It's a never-ending source of amazement to me what a woman will do for or to a man.
This happened in Dakota Territory.
Frontier Gentlemen
Here with 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.
In just a moment, we will bring you this latest report from the Frontier Gentlemen.
Not just a news program, but a clever, concise focus on the world tonight, seven nights a week on CBS Radio.
Listen to the world tonight, reporting odd, stimulating, and important side lights to the day's events.
Hear CBS News round up the stories behind the news, frequently in the voices of the newsmakers themselves.
Seven nights a week on most of these stations, CBS Radio presents The World Tonight.
Now, starring John Danaer, this is the story of J.B. Kendall, Frontier Gentlemen.
The lady I knew as Bell Siddons had brought her gambling establishment to Deadwood.
And as I had reason to know, where went Miss Siddons? So followed trouble.
This remarkable and very pretty woman had once been a Confederate spy.
In the years following the war, she had married, been widowed, and after spending a short time as a tutor at the Red Cloud Indian Agency, she drifted into gambling, becoming one of the most skillful 21 dealers in the West.
Bell, or Madame Verde, as she called herself in Deadwood, was playing a very dangerous game.
This was impressed upon me by a peace officer named Boon May.
I was sitting in his office the morning after he had learned of a planned stagecoach holdup.
You get to talk to Madame Verde last night, Kendall?
I spoke to her.
Did she say anything?
About what?
You know about what stage holdup is supposed to be on for tonight.
She knows there's going to be one, that's all.
What did she say about McLaughlin?
Nothing much. I told her you thought they were planning the robbery together.
What did she say?
She laughed.
That's so.
Then she said she'd told you the truth.
Now, one of her casemen had heard a gold shipment was going to be stopped between here and Rapid City. She doesn't know who's going to do it.
The way things are between her and McLaughlin, I wouldn't figure her square.
Would you?
If she's really in love with him, I don't imagine she'd want to see him caught.
I'm going to find out. That's for sure.
How?
Well, I'll tell you, Kendall, it wouldn't be smart me getting mouthy about what I aim to do until it's time to do it.
You being a newspaper felon, all, you savvy?
You afraid I'll tell Madame Verde?
Well, no, I ain't exactly afraid, but I ain't overanxious, neither.
See, I've been living in Deadwood long enough to know it ain't smart but trusting any man or a woman.
Maybe that's how come I'm still living.
I suppose in your job it's the safest way.
Yeah, that's right.
What about this Archie McLaughlin?
You haven't met him?
No.
He's real polite. Good-natured young feller. At least that's the way you figure him to be.
Then you find out he fought with Quantrell's raiders on the Kansas border in the war.
I ain't kept track of his killings since then, but they say there's four Amoris shot down here and other places.
He's a road agent, spends most of what he steals gambling.
But if you know his record, why haven't you arrested him?
Well, I know what I hear tell. Ain't got proof. That's what I need.
Maybe tonight that's what I'm going to get.
I'd like to be there when you do.
Yeah. I guess you ain't got a good feeling toward him at that, him taking Madame Verdi for you.
You insist there's a great romance between the lady and me, don't you?
I heard things was a simmer.
False rumor.
How come you're so interested in McLaughlin then?
That's part of my job. I'm a newspaper correspondent, remember?
Yeah.
All right, Kettle, you come back here this evening and say about six o'clock maybe I'll have something for you to write about in that London paper of yours.
I spent the rest of the day in my hotel room sorting out notes and preparing outlines of future articles.
At six o'clock precisely, I returned to Boon May's office.
He was buckling on a gun belt.
Smiled at me in his mirthless way as I walked in.
You're all set, huh?
Yes.
You ever seen the Madame again?
No.
I know you ain't. I had somebody watching just in case.
Javert.
A French policeman. A man by the name of Victor Hugo wrote about him.
You have a great deal in common.
Oh. You got a gun?
Yes.
That's fine. Come on.
Where are we going?
Down to the stage station. Gonna take a little trip.
When we reached the station, I saw a coach with five heavily armed men standing near it.
Each carried a rifle and holstered guns. Boon May nodded to them.
All set, boys?
Ready as I'll ever be.
This fellow's candle, he's riding with us to see the fun.
Gold come in yet?
We already loaded it, Boon.
Let's get going, then. Sam, you drive. Davenport, you ride shotgun.
The rest of us be inside.
Go ahead, candle, after you.
I'll ride you out.
Oh.
I'm sorry.
It's kind of tight squeeze, the whole artillery.
Come on, boys. Get the rifles on the floor. We won't have no use for them for a while.
Let's go, Sam.
You think it's safe to tell me about it now?
Sure. No harm now.
This here is a regular coach for Rapid City. Instead of the company driver and guards, these are my men.
As I gather, then.
See that box on the seat?
Uh, yes?
Fifty thousand in gold.
That's what we're going to be stopped for.
Ah.
Don't mind a little shooting, do you?
I don't imagine I'll have much choice, will I?
That's a human fact.
Say, uh, uh, candle, that there French fella, a law dog.
Chabert?
Yeah. Was he a good one?
I suppose in some ways he could say he was.
Gunslinger?
No. He didn't have to be.
We may have a farish long ride.
How's about you tell me more about him?
Uh, how do you say that name again?
Chabert.
Chabert.
Henry Morgan is head man on CBS Radio's bright bouncy Sunday night quiz called Says Who.
Mr. Morgan's noted scimitar wit sets the stage for a guessing game that's sheer delight for players and listeners alike.
The idea is for the stars to guess whose voices are being played for their ears.
You may beat the players to the punch, or you and they may be tied up in hilarious knots later on today over most of these stations.
Play along with Henry Morgan and company in CBS Radio's Says Who.
It may appear odd, but at the time there seemed nothing particularly strange about recounting a condensation of Hugo's Les Misérables to Boon May and his deputies.
I suppose I'm becoming used to the peculiarities of my life in the West.
One accepts anything, even the gleam in a peace officer's eye as he compares himself to the dedicated bloodhound Javert.
May's deputies listened, respectful, silent.
I finish the story.
Well, uh, I'd say that was a man who believed in the law.
Wouldn't you say that, boys?
Yes, sir.
I like that word you used, Kendall.
Dedicated.
That there's a fine word.
What's the matter, Sam?
Cottonwood tree falling across the road.
All right, stay where you are, Sam. My financial, my dot.
Up with him.
You're down off the coach, both of you.
Four or five of them.
Passengers, come on. I'm five.
Kendall, go outside. As soon as we hit the ground, you three start shooting.
All right, come on, Kendall. When I tell you to drop and do it quickly, you won't have no back left to your head.
All right.
As well, hold on to them horses.
Billy, you cover the passenger.
They are.
Archie McLaughlin.
Well, if it ain't Boon May.
Down, you dot!
For about five seconds, the moonlit clearing thundered to the sound of gunfire.
And then it was all over.
Lying on the ground was the man named Caswell, a bullet through his head.
The four other holdup men were racing away on their horses.
One we could see had been wounded as he held desperately to the horn of his saddle.
We took Caswell's body back with us to Deadwood.
And then Boon May suggested a drink.
He led me to a saloon, and I was there.
He led me to a saloon, which stood a few doors away from Madame Verde's gambling tent.
You know why we come to this place, Kendall?
I have a faint idea.
I want to see the Madame's face when I tell her.
What makes you think she'll come here?
Oh, she will. Two of the boys are going to bring her in.
Are you arresting her?
Not right now. I just want to see her face.
Maybe it'll tell me if she needs arresting.
You still think she knew about the holdup?
She might. Or she is.
Now, I'll be obliged if you don't say nothing outside of hello, Kendall.
I'll take it as real unfriendly if you do, Savvy.
Perhaps I better go.
There's no such thing.
Well now, Madame Verde, this is your pleasure.
Is it? Good evening, Mr. Kendall.
Madame Verde?
Am I under arrest, Mr. May?
Of course you ain't.
These two men didn't give me much choice.
I had to leave my table. There's a big game going on.
Well, then, Madame, you better get right back to it.
It wasn't nothing important. I had to say I'll see you in the morning.
If it was so unimportant, why did you have me brought here?
Well, I never said to the boys to bring you, Madame.
I told them to ask you politely.
I surely do apologize for the inconvenience.
Oh, by the way, there'll be some company money at the office.
Oh?
Yeah, that holdup you told us about.
You was right. They tried it a while back, and we plugged one for good.
Another's bad hurt, three got away.
We'll get them.
Who were they?
Archie McLaughlin and some of his boys.
Oh.
Yeah.
Well, Madame, like I said, I sure am sorry for the trouble getting you over here.
That's all right, Mr. May.
I understand why you're upset.
Good evening. Good evening, Mr. Kendall.
I'll walk back with you to your place if you don't mind.
Not at all.
You have no objection.
Oh, shucks, no, you go right ahead.
Oh, drop around in the morning, Kendall.
Maybe I'll have some more news for you.
Who was it? Who was killed?
A man named Caswell.
I don't think it was McLaughlin who was hurt, I'm not certain.
May wanted to find out what I knew about it.
That's why he didn't tell me who the dead man was.
That mostly, I think.
And he enjoyed watching me.
I expect so.
Were you there during the holdup?
Yes.
Archie's such a fool. Why didn't he tell me?
You didn't know he was going to do it.
Of course not.
Well, Boon May will be watching you now, you know that.
He'll expect you to get in touch with McLaughlin or McLaughlin to try to reach you.
Shall you be watching me too?
Is that why you came with me?
You think I'm on Boon May's side?
I've known newspaper men before.
The story's the important thing, isn't it?
Not to that extent.
I have to get back now.
Money waiting to be won?
Yes.
Before you go, may I ask you something?
You're not angry with me about Archie?
No.
Not jealous?
No.
Not jealous?
No.
Most men would be.
I know, but I have no reason.
It was just something that was rather nice and right between us.
That's all.
Will you let me know if you'll hear anything about him?
Yes.
You know, I'd be much wiser to fall in love with a man like you.
Good night.
Virginia, Pattern of Resistance.
Narrated by Walter Cronkite, Virginia, Pattern of Resistance
is another special study by CBS News
that goes right to the heart of what's happening.
For the next few days, I saw a bell siddens from time to time,
but never for more than a few minutes,
and then it was usually on the street or in her gambling establishment.
If Boon May expected me to be the unwitting liaison
between Bell and Archie McLaughlin, he must have been disappointed.
There had been no word concerning McLaughlin or his companions.
Then, one night, I had just returned to my hotel room.
Get inside. Don't make no noise, mister.
You carrying a gun?
Well, it's hanging up over there.
Sit down.
All right. I'll tell you the straight of it.
My name is Billy Mansfield.
Oh, J.B. Kendall.
I know your Kendall.
Archie says you know Madame Verde.
Archie? McLaughlin?
Yeah, he sent me to find her.
I think when a Boon May's boy spotted me when I came into town,
I figured if I couldn't get through to the Madame, you would.
Well, what makes you think that?
Archie says you're a friend of Madame Verde's. That's why.
Oh, I recognize you now.
You were with McLaughlin in that holdup, weren't you?
Yeah, yeah. Listen, one of the boys, John Brown,
he's like to cash in his chips any minute.
One of the shots got him plumbed through the belly.
Has he had a doctor?
He ain't no doctor we could trust around.
Archie wants a Madame to come and do something.
What could she do?
Get the bullet out. Archie says she knows about doctrine.
You can't ask her to do that.
Not a man with a bullet in his stomach. He needs a doctor.
Mister, I ain't here to argue with you.
Will you get the message to the Madame?
Supposing I go to Boon May?
Ain't no skin off my saddle if you do.
I won't be here when you get back.
Besides, you being a friend of Madame,
you wouldn't want to see her get no trouble.
What's the message?
Tell her to come to the place she and Archie went.
The start of the timber road. She'll know where it is.
If she ain't alone, one of us will get her before they get us.
Archie didn't say that, but I'm saying it, Kendall.
Supposing I come with her?
That's your business.
When is she supposed to go?
Tonight. Soon as she can. We'll be waiting.
You'll be taking a big risk, Belle.
If Boon May finds out, you know it'll happen.
I've got to go.
Why? It's not McLaughlin. He's not been wounded.
No. But he asked me to. That's enough.
All right. I'll come with you.
No.
Yes.
I'll be safe.
Sure you will.
But if Boon May sees you ride out alone, he may be suspicious.
If we go together, let him think what he wants.
You don't have to do that for McLaughlin.
I'm not. I'm doing it for myself.
I want to write the story.
Belle Sydnes and I drove out of Deadwood in a buckboard.
And to any casual or inquisitive onlooker,
we had all the appearances of a romantic couple
enjoying a midnight drive.
As far as I could tell, we weren't following.
This is it.
Boon.
You better go back. Leave me alone.
I'll get back to Deadwood, all right?
No. I'd rather not.
You've done enough.
I've told you, Belle.
This is the kind of thing that earns me a living.
Besides, I'm rather curious to meet your Archie McLaughlin.
Belle?
Yes?
Who's that with you?
Mr. Kendall.
Were you followed?
I don't think so.
This is McLaughlin, Kendall.
I thank you for what you've done.
Now you better get on back to Deadwood.
You trusted me to get the message through for you.
Why not let me stay?
I'll see she gets back safely.
You come into the timber with us,
you take your own chances of getting out.
I ain't sitting to argue.
Follow me up the road.
We drove along the diminishing road for 15 minutes
until it became nothing more than a deep, rutted trail
and then was too narrow for our buckboard.
McLaughlin swung Belle's sit-ins onto his horse.
I followed behind.
Another five minutes took us to a ramshackle shanty
deep in the woods, a dim glow shone from inside.
She's here boys.
Who's the fella?
Name a Kendall.
I told you he said he'd come.
Don't give up easy, does he?
Ain't nothing you can do.
Better to put him out of his misery.
Let me see.
She looks ugly, don't it?
Can you do anything?
I don't know.
How long's it been?
Ten days.
Well, I can't make him any worse than he is.
You could kill him.
He should have been dead days ago.
Archie, find me a piece of wire.
I've got to get the bullet out.
Yeah, Jack, Billy, take a look around.
Have you ever done this before?
No, but I study dissection with my husband.
I've taken bullets out, but none like that.
I'm afraid I'll be of no help.
Bring the lamp over here, will you?
Put it on the floor here.
I'd rather operate on that table, but I'm afraid to move him.
What do you think?
Better do it here.
I found the wire.
Give it to Mr. Kendall.
Hold it over the flame.
All right.
Beryl Siddons, ex-Confederate spy, gambling, doctor's wife.
With that single piece of wire, she probed the terrible wound
and extracted the bullet.
And the man lived.
She smiled at me, at McLoughlin.
Now I think I'd better go, Archie.
Yeah.
You think he'll make it?
He's got a chance.
Hey, wait a minute.
You ain't thinking of having her and this Kendall fella
going back to Deadwood, are you?
Well, why not?
Why not?
So they can tell Boon May where we're hiding at?
Well, Madame Bery is hardly likely to, and I have no reason to.
I'm not a lawman.
I ain't for letting him go, Arch.
Jack's right. It ain't safe.
Now, look, she came as a favor to me, a favor to Johnny.
And he's still alive, ain't he?
Don't matter.
She'll tell or he will.
I say plug him now.
I'd rather you didn't, gentlemen.
Oh, put away your gun, Kendall.
There's no call for shooting.
At least, why it's not between us.
I say you and Madame here, you both go.
I figure neither one of you will do any talking now, ain't that so?
You know, Archie.
How about you, Kendall?
I'm rather fond of the lady, too.
I don't think I want to see her strung up to a chair.
I want to see her strung up to a cottonwood limb as an accessory.
No, I won't do any talking.
You hear that, Jack? Billy?
Now we're gonna let him out of here, quiet and peaceable.
Any killing to be done, you'll have to draw on me.
Will I see you again, Archie?
Sure you will, honey.
Don't you worry. I'll be around real soon.
Old Johnny there, he can't thank you yet, but I sure do.
In one of these days, I'll prove it.
So long, honey.
I drove Bell-Siddons back to Deadwood.
Our escapade had apparently gone unnoticed, which was just as well.
Because a rather unusual message awaited me at my hotel,
which I shall write about in my next report to the London Times.
Frontier Gentlemen was written, produced and directed by Anthony Ellis
and stars John Dehner as J.B. Kendall.
Featured in the cast were Gene Landsworth, Jack Crouchon, Vic Perrin,
William Allen and Jack Moyles.
Join us again next week for another report from the Frontier Gentlemen.
Bud Sewell speaking.
Thank you.