Originally Aired: May 5, 1957

In Gunsmoke #265, “How to Kill a Friend,” Marshal Matt Dillon faces more than just another hired gun—he faces a ghost from his own past. When two crooked gamblers return to Dodge with a gunman in tow, Dillon is stunned to discover it’s Tope Marlin, a man he once rode the range with, now soured by betrayal and hate. Tope has one job: kill Dillon. But as old memories resurface and the line between law and loyalty blurs, both men are forced to confront what they’ve become. A tense and emotional standoff follows, ending in a tragic, inevitable duel between old friends.

Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, John Dehner, Harry Bartell, Lawrence Dobkin

Tags:
Western, drama, suspense, oldtimeradio, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, gunfighter, betrayal, DodgeCity, classicwestern, emotionaldrama, TopeMarlin, hiredgun, revenge, vintageaudio, suspensepodcast