 10 (10:54):
Oh that's too bad.
Speaker 9 (10:56):
Maybe you can get a loan.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Not tack a loan.
Speaker 9 (11:00):
Well what do you say you in rob How about
them burds?
Speaker 4 (11:04):
You won't steak them?
Speaker 13 (11:05):
No, not burrows? But uh maybe change shoo ky.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
I didn't know, son, you can.
Speaker 13 (11:18):
The girl should be worth an one hundred.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
I've seen a turkey.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
She's a looker.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
If you lose, can you guarantee you get her?
Speaker 2 (11:27):
I guarantee? How can you do that, mister Hugh?
Speaker 13 (11:30):
She belongs to me. I paid a half percent from China.
You wait, please, I put cards down. Nobody touched.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
If you got.
Speaker 12 (11:47):
Head's gonna make all you happy as a duck in Arizona,
which a.
Speaker 9 (11:51):
Matter of kttle is game too rich for you?
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Not at all? I find it very interesting.
Speaker 9 (11:57):
Well, boys, my luck is turned.
Speaker 12 (12:00):
Yeah, go and get me a grub steak with the
winnings and have me a real nice score to take
your group sling ahead.
Speaker 8 (12:05):
Like you say, say, how about me, and you go
and pardon, Yeah, you.
Speaker 9 (12:11):
Might do that.
Speaker 6 (12:13):
You might have died.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
At that moment.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
The door opened and mister Hugh came in, followed by
the girl Chin shook me. She must have been in
the early twenties.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
She was quite beautiful. She didn't look at any of us.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
But moved behind mister Hugh's chair, staring black eyed expressionists.
Speaker 9 (12:35):
You tell her what happens if you lose.
Speaker 13 (12:37):
Your has been told?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
You bet her?
Speaker 13 (12:41):
Yes, I call you butt.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
We shook ye? All right?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
What do you got?
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Flush?
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Ha? Had you figured too bad?
Speaker 9 (12:53):
Kings and tennors full just.
Speaker 14 (12:56):
The moment, mister Johnson, aces and ladies full son about God,
you have one, mister Kendall.
Speaker 13 (13:07):
The money and the girl are yours. Most honored to
meet you. Mister Kendall, shookies. Belongings are at my house.
Do you wish how to bring them?
Speaker 10 (13:16):
Now?
Speaker 13 (13:17):
Well, I understand it is a matter of delicacy. You
live at the hotel, mister Kendall.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
No, I'm staying with Billy Moore.
Speaker 13 (13:25):
Belongings will be brought tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Most happy gentlemen.
Speaker 13 (13:29):
Good night.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
I'll catch eas in if you don't mind, mister Johnson
five hundred and sixty five dollars.
Speaker 9 (13:43):
I was pretty smart. More falling in a grip to clean.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
The sound on just a minute, Turkey, are you suggesting,
by any chance that I'm a cheat?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Mister Johnson?
Speaker 9 (13:54):
I'm saying there was more in luck in your deal.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
You're saying I cheated.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Here's your money?
Speaker 9 (14:04):
Come on, diggers.
Speaker 8 (14:09):
Never thought i'd see it, Turkey Johnson, back and down.
Speaker 11 (14:12):
You sure got his number.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Candle, say hey, what about her? I've been wondering.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Shook ye yes, master, No, no, not master. I'm kendle, Candle.
I think you better go back to mister Hughes's house now.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
Oh no, meeping off, Candle, Now, mister hugh not take
Schooky back.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
I not go back.
Speaker 11 (14:44):
Ain't gonna do no good, Candle. He wouldn't have it back. Oh,
you've got a lot of pride. He lost her fair
and square.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
She's yours.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
But I can't what the devil am I going to
do with her?
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Well?
Speaker 7 (14:53):
Now, good cook man clothes, very good, good enough for me.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
He will have to put up in your shock until
I can think of what to.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Do with her.
Speaker 11 (15:02):
It's fine with me, Candle, that's just fine.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
You and I will sleep outside.
Speaker 8 (15:06):
Now, hold on, boy, I don't mind giving up my bunk.
I can sleep on the floor. But there ain't no
sense in freezing to death. Maybe getting the rheumatic so
the heaves.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Well, perhaps you could stay at the hotel.
Speaker 8 (15:18):
I get her a room, neat room for a skinny
tick in there this time of night.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
All right, then it's got to be your place.
Speaker 10 (15:25):
Come on, had a nice night, ain't it?
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Candle?
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Uh? Yes, Starr, sure do.
Speaker 11 (15:40):
Look Pertie, you.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Comfortable, very comfortable, very nice.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Thank you, Kendle. How long have you been over here
for a year? What made you come?
Speaker 4 (15:52):
I was slave girl? Mister you send you by me?
I can't.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
I like you better.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
I think good to you.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
A slave is not a good thing, should he? No
one should be slave in this country? No slaves? Do
you understand?
Speaker 13 (16:12):
No?
Speaker 2 (16:14):
If I'm a slave, what I do? Well?
Speaker 1 (16:18):
What did you do in China?
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Slave?
Speaker 9 (16:21):
Very rich gentleman, lots of slaves, but he gets dry
couched by other rich gentlemen.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
Then I his slave. Then second rich gentleman sell me
to mister Hugh.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
He saw many slaves come to Marca. Now I use slave. No,
I don't want a slave.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
Then why you buy me.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
I didn't I won you in the poker game.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
If you lost, you would have paid money. Yes, then
you see you say.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
I am glad I not be won by that.
Speaker 9 (16:54):
No good Son of God, Turkey.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Johnson, you shouldn't say that. He bad words.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
I hear many people say so. I know, like the
way he look at me, Son of God, he SHOOKI.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
I'll help you.
Speaker 11 (17:12):
I'll get the horses fed and water. You want to
show her where to sleep?
Speaker 1 (17:16):
All right, it's your house. No, it's Billy's.
Speaker 7 (17:24):
He very rich man.
Speaker 11 (17:27):
Mister.
Speaker 13 (17:27):
You not have wood floor.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
You'll sleep here on this monk shooky where you sleep
outside with Billy? I sleep on floor, you sleep on
bun No.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
No, I'm going out to help her. Now you go
to bed. If your master will say, I will it.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Good night, Billy shed on the way.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Look, there is nothing to laugh about. Billy. What am
I going to do with her?
Speaker 11 (17:59):
She's your slate.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
If you figure it out.
Speaker 14 (18:01):
I mean it.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
I can't go traveling about with her.
Speaker 11 (18:04):
I wouldn't mind it.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Billy.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
It's serious you think if I have a talk with
mister Yule, I told you it's no good.
Speaker 9 (18:10):
Are you boys standing right there and I'll turn around.
I'll blow your inners out, Turkey Johnson, I take the
guns off him.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Sure, Turkey, sure.
Speaker 9 (18:23):
All right.
Speaker 12 (18:25):
Now you got my money, candle, you throw it behind
your real easy life.
Speaker 9 (18:33):
Alright, pick it up, Daggers. Now you gonna fetch a
gal out.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Sure, i'd advise you to keep your hands off her.
Speaker 9 (18:39):
Johnson, get going, Daggers.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
You advising nothing, can I'm gonna get you.
Speaker 11 (18:43):
Turkey. You will stretch in for this?
Speaker 9 (18:45):
Why you got me scared? Plumber? There?
Speaker 6 (18:47):
Hey, Turkey at there?
Speaker 4 (18:50):
We mean you.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Go out through the window.
Speaker 12 (18:53):
Well, fire her?
Speaker 1 (18:56):
All right, all right, forget the gal.
Speaker 9 (18:58):
Let's tail out of here. So long, boys, Thanks for
the grub steak.
Speaker 11 (19:05):
I'm gonna get there a minute.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
No, there's no sense without a gun.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Should have known and lo chok ye, noo shok ye.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
It's tender if gone. Where are you you got another gun, Billy?
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 11 (19:20):
Yeah, in the shack a rifle and a coat.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
I son of gone, Turkey Johnson, I go out the window.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Very sensible.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
You stay here with shookie, Billy, and I'm going after them.
Speaker 11 (19:31):
Well, i'll come too.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
No, you better stay in case they double back lock
yourselves in.
Speaker 11 (19:35):
Sure I will Candle. Sure, don't you worry about a thing.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I left Billy the rifle and took the coat and
rode after Johnson and Diggers. I hope they'd make for
dear Lodge, which is exactly what they didn't do.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
I found them in the least likely, but I.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Suppose most likely place for a man like Johnson, the
dead broke bar. They were celebrating, standing drinks to everybody
in the place.
Speaker 6 (20:06):
Set them up again.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
I have a curney wolf. Oh, don't bother me, boy,
Turn around, mister Johnson.
Speaker 12 (20:28):
Well, if it ain't, Lord Candle, what do you say
you are not?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Come on, have a drake?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Not with my own money.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Thanks, hand it over like a good fellow.
Speaker 9 (20:41):
Are you local? Mister? Your money cleaned you out? Ain't
there right? Daggers? Sure?
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Sure, Dad right? Turkey an unfortunate choice of words. I
say you're dead wrong, But either way, unless you give
it back, you'll most certainly be dead. I'm getting out
of here here.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
You want to draw first?
Speaker 1 (21:14):
No shooting on the bar, boys, you take it outside. Well,
you want to draw first, I have I'm not throw
your gun, dolt on the bron you two diggers, Johnson,
(21:37):
I have taken a great dislike to your face. Hold
this for me with your Barleep, get a nugget, Billy,
it's me Kendle.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Here's the guns.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Oh hello, Shooky, Hello, Well, what's the.
Speaker 11 (22:12):
Matter, Candle.
Speaker 8 (22:17):
I hope you don't take this wrong, but I kind
of well, i'd kind of like to buy.
Speaker 11 (22:25):
SHOOKI from you. What you see?
Speaker 8 (22:32):
Me and her we had a little talk while you
was gone, and she takes to me sort of and
I thought, maybe if I'm married her.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Strange man, you tell me to him he wants to
marry Well.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Do you want to marry him?
Speaker 2 (22:53):
I like?
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Next morning I was best man at their wedding and
mister Hugh gave shook Ye away. After the breakfast took
place at the Dead Broke Barn, I started off of
Fort Benfam, where I planned to take the river Steamer
down Missouri to write my reports of another part of
the West.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Frontier.
Speaker 5 (23:34):
Gentleman was written, produced, and directed by Anthony Ellis and
stars John Dayner, A. B. Kendall featured in the cast,
where Virginia Gregg, Vic Perrin, Jack Kruschian Ben Wright, and
Charlie Lung. Music was composed and conducted by Wilbur Hatch.
(24:00):
Join us again next week for another report from the
frontier gentleman John Wall speaking.
Speaker 11 (24:08):
This is the CBS Radio Network.
At dear Lodge in Montana Territory, I met a very
unusual young lady. Her Chinese name was Chen shuk Yi,
which in English means gentle virtue.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
This is her story.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Frontier Gentleman herewith.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
An Englishman's account of life and death in the West.
Speaker 5 (00:41):
As a reporter for the London Times, he writes his
colorful and unusual stories. But as a man with a gun,
he lives and becomes a part of the violent years
in the new territories. In just one minute, we will
bring you this latest report from the Frontier Gentleman.
Speaker 6 (00:58):
Hey, what do you think of my new sweat wing
fifty eight Dodge Journey.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Ain't she abute?
Speaker 6 (01:02):
Fine?
Speaker 1 (01:02):
That's really a big car. Big, I'll say, she's big.
Speaker 6 (01:06):
I'll stay here by the grill and you go take
a look at those swept wing fins at the rear.
Speaker 7 (01:10):
Okay, this is the longest lowest car I ever saw.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Come on back by the door.
Speaker 6 (01:26):
I'll show you the inside. Okay, Now look inside.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Wow, this Dodge is leaving side. Look how wide the
seats are. Who are the neighbors.
Speaker 6 (01:43):
I'm charging them a dollar an hour to sit there?
Come on, Wow, you really got a lot of car here.
Speaker 8 (01:51):
And with all this, Dodge's priced below fifty nine different
models of the low price field.
Speaker 9 (01:56):
Hey you want to go for a ride?
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Let me Synonymous and I'm Exhausted.
Speaker 5 (02:05):
Now starring John Dayner. This is the story of J. B. Kendall,
frontier gentleman.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
In Montana Territory, there is a mining town which has
been known variously as Cottonwood, Spanish Forks, and Labarns. Now
it is simply called Dear Lodge. I had stopped there
on my way back to Fort Benton, and there was
in Dear Lodge that I was, for the first time
produced to the card game of poker. It all began
(02:45):
innocently enough after I struck up a friendship with Billy Moore,
a prospector whose claim lay a few miles from town.
Speaker 8 (02:53):
You might call me kind of a cross between a
river sniper and a desert rat river sniper. That's what
I am here, gold panning like this course. M. Diggens
is back there on the hill. But I hit nothing
much yet. Dream's not bad though, keeps me going.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
It's a lonely job.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Imagine sometimes you ever think of settling down getting married? Sure?
Speaker 8 (03:22):
Sure, when I strike it big, I may do that. Meantime,
there's dear lodge close by. Don't get time to be
lonesome there.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
I haven't noticed you much of a drinking man.
Speaker 6 (03:33):
Oh I ain't. But there's always a card game baara, oh,
free card mody.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Poker.
Speaker 6 (03:40):
Poker's my game. Nothing I like more than a night
or two of poker.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Do you win?
Speaker 10 (03:45):
Not much?
Speaker 11 (03:47):
Stay about even mostly? How about you?
Speaker 9 (03:50):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Never played the game?
Speaker 10 (03:51):
In my life?
Speaker 9 (03:54):
You never played poker?
Speaker 1 (03:57):
No, well, boy, we sure got it.
Speaker 11 (04:00):
Do something about that.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
You think it's absolutely necessary.
Speaker 8 (04:03):
Mister candle, How are you going to write about how
people live in these parts if you ain't never played poker?
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Well, I never quite thought of it in that way.
Speaker 8 (04:11):
Well, it's a fact. I'll tell you what. This afternoon,
I'll show you how to play. There's nothing to it,
and then tonight we'll go town. There's always a real
friendly game at Dead Broke Bar.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
That evening we rode back into Deer Lounge. Billy had
pronounced an enabled student, and that with caution, I might
even add a dollar or two to my diminishing funds.
I had promised to limit myself to play with fifty
dollars and no more. When we arrived at the bar
and Billy led me to a table in the back room.
Two men were there, one may meet looking fellow whose
(04:52):
expression was one of constant hurt surprise. The other was
a la dark faced chap. Billy introduced her.
Speaker 9 (05:01):
This here is JB.
Speaker 11 (05:02):
Kendel.
Speaker 8 (05:02):
Boys Turkey jumpson Neil Daggers. Kennel's a newspaper fella from England,
writes for the London Times. Out here, looking it's over,
give us some chips, Turkey.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
How's it going Billy?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
And he pay dirt?
Speaker 11 (05:16):
How about saying I ain't complaining? What about you?
Speaker 5 (05:20):
I'm gonna give it another week and I'm pulling up
steaks you Turkey?
Speaker 9 (05:24):
Look you want to play your talk.
Speaker 8 (05:26):
Turkey ain't into mining business right now. Can't trying to
get steak playing poker trouble as he keeps on losing.
You feel lucky tonight, Turkey.
Speaker 9 (05:36):
And one of these days you're gonna get lead porson
if you don't shut your.
Speaker 8 (05:38):
Mouths nice friendly, because any then blue chips is worth
five dollars.
Speaker 11 (05:43):
Candle the reds two White's one all right.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Card deals king jack eight four?
Speaker 9 (05:52):
Your deal?
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Kennel, Oh oh, yes, the gold of cards boy.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Five five?
Speaker 9 (06:02):
I wait a minute.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Something the matter in these parts we cut the cards.
Speaker 11 (06:08):
Miss he's kind of I'll cut him goroll him around.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
I already cut the play with a green horn.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Sorry, I just deal, mister.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Fare open dollar, call, raise the dollar.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
No, thank you, not for me.
Speaker 11 (06:47):
I got a feeling you're telling a winded turkey.
Speaker 8 (06:50):
I'll see you. Give me three cards, Candle, I'll take two.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
M Billy won the first hand and the second. I
played very carefully, and at the end of an hour
it was about five dollars to the good. I could
see that Turkey Johnson resented both me and my playing,
even more so because he was losing his temper slowly
deteriorated with the quality of his cards. Then the door
(07:21):
opened and a small, pigtailed Chinese gentleman walked in.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
He had an ageless face, impassive.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
I didn't think you'd be.
Speaker 11 (07:32):
Coming, and I right rest saddled.
Speaker 10 (07:37):
Mister JB.
Speaker 11 (07:37):
Candle you he's from England.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
He's a candle.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
I am honor, is it, mister you?
Speaker 9 (07:43):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
How do you do so good?
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Evening? Mister?
Speaker 8 (07:47):
I come on, come on, come on, come on, your
deal I know it well deal chips please, mister Johnson,
fifty off. Hugh keeps a string of burrows, sells him
or ransom ornery as critters.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Oh, very intelligent, very noble animals.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Is that pretty Gurrios? You ain't seen her around?
Speaker 11 (08:08):
He keeps her head from the eyes and you you
are to see your candle. Real nice little Philly.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Is your daughter, mister h oh no, dot no.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
She's a girl from Hong Kong. She helps me with business.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Talk talk talk at your play candle.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
I opened for a dollar. Mister Hugh proved to be
astute but unlucky player, and Johnson began to win. For
the next two hours, the game see sawed back and forth,
and after that it became obvious that unless there was
a startling change, the big winner would be Johnson. The
(08:46):
loser mister u Billy, Neil Deggers.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
And myself were about even.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Then an extraordinary thing happened. I found myself at the
end of a draw, sitting with three aces and two queens.
The betting was up to Neil Diggers. At that time
there was fifty dollars.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
On the table.
Speaker 11 (09:05):
Two Now I'm folding two and I raised three.
Speaker 12 (09:12):
Yeah, this is a big one. All right, boys, I'm
calling and raising five of my own.
Speaker 11 (09:20):
You take it easy, Candle, judge your mouth more.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Ain't no sight playing this game.
Speaker 11 (09:24):
And I don't get riled.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Just keep your mouth shut.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
I'm sorry, gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Just give me a moment. Very well, I'll call ten dollars.
Speaker 9 (09:37):
Candle. You know it's gonna be a pleasure.
Speaker 12 (09:38):
Make you a holler, calf rope.
Speaker 9 (09:40):
It's gonna be no beginner's luck in this game.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
You're playing this to you? Oh and twenty five.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
You're raymon, glad, I'm out of this one.
Speaker 9 (09:51):
You're twenty five and up.
Speaker 6 (09:53):
Twenty five, Candle, you better get out some of a gun.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
I'm saying for the last time.
Speaker 10 (09:58):
More.
Speaker 9 (09:58):
You shut your mound.
Speaker 11 (09:59):
Now listen.
Speaker 6 (10:00):
Turkey's a friend of mine, mister Johnson's.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
He's quite right, Billy. I'd like to buy some more chips, please,
one hundred. Well, what's your play, mister?
Speaker 2 (10:11):
It cost you fifty better fifteen.
Speaker 11 (10:15):
You ain't gonna have enough left to dust your fiddles.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Fifty and raised fifty.
Speaker 11 (10:22):
It's near three hundred in years.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Yeah there, I got the.
Speaker 12 (10:26):
Dead wood on you, boys, But you keep her getting fat.
I ain't grumbling you're fifty, you and my fifty.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
It's another hundred, kindle yes, let's see all right, I call.
Speaker 13 (10:42):
Him mister turkey. There's five hundred dollars. I am now
without money. Still I wish to call you back.
Speaker 10 (10:54):
Oh that's too bad.
Speaker 9 (10:56):
Maybe you can get a loan.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Not tack a loan.
Speaker 9 (11:00):
Well what do you say you in rob How about
them burds?
Speaker 4 (11:04):
You won't steak them?
Speaker 13 (11:05):
No, not burrows? But uh maybe change shoo ky.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
I didn't know, son, you can.
Speaker 13 (11:18):
The girl should be worth an one hundred.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
I've seen a turkey.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
She's a looker.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
If you lose, can you guarantee you get her?
Speaker 2 (11:27):
I guarantee? How can you do that, mister Hugh?
Speaker 13 (11:30):
She belongs to me. I paid a half percent from China.
You wait, please, I put cards down. Nobody touched.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
If you got.
Speaker 12 (11:47):
Head's gonna make all you happy as a duck in Arizona,
which a.
Speaker 9 (11:51):
Matter of kttle is game too rich for you?
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Not at all? I find it very interesting.
Speaker 9 (11:57):
Well, boys, my luck is turned.
Speaker 12 (12:00):
Yeah, go and get me a grub steak with the
winnings and have me a real nice score to take
your group sling ahead.
Speaker 8 (12:05):
Like you say, say, how about me, and you go
and pardon, Yeah, you.
Speaker 9 (12:11):
Might do that.
Speaker 6 (12:13):
You might have died.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
At that moment.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
The door opened and mister Hugh came in, followed by
the girl Chin shook me. She must have been in
the early twenties.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
She was quite beautiful. She didn't look at any of us.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
But moved behind mister Hugh's chair, staring black eyed expressionists.
Speaker 9 (12:35):
You tell her what happens if you lose.
Speaker 13 (12:37):
Your has been told?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
You bet her?
Speaker 13 (12:41):
Yes, I call you butt.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
We shook ye? All right?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
What do you got?
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Flush?
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Ha? Had you figured too bad?
Speaker 9 (12:53):
Kings and tennors full just.
Speaker 14 (12:56):
The moment, mister Johnson, aces and ladies full son about God,
you have one, mister Kendall.
Speaker 13 (13:07):
The money and the girl are yours. Most honored to
meet you. Mister Kendall, shookies. Belongings are at my house.
Do you wish how to bring them?
Speaker 10 (13:16):
Now?
Speaker 13 (13:17):
Well, I understand it is a matter of delicacy. You
live at the hotel, mister Kendall.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
No, I'm staying with Billy Moore.
Speaker 13 (13:25):
Belongings will be brought tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Most happy gentlemen.
Speaker 13 (13:29):
Good night.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
I'll catch eas in if you don't mind, mister Johnson
five hundred and sixty five dollars.
Speaker 9 (13:43):
I was pretty smart. More falling in a grip to clean.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
The sound on just a minute, Turkey, are you suggesting,
by any chance that I'm a cheat?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Mister Johnson?
Speaker 9 (13:54):
I'm saying there was more in luck in your deal.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
You're saying I cheated.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Here's your money?
Speaker 9 (14:04):
Come on, diggers.
Speaker 8 (14:09):
Never thought i'd see it, Turkey Johnson, back and down.
Speaker 11 (14:12):
You sure got his number.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Candle, say hey, what about her? I've been wondering.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Shook ye yes, master, No, no, not master. I'm kendle, Candle.
I think you better go back to mister Hughes's house now.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
Oh no, meeping off, Candle, Now, mister hugh not take
Schooky back.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
I not go back.
Speaker 11 (14:44):
Ain't gonna do no good, Candle. He wouldn't have it back. Oh,
you've got a lot of pride. He lost her fair
and square.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
She's yours.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
But I can't what the devil am I going to
do with her?
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Well?
Speaker 7 (14:53):
Now, good cook man clothes, very good, good enough for me.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
He will have to put up in your shock until
I can think of what to.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Do with her.
Speaker 11 (15:02):
It's fine with me, Candle, that's just fine.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
You and I will sleep outside.
Speaker 8 (15:06):
Now, hold on, boy, I don't mind giving up my bunk.
I can sleep on the floor. But there ain't no
sense in freezing to death. Maybe getting the rheumatic so
the heaves.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Well, perhaps you could stay at the hotel.
Speaker 8 (15:18):
I get her a room, neat room for a skinny
tick in there this time of night.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
All right, then it's got to be your place.
Speaker 10 (15:25):
Come on, had a nice night, ain't it?
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Candle?
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Uh? Yes, Starr, sure do.
Speaker 11 (15:40):
Look Pertie, you.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Comfortable, very comfortable, very nice.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Thank you, Kendle. How long have you been over here
for a year? What made you come?
Speaker 4 (15:52):
I was slave girl? Mister you send you by me?
I can't.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
I like you better.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
I think good to you.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
A slave is not a good thing, should he? No
one should be slave in this country? No slaves? Do
you understand?
Speaker 13 (16:12):
No?
Speaker 2 (16:14):
If I'm a slave, what I do? Well?
Speaker 1 (16:18):
What did you do in China?
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Slave?
Speaker 9 (16:21):
Very rich gentleman, lots of slaves, but he gets dry
couched by other rich gentlemen.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
Then I his slave. Then second rich gentleman sell me
to mister Hugh.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
He saw many slaves come to Marca. Now I use slave. No,
I don't want a slave.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
Then why you buy me.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
I didn't I won you in the poker game.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
If you lost, you would have paid money. Yes, then
you see you say.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
I am glad I not be won by that.
Speaker 9 (16:54):
No good Son of God, Turkey.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Johnson, you shouldn't say that. He bad words.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
I hear many people say so. I know, like the
way he look at me, Son of God, he SHOOKI.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
I'll help you.
Speaker 11 (17:12):
I'll get the horses fed and water. You want to
show her where to sleep?
Speaker 1 (17:16):
All right, it's your house. No, it's Billy's.
Speaker 7 (17:24):
He very rich man.
Speaker 11 (17:27):
Mister.
Speaker 13 (17:27):
You not have wood floor.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
You'll sleep here on this monk shooky where you sleep
outside with Billy? I sleep on floor, you sleep on
bun No.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
No, I'm going out to help her. Now you go
to bed. If your master will say, I will it.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Good night, Billy shed on the way.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Look, there is nothing to laugh about. Billy. What am
I going to do with her?
Speaker 11 (17:59):
She's your slate.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
If you figure it out.
Speaker 14 (18:01):
I mean it.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
I can't go traveling about with her.
Speaker 11 (18:04):
I wouldn't mind it.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Billy.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
It's serious you think if I have a talk with
mister Yule, I told you it's no good.
Speaker 9 (18:10):
Are you boys standing right there and I'll turn around.
I'll blow your inners out, Turkey Johnson, I take the
guns off him.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Sure, Turkey, sure.
Speaker 9 (18:23):
All right.
Speaker 12 (18:25):
Now you got my money, candle, you throw it behind
your real easy life.
Speaker 9 (18:33):
Alright, pick it up, Daggers. Now you gonna fetch a
gal out.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Sure, i'd advise you to keep your hands off her.
Speaker 9 (18:39):
Johnson, get going, Daggers.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
You advising nothing, can I'm gonna get you.
Speaker 11 (18:43):
Turkey. You will stretch in for this?
Speaker 9 (18:45):
Why you got me scared? Plumber? There?
Speaker 6 (18:47):
Hey, Turkey at there?
Speaker 4 (18:50):
We mean you.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Go out through the window.
Speaker 12 (18:53):
Well, fire her?
Speaker 1 (18:56):
All right, all right, forget the gal.
Speaker 9 (18:58):
Let's tail out of here. So long, boys, Thanks for
the grub steak.
Speaker 11 (19:05):
I'm gonna get there a minute.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
No, there's no sense without a gun.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Should have known and lo chok ye, noo shok ye.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
It's tender if gone. Where are you you got another gun, Billy?
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 11 (19:20):
Yeah, in the shack a rifle and a coat.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
I son of gone, Turkey Johnson, I go out the window.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Very sensible.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
You stay here with shookie, Billy, and I'm going after them.
Speaker 11 (19:31):
Well, i'll come too.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
No, you better stay in case they double back lock
yourselves in.
Speaker 11 (19:35):
Sure I will Candle. Sure, don't you worry about a thing.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I left Billy the rifle and took the coat and
rode after Johnson and Diggers. I hope they'd make for
dear Lodge, which is exactly what they didn't do.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
I found them in the least likely, but I.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Suppose most likely place for a man like Johnson, the
dead broke bar. They were celebrating, standing drinks to everybody
in the place.
Speaker 6 (20:06):
Set them up again.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
I have a curney wolf. Oh, don't bother me, boy,
Turn around, mister Johnson.
Speaker 12 (20:28):
Well, if it ain't, Lord Candle, what do you say
you are not?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Come on, have a drake?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Not with my own money.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Thanks, hand it over like a good fellow.
Speaker 9 (20:41):
Are you local? Mister? Your money cleaned you out? Ain't
there right? Daggers? Sure?
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Sure, Dad right? Turkey an unfortunate choice of words. I
say you're dead wrong, But either way, unless you give
it back, you'll most certainly be dead. I'm getting out
of here here.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
You want to draw first?
Speaker 1 (21:14):
No shooting on the bar, boys, you take it outside. Well,
you want to draw first, I have I'm not throw
your gun, dolt on the bron you two diggers, Johnson,
(21:37):
I have taken a great dislike to your face. Hold
this for me with your Barleep, get a nugget, Billy,
it's me Kendle.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Here's the guns.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Oh hello, Shooky, Hello, Well, what's the.
Speaker 11 (22:12):
Matter, Candle.
Speaker 8 (22:17):
I hope you don't take this wrong, but I kind
of well, i'd kind of like to buy.
Speaker 11 (22:25):
SHOOKI from you. What you see?
Speaker 8 (22:32):
Me and her we had a little talk while you
was gone, and she takes to me sort of and
I thought, maybe if I'm married her.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Strange man, you tell me to him he wants to
marry Well.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Do you want to marry him?
Speaker 2 (22:53):
I like?
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Next morning I was best man at their wedding and
mister Hugh gave shook Ye away. After the breakfast took
place at the Dead Broke Barn, I started off of
Fort Benfam, where I planned to take the river Steamer
down Missouri to write my reports of another part of
the West.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Frontier.
Speaker 5 (23:34):
Gentleman was written, produced, and directed by Anthony Ellis and
stars John Dayner, A. B. Kendall featured in the cast,
where Virginia Gregg, Vic Perrin, Jack Kruschian Ben Wright, and
Charlie Lung. Music was composed and conducted by Wilbur Hatch.
(24:00):
Join us again next week for another report from the
frontier gentleman John Wall speaking.
Speaker 11 (24:08):
This is the CBS Radio Network.
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