Speaker 1: Slaughter's my name, Luke Slaughter. Cattle's my business. It's a
tough business, it's big business. I've got a big stake
in it. There's no man west of the Rio Grand
big enough to take it from me.
Speaker 2: Luke Slutter of Tombstone. Luke Slutter of Tombstone. Civil War
cavalryman turned Arizona cattleman across the territory, from Yuma to
Fort Defiance, from Flagstaff to the Watchukas, and below the
border through Chihuahua and Sonora. His name was respected or feared,
depending on which side of the law you were on.
Man of vision, man of legend. Luke Slutter of Tombstone.
Speaker 1: The bunk house had quieted down an hour before, and
I should have been in bed myself. I stood on
the verandah watching the heat lightning play around Apache Peak.
It was quiet, too quiet. Then I heard a single
rider coming into the ranch, held bent for leather. I
sensed trouble. I was right, Luke, Yeah, which die with you?
Speaker 3: Hurry that little a little bunch that we cut out
for Britain and took to the Upper masson this morning.
Speaker 1: What about it?
Speaker 4: Critters is gone?
Speaker 1: What? Yeah, there's only one trail leading up there.
Speaker 3: Yeah, and all our tracks on it pointed down here
at the bottom. They find out toward the border.
Speaker 1: How much of a head started they got?
Speaker 3: Well, Pete Packer coming for supper, and I went out
night hurt. After about three hours, I reckon.
Speaker 1: Get Pete and Inky from the bunk house. Saddle up
my night horse. We've got some riding to do.
Speaker 4: Getting on toward sun of Luke.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'll be catching up with them brand artists pretty soon.
Speaker 1: But without them knowing that if we can jurn colities.
Speaker 3: When I get my old Winchester lord on them.
Speaker 1: They're going on, Lord, Oh, what's the matter.
Speaker 3: You've got to smell them.
Speaker 1: Look up there on top of that rise.
Speaker 3: Why that's a sheet critter.
Speaker 1: Pete, Kinky, circle and vulture fire until you can see
who you're shooting at right foot from here, Wichita?
Speaker 5: Sure, Oh shut up your turn, mall cow over here,
I'm coming yours.
Speaker 1: There's the herd, but I don't see any riders.
Speaker 3: That wasn't no cow rustlers must be down there in
the drawer.
Speaker 1: Sit tight, Wichita. We've gotta give Pete and Hinky time
to get the other side of them.
Speaker 3: Well, we keep on being announced. They're going to know
we're sitting out here waiting to pot him.
Speaker 1: Get ready they know it now.
Speaker 3: Can't see too well in this light, but just show
me something to shoot at. There you go off to
the right. But look they're getting away.
Speaker 1: And Pet and Hinky are out there somewhere.
Speaker 3: Well, were just going to sit here.
Speaker 1: That's moving slow. Only one horse rode out. This could
be a trap. We're coming in. Throw it on your guns.
Speaker 3: Looks like there was only one man and he's gone.
Speaker 1: What do you think that is sticking out from behind
that rock over there?
Speaker 3: That's a boot and a man's leg.
Speaker 1: Come on, yep, that's a man, all.
Speaker 3: Right, But he appears to be dead and wean fired
a shot.
Speaker 1: He's not dead, he's been knocked out.
Speaker 3: Well, if he don't wake up in time, he won't
know he's been strung up.
Speaker 1: Come on you, well, what.
Speaker 3: About that other one? Without the critters to slow him down,
he'll make the border before we can catch him.
Speaker 1: Let's see what this one has to say first. Come on, no,
what do you say I didn't catch him? Give him
drink out of your canteen? What you to give him
a drink? He's still human? Even if he is a thief.
Speaker 3: I hope it chokes him.
Speaker 1: What what hit me?
Speaker 3: Well, Luke, he's just a kid.
Speaker 1: Yeah. What's your name? Boy?
Speaker 3: Who are you?
Speaker 1: Luke Slaughter? These are my cattle you're trying to steal.
Let me go easy now, I'll ask you once more?
What's your name?
Speaker 4: Rainier?
Speaker 1: Buck Rainier Rainier? Oh yeah, you know this, oubree, Luke? Yeah,
I think I do.
Speaker 6: What's you gonna do with me?
Speaker 4: We're going to hang up to dry on the nurse tree.
Speaker 6: I ain't done nothing, ain't done nothing.
Speaker 3: You was trying to make off with fifty headed cattle,
that's all.
Speaker 4: Ain't done nothing.
Speaker 1: Wasn't your father, Buck Rainier, the shotgun messenger who was
killed last year on the stage coach or under Prescott?
Speaker 6: What of it?
Speaker 1: How about your mother? Buck? What became a herd? Well?
Speaker 6: You just leave her out of this?
Speaker 4: Okay?
Speaker 3: Are the ones two miles away by? Now, let's string
this one up and.
Speaker 4: Get after him.
Speaker 1: We're gonna let him go.
Speaker 4: Let him go.
Speaker 1: We got our cattle back, didn't we.
Speaker 7: Yeah?
Speaker 3: And one pip squeaking kid, you're gonna be satisfied with that?
Speaker 1: Yes? Which aita I am? It's getting a light. Now
you find Pete and Hinky and round up these critters. Buck,
and I locate his horse.
Speaker 3: Well, what are you gonna do with him?
Speaker 1: Take him back to the ranch with us?
Speaker 6: I don't want to go to no ranch.
Speaker 1: Doesn't look to me like you've got much choice. By
the way, why did your partner put you to sleep?
I ain't gonna say suit yourself, all right, let's go.
Speaker 4: You alone?
Speaker 1: Yeah, come on, in which you ta? How's a boy doing?
Speaker 3: I didn't need no shupper. None of the hands will
talk to him.
Speaker 1: Poor kidd couldn't be one seventeen.
Speaker 3: Luke, you're harboring a cattle rustler's age. Don't make no
difference what you're doing it for?
Speaker 1: Which to do you remember when his daddy was shot last.
Speaker 3: YEARN ain't exactly sure.
Speaker 1: He was riding messenger on the Tombstone to Prescott's stagecoach
when it ran into an ambush. Rennie was killed.
Speaker 3: I seem to recollect now, and.
Speaker 1: You, Buck Radier, he worked for me several years ago
when I brought a herd up from Sonora. He was
always talking about this boy, proud of him, said he
was going to build up a stake for him.
Speaker 3: Can't be much of a daddy when you're dead.
Speaker 1: Last I heard he was living with his mother over
in Prescott.
Speaker 3: Well you sure ain't now, pears to me, he's made
up his mind what trail he wants to ride.
Speaker 1: With a little help, he might change his mind.
Speaker 3: Luke, you ain't figuring on keeping him here at the ranch.
Speaker 1: Why not?
Speaker 3: Why he he's lib or just stab you in the
back and make a run for it.
Speaker 1: I have never had a son, which but I don't
think there's any such thing as a bad boy. Men
make him look that way.
Speaker 3: You picked a good and to prove.
Speaker 1: There it's open. Come on in, what's your sorter?
Speaker 6: I want to know what you're aiming to do with me?
Speaker 4: You speaking? You're spoken? Tool?
Speaker 3: Nah, you turn around, march out of here before I
blow a hole in your pants.
Speaker 1: But the way that gun, you're gonna let him talk
to you. That way you're going back to the bunk house.
I'll send him down in a few minutes.
Speaker 3: All right, Luke, things is coming to a party. Pass
When you treat rustlers like they was visiting neighbors.
Speaker 6: Sit down, said, I don't want to sit down, you smoke,
Sure I do.
Speaker 1: Here's the makings. Thanks wichitad tells me you didn't need
any supper one hung. I was just about to sit
down myself. Can you join me? You want me to
eat with you? Well? Now, I don't see anything wrong
with a couple of men sitting down to a meal together,
do you well? No, I sit down? What you been
doing since last year? Buck? Odd? Jobs?
Speaker 6: Been a cook's helper lately on a wagon outfit, working
out of Presscott.
Speaker 1: That's an honest job. I'd just decide to become a wrestler.
Speaker 6: I didn't decide to. I ain't going to tell you nothing.
Speaker 1: I should turn you over to the sheriff. You know that, Buck,
then go ahead and do it. You admired your father,
didn't you. He was a good man, I know, Buck?
But since he's dead, you're trying to prove in your
own way that the name Rainier means something, aren't you? Yeah?
Speaker 6: And I will too.
Speaker 1: By cattle wrestling.
Speaker 6: Or you wouldn't believe me if I told you the truth?
Nobody would.
Speaker 1: Why don't you try me.
Speaker 6: I'll handle this in my own way and in my
own time.
Speaker 1: Why won't you tell me anything about your mother? Buck?
Did she remarry?
Speaker 6: No? I don't want to talk about my mother.
Speaker 1: I see. Well, let's see then you get out of
the bunk house and get some sleep. You've got work
to do tomorrow, work starting right now. You're one of
the punchers on this spread forty a month and keep,
and you equal to any man in the outfit as
long as you do your work, that is, if you
want the job.
Speaker 6: If I want it, you bet I want it.
Speaker 1: Which ital i'd fit you in the morning at sharps
you would carrying when we pickedurep we'll do for a
saddle gun, and this smith and Wesson are to do
for holster duty.
Speaker 6: You you're gonna let me carry that six shooter.
Speaker 1: Every man carries at least one, mister.
Speaker 8: Slaughter, I'm gonna be the best dog.
Speaker 1: On hands you ever had, you know, Buck, I believe
you will. Let's see, Luke.
Speaker 3: Luke, I give you credit for more sense than you're
showing about this kid.
Speaker 1: What have I done now?
Speaker 3: Why letting him ride out of here by himself at night?
Speaker 4: You don't expect him to come back, do you?
Speaker 1: What did you say?
Speaker 3: Well, you'll give him permission to take one of your horses,
didn't you?
Speaker 1: I did not.
Speaker 3: And he's a horse stief in addition to being a wrestler.
Of course, if you want to let him go, and
I'm sorry I bothered you.
Speaker 1: All right, saddle up my night horse, yours too. We'll
go after him.
Speaker 3: If you're asking me.
Speaker 1: Well, I'm not asking you. Now. Let's get him before
he pulls another full stunt.
Speaker 2: In a moment, Luke Slaughter of Tombstone returns. Have you
got a little list? Paper cups, paper plates, charcoal, sandwich wrapping,
mustard napkins.
Speaker 1: Write it on a list so nothing will be forgotten.
Speaker 2: Next weekend you'll be joining the rest of America for
the first big outdoor weekend of the year, the big
three day Memorial Day weekend. You'll be heading for the beach,
the woods, the mountains. Don't land there without the forks,
the Franks and the film don't find out too late.
The vacuum jug fell to the floor last fall. Check now,
buy now at your grocers or Druggists, and now Act
two of William and Robson's production of Luke Slutter of Tombstone.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'll say one thing. The kid sure ain't trying
to cover his tracks.
Speaker 1: Looks like he's headed straight for town.
Speaker 3: That new artillery you'll give him. He can create quite eruption,
or he runs again.
Speaker 1: He's not running with town. He's up to something. I
knew what it was.
Speaker 3: Well, he's up tomorre right, probably going to meet his
rustling friend and tell him what an easy mark you are.
Speaker 1: Which a time. If you've been kicked around as much
as that boy, you take a few wrong turns too.
Speaker 3: But you don't know right from wrong when you lay
it out for him.
Speaker 1: I think he does. Now, I know what you think,
and I know what I think. Let's keep quiet and
find him.
Speaker 4: Sure, Luke, that's the way you want it.
Speaker 1: Here's my pieball tied up in front of the Crystal Palace.
Speaker 4: He's in there.
Speaker 1: Let's take a look.
Speaker 3: Oh, now, what you're gonna do for years in there?
Haul him out?
Speaker 1: No, let's stop here by the door that we can see.
Speaker 3: Do you spot him?
Speaker 1: Yeah? Fire into the bar talking to a man with
a black mustache.
Speaker 3: Yeah, slick looking saddle warmer an. He looks like he's
been riding hard too.
Speaker 1: Never seen him before, new one to me, And I told.
Speaker 3: You that kid was coming to town for a powwall.
Speaker 1: Here he comes. Let's get back out of the light.
Speaker 4: Now is the time to grab him.
Speaker 1: Look quiet.
Speaker 3: M hmm, Well he sure ain't looking to be spied
on him.
Speaker 1: Headed right back for the ranch, which is how you
wait here. I'm going in and talk to that waddie.
Talk to him.
Speaker 3: Why don't you get him arrested for wrestling?
Speaker 1: Takes more than suspicion to arrest a man, which.
Speaker 3: You're sure doing a lot of pushy footing over one
stray kid.
Speaker 1: We were all kids at one time. I think this
one needs a nudge in the right direction.
Speaker 3: If you don't get your pin feathers singed while doing it.
Speaker 1: Whiskey bartender, you you joined me, stranger?
Speaker 9: Hi?
Speaker 1: Oh?
Speaker 9: Why sure?
Speaker 1: I'm Luke Slaughter. I'm a spread in these parts.
Speaker 6: Now.
Speaker 9: Well, my name's Price Price.
Speaker 1: I don't recall I having seen you in Tombstone before.
Speaker 9: I ain't seen you neither.
Speaker 1: No offense. I'm always looking for good cow hands, you know.
Interested in the job. Would be that kid you were
talking to just now, Buck Ranier. He works for me,
you know him.
Speaker 3: This is a.
Speaker 9: Public saloon, Slaughter, I was talking to him same as
I'm talking to you.
Speaker 1: Sure, if you want that job, come on out tomorrow.
Anybody can tell you where I'm.
Speaker 9: Located, Thanks, Slaughter, I just may do that.
Speaker 1: Goodnight price, morning buck. I see which attack got j outfitted.
Speaker 6: It's you're dead. These new duds feel awful good.
Speaker 1: And the next thing you'll need is a string of horses.
A string on my own, and I've heard of a
cowboy doing his job on foot.
Speaker 6: Gosh, my own string.
Speaker 1: Since you've taken a liking to that piebald you were
riding last night, let's start with that one.
Speaker 6: How'd you know I rode into town last night?
Speaker 1: I know?
Speaker 6: Ain't you gonna do nothing about it?
Speaker 1: I figure when you get ready to tell me what
you're up to, you will.
Speaker 6: You trust me? Don't you?
Speaker 1: Mister slaughter. I trust any man until he proves he
isn't worthy of it.
Speaker 6: Ain't nobody ever trusted me before?
Speaker 1: Not like that. It's about time somebody did. Then. Oh uh,
by the way, ran into a friend of yours at
the Crystal Palace last night, name a price price.
Speaker 6: He ain't no friend of mine?
Speaker 1: Oh I thought he was. I offered him a job.
Speaker 6: You offered him a job?
Speaker 1: Anything wrong with that? Well, it's your spread now.
Speaker 6: I'd like to pick out those horses now, if you
don't mind.
Speaker 1: All right, let's get down to the corral. Well, looks
like Price is gonna take me up on that job.
Speaker 6: I'm going down to it.
Speaker 7: No, you wait here, morning Price, Morning Slaughter, Yeah, hello, Buck,
good morning.
Speaker 9: I thought i'd amble out and see what you had
to offer.
Speaker 1: Glad you did you want the job?
Speaker 9: How many head do you run?
Speaker 1: Around? Five hundred right now? Increasing it gradually? It ought
to be enough to keep a man busy. I'll take
it good. You're obviously in old hands. I'll pair you
up with Buck here, mister Slaughter.
Speaker 9: That sounds good to me. Maybe I can teach the
kid to thing it too.
Speaker 1: I'm sure you can now, Buck, we'll pick out two
strings of horses.
Speaker 9: Riding night guards my specialty.
Speaker 1: Slaughter. Oh, now, we can start you right out at
that tonight. Most of the boys prefer bunk house duty
after dark.
Speaker 6: Mister Slaughter.
Speaker 1: Yes, Buck, never mind, let's get the horses.
Speaker 3: Hang you or Luke.
Speaker 4: You didn't even let me finish my supper.
Speaker 1: It can have two suppers tomorrow. Did you tell the
boys what I told you?
Speaker 6: Yep?
Speaker 3: Said you and me had to ride in the tombstore
on a cattle deal.
Speaker 1: This evening, Price over here, you make sure he did.
Speaker 4: Goodness, Now, we ain't going to town. Where are we going?
Speaker 1: Same place we went two nights ago, Upper Mesa?
Speaker 3: Why kidding that new fella prize right night?
Speaker 4: Heard up that night went up nearly in rble?
Speaker 1: You trust that combination?
Speaker 4: Of course not, But you're in the wash.
Speaker 1: Give a man enough rope, he's liable to hang himself.
Give a boy enough rope, he might get tangled up.
I figure bucks tangled up.
Speaker 3: You're still trusting that kid.
Speaker 1: I haven't seen him do anything wrong. If I do,
I'll change my tune.
Speaker 3: Yeah, here's a trail entrance leading up to the ma
Sa Luke, you want to go first.
Speaker 1: We'll stop right here here. Whoever comes down has to
pass this point. It's the only trail.
Speaker 3: You're aiming to ambush Price in that kid.
Speaker 1: Ambush now, observe is the word which.
Speaker 3: You could observe them back at the ranch.
Speaker 1: Would you go in all this trouble for proof? I'll
bet you a heifer against four bits. There's another wrestling
attempt tonight.
Speaker 3: How do you figure that to?
Speaker 1: Take a look at Price's hands.
Speaker 3: I didn't like his face. Didn't get as far as
his hands.
Speaker 1: They're soft gambler's hands. He's not a working cowboy.
Speaker 3: What does that prove?
Speaker 1: Nothing yet? But I think that Price is the wrestler
who got away the other night, and I think he's
forcing Buck to act against his will. Well, if you
ask me, I didn't. Let's hide the horses and get set.
Speaker 3: Yeah, but Luke, if the kid helped Price move them
cattle out, he's guilty of wrestling, no matter what you think.
Think about it.
Speaker 1: This time he won't be knocked out, and if he
doesn't answer some straight questions, he'll go to jail the
same as Price.
Speaker 3: Here's they come, Luke, Piers yours right?
Speaker 1: Yeah, I didn't get down off the trail into the flat,
and then we'll challenge him.
Speaker 3: There's Price and the kid bringing up the rear.
Speaker 1: When they pass in front of us, I'm going to
stand up, keep me covered. Either one of them reaches
for his gun, shoot, don't you Luke? All right? Get
ready calling Price? Wait a minute, this is as far.
Speaker 4: As we're going.
Speaker 1: What are you talking about?
Speaker 9: Come on, we gotta keep these pritters moving.
Speaker 6: I'm not going any farther in either of you.
Speaker 9: Don't you give me that back talk, you do what
I tell you? Well, what's the idea of the gun?
Speaker 6: I've taken all I'm gonna take from you? Price, I'm
gonna kill you.
Speaker 9: You're gonna kill me.
Speaker 8: I don't know what my mother sees in you. You're
nothing but a lion, cheat and gambler, and now you
turn into a wrestler.
Speaker 6: Well, you can't make me one too.
Speaker 9: Your mar's a pretty woman.
Speaker 1: Buck.
Speaker 9: We're gonna get married on the money we make selling
this herd. You wouldn't shoot your own daddy, now, would you.
Speaker 8: You ain't one tenth the man my daddy was. And
my mother's had enough grief in her life. You ain't
gonna add no more to it.
Speaker 9: You're forgetting that you're just as much of a wrestler
as I.
Speaker 1: No, I'm not.
Speaker 8: If my mother wasn't mixed up with you, i'd have
told mister Slaughter who you were the night you knocked
me out and left me to take the blame.
Speaker 6: I don't know why he's been.
Speaker 8: So good to me, offered me a job at all,
but I'm not gonna pay him back by letting you
get away with this.
Speaker 6: So I'm gonna kill you right now.
Speaker 8: Right price to missus Slaughter, you shot the gun right.
Speaker 6: Out of my hand.
Speaker 1: I couldn't stand by and let you commit murder. Buck,
I've learned all I need to know about mister Price
and his wrestling. Just a minute's laughter.
Speaker 7: We're still on your property and you can't prove a
charge of rustling Price.
Speaker 1: Did I give you orders to move that herd down
from Upper Mesa tonight? No? Just who do you think
the judge is gonna believe you?
Speaker 6: You still want me to work for you, mister Slaughter.
Speaker 1: Of course I do, Buck, And after the trial of
this sidewine to hear it might be a good idea
if you took a week off and rode over to
Prescott to see your mother. I'd like that take along
a copy of the Tombstone epitaph that tells about Price's trial.
It'll set her straight on the mistake she almost made.
Let her know what kind of a man she raised.
Speaker 2: Luke Slutter of Tombstone, starring Sam Buffington, was written by
Alan Butzer and directed by William N. Robeson editorial supervision
by Tom Henley. Supporting mister Buffington were Junius Matthews, Sam
Edwards and Vic Perrin, with music composed and conducted by
Wilbur Hatch. Next week, at this time we return.
Speaker 1: With Slaughter's the name Luke Slaughter. When we meet up again,
you can call me that, Luke Slaughter.
Speaker 2: This is the CBS Radio Network
Speaker 1: To be s