There's a town in Montana Territory, but it's against the law to carry a
gun. The sheriff lives by this order, but because of it, other
men can die. Frontier Gentleman herewith an Englishman's account of life and death in
the West. As a reporter for the London Times, he writes his colorful
and unusual accounts. But as a man with a gun, he lives and
becomes a part of the violent years in the New Territory. Now starring John
Dayner, this is the story of J. B. Kendall, Frontier Gentleman.
The journey had taken ninety eight days from Saint Louis. I had come
by riverboat up the Missouri, the little stern wheeler, climbing, churning,
settling over two thousand miles of sandbar and ranted then into the lonely wastes of
another swifter stream, the Yellowstone, until we finally got at South Sunday in
Montana Territory. My ticket had cost three hundred dollars, which left me about
fifty in my pocket, and the slim hope that there would be a letter
at the Express office with my remittance from afternoon just in off the boat right.
I wonder if there's a letter for me. Beat Kendall, Kendle,
any trouble on the way up? Here's the soup and kicking up your heels.
Sit the bulls making big medicine again. Don't sound good? And we
didn't see any and Kendall you English, ain't you? Yes? I figured
by your talk. Don't see many of you in these parts. Nope,
nothing for you, mister. You're sure it's rather important from England? Nope.
Nothing Maybe tomorrow on the overland though they say you planning to stay.
Awhile, I think so. Better get and register, then register over to
the sheriff Clinton's office. Here's a notice on the wall. Maybe missed your
attention. All strangers to South Sunday will, within one hour of arrival register
at the office of the sheriff or be prosecuted. That's Clinton's orders. Frise,
you missed the signs. They're all over. Thank you. It's all
right. Wedn't want to see you in trouble. This ain't the healthiest town
in the territory, not for strangers, oh any particular reason. Excuse me,
afternoon, mister Farley. This here's mister Kendall, just off the boat.
I was telling them about registering. Now that's a good idea. Dick
Farley is one of the Sheriff's deputies, helps keep South Sunday law Biden big
jobs. Ooh, you might call me a jack of all trades. I'm
I. I do a little writing for a London newspaper, you know,
an Englishman's view of the wild West, that sort of thing. We don't
take the strangers. But really, shame, I've been looking forward to my
visit. How well, now you've seen it, you know what it's like.
So I suppose you get yourself back on that boat and try up the
line the Rosebudter Junction city. Huh, I don't think so. Now,
if you will pardon me, I'll register at your office. You're carrying a
gun. No, put your hands in over your head. I uh,
how you hold it just like that, just so all at your baggage.
Yeah, figure it up. I think your pardon, I said, pick
it up? Oh hi, come on something, mister follow How did your
time get its name? How should I know? Of course you take an
interest just as a matter of pride, acidic pride. Mister. I don't
like the way you talk or what you say, so, you shut your
mouth here inside, Where are you, Ben Dake? I've been checking on
this fellow. Frank, just come in off the boat. He says he's
a writer, a newspaper in London or something. He ain't care nothing.
I searched him. You're Sheriff Clmenton. Yeah, JB. Kendall. I
understand I have to register him. Yeah, a writer. Huh you want
to write about South Sunday? I might, how come. As a matter
of fact, the name intrigued me. You kidding, not at all.
I writ about the West and you're in the heart of it. From what
I understand, there might be trouble brewing with the Sioux and the chey End
and I'd like to be here if it blows up. What's the name of
your paper for London Times? You're here with Dake. No, mister,
all kinds come to these here parts now. I'm exactly calling you a lie
quite all right? One conte too careful? Uh yeah, my papers they
be kidful, very sudden. Yeah, London Time. That's what it says,
you see they Yeah, that's what it says. Any other strangers get
off the boat with him? No, just him? Well you sound all
right to me, mister Kennell. Now, just you remember I got a
set of rules here you live by, and while you're here you'll get along.
That seems fair enough. No man except the name authorized by me carries
a gun in South Sunny. That way we don't get a bunch of crazy
liquored up miners and the like shooting up the place. It seems the usual
thing for the man to be armed in most places. It ain't usual here.
It's again in the law. Oh, I see you got yourself fixed
up with the hotel. No, not yet. Well, and you going
over to the Empire, mister Carroll, you tell Frank Clinton send you.
They'll take care of you. Very good of you. Take a look at
his baggs. Right, well, you're going to search my luggage, that's
right, mister. And no guns in South Sunday, not warn or hidden.
That's a law. I haven't got one. I'm sure. I am
glad to hear. I like a peaceful man, Yes, sir, A
fellow like you might take a settling down here in South Sunday. It hit
quiet little town in Montana Territory. It's an opportunity for man. Well,
I'll keep it in mind, mister Clinton, there ain't nothing in his bags.
Well, now, mister Carroll, you enjoy your stay here. Anything
you want you just asked me, and I appreciate it. Sir. If
you put my name in your paper, whatever you want to say is okay
with me. My hotel room was a palace in comparison to the cabin on
the river pot. After cleaning up, I went downstairs to the saloon bar
in the hotel order to drink before dinner. The place was prank empty,
but I wasn't alone. He belongs Hi. You're the English feller, aren't
you, Kendall. Yes, that's right, I'm Lilah. I work here.
Frank Clinton said, be nice to you. I'm being nice. You
want to buy me a drink? It's on Frank, Oh you'd like it.
You like him Boughton though campaign Harry, Yeah, Frank says, it's
not lady like a drink whiskey. Hey, what do you do to that
man? I never seen him like this. He thinks I'm going to write
about him for my paper. Oh yeah, more than likely you're gonna write
about me too, if you want me to. I'm Dake Barley's girl.
They doesn't like you. He got mad when Frank said to be nice to
you. Does everybody in South Sunday do what Clinton tells him to do?
Sure? Why it's a drink? Huh, well, good luck. Look
here, Lilah, what about time to me? You see him like a
nice fella. Don't ask questions? Yeah? What about you? Then me?
What do you care? Where are you from? I was born in
Ohio, got married and came out west. Five years back my husband got
killed in a gunfighter. I don't know. I kind of drifted around,
ended up here at one place as good as the next, is it?
I guess what about you? Your homes in England? It was you one
of them? Lord to say something? No, not exactly married? No,
no, no, must be interest in traveling around, seeing new thing.
It has its advantages. But I suppose you'll be glad to get back
home. Well let's just say that one place is as good as the next.
Oh, you can't go back? Huh? Trouble anyway? Huh.
Look, your friend's just coming in, mister Farley. You be careful with
him. They can get off of me. Doesn't he take order from planting
too? Don't talk so much like after him at ralph Ah, mister Farley,
good evening, Would you join us? No? I just come to
say, don't you get no ideas about light? I went to DearS?
Do you think i'd have I'm telling you, you're telling me what? Keep
your hands off my good you honestlyand my dear fellow, I haven't touched your
girl. The thought never entered my mind. We just haven't that drink like
part of this. You know that I find you're a manner toward this young
lady rather offense or you're just asking for trouble, aren't you? Not?
At all? You think you can come in here with your fancy talk,
your fancy ways, make fool out of me. Now, maybe Frank's sucker,
but not me. I don't like you. I don't trust you one,
bessy. It couldn't be of less consequence of what do you think of
me that I don't stand for charming? Imagine it's curtain now, if you
don't mind, I'll relieve you of these trapping. Your disposition has no right
running around with even one gune let alone too, whatform it's two more besume
faking. I think you better clear up before mister finally stops bleeding. He's
not going to be anybody nice news. Where are you going down in mister
Clinton's office. I've got to have a little talk to him. In a
moment. We'll return to Frontier Gentlemen. Who gets the last word? It
all depends on who's playing CBS Radio's Fascinating Game Tuesday Evening with Doctor Bergan Evans.
A regular panel member is the Witty and There Dye John Mason Brown.
Other guests vary from week to week. This Tuesday, they'll be Gary Moore
and Leil Wertenbaker. These bright people take off from language questions and in by
listeners and cover all sorts of fascinating ground before one or another of them ultimately
gives you the last word on the question get the last word this Tuesday when
it comes to you over most of the same stations. Now we return you
to Anthony Ellis's production of Frontier Gentlemen. Miskey Kenny General, Wait, you
can't get down there. They would have it back. He'll till Crton by
now they'll be waiting. That's all right. What's the matter with you?
You want to die? If you're gunning for them? Gunning for who?
I'm not gunning for anybody. You're going to see Frank. I told you
I want to talk to him. Talk listen, You've got to get out
of town. My dear girl. Don't you know who they are? Should
I? You don't know what you've done? Quickly next? Wait? She
took my hand and ran back up the street. We ducked down a narrow
alleyway up a little flight of stairs which was a back entrance of the Empire
Hotel, then along a musty corridor, passed my room and did to hurry.
I don't think they'll sing there looking for you here. Your friend,
mister Parley is going to be quite upset if they do. His name's not
Parley, Clatton, isn't Clanton. They're the Shelton boys. Chelton, the
new Mexico Shelton Boy. There's four of them, brothers. What are they
doing in Solf someday? Hide? Now? It's from Billy. The kiddy
killed one of Billy's name. Billy swore to get them all for it.
That's why Frank won't let anybody carry a gun. How do you know?
All this with my husband Dake killed Harry joined up with Billy for excitement I
guess. One time he was gone out of town three months, I was
lonesome and I met date. When Harry came back, they had a fight
over me. Dick out drew him. We ran away together, and you
thought I'd come after them that Billy had sent me. They'll think it too
now, Mina. Who made Frank sheriff here? Nobody? There wasn't one
when we came. He just took over. Funny thing is I guess he's
a pretty good chair. He's quit the old ways and likes it here.
Why have you told me all this? I don't know. You talked with
me like I was a lady. Indian treats me, squaw better day treats
me. Maybe I wanted to see you finish him. And there's not going
to be very pleasant for you anymore pleasant? Oh missing, You've got a
funny way of saying things. La Is it anywhere you could go? Friends?
Insuth Sunday? What about home? I mean, Ohio? Home?
Know what it'd cost to get there? I got no money, but if
you couldn't, if I could, I had nice folks. I don't even
know if they're alive or dead, but i'd sure like to take a chance
and find out lyland, we'll see what we can do. Where are you
going now? I heard that talk with Frank. Uh do you know how
to use a gun? Yeah, let's take this one. I locked yourself
in after right on? You keep it? Huh, I've got a dare
interest. I'm all right, and here in in case I had any trouble.
It's only fifty dollars. I don't want your money. Well, at
least you'll be able to get town. I'll take it. Watch yourself,
will you? Bank's got a moon draws, I'll watch myself. The Shelton
brothers and probably two of their chums without looking for me now, and I
was pretty certain of that. I was looking for them too, but the
advantage was on their side. The town was strange to me, so I
went to the one place where I was fairly sure I'd be safe from a
surprise attack. Yeah, man, here, what are you? Uh?
Uh? Careful? Keep your hands where they are. Your kindle, I'm
kendle By the kid sent you. Now listen, you may very slowly,
carefully unbuckle your gun belt and let it dropped to the floor. If you
try to be foolish and brave I should be delighted to shoot you in the
stomach. Not be, mister Kendle. You see just like you say,
which shattern? Are you very well? Mon Row? I wish you to
walk to that cell in the far corner, go in and close the door
behind you. You will then stand with your back to the door. You
wouldn't kill me? Oh, yes, I would close it? Please be
good? Turn around please. Now I'm going to gag you. In order
to do so, I must tuk my guns away and use two hands.
If by any chance your friends come in and you make an outcry while I'm
doing this, I shall teach you a trick I learned in India. It
feels something like this effective, don't you think? Yeah? Right now,
head close to the bars please. So, by the way, how many
are there looking for me? Two? Three, A three? Yeah,
yeah, we'll make ourselves comfortable and wait for your brothers. They're coming.
I remember what I told you, Monroe. Sound and we know you're in
there. Plus hand No, you hear me, he said, a back
door? How about your head? Hands up? Oh, we're coming in
after you. Let's get that gag off. I can see I'm going to
need you. What are you gonna do. I'll probably have to end up
killing you and nothing personally. You understand? What do you say? How'd
you come open the door and throw your guns out? I've got a much
better idea. You open the door and throw your guns in? Man,
No, are you in there? Tell him? Yeah, I'm in here,
Frank. End know you come on out, Mike. We can make
a deal. You can keep your gun. I think it'd be safer if
you came in without yours. We could Russia. You couldn't get all three
of us. You have my permission. I don't know how your brother will
feel about it. You want to tell him now, don't do anything crazy,
Frank. He's gonna gut in my head. He'll kill me. Frank,
I hate to do this, but I'm afraid I don't believe you.
No, No, hey, fright, he's gonna shoot you. See what
he said? All right? All right? Hand up? Way open the
door. No, you're not gone. You give us your word. You
won't shout, not unless you do. Why two? Three? Anymore?
No, we're coming here now. Well, pleasant family reunion. The brothers
Chilton, they keep your hands when I can see them, won't you?
Now? Look kid made a mistake about what happened down south. They didn't
mean to kill Lila's husband. Did you say, I'm throwing that's all?
Yeah, that's the way it was. Lyland knows it was a fair fight.
She'll tell you. Speaking of Blah, I hope she's well. Oh
she's fine. Now we got no fight with the kid or you. Now,
why don't we all go on down to saloon, have a drink?
Huh talk it over? Oh me, my brothers been living a nice quiet
life up here. We don't want to make no trouble. You didn't get
Frank, You completely dishonorable and most and wise, Frank, anymore hidden armaments,
you're going to kill us. It depends, mister Shelton. Have you
got five hundred dollars? Yeah? Reckon. So Elilah wants to get home.
That's about what it will cost. You have the money here? Yeah,
she's see. Well, sure she could take the boat out when it
leaves in the morning. Eight. That's hold eight, sure get it,
h go ahead, that's such account. Now all of you get into the
seven. Oh. Incidentally, until this evening, I had no idea who
you were, and I've certainly never met your friend Billy the kid. I
thought you'd like to know what about Jake. He's going to have a doctor.
He'll bleed it that, he probably will. I'm going back to the
hotel. If Lylah's all right, I'll send a doctor. If she's not,
we'll find an undertaker. I want to thank him. It's nothing you
ever come, Ohio away you look me up, you're here. I remember
that, you gentlemen. I'll never forget you. Morning, missus Kendall.
Hear about the trouble last night? Yes, sure it must have been something.
According to the sheriff, a whole gang route in trying to shoot him
up. A gang, yeah, six of them date finally got hit in
the arm. Really, sheriff raining them off, so marvelous. I have
to mention that in my article to the London Times. Now, I wonder
has that letter from England arrived yet? No? Pray not, males already
come in. Won't be any more till next week. Well, when it
does come, perhaps you'll be kind enough to forward it to me. Sure
what address in ken of the Express Office, Rosebud, Montana Territory. Frontier
Gentleman was written, produced, and directed by Anthony Ellis and stars John Daner
as JB. Kendall featured in the cast where a Crucian Virginia, Greg Stacy
Harris, Harry Bartel, and Barney Phillips. Music was composed and conducted by
Jerry Goldsman. Join us again next week for another report from the Frontier Gentleman
Johnny Jacob speaking. This is the CDs Radio Network