August 29, 2025 • 25 mins
Have Gun Will Travel was a popular western radio drama series that ran from 1958 to 1960. It debuted as a television series in 1957 and was one of only a few American television programs that paved the way for a radio version. Although the radio show initially featured stories adapted from television, many of the 106 radio episodes were original stories. The stories follow the adventures of Paladin, played by John Dehner.
Hope you enjoy this episode of Have Gun Will Travel! 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
Hope you enjoy this episode of Have Gun Will Travel! 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
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Keeping your wife in an ivory tower won't ensure you
heard devotion. Once she gets tired of it, neither your
money nor your guns will hold her. Have gun will travel.
(00:38):
Starring mister John Dayner as Paladin, San Francisco, eighteen seventy five,
The Carlton Hotel, headquarters of a man called Paladin, going.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Back to Mara. You sure you won't have another drink?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
No? No thanks, Meet you downstairs in the morning.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
I'll be ready. Good night, Good night, Jeremiah.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
Hello, miss Wong.
Speaker 5 (01:16):
We all please turn down the bed.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Ma, yes, come in, miss Wan. Oh and if you
don't mind, you can help me pack.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
We leave you go away again?
Speaker 6 (01:26):
So soon?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Looks that way, miss Wong, first thing in the morning.
Speaker 5 (01:29):
Oh, you'd be gone long time.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Hard to tell. It's such an unusual job. Do you
see that man who left my room?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
He's a very famous man, for it was at one
time Jeremiah Smooth or Jeremiah the Avenger, they.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Used to call him. Oh, why famous? He was the
man with a lightning draw, the fastest gun on this
side of the Mississippi, feared by every gunfighter in the West.
And do you know what he wants me for? No?
Speaker 5 (01:58):
Why he want you so file little?
Speaker 1 (02:01):
He wants me to be his bodyguard. Ah, this is
the cold season. What the medical authorities say about the
common cold. Doctors tell us there's no known drug which
will cure a cold. There are effective medications for treating
(02:24):
complications accompanying or following a cold. If you've been taking
sensible precautions and still have one cold after another, it's
best to see your doctor. And here's another important health tip.
When you have a cold and need a laxative, that's
the time to rely on gentle x lax, pleasant tasting,
chocolated x slax helps you toward your normal regularity gently overnight.
(02:46):
X lax gets along with any cold remedies you may
be taking. And xlax works where nature wants in the
lower track, not the stomach. X lax is so gentle,
so close to natural acting. There's no upset, no urgency
or discomfort. Next morning you're well on your way toward
your normal regularity. So when you have a cold and
need a laxative, take x lax, the laxative you can
(03:07):
use with complete confidence. X lax helps you toward your
normal regularity gently overnight.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
X lax. I must admit I was intrigued with the
irony of the situation. Jeremiah the Avenger, the man who
could take care of himself, and then the other man
in the west hiring me to protect him from himself.
As it worked out, the reasons for his strange action
(03:34):
were revealed as he rode south through the Salinas Valley
on our way to his spread. We were the only
two passengers left on the stage after King City, and
last he could speak freely, see Belladin.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
I hung up my guns when I got married.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
That's what Polly wanted. Polly's what I wanted. So we
up and there came out here from West.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Texas, started this spread down the Chubushcod and everything worked
out fine. Nobody knew who I was, or who Polly
was for that matter.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Wash you well, you must know she was an entertainer.
It's the bird cage and Abileen. Oh, I see, well,
them kind often make the best wives. Yeah, so I've heard,
well Polly did all right.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
You've got no cause making any remarks about her.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Look, Jerry, I wasn't making any remarks. I was agreeing
with you. No need for you to be so touchy.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah, I guess maybe I am a mine. It's all
a fault of this here neighbor of mine, this Ezram Mason.
What has he got to do with your being touchy?
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
It seemed like he finds some excuse to drop in
over to my place almost every day. Say how toy
to my wife? Now, then you can put your finger
on really, but I don't trust him. Now, That's what
I'm paying you for, ballad, and to straighten this thing out.
If I try to, I only know one way with
a forty five. I can't do that because I promised
Polly I was through with gunplay for the minute I
(04:55):
slipped that ring on her finger, and I mean to
keep that promise. You sound like an mighty devoted husband, Jerry.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
They voted.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
I just told you I hung up my guns for
Polly and for me that was doing a lot.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yes, it was, Jeremiah, an awful lot.
Speaker 7 (05:12):
Oh you never didn't kind And you're oh hot, Stephen Hiss,
(05:32):
send your palette and gonna stay with us a spell,
uh steben.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
And it happened whilst.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
I was away.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Nose in your orders, been quiet, no visitors. Now, isn't
your nun god all right to take care of the horses.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Stephen, come on, Pat, want you to meet the little woman.
Winston tastes good like a cigarette should.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Winston tastes good like a cigarette should.
Speaker 6 (06:10):
Winston gives you real flavor, full rich tobacco flavor.
Speaker 8 (06:15):
Winston's easy trying to the flavor comes right through to you.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Winston tastes good like us cigarette shure.
Speaker 9 (06:26):
A modern filter, Sure, Winston has it, but that's only
the beginning of a Winston up front. Upward, it really counts.
Winston packs exclusive filter blend, light flavorful tobaccos, specially selected
and specially processed for filter smoking.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Filter Blend.
Speaker 9 (06:44):
That's why it's fun to smoke Winston, America's best selling
filter cigarette.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
Winston tastes good like a cigarette should.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Although Jeremiah had prepared me for a great deal, he
had not done his wife, Polly Justice.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
She was beautiful, frail, blonde, her skin almost translucent to
a white orchard.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
She received me in the darkened living room of the hacienda,
where her paleness seemed to shine, for the windows were
heavily curtained from the midday sun, and only a glimmer
of daylight retreated before the steady glow of the candles
which surrounded her chair.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Like a shrine.
Speaker 5 (07:31):
You must forgive me for not meeting you outside, mister Paladin's.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
That's all right, ma'am.
Speaker 5 (07:35):
I never go out of doors in the daylight.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, she freckled too easy.
Speaker 5 (07:39):
Yes, Dearma, I fear your Polly would always be a nice.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Eh, Miss Paladins from San Francisco. Polly I asked him
to stop him visit with us to spell how nice?
Speaker 5 (07:51):
How is San Francisco, mister Paladin's, Is it as gay
as they say?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Well, yes, I suppose it is. How long has it
been since you've been there?
Speaker 5 (08:00):
I've never been there, but I've always dreamed of going.
Jeremiah keeps promising to take me, but he never does.
Perhaps you would show me San Francisco someday, mister Paladin.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Well, yes, of course, missus smooth before you, du Paladin,
I'd just like to direct your attention to that wall
over there by the fireplace. Ah. Yes, the guns, that's right,
they're beauties. That's where I hung them when Polly made
me promise not to use them. Don't you be doing
nothing to make me want to break that.
Speaker 5 (08:28):
Promise, Jeremah, I was only joking when I asked mister
Paladin to show me something.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
If I know you, I just wanted to make sure
he knows it. Well, we better get along. Let you
take your beauty in that Polly. Yes, Jeremy, we'll be
looking in on your lawn up sundown.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
Yes, about sundown. I come alive at nightfall, mister Paladin, Yes.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Ma'am, see what I mean?
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Paladin regularly, lady.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Yes, indeed, there's nothing I wouldn't do for her except
break my promise to take down my gun. That's why
I keep him over in her police her place. Don't
you live there too? No, no, no, I sleep in
the main house. She asked for her own separate way,
and she got it, and it works out real nice,
you know, sort of exciting. You have to call on
(09:23):
your own wife. Yes, I suppose it would be, just.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
As long as I'm the only one that's calling.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
And that's where I come in.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
You got to break up her friendship with Mason before
I'm forced to kill him and lose Polly into the bargain.
I'll get to work under this.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Afternoon, after lunch, I sidled up and rode over alone
to pay a visit on Ezra Mason.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I found him out by his corral. Younger man and Jeremiah,
I must admit, a better looking man, and.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
I soon discovered a man who was none too friendly.
Mind state in your business, not at all. I'd fear
to be lost. I thought you might be able to
give me some directions.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Where you going?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Well, I'm looking for Jeremiah the Avenger.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
Jeremiah the Avenger?
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Who's he? I mean to say, you've never heard of him? Huh?
Not likely?
Speaker 3 (10:18):
I remember the name like that.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Oh, he was a famous gunfighter. He had a draw
like lightning.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
At a fact, nothing ever seemed like old Jeremiah. But
I hear he got himself married and promised his wife
he'd quit gunfighting. He heard he got himself a spread
out in these parts.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
I never heard of o Jeremiah the Avenger around here.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Oh well, of course he did have a regular name.
Smoot was Smoot's a there's a Jerry Smoot on down
the valley a piece. Well, that must be him.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Ah, but he doesn't look like no gunfighter to me.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
He got himself a young wife. Yeah, name of Polly, Yeah, pretty,
i'd say so.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Oh, friend, you'd better not say, so, where Jeremiah can
hear you?
Speaker 4 (11:06):
Why not?
Speaker 2 (11:07):
When he put up his guns like Polly asked him,
he vowed there was only one reason he'd ever take
him down again. Why is that to kill the man
who tried to take his wife away from him.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
They don't call him Jeremiah the Avenger for nothing. He's mean, nasty,
mean jealous. Well on down the valley, you say, huh,
thanks for the directions.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
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Speaker 1 (11:43):
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Although the Lovely Polly claimed to be a night bird,
she did not last long that evening and retire to
her quarter shortly after supper. Jeremiah and I were too
(12:58):
tired to be very entertaining, so we turned in early
and I fell immediately into a deep sleep. Some time later,
I was awakened by the sound of shots. I jumped
out of bed, pulled on my trousers, and rushed into
the patio. There, in the moonlight lay the still body
of Ezra Mason, and crouching over it the huge.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Frame of Jeremiah.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
He made no effort to deny that he had shot
and killed Ezra Mason, and he wanted to get himself up,
so he saddled up and rode into town to see
the sheriff.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Oh yeah, Finn, he up and did it, Jeremiah reckon,
So sheriff tried to hold on him a promise, even
hired Balladin here to keep me from my guns. Torn
looked good. And you see a dirty sneak heading in
your wife's direction, you shoot first and talk after. Well,
he had it coming to him, I reckon. Of course,
I'm going to have to hold you without bail.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Jeremiah. Yeah, I understand.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Bet you'd be out of here mighty quick. You don't
have to be no learned judge to know a man's got.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
A right to protect his property. You know something, Sheriff.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
It don't really seem to matter now what No man,
whether judge lets me go or or the boar strang
me up.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
I just don't care, just don't seem care.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Sure, sure way, you get some sleep now, Jerry, And
don't you worry none. Come on, ballum, good night. Jeremiah. Yeah,
poor fellow's upset. Can't blame him though, killing a man
in cool blood and that never upset Jeremiah the Avenger
before Sharon. Jeremiah the Avenger, that's right. I keep forgetting
(14:28):
the reputation he used to have. I don't think he
killed Mason. Oh, he admits, to it. He had plenty
of motive. Why he even warned me, told me weeks
ago that if Mason didn't stop hanging around his place,
there'd be troubled I know. But he also was so
afraid he'd break his word and put on his guns
again that he hired me to keep him out of trouble.
Still there he was when you found him standing over
(14:50):
the body, holding his own gun in his hand. And
that's true. That's all evidence, And he judge your jury
in need, and it's all circumstantial, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Yeah, all right, then listen to some more evidence, inferential evidence.
Jeremiah was known to be the deadliest shot in the West,
wasn't her? He never took more than one round to
finish off his opponent. He was a great artist.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Ezra Mason was murdered by an amateur, a butcher of bullets.
What do you mean?
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Three shots were fired into him, two completely missing the
vital areas, one in the leg, one on the shoulder.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Now at the.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Third bullet, a lucky blow hadn't gone through the brain,
Mason would be alive this minute. No, Sheriff, you can
never convince me that such inept marksmanship with the work
of Jeremiah.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Well, if he didn't do it, who did? Maybe I
can find out for you, Sheriff. Much much of a
Toepritos corn chips.
Speaker 6 (15:50):
It's not polite.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
It does not your lips.
Speaker 6 (15:52):
Munch again, help it with Brito's corn chips munch of
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Speaker 1 (16:00):
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Speaker 2 (16:19):
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Speaker 1 (16:21):
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Speaker 6 (16:40):
Munch, munch of Ventipritos corn chips.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Polly was still awake when I got back to the ranch.
I found her lying back on her chaise loam, surrounded
by flickering candles.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
On the wall where the fireplace hung.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Jeremiah's unbelt, and as I expected, one of the guns
was missing from its holster.
Speaker 5 (17:04):
The sheriff arrested him.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Oh, yes, take his confession, locked him up.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
What will they do to him?
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Oh? Not a great deal. He'll get out.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
He'll get out the.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Unwritten law, the right of a man to protect his
home and family. Uh aren't you relieved? No, you hate
your husband, don't you?
Speaker 5 (17:26):
Of course I hate him. He treated me like the
lives talk, like a special and rare specimen.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Polly his nightbird.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
He called me, who leave me? Everything I asked for?
Only only I didn't.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Love him, But you did love Ezra Mason.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
Yes, and he loved me, or I thought he did
until the night.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
And when you found he didn't. You killed him.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
I didn't kill him. Jeremarah killed him.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
He confessed to it.
Speaker 5 (17:51):
The Sheriff's arrested him for it.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
He confessed to protect you.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Mason was killed with one of Jeremiah's guns, the one
that's missing from that holster on the wall there.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
He couldn't have used it. He was asleep in the
main house.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
You shot Mason, dropped the gun by his body, and
ran back here.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Jeremiah was wakened by the noise, so was I. I
found him standing over the body holding the gun because that's.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
The way he wanted to be found. He knew you
had shot Mason, but he wanted it to look like
he did.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
I may have shot him, but Jeremiah killed him.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Ah, that doesn't make much sense.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
Do you know why Ezra Mason came here tonight? No,
but I can guess he came here to say goodbye,
to call the whole thing off. He was walking out
on me. Why because he loved himself more than he
did me, just like Jeremiah, Just like every man when
the chips are down, they don't know what love he is.
They're the takers of the world. Well, this is one
(18:48):
little lady that's been taken for the last time. I'll
tell you why Isra wanted to walk out on me, Paladin,
because he was afraid.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Afraid.
Speaker 5 (18:58):
He didn't know who Jeremiah really was until you had
to go and tell him.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I was doing my job.
Speaker 5 (19:03):
Oh, you sure were. So when Ezra learned who Jeremiah
really was, he didn't waste any time making it clear
that I wasn't worth risking his neck for God. Don't
you see, Paladin, he was afraid he was a coward,
and I thought he was a man. A woman'll do
anything for a man, but there's only one thing to
do for a coward, shoot him, So I did.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
I see.
Speaker 5 (19:26):
But it hasn't turned out badly. Really, Jeremiah will be acquitted,
and by the time he's free, I'll be gone, out
of his life.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Gone. But he confessed to this murder to protect you, exactly.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
To buy me to put another bar on my cage,
and how he'll use this to make me throw the
mark Now no longer I won't be here.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Where'd he go? I?
Speaker 5 (19:49):
I was thinking of San Francisco. You promised to show
it to me.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Remember, I remember?
Speaker 5 (19:56):
And I believe you're a man, Balad. You wouldn't be
afraid of any man, would you, not, even Jeremiah?
Speaker 2 (20:03):
The Avengies.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Regardless of the question of my personal courage, they're a
matter of my personal integrity.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
I happen to be in the employee of Jeremiah at the.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
Moment, who then quit is of this moment and take
me to San Francisco?
Speaker 6 (20:16):
With you right now.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
You amaze me, don't you find me attracked? Oh? Yes,
very I don't usually have to ask, I'm sure of that.
But these are rather unusual circumstances.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
You won't regret it.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
You seem to have ignored a rather depressing fact. A
murder has been committed here, and you are the confessed murderer.
Speaker 5 (20:36):
Who knows, but you forget it, Paladin. Come on, let's
get started for San Francisco.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
No, let's get started for town.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
You really mean it, don't you.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
I'm afraid I do. No, No, I won't keep away
from there.
Speaker 6 (20:52):
No.
Speaker 5 (20:53):
He hung up his guns because I ask him to.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
So who is a better rod to use them?
Speaker 5 (20:58):
I'll use this one on you. One gun for Ezron,
one gun for Paladin.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Drop it, drop it?
Speaker 5 (21:07):
You would shoot me, would you?
Speaker 2 (21:10):
If I had to?
Speaker 5 (21:16):
You are a man, really a man? Don't shoot me, Paladin,
Love me as I deserve to be loved. Take me
away from here, Take me with you.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I'll take you away from here pod San Francisco. That
depends on where the judge wants to hold your trial.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Next time you refresh enjoy of prosty ice cold Pepsicola.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Sociability Charlie.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
All right, Kay, how's this Pepsi is light refreshers without filling.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
You like to refresh? Have a pepsi right now. We'll
offer it to everybody, charl I will.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Enjoy pepsi at the fountain. It's delicious at home too.
Have one at lunch or with a snack John, at
the beach, or at dinner. Wherever you go, wherever you're thirsty,
pepsi is there.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
It's here too. In our Be sociable, sound, be sociable.
Speaker 8 (22:18):
Love sard, keep popple to name with them, drink lightly,
refreshing them me stay, be sociable, Have a pepsy for
the weekend.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
Have plenty of pepsi around. Pick up an extra carton today.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
C K. I'm sociable with pepsi.
Speaker 6 (22:42):
Everyone is.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Have Gun We'll Travel.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
By Herb Meadow and Sam Raw He is Proteo stand
directed in Hollywood by Frank Parris and stars John Damer
as Paladin, with Ben Wright as hey Boy and Virginia
greg as Miss Wan. Tonight's story was specially written for
Have Gun, Will Travel.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
By William N. Robson. Featured in the cast were Lawrence.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Gopkin, Jack Moyles, Bill Idelson and Lynn Allen. This is
Hugh Douglas inviting you to join us again next week
when CBS Radio presents Have Gun, Will travel a
Keeping your wife in an ivory tower won't ensure you
heard devotion. Once she gets tired of it, neither your
money nor your guns will hold her. Have gun will travel.
(00:38):
Starring mister John Dayner as Paladin, San Francisco, eighteen seventy five,
The Carlton Hotel, headquarters of a man called Paladin, going.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Back to Mara. You sure you won't have another drink?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
No? No thanks, Meet you downstairs in the morning.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
I'll be ready. Good night, Good night, Jeremiah.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
Hello, miss Wong.
Speaker 5 (01:16):
We all please turn down the bed.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Ma, yes, come in, miss Wan. Oh and if you
don't mind, you can help me pack.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
We leave you go away again?
Speaker 6 (01:26):
So soon?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Looks that way, miss Wong, first thing in the morning.
Speaker 5 (01:29):
Oh, you'd be gone long time.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Hard to tell. It's such an unusual job. Do you
see that man who left my room?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
He's a very famous man, for it was at one
time Jeremiah Smooth or Jeremiah the Avenger, they.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Used to call him. Oh, why famous? He was the
man with a lightning draw, the fastest gun on this
side of the Mississippi, feared by every gunfighter in the West.
And do you know what he wants me for? No?
Speaker 5 (01:58):
Why he want you so file little?
Speaker 1 (02:01):
He wants me to be his bodyguard. Ah, this is
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(03:07):
use with complete confidence. X lax helps you toward your
normal regularity gently overnight.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
X lax. I must admit I was intrigued with the
irony of the situation. Jeremiah the Avenger, the man who
could take care of himself, and then the other man
in the west hiring me to protect him from himself.
As it worked out, the reasons for his strange action
(03:34):
were revealed as he rode south through the Salinas Valley
on our way to his spread. We were the only
two passengers left on the stage after King City, and
last he could speak freely, see Belladin.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
I hung up my guns when I got married.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
That's what Polly wanted. Polly's what I wanted. So we
up and there came out here from West.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Texas, started this spread down the Chubushcod and everything worked
out fine. Nobody knew who I was, or who Polly
was for that matter.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Wash you well, you must know she was an entertainer.
It's the bird cage and Abileen. Oh, I see, well,
them kind often make the best wives. Yeah, so I've heard,
well Polly did all right.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
You've got no cause making any remarks about her.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Look, Jerry, I wasn't making any remarks. I was agreeing
with you. No need for you to be so touchy.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah, I guess maybe I am a mine. It's all
a fault of this here neighbor of mine, this Ezram Mason.
What has he got to do with your being touchy?
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
It seemed like he finds some excuse to drop in
over to my place almost every day. Say how toy
to my wife? Now, then you can put your finger
on really, but I don't trust him. Now, That's what
I'm paying you for, ballad, and to straighten this thing out.
If I try to, I only know one way with
a forty five. I can't do that because I promised
Polly I was through with gunplay for the minute I
(04:55):
slipped that ring on her finger, and I mean to
keep that promise. You sound like an mighty devoted husband, Jerry.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
They voted.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
I just told you I hung up my guns for
Polly and for me that was doing a lot.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yes, it was, Jeremiah, an awful lot.
Speaker 7 (05:12):
Oh you never didn't kind And you're oh hot, Stephen Hiss,
(05:32):
send your palette and gonna stay with us a spell,
uh steben.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
And it happened whilst.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
I was away.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Nose in your orders, been quiet, no visitors. Now, isn't
your nun god all right to take care of the horses.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Stephen, come on, Pat, want you to meet the little woman.
Winston tastes good like a cigarette should.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Winston tastes good like a cigarette should.
Speaker 6 (06:10):
Winston gives you real flavor, full rich tobacco flavor.
Speaker 8 (06:15):
Winston's easy trying to the flavor comes right through to you.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Winston tastes good like us cigarette shure.
Speaker 9 (06:26):
A modern filter, Sure, Winston has it, but that's only
the beginning of a Winston up front. Upward, it really counts.
Winston packs exclusive filter blend, light flavorful tobaccos, specially selected
and specially processed for filter smoking.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Filter Blend.
Speaker 9 (06:44):
That's why it's fun to smoke Winston, America's best selling
filter cigarette.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
Winston tastes good like a cigarette should.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Although Jeremiah had prepared me for a great deal, he
had not done his wife, Polly Justice.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
She was beautiful, frail, blonde, her skin almost translucent to
a white orchard.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
She received me in the darkened living room of the hacienda,
where her paleness seemed to shine, for the windows were
heavily curtained from the midday sun, and only a glimmer
of daylight retreated before the steady glow of the candles
which surrounded her chair.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Like a shrine.
Speaker 5 (07:31):
You must forgive me for not meeting you outside, mister Paladin's.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
That's all right, ma'am.
Speaker 5 (07:35):
I never go out of doors in the daylight.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, she freckled too easy.
Speaker 5 (07:39):
Yes, Dearma, I fear your Polly would always be a nice.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Eh, Miss Paladins from San Francisco. Polly I asked him
to stop him visit with us to spell how nice?
Speaker 5 (07:51):
How is San Francisco, mister Paladin's, Is it as gay
as they say?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Well, yes, I suppose it is. How long has it
been since you've been there?
Speaker 5 (08:00):
I've never been there, but I've always dreamed of going.
Jeremiah keeps promising to take me, but he never does.
Perhaps you would show me San Francisco someday, mister Paladin.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Well, yes, of course, missus smooth before you, du Paladin,
I'd just like to direct your attention to that wall
over there by the fireplace. Ah. Yes, the guns, that's right,
they're beauties. That's where I hung them when Polly made
me promise not to use them. Don't you be doing
nothing to make me want to break that.
Speaker 5 (08:28):
Promise, Jeremah, I was only joking when I asked mister
Paladin to show me something.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
If I know you, I just wanted to make sure
he knows it. Well, we better get along. Let you
take your beauty in that Polly. Yes, Jeremy, we'll be
looking in on your lawn up sundown.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
Yes, about sundown. I come alive at nightfall, mister Paladin, Yes.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Ma'am, see what I mean?
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Paladin regularly, lady.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Yes, indeed, there's nothing I wouldn't do for her except
break my promise to take down my gun. That's why
I keep him over in her police her place. Don't
you live there too? No, no, no, I sleep in
the main house. She asked for her own separate way,
and she got it, and it works out real nice,
you know, sort of exciting. You have to call on
(09:23):
your own wife. Yes, I suppose it would be, just.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
As long as I'm the only one that's calling.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
And that's where I come in.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
You got to break up her friendship with Mason before
I'm forced to kill him and lose Polly into the bargain.
I'll get to work under this.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Afternoon, after lunch, I sidled up and rode over alone
to pay a visit on Ezra Mason.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I found him out by his corral. Younger man and Jeremiah,
I must admit, a better looking man, and.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
I soon discovered a man who was none too friendly.
Mind state in your business, not at all. I'd fear
to be lost. I thought you might be able to
give me some directions.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Where you going?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Well, I'm looking for Jeremiah the Avenger.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
Jeremiah the Avenger?
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Who's he? I mean to say, you've never heard of him? Huh?
Not likely?
Speaker 3 (10:18):
I remember the name like that.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Oh, he was a famous gunfighter. He had a draw
like lightning.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
At a fact, nothing ever seemed like old Jeremiah. But
I hear he got himself married and promised his wife
he'd quit gunfighting. He heard he got himself a spread
out in these parts.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
I never heard of o Jeremiah the Avenger around here.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Oh well, of course he did have a regular name.
Smoot was Smoot's a there's a Jerry Smoot on down
the valley a piece. Well, that must be him.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Ah, but he doesn't look like no gunfighter to me.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
He got himself a young wife. Yeah, name of Polly, Yeah, pretty,
i'd say so.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Oh, friend, you'd better not say, so, where Jeremiah can
hear you?
Speaker 4 (11:06):
Why not?
Speaker 2 (11:07):
When he put up his guns like Polly asked him,
he vowed there was only one reason he'd ever take
him down again. Why is that to kill the man
who tried to take his wife away from him.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
They don't call him Jeremiah the Avenger for nothing. He's mean, nasty,
mean jealous. Well on down the valley, you say, huh,
thanks for the directions.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
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Although the Lovely Polly claimed to be a night bird,
she did not last long that evening and retire to
her quarter shortly after supper. Jeremiah and I were too
(12:58):
tired to be very entertaining, so we turned in early
and I fell immediately into a deep sleep. Some time later,
I was awakened by the sound of shots. I jumped
out of bed, pulled on my trousers, and rushed into
the patio. There, in the moonlight lay the still body
of Ezra Mason, and crouching over it the huge.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Frame of Jeremiah.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
He made no effort to deny that he had shot
and killed Ezra Mason, and he wanted to get himself up,
so he saddled up and rode into town to see
the sheriff.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Oh yeah, Finn, he up and did it, Jeremiah reckon,
So sheriff tried to hold on him a promise, even
hired Balladin here to keep me from my guns. Torn
looked good. And you see a dirty sneak heading in
your wife's direction, you shoot first and talk after. Well,
he had it coming to him, I reckon. Of course,
I'm going to have to hold you without bail.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Jeremiah. Yeah, I understand.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Bet you'd be out of here mighty quick. You don't
have to be no learned judge to know a man's got.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
A right to protect his property. You know something, Sheriff.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
It don't really seem to matter now what No man,
whether judge lets me go or or the boar strang
me up.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
I just don't care, just don't seem care.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Sure, sure way, you get some sleep now, Jerry, And
don't you worry none. Come on, ballum, good night. Jeremiah. Yeah,
poor fellow's upset. Can't blame him though, killing a man
in cool blood and that never upset Jeremiah the Avenger
before Sharon. Jeremiah the Avenger, that's right. I keep forgetting
(14:28):
the reputation he used to have. I don't think he
killed Mason. Oh, he admits, to it. He had plenty
of motive. Why he even warned me, told me weeks
ago that if Mason didn't stop hanging around his place,
there'd be troubled I know. But he also was so
afraid he'd break his word and put on his guns
again that he hired me to keep him out of trouble.
Still there he was when you found him standing over
(14:50):
the body, holding his own gun in his hand. And
that's true. That's all evidence, And he judge your jury
in need, and it's all circumstantial, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Yeah, all right, then listen to some more evidence, inferential evidence.
Jeremiah was known to be the deadliest shot in the West,
wasn't her? He never took more than one round to
finish off his opponent. He was a great artist.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Ezra Mason was murdered by an amateur, a butcher of bullets.
What do you mean?
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Three shots were fired into him, two completely missing the
vital areas, one in the leg, one on the shoulder.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Now at the.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Third bullet, a lucky blow hadn't gone through the brain,
Mason would be alive this minute. No, Sheriff, you can
never convince me that such inept marksmanship with the work
of Jeremiah.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Well, if he didn't do it, who did? Maybe I
can find out for you, Sheriff. Much much of a
Toepritos corn chips.
Speaker 6 (15:50):
It's not polite.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
It does not your lips.
Speaker 6 (15:52):
Munch again, help it with Brito's corn chips munch of
Anebritos corn chips.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Us have a perfect after school or between neil snack.
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treat for children and grown ups alike. Frieto's corn chips
are full of such good crisp flavor, such good for
you nourishment. There's contentment in every much munch munch munch of.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Entipritos corn chips.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Whenever you want good munching, get Fritos corn chips. Whenever
you want to add zip to a lunchbox, to salad,
soup or sandwiches, serve Fritos corn chips. They're America's favorite.
Golden chips of corn, just made to munch. F r
I t o s Freetos corn chips, munch.
Speaker 6 (16:40):
Munch, munch of Ventipritos corn chips.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Polly was still awake when I got back to the ranch.
I found her lying back on her chaise loam, surrounded
by flickering candles.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
On the wall where the fireplace hung.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Jeremiah's unbelt, and as I expected, one of the guns
was missing from its holster.
Speaker 5 (17:04):
The sheriff arrested him.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Oh, yes, take his confession, locked him up.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
What will they do to him?
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Oh? Not a great deal. He'll get out.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
He'll get out the.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Unwritten law, the right of a man to protect his
home and family. Uh aren't you relieved? No, you hate
your husband, don't you?
Speaker 5 (17:26):
Of course I hate him. He treated me like the
lives talk, like a special and rare specimen.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Polly his nightbird.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
He called me, who leave me? Everything I asked for?
Only only I didn't.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Love him, But you did love Ezra Mason.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
Yes, and he loved me, or I thought he did
until the night.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
And when you found he didn't. You killed him.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
I didn't kill him. Jeremarah killed him.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
He confessed to it.
Speaker 5 (17:51):
The Sheriff's arrested him for it.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
He confessed to protect you.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Mason was killed with one of Jeremiah's guns, the one
that's missing from that holster on the wall there.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
He couldn't have used it. He was asleep in the
main house.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
You shot Mason, dropped the gun by his body, and
ran back here.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Jeremiah was wakened by the noise, so was I. I
found him standing over the body holding the gun because that's.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
The way he wanted to be found. He knew you
had shot Mason, but he wanted it to look like
he did.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
I may have shot him, but Jeremiah killed him.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Ah, that doesn't make much sense.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
Do you know why Ezra Mason came here tonight? No,
but I can guess he came here to say goodbye,
to call the whole thing off. He was walking out
on me. Why because he loved himself more than he
did me, just like Jeremiah, Just like every man when
the chips are down, they don't know what love he is.
They're the takers of the world. Well, this is one
(18:48):
little lady that's been taken for the last time. I'll
tell you why Isra wanted to walk out on me, Paladin,
because he was afraid.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Afraid.
Speaker 5 (18:58):
He didn't know who Jeremiah really was until you had
to go and tell him.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I was doing my job.
Speaker 5 (19:03):
Oh, you sure were. So when Ezra learned who Jeremiah
really was, he didn't waste any time making it clear
that I wasn't worth risking his neck for God. Don't
you see, Paladin, he was afraid he was a coward,
and I thought he was a man. A woman'll do
anything for a man, but there's only one thing to
do for a coward, shoot him, So I did.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
I see.
Speaker 5 (19:26):
But it hasn't turned out badly. Really, Jeremiah will be acquitted,
and by the time he's free, I'll be gone, out
of his life.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Gone. But he confessed to this murder to protect you, exactly.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
To buy me to put another bar on my cage,
and how he'll use this to make me throw the
mark Now no longer I won't be here.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Where'd he go? I?
Speaker 5 (19:49):
I was thinking of San Francisco. You promised to show
it to me.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Remember, I remember?
Speaker 5 (19:56):
And I believe you're a man, Balad. You wouldn't be
afraid of any man, would you, not, even Jeremiah?
Speaker 2 (20:03):
The Avengies.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Regardless of the question of my personal courage, they're a
matter of my personal integrity.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
I happen to be in the employee of Jeremiah at the.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
Moment, who then quit is of this moment and take
me to San Francisco?
Speaker 6 (20:16):
With you right now.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
You amaze me, don't you find me attracked? Oh? Yes,
very I don't usually have to ask, I'm sure of that.
But these are rather unusual circumstances.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
You won't regret it.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
You seem to have ignored a rather depressing fact. A
murder has been committed here, and you are the confessed murderer.
Speaker 5 (20:36):
Who knows, but you forget it, Paladin. Come on, let's
get started for San Francisco.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
No, let's get started for town.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
You really mean it, don't you.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
I'm afraid I do. No, No, I won't keep away
from there.
Speaker 6 (20:52):
No.
Speaker 5 (20:53):
He hung up his guns because I ask him to.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
So who is a better rod to use them?
Speaker 5 (20:58):
I'll use this one on you. One gun for Ezron,
one gun for Paladin.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Drop it, drop it?
Speaker 5 (21:07):
You would shoot me, would you?
Speaker 2 (21:10):
If I had to?
Speaker 5 (21:16):
You are a man, really a man? Don't shoot me, Paladin,
Love me as I deserve to be loved. Take me
away from here, Take me with you.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
I'll take you away from here pod San Francisco. That
depends on where the judge wants to hold your trial.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Next time you refresh enjoy of prosty ice cold Pepsicola.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Sociability Charlie.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
All right, Kay, how's this Pepsi is light refreshers without filling.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
You like to refresh? Have a pepsi right now. We'll
offer it to everybody, charl I will.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Enjoy pepsi at the fountain. It's delicious at home too.
Have one at lunch or with a snack John, at
the beach, or at dinner. Wherever you go, wherever you're thirsty,
pepsi is there.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
It's here too. In our Be sociable, sound, be sociable.
Speaker 8 (22:18):
Love sard, keep popple to name with them, drink lightly,
refreshing them me stay, be sociable, Have a pepsy for
the weekend.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
Have plenty of pepsi around. Pick up an extra carton today.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
C K. I'm sociable with pepsi.
Speaker 6 (22:42):
Everyone is.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Have Gun We'll Travel.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
By Herb Meadow and Sam Raw He is Proteo stand
directed in Hollywood by Frank Parris and stars John Damer
as Paladin, with Ben Wright as hey Boy and Virginia
greg as Miss Wan. Tonight's story was specially written for
Have Gun, Will Travel.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
By William N. Robson. Featured in the cast were Lawrence.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Gopkin, Jack Moyles, Bill Idelson and Lynn Allen. This is
Hugh Douglas inviting you to join us again next week
when CBS Radio presents Have Gun, Will travel a
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