Speaker 1: One of the prettiest women I have met in the West,
was very nearly the cause of violence and carnage, and
to this day I don't think she knows why a
frontier gentlemen 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 stories. But as a
man with a gun, he lives and becomes a part
of the violent years in the New Territories. Now starring
John Dayner, this is the story of J. B. Kendall,
frontier gentleman. One of the first things I noticed in Laramie,
Wyoming Territory was the intense rivalry between that town and
Cheyenne on the other side of the Laramie Mountains. One
read the bitter attacks and counterattacks in the opposition newspapers,
one heard it on the streets. At the time I
arrived in Laramie, gold had been discovered in the mountains
to the south, and there was great rejoicing in this fact,
which threatened to eclipse Chyenne's claim of superiority. In the
interest of fair reporting, I decided to visit the mining
area with the idea of making comparisons between it and
that which I had seen in Montana. Ter three. It
was about midday when I saw the sign by the
side of the trail reading rotten head gulg. And a
few minutes after that, when I arrived at a cluster
of shacks which constituted said township, I noticed three men
outside an edifice which bore the legend Dirty Charlie's Saloon.
Ah afternoon, hardy clown's clothed.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, voting day.
Speaker 1: Oh I see you voted yet? Uh well no, uh.
Speaker 2: Buck, get out voting paper. Uh got it right here,
jim right here, mister.
Speaker 1: I had not a member of the community. And does
that make a difference.
Speaker 2: Well, you're a human man, that's all the difference we need. Ay,
Sure to get off from the table let the trainer
set comfortable like, ah, it's set, mister h make your
mark or you can ride it out proper. And you
know how at.
Speaker 1: One small point, Uh, what am I voting for? Oh?
Whom you're voting for?
Speaker 2: The school? Mom? That's what? And who?
Speaker 1: Oh? And do I vote yes or no?
Speaker 2: Well you vote yes, mister, you vote no. You're liably
end up line toes down. You ain't being simple for them.
No good Goose Creek boys, have you No.
Speaker 1: I have come from Larimy left there this morning.
Speaker 2: That's all right?
Speaker 1: Then look here it's it's nothing. I mind voting, but
i'd like to know something about it.
Speaker 2: Well he told you, man, that's your man's got a
right to know. It's legal. Well, sir, now it's this way.
We got a school mom Rottenhead Gulch. The school district
Laramie give her and we aim.
Speaker 1: The keep her. She's the prettiest thing you ever did.
Speaker 2: Say, surety, I'm telling you now, humble your left. Well
she is, ain't she bouck? Oh? Man? She is a
cow bunny and that's for sure. Now, like I say,
we aim to keep her and ain't no Goose Creek
Kyler is going to get her. That's how come to vote.
And the school district says, if Goose Creek gets more
votes in Rottenhead Gulch, she's gonna be sent there.
Speaker 1: No, I see, so you vote, yeah, but is it legal?
Speaker 2: Woll sure it's legal. Course here I'm in charge of voting.
I say it's legal. Anybody comes this here town on
voting day as a citizen, are up and head golg
honorable like Now as mayor, I make.
Speaker 1: You a citizen.
Speaker 2: Now you vote?
Speaker 1: All right?
Speaker 2: Hey, Buck, we're at the rot and quill. I know
what do you mean? You don't know? We ain't had
no voting since this morning. I guess maybe I left
it in the saloon. We'll go get it, sure, Jim.
Speaker 1: No, I'm rather surprised to find a school teacher out here.
I mean, in the mining town as small as this.
Uh are there many children?
Speaker 2: Oh? Shucks, mister, there ain't no kids. They're as short
here that one of these here days, that leaky mouthyorn
is going to get you a case of slough.
Speaker 1: Well it's a true, Jim. A school teacher with no
children to teach, rather odd, isn't it? Well, now, sir,
there ain't nothing not about it. We aim to get
us some kids as soon as we get us some
women to marry up with and.
Speaker 2: Have a kid.
Speaker 1: But how did the school district assign her here in
the first place?
Speaker 2: Ain't nobody asked to find out? They did? And she's here,
she's gonna stay. She's been learning us. There's twenty of us.
Goes to school every night after work's done. Ain't that
so Jim that there's a fact. Mister. Now, maybe we
ain't kid, but it ain't. But five of us can
read and write, so as you could notice it. And
we figured we got to write and learn as well
as any kid.
Speaker 1: Oh, I quite agree. But tell me where does unmeet
this school teacher of yours?
Speaker 2: Well, i'd seen her a while back down to the creek,
Washington woman. Thing I found it, Jim, Right here, here's
a writing quill where I think, Oh, you know something,
I wanna tell you that there Buck my school ain't
gonna do him no good. You know, he ain't got
enough brains to start with.
Speaker 1: Well, how many votes do you need to keep her here?
Speaker 2: Morn Goose Creek, that's for sure. You see, we got
twenty votes in Rottenhead Gooks Goose Creeks got maybe thirty.
We just got to vote more than they do. So
when the vote is counted, then we'll win.
Speaker 1: Who counts the votes? Oh?
Speaker 2: Back in Laramie. Well, as soon as the day's finished,
we seal up the vote in boxes and we take
them up to Laramie.
Speaker 1: But won't they know that you've en lodged, you're voting.
They must be a well of the population here, shack.
It's no such thing.
Speaker 2: We just got to be sure we got more assigned
votes and goose quick, that's all.
Speaker 1: How do you know that?
Speaker 2: Well, right now it is kind of a problem, Jim,
right here, thing there you going? Mister? Well? Now, good
after miss Jones. Well no, ma'am, he's just rode in.
Soon as he's finished his business, he's gonna be riding
right out again, Missus.
Speaker 1: Jones, isn't it? My name is Kendall, Miss Jones, JB. Kendall.
Speaker 3: How do you do, mister Kendall.
Speaker 1: I have been hearing quite a bit about you, miss Jones.
I'd like very much to talk to you as soon
as I've voted.
Speaker 3: Voted, But you can't vote, James Ponder.
Speaker 2: Oh no, ma'am. This here is man's work.
Speaker 3: They not have a dishonest ballot. I told you that before.
Speaker 2: Oh it ain't really dishonest, miss Jones. Jim made this
fellow honorable citizen of Rotten Head, Gus, didn't you.
Speaker 3: I'm very sorry, mister ken't know, but you cannot vote?
Speaker 2: Well, ma'am, you just don't understand these here political things.
Speaker 3: Understand the jaw trying to stuff about it? Box and
I will not have it. Has everybody in town voted? Oh, yes, ma'am,
he sure has, And in my presence, I want you
to seal the box.
Speaker 2: Oh, miss Jones, Oh look, we can't do that. Look
here now, it ain't legal. Yeah, not till some doown
It just ain't legal. That's what it says right here.
And he's hearing instructions from the school district in Laramie.
Now it just ain't legal, not till some does.
Speaker 3: Everybody's voted, it's illegal.
Speaker 2: Sealed the box, yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1: That just don't seem right.
Speaker 2: And and another fellows didn't get the vote. Can you
help me steel up to hear nothing? Now, Miss Jones,
why don't you take mister Kendley and show him the schoolhouse.
I figured he'd like to see that.
Speaker 3: And as a matter of fact, I would, all right,
And no more voting. Is that understood, oh, miss Jones?
Speaker 2: And I understand for sure it's way mister Kendall.
Speaker 1: Are you a minor too, No, I'm a newspaper correspondent
for the London Times.
Speaker 3: Isn't that strange? I had a feeling, not exactly, but
you're very much like my brother. He's a reporter and
the Nebraska paper. That's strange. Gave me quite a start
when I first.
Speaker 1: Saw you, miss Jones. How long have you been here,
not med coach?
Speaker 3: Three months?
Speaker 1: Weren't you surprised to find no children?
Speaker 3: Yes, of course they kept it from me for almost
two weeks.
Speaker 1: I think I can understand.
Speaker 3: Why can you really, mister kindle? Oh, I see you
mean because they wanted to learn themselves.
Speaker 1: Yes, you're right, and that's why you just how to stay.
Speaker 3: Yes, before you could get curious that a woman devote
her time to teaching twenty grown men.
Speaker 1: Not curious, unusual for hands. This is the.
Speaker 3: Schoolhouse with the kendall. The men built it. They built
the desks, benches, everything. Would you like to come inside?
Speaker 1: Very much?
Speaker 3: They even built a wooden floorn at the candle. Wooden
floors are quite rare in these mining towns.
Speaker 1: I am impressed more than I can say, Miss Jones.
Speaker 3: They have a great desire for education. I couldn't leave them,
not after they worked so hard to build this and now,
unfortunately word reached the people of Goose Creek that there
was a school teacher here. They are a slightly larger
community in Field. At the school district board should assign
me to their town. Besides which there are two children
in Goose Creek. I see the board decided to have
it settled by a vote. If enough residents of Goose
Creek require my services and outvote the men of Rockenhead, Gulch,
I shall have to obey the decisions the bought.
Speaker 1: Well, aren't there other teachers available?
Speaker 3: Yes, that's the strange part of it. Neither town will
accept anyone but me. Course, I'm flatted. I can't see
that it really makes me difference, can you?
Speaker 2: Well? Yes, well you see, yes, boys, your hands high now,
we don't aim to hurtin miss June. You just come
along with us and everything will be right.
Speaker 1: Five mister Kendall, now look here, take carry him.
Speaker 2: We'll do that claw.
Speaker 1: In a moment, we returned to frontier. Gentlemen, another fascinating
adventure is waiting for you on CBS Radio today, as
most of these same stations present the FBI in Peace
and War. Today, these law enforcers go after a pair
of swindlers. You'll be amazed by the cleverness of this Windlers.
You'll be thrilled to learn, however, that the FBI in
peace and war is cleverer still. And now we return
you to the Anthony Ellis production of Frontier Gentleman. I
seem to remember a great roaring in my ears, which,
as I awoke, turned out to be the voice of
James Ponder. He was kneeling over me, and seeing my
eyes open, redoubled his efforts to pour a great bullop
of powl tasting whiskey down my throat.
Speaker 2: I don't need it. What happened?
Speaker 3: Yeah?
Speaker 2: What where? She can't help me up?
Speaker 3: Where is she?
Speaker 2: Heard horses? When we got here, there wasn't nobody except you. Yeah,
there were.
Speaker 1: There were three or four men masked. They'd taken her.
Speaker 2: Who was he?
Speaker 1: I don't know, except there was a father and son.
The older man called the other Wes.
Speaker 2: Where Jem, that's west over the Goose Creek stomp Peterson Wes.
I might have noted you, reckon. They carried her off
to beat the vote. That's what they're done.
Speaker 1: What good would it do?
Speaker 2: Well, I'll tell you what good. The figure they got
more votes than we got. And even if we may
be voted more times than them, they got her in
Goose Creek, and by the time the school district gets
around the eyeborn around maybe recount. It'll be two maybe
three months. But then there's gonna be a new school
district board in and the whole blame thing will have
to start up again. Had no count stomp Peters. He's
about its welcome as a rattler in a dog town.
Dow her tongue, Shorty, I'll go fetch them other boys
out of the hills. We gotta do something about this. Oh,
we sure have, Jim. I tell you no goose Creek
side wind They go on rustl our school on my arm,
all right, hit the breeze, Shorty, and you two buck
tell a voice to wear shooting lins. This here's gonna
be a powder burning contest.
Speaker 1: An hour later, twenty minutes, hot bitten miners, some of
them young, others grizzled or armed the Tiefs than Duddy
Charlie's salon. That mood was black, and it became blackers.
Jim Ponder spoke to them.
Speaker 2: Swat Peters. He's a no good boy, Windy Oili Brock.
He'd come here looking for our school mom, and he
snatches her clean out of rock. The head guard here Worr.
He ain't gonna get away with. Of course, we're going
over the Goose Creek and we're gonna shoot up that
third place like you never seen. And we're gonna get
miss Jones right back where she belongs. Yeah, here where
he and where we get through a storm Peters and
that thing bite son of HEAs. We're gonna use him
to tremel tree. Yeah all right, now, get your horses, boys,
and riding lost out of here. He's coming, miss Candle,
Lord suddenly, likely they'll be shooting.
Speaker 1: How far is it to this christ?
Speaker 2: Oh? About half a mile that's gone.
Speaker 1: Oh don't you imagine they'll be expecting you.
Speaker 2: Sure they'll be expecting us. It's gonna be a real
shoot up.
Speaker 1: Wouldn't have been better to surprise them what for?
Speaker 2: And know we'd be coming after him.
Speaker 1: Supposing she gets hurt?
Speaker 2: Well, now you know I didn't think of that. You
figure maybe we're shooting. There's a chance boys, hear what
Kendle here says, Well, we don't want the school mom hurt.
Speaker 3: You.
Speaker 2: What's where you're shooting? Out here?
Speaker 3: Right now?
Speaker 2: We're gonna take it really slow, just around the next turn. Yeah,
be Kendle, you and me, we're gonna keep an eye
out from Miss Jones. Either one of us eye balls
her gets out of that frost here right there they are,
and looking at that there candle right in the middle
of the street, like to say, looks like they've been
expecting us.
Speaker 1: We came upon Goose Creek with abrupt suddenness. The trail
rounded a bend and became an elongated clearing, lined on
both sides with shocks, perhaps a half dozen more than
existed in Rotten Head Gouch. Between the dwellings and in
the middle of the street were piled boxes, barrows, and
two overturned wagons. Behind this barricade we could see the
figures of men and the reflection of sunlight. Un stealing.
Up to this point, even with my headache, the affair
had been rather difficult to take seriously, but the complexion
had radically changed. When we were no more than twenty
yards from the defenders, Jim Ponder held up his hands.
Speaker 2: Oh, however, help stop painters, Ponder. We come to get
miss Jones and take her back to her rightful home.
He's in her rightful home. Guess where she is. You're
a liar. I want to start trouble way and going
back that school marm he ain't going back cause you'll
be shaking hands with Saint Peter.
Speaker 1: Let me talk to him.
Speaker 2: They sain't no time for chewing the cud. Let's start
throwing less order to shut your mouth with you get
in a better position than we shucks. We could ride ride.
Speaker 1: Over and if you live that long, it's your matter.
Speaker 2: Boys afraid to take the big jump?
Speaker 1: Come out, Peters. You can bring another man with you,
Jim Ponder, and I'll meet you between the lines. Who
are you the job? Who was with miss Jones?
Speaker 2: I told you, I told you he wasn't good? All right?
Speaker 1: You and Ponder get over your horses.
Speaker 2: Come forward slowly? You watch it, Jim. Why don't you fresh? Ali? Boys,
he start something, you go in finish it. Chere, let's
go Ken.
Speaker 1: What's your name, mister Kendall?
Speaker 2: This here's my boy, Wes. We figured he killed you.
I told you I didn't, Paul. What you gotta say?
Resides's Jones in the schoolhouse we got built for It
is all right? Sure she's all right. Nobody gonna hurt
that pretty galony. No, sir, we a'm take her back.
Storm Peters, you're off your mental reservation. If you think
you can do it, Ponder, You ain't got no right
to school, ma'am. Nohow were there any kid in that
broken down Fleebittton County or I don't matter. We aim
to get some by and by school district give it us.
We just outvoted you. She's ours now the better SI
you're gonna go on Stone Peters.
Speaker 1: That what you want.
Speaker 2: I'm willing raw.
Speaker 1: No, wait, wait, that won't settle anything.
Speaker 2: I've never seen a better way.
Speaker 3: You can't hear.
Speaker 2: Paul cut down to sir Kendel.
Speaker 1: Fell young man, I owe you something for that clout
on my head, but I have no desire to kill
you now, both of you. Keep your hands in sight,
you too, Jim.
Speaker 2: Huh, Hey, what's telling you? Mister?
Speaker 1: I'm on your side, then keep your I'm holster, there's
no need for shooting. Peters. Tell one of your men
to bring this Jones out here.
Speaker 2: I ain't gonna do it.
Speaker 1: Go get the school man, bring her out. Guess what
you got in mind, Kendall, you'll see.
Speaker 2: Well it better be good, of course, efing it ain't
if a stump Peter's boys don't get your me or
mine will ain't nobody pulls a gun on me and
gets a way.
Speaker 1: I think it's for the best.
Speaker 2: What are you men doing well, I remama, we come
to get you out of here, pest hole. Here we
come to save you.
Speaker 3: I've had enough of this snouncing. Please, I'm forced to
accompany mister Peters against my will. Now your man are
lined up waiting to kill each other. I will not
have it.
Speaker 2: Do you understand, yes, ma'am?
Speaker 3: Put away that gun, all of them. Put Donald's down. Boy,
I still obliged. You will escort me back to clarem
Me Laramie.
Speaker 2: You you're gonna go back to Laramie. Oh, she's gonna
the larami.
Speaker 3: Oh, Miss Jones, this is exact were you sat your child.
Speaker 1: Miss Jones. G could I have a word with you
in private?
Speaker 3: I really don't see this that well.
Speaker 1: I think you will, gentlemen, if you'll excuse us.
Speaker 3: Oh, she said, what about the love you could have her?
Speaker 2: Like? There ain't nobody gonna have her?
Speaker 3: No more ttle grammar, double tripping legatives.
Speaker 1: Miss Jones. There may be a solution if you're willing.
Speaker 3: I don't see anyway. I really don't.
Speaker 1: If they could share you share me? Oh, I mean
you're teaching. The town's are only a half mile apart.
It might be possible.
Speaker 3: No, mister Kendall, my mind's made up today is the
final stroke.
Speaker 1: Miss Jones. Think of the school house in roten Head Gunks.
Speaker 2: You know.
Speaker 1: Way.
Speaker 3: It's rather touching. They built a school house for me,
hearing Goose Creek as well. The floor is n't quite
as good.
Speaker 1: But they need you, Miss Jones, You think so, I do.
Speaker 3: Look at them, they are like children, aren't pay very
much like children. I think perhaps you're right in mister Kendall,
But I wonder what the school district board will think.
Speaker 1: Well, I imagine a joint petition from both towns off
to settle the problem.
Speaker 3: Yes, yes, very likely, all right if the man will agree.
Speaker 1: To your plan, I'm sure they will.
Speaker 2: All right, I'll.
Speaker 3: Stay, mister Kendall.
Speaker 1: Yes.
Speaker 3: While I was being held captive, a rather terrible thought
occurred to me. It is the education that I can
give them, isn't it. I mean there are no baser
thoughts involved, perhaps because I am a woman.
Speaker 1: Miss Jones. Were it not for the fact that I
have already completed myself school and university curricula, I should
not hesitate to avail myself of the opportunity to better
my education.
Speaker 3: Thank you, mister Kender, you've relieved my mind.
Speaker 1: The matter was settled most amicably, and readers of the
London Times will be interested to know that an extraordinarily
pretty woman by the name of Miss Annabella Jones is
now entrusted with the education of some fifty three adults
and two children in the mining towns of Goose Creek
and Rottenhead Gulch in Wyoming Territory. Frontier Gentleman was written,
produced and directed by Anthony Ellas and stars John Tayner
as J. B. Kendall. Featured in the cast were Jack
Krusian Virginia, Greg mc perrin, Jack Moyles, Harry Bartell, and
Eddie Firestone. Today's tense episode of gun Smoke proves no
gambling stakes were too high along the Frontier for a
thrill upon thrill, hear what happens in the pioneer days
of Dodge City when a man's life hangs upon the
outcome of a horse race. That's on CBS Radio's gun
Smoke later on today. Join us again next week for
another report from the Frontier Gentleman. Dan Cobberly speaking