August 28, 2025 • 24 mins
Luke Slaughter of Tombstone debuted on February 23, 1958 and, sadly, only ran for a total of 16 episodes. Sam Buffington played Luke Slaughter, a Civil War cavalry officer, turned cattle rancher, in post-Civil War Arizona Territory near Fort Huachuca and the town of Tombstone, not far from the U.S. southern border. This was a well-received program but was cut short due to the pressure of television at the time. At the beginning of each show we hear "Slaughter's my name, Luke Slaughter. Cattle's my business. It's a tough business, it's a big business. I got a big stake in it. And there's no man west of the Rio Grande big enough to take it away from me."
Hope you enjoy this episode of Luke Slaughter of Tombstone! Find all our OTR internet radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | Amazon | iHeart
Hope you enjoy this episode of Luke Slaughter of Tombstone! Find all our OTR internet radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | Amazon | iHeart
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
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. And there's no man wes to the Rio
Grande big enough to take it from me.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Luke Slaughter of Tombstone. Luke Slaughter of Tombstone. Civil War
cattleryman turned Arizona cattleman. Across the territory, from Yuma to
(00:52):
Fort Defiance, from Flagstaff to the Watchukas, and below the
border through Chihaba and Sonora. His name was respected or feared,
depending on what side of the law you were on.
Man of vision, man of legend, Luke Slutter of Tombstone.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
The time finally came when I decided it'd be more
profit in raising my own cattle and driving other men's
herds up to Tombstone from Mexico and Texas. And about
the same time I heard that Aaron Holcombe spread was
for sale. So one day Wichitan, I rode down toward
the San Pedro Valley to look it over. Well, which, Tah,
(01:41):
what do you think where?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
If you wish to ask me, I am you are?
I'll be gay where? I think it's a pretty good
proposition all around.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
You get a good, healthy herd of beef cattle and
several hundred acres of raising land.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
And Aaron Holcombe gets out like he wants to. I
don't see how either one of you can lose.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
That's the way I look at it. Let's ride over
Aaron's and close the deal. How you, Aaron?
Speaker 5 (02:19):
Are you?
Speaker 6 (02:20):
Luke?
Speaker 1 (02:21):
You talk well, Aaron, I'm ready to talk business.
Speaker 7 (02:25):
Come on into the house and I'll see if I
can get Sarah or rustle up some coffee.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
It's mighty nice heard you got there, Aaron. How many
had you figure?
Speaker 7 (02:33):
You're running well, not counting calvs, somewhere between four hundred
and fifty four seventy five.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Let's count the calves and make it five hundred.
Speaker 7 (02:43):
That's mighty generous of you. Luke got company, Sarah.
Speaker 8 (02:47):
Well, mister Slaughter, you.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Tell hi, hello, missus Olkan.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
Hi, Mom.
Speaker 7 (02:52):
I suppose you could find some hot coffee for these gents.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
I would be the least bit spry.
Speaker 7 (02:57):
Sit down, Luke over there, Sarah, mister Slaughter is interested
in buying.
Speaker 8 (03:06):
Well, I must say that's a relief, I said, dear
missus Laughter. I said, if mister slaughter won't take the
place off your hands?
Speaker 5 (03:13):
Who will?
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Well, it isn't exactly a matter of taking it off
your hands, Missus Holcombe. Aaron's built up a valuable spread here.
Speaker 8 (03:20):
Yes, but who and Tombstone's in a position to buy it?
But you and I declare, I'd go out of my
mind if we had to wait around here for goodness
knows how long selling it off.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Piece by piece and cow by cowl.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Well, I don't think that'll be necessary, Karen, and prepared
to offer you five thousand dollars for your outfit, box
stock and barrel.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Five house.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Well, not at your pretty farncy price, if you ask me,
nobody did wat your town witch?
Speaker 7 (03:45):
Its right, Luke, it is a fancy price. But I'll
sifted good.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
I've drawn up a bill of sale and a d Daron.
You'll just sign here.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
All right, Luke.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
How about the money? You want me to deposit it
to your account in the bank in town?
Speaker 7 (04:04):
Oh, Luke? I never did trust banks. They get robbed
too often.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
I prefer cash, I thought you might, so I brought
it with me. There you are five dollar bills. Count it.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
I don't have to, Luke, I know it's all.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Laire, that's an awful lot of cash you have laying around. Ern.
Speaker 7 (04:24):
Oh, it won't be laying around, Wichita. I got my
own private hiding place. Well, I don't aim to disclose
it to a swingling old coot like you, but I
will say it's under a board in this kitchen. But
I ain't specifying witchboard.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
You always was a cautious one, Ern Reckon. That's why
you live so long.
Speaker 7 (04:46):
O Wichata, Sarah, that's why I've lived so long.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Racon sheeese that say, what are you going.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
To talking about?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
He you see, Yarn, you've been reformed so long. The
greenhorns like Luke here don't even know what a bad
man you once was. What you mean to tell me, Luke,
you never heard of a gunslinger.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Named big Ern? No, I guess that was before my time.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
It just was why Aaron here was once the fastest
gun in the Panhandle. How many men was it you
helped along to their reward, Aaron? Some say twelve, others fourteen.
Speaker 5 (05:22):
I never did rightly?
Speaker 7 (05:23):
No It'chita, you talk too much, That's what Luke says.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
But be that as it may, true, is Luke, Aaron
probably could have outgunned you in his prime.
Speaker 5 (05:33):
Well, I don't know.
Speaker 7 (05:35):
That was a long time ago, and before Sarah came
along and showed me the air of my ways.
Speaker 8 (05:42):
Well, don't get the idea I was exactly a gospel singer,
mister Slaughter. You don't learn many hymns at the bird
cage in Abialeve.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
But I loved him, so.
Speaker 7 (05:51):
I hung up my gun, and for nearly twenty years
I ain't used it on anything bigger than a rattlesnake
or a coyote.
Speaker 8 (05:59):
You see, I preferred a live husband to her dead legend.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
And you live to regret it, not a single.
Speaker 9 (06:07):
Day on it, mister slaughter.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
When well you want us to move.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Off the place, there's no hurry, missus helkom, You just
take your time.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Were you too hidden on wish Mercy?
Speaker 8 (06:18):
No, we're going back east to Missouri.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Well never, folks don't go back east, not when they
got themselves are going outfit like you have or head?
Speaker 8 (06:28):
Oh but I've still got kinfuck back there.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Well, ken ain't no reason to leave God's country.
Speaker 8 (06:33):
And I've got a hankering to see green fields again
and to grow something else besides beef cattle.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
You're gonna be a farmer.
Speaker 7 (06:41):
Looks like it. If that's what Sarah wants, then it's
what I want.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Ern Ain't you carrying this devotion thing a little too fur?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
All right, come on, let's head back for tombstone, witch.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yes, I know, I know I talk too much.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
Good eating mister Slaughter.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Hey Mcnellye, what's on the fire tonight?
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Well there's fried pork chops and fried steak.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
I'd recommend the pork chops. See what's the matter with
my cattle?
Speaker 8 (07:17):
Well?
Speaker 1 (07:17):
I didn't mean that, mister Slaughter.
Speaker 6 (07:19):
Eh, evening, Luke, evening Nellie.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Pork chaps of steak don't make no difference.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
I'm hungry a woodpecker with a headache, misteak, I guess no.
Speaker 8 (07:29):
I'll bring it along as soon as I get these
Where you've been, Oh.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Do you drop by the Epithaph office to pick up
evening paper?
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Well?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Well, well, what you know?
Speaker 1 (07:42):
What?
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Here's your name in the paper, biggest Life.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
What does it say?
Speaker 4 (07:46):
We understand Luke Slaughter has decided to settle in these parks.
Yesterday we heard he bought and holcomb spread down on
the San Pedro River. We also understand Luke pay day
very pretty penny for it.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
I wonder how that got in the paper. I don't know,
lu I'll bet you don't. Between that nosy nose of
yours and that wagon tongue, somebody's going to get into
trouble someday, and I hope it will only be you.
My business is my business and nobody else's, and I
don't like reading about it in the newspaper. Is that clear?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Sure, Luke?
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Sure stop what I was just trying to be friendly.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
If you give me, I got peers. Nellie's having a
little troubles.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Yeah, those two, which you know never laid.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Eyes on them before, strangers.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Most likely must be no better. Come on, what seems
to be the difficulty, gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Oh, we ain't having any difficulty. Were just being friendly
with this little Philly here.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
It's all right, Nelly, I'll take care of this, Thank you,
mister Slaughter. I guess you boys aren't very well acquainted
in Tombstone, or you'd know that this is the dining
room of the San Jose House, not the barroom of
the Occidental Rough Stuff doesn't go here?
Speaker 5 (09:04):
Or are you owner of the hotel?
Speaker 1 (09:07):
No?
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Maybe a sky pilot then no?
Speaker 5 (09:11):
Then what right? You got button in the right.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Any man's got to help a lady when she needs it.
You boys better mind your manners or go get your
supper someplace else.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
You know, mister, I just may have to cut you
down to size.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
I wouldn't try it, sirn if I was you, why
not pop is?
Speaker 3 (09:29):
You don't know who you're talking to.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
That's right, I don't know. I don't care.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Well, you better care.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
This year is Luke's later and watch nor laughter.
Speaker 10 (09:39):
Hell well, you're quite a famous man, missus slaughter, say
this is the fella we was reading about in tonight's paper.
Speaker 7 (09:45):
Than yeah, Well, buying up ranches is one thing, and
pushing people around another.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
I'm not pushing anybody around. I'm just telling you to
mind your manners. Come on with your down let's tie
on the feedback. M I guess I must have discouraged
the two Andy Ranahans, because a couple of minutes later
they left, presumably to find a dining room where it
(10:11):
was permitted to pinch the waitresses, and I forgot all
about them. Since my business is primarily not the protection
of Tombstone's women folk but cattle, I was tending to
my business the next afternoon, in which it busted into
my office at the Cantleman's Association.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
A terrible thing has happened, an awful thing.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
What would you do? It's soholcome, what's the matter with it? Well?
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Hearing just brought her into the doctor. She's cut up,
something terrible cut her. Aaron don't know, and she can't talk.
She's unconscious.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
We better go over to the docks and see if
there's anything we can do. We got to the doctor's
office on tough Nut Street. They found Sarah lying on
a big bed in the back room. Aaron's huge body
seemed shrunken as he knelt by the bed, holding her
tiny hand in his. The doctor waves this back into
(11:04):
his office and closed the door behind him.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
How is she dark?
Speaker 5 (11:09):
She's dying with your toll?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
What happened to her?
Speaker 10 (11:13):
Luke? I've been doctoring out here for a long time,
and I've seen people die in a lot of different ways,
or treated bullet wounds, dug out arrows, sewed up knife gashes.
But I've never seen anything as rotten as what somebody
did to that poor woman.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
What did they do to her?
Speaker 10 (11:29):
Spurs big growled Shawalas they must have kicked her for
a long time. She's got holes all over her body,
dirty side wind her.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
She conscious, she won't be for long. Can I talk
to her?
Speaker 10 (11:46):
Well, I guess it don't make any difference now born.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
In Oh no, sir, Oh sir, how do you feel?
This is open? Oh?
Speaker 8 (11:59):
Not too good, mister slaughter. But I'll be all right
in a few days, doctor said.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
So, of course you will. Missus Holcombe. Who did this
to you?
Speaker 5 (12:11):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (12:13):
I never saw him before. There were two of 'em.
They rode up to the ranch just before noon.
Speaker 5 (12:19):
I was down in the wash looking after new drop carefully.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
I see go on, Missus Holcombe.
Speaker 8 (12:26):
He said, give him the money you paid us for
the ranch. I told him I didn't know what they
was talking about. Then one of them knocked me down,
and the other began kicking with his spirit.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Sare can you tell me what they looked like, Missus Holcombe,
anything about them?
Speaker 8 (12:47):
There was two of 'em.
Speaker 9 (12:49):
I I think I heard one of them call the
other I had sad. Yeah, he was a little one.
He's evil. He's cruel and mean and evil.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
It was him that did this. All right, Missus Hulcombe,
you just lie back and rest now she she tells
you anything, Luke, when she knew she did Withhta. One
of them is named Thad. Does that mean anything to you?
Speaker 3 (13:27):
No, can't see the doors.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Those two cowboys in the San Jose house last night.
Didn't one of them answer to the name of Thad?
Speaker 3 (13:35):
The little one by Tulfred? I think he did.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Wasn't he wearing toa whispers with long rowels?
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Yeah he was?
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Doctor, Come quick. The huge figure of Aaron Holcombe filled
(14:07):
the doorway behind which lay his dead wife. His broad
features sagged with shock and grief and tightened in determination.
He pulled out his gun then, which had not been
drawn against a man in nearly twenty years. So he
spun the chamber, making sure that it was fully loaded.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
What are you aiming to do? Erin What do you
think I aim to do?
Speaker 1 (14:34):
This is a job for the law. Aaron Chereh will
have those men by nightfall.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
They'll both be dead by nightfall.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
You kill them, you'll hang, let the law handle listen.
Speaker 7 (14:44):
They'll hang maybe, or maybe they'll go to humor for life.
I can't take that chance.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
They'll get a fair trial.
Speaker 7 (14:50):
They give Sarah a fair trial. Bushwack and a defenseless woman.
They got no more guts in their father head their father.
Yeah you hurt, Sarah? Say one of 'em is named Thad. Yeah,
I know who they are now, sad Jinks boys?
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Who's sad Jinks?
Speaker 5 (15:08):
Last man?
Speaker 7 (15:09):
I outdrew back in Abilene nearly twenty years ago, a
yellow coward who went for his gun when my back
was turned, but he never got it out of the holster.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Yeah that's right, Luke, I was there quiet? Would you do?
Speaker 5 (15:21):
You see? Luke?
Speaker 7 (15:21):
They weren't after the money, at least that isn't the
reason they came up here to Tombstone.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
They came a feuding. Well they got a feud now,
or I had a blood feud.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
But Aaron, you can't take the law into your own hands.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
I aim too.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Then I gotta remind you Iron, I'm a deputy, Sarah,
and it's my duty to stop you.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
I wouldn't try it, Luke.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Aaron listened to me. But would Sarah think? If you'll
put the gun back on?
Speaker 5 (15:48):
Sarah can't think no more, Luke. No, If you gents
don't mind, I'd like to be alone with her for
a little while.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Which town, Hey, Luke, go over to the Sheriff's office.
Tell him he's gonna have a shooting on his hands
if he doesn't lock those two up before Aaron finds him.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Are you there still in town?
Speaker 1 (16:11):
I don't, but I'm sure we're gonna find out if
I have to search every saloon on Allen Street, let's go.
That's just about what I did. They weren't in Hereford's
or Bob Hatches. They weren't in the Oriental or the Occidental.
(16:32):
Just about decided they've been smart enough to skip town
when I found them in the al Hambrun here.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Let's have another bottle here, listen's empty?
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Sure, can't you see we're we're dying at first, never
mind bartender, they've had their last drink for a while.
Speaker 7 (16:51):
Well, if it isn't mister Luke Slaughter, what's the idea
of the gun?
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Mister Slaughter, it's Deputy Seraph Slaughter. Signifie, I'm arresting you too,
with the murder of Sarah holkemb you must be mistaken, sorrow.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
We don't know no one named Sarah Holgan.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Those spurs you're wearing look mighty sharp. Who they are?
Speaker 3 (17:13):
My horse has awful tough hiding.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
It's too bad, Sarah Holcomb didn't have a tough hide
when you used him on her.
Speaker 7 (17:19):
Now move, nobody's moving unless he wants to be stuck
with a bullet.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Aaron, listen to me. What's your gunaway?
Speaker 5 (17:27):
Luke, it's too late.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
To play long man, Aaron.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
I can't let us.
Speaker 7 (17:30):
Step to one side out of the line of fire.
These boys and me are gonna talk business.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
If you try it. I gotta defend Amaron.
Speaker 7 (17:40):
It don't matter much to me, Luke. If I have
to kill you to get him, well.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
And I'll have to.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Who is this crazy old fool?
Speaker 5 (17:48):
Whoever saw him before?
Speaker 7 (17:50):
That's right, Sonny, But I bet you heard about me
all your life. I'm the fella who killed your pappy.
But I killed him in a fair gunfight, just like
I'm gonna kill you, not the sneak and sneaky way
you killed my wife. He's out of his mind, so Laura,
I'll tell you we didn't kill his wife.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
He's convinced that you did, and so am I.
Speaker 7 (18:09):
I'm putting my pistol back in its holster so everything
will be fair and square. Now you boys can take
off your guns and try me or you can go
for them and try me. Don't make any difference either way.
I'm gonna kill you, and either way it'll be a
quicker and easier death. And you gave Sarah.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Look, mister, you'll make a mistake and leave us out
of here.
Speaker 7 (18:33):
We'll get out of town and never come back. We're
never leaving this town. You're staying right here on boothill.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Now draw Aaron. You go for your gun, and I'll
have to go for mine.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
You do that, Luke, but I won't be aiming at you.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
I couldn't draw on Aaron, and he knew it. There
was nothing I could do to stop his vengeance of
waiting death hovered over the room. Smell of fear was
there too. Aaron stood facing the two terrified brothers, his
feet wide apart, his open hand hovering an inch away
(19:14):
from his hosted gun. The seconds that seemed like hours,
they stood there, and finally Harv Jenks went for his gun.
Aaron's arm was a blur as he pumped his shots
in the hard before he could get his gun out.
As he fell dying, he fired once and across Aaron's chest,
a red stain slowly spread. Sad Jenks stood in frozen terror,
(19:37):
his gun still holsted, and he found his voice. Mister Sulliflo, God,
don't life kills all right, Aaron, that's enough shooting. You're right, Luke.
Speaker 7 (19:48):
A bullet's too good for this one with those nice
sharp spurs. Of course, I ain't wearing spurs, honey.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
And I've got no knife to cut you up like
you did, Sarah.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
But I got two hands, big hands, hands big enough
to crack your bones, big enough to choke the life
of you a little by a little.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
I'm swinging his great hands outstretched like a huge gorilla.
Arod slowly moved across the room toward the terrified killer.
Then Jenks backed away from him until he bumped into
the bar. They seemed to remember his gun, hanging it
out of the board. Shot. That's a shot at Aaron,
but he never stopped advancing. The gun was empty. Dad
(20:34):
threw it away and tried to make a break for
the door, but.
Speaker 11 (20:38):
His one hand smashing him in the face of the other.
That's enough, parent, Let him go, Let him go.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
He's dead dead. You're sure, yes, Aaron, you've had your revenge.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
I I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Look, I I had to do it. I know. I'll
go get the duck errand no, No, Luke.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
There's nothing the duck can do for a man that
stopped six slugs.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Luke, Yes, Aaron, Luke.
Speaker 7 (21:41):
This is the only time I ever broke a promise
to Sarah.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
I know, but there's.
Speaker 7 (21:48):
One last promise I don't wanna break.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
If you'll help me, sure, I will erin.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
I I promise Sarah we'd go back to Missouri together.
Speaker 8 (22:08):
With the rest of our days.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Luke, will you see to it.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
That we Dowater of Tombstone, starring Sam Buffington, was written
(22:39):
by Thomas Houghton and adapted for radio and directed by
William N. Robeson editorial supervision by Tom Henley. Supporting mister
Buffington were Irene Tedrow, De Tatum, Sam Edwards, Chat Stratton,
Dick LaGrand, Junius Matthews and lou Merrill, with music composed
by Wilbur Hatch and conducted by Amerigo Marino. Next week,
(23:01):
at this time we return.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
With slaughters the name Luke Slaughter, and we meet up again.
You can call me that Luke Slaughter. Luke Slaughter of
Tombstone has come to you through the worldwide facilities of
the United States Armed Forces, radio and television
Speaker 4 (23:18):
Service physical bott
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. And there's no man wes to the Rio
Grande big enough to take it from me.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Luke Slaughter of Tombstone. Luke Slaughter of Tombstone. Civil War
cattleryman turned Arizona cattleman. Across the territory, from Yuma to
(00:52):
Fort Defiance, from Flagstaff to the Watchukas, and below the
border through Chihaba and Sonora. His name was respected or feared,
depending on what side of the law you were on.
Man of vision, man of legend, Luke Slutter of Tombstone.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
The time finally came when I decided it'd be more
profit in raising my own cattle and driving other men's
herds up to Tombstone from Mexico and Texas. And about
the same time I heard that Aaron Holcombe spread was
for sale. So one day Wichitan, I rode down toward
the San Pedro Valley to look it over. Well, which, Tah,
(01:41):
what do you think where?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
If you wish to ask me, I am you are?
I'll be gay where? I think it's a pretty good
proposition all around.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
You get a good, healthy herd of beef cattle and
several hundred acres of raising land.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
And Aaron Holcombe gets out like he wants to. I
don't see how either one of you can lose.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
That's the way I look at it. Let's ride over
Aaron's and close the deal. How you, Aaron?
Speaker 5 (02:19):
Are you?
Speaker 6 (02:20):
Luke?
Speaker 1 (02:21):
You talk well, Aaron, I'm ready to talk business.
Speaker 7 (02:25):
Come on into the house and I'll see if I
can get Sarah or rustle up some coffee.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
It's mighty nice heard you got there, Aaron. How many
had you figure?
Speaker 7 (02:33):
You're running well, not counting calvs, somewhere between four hundred
and fifty four seventy five.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Let's count the calves and make it five hundred.
Speaker 7 (02:43):
That's mighty generous of you. Luke got company, Sarah.
Speaker 8 (02:47):
Well, mister Slaughter, you.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Tell hi, hello, missus Olkan.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
Hi, Mom.
Speaker 7 (02:52):
I suppose you could find some hot coffee for these gents.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
I would be the least bit spry.
Speaker 7 (02:57):
Sit down, Luke over there, Sarah, mister Slaughter is interested
in buying.
Speaker 8 (03:06):
Well, I must say that's a relief, I said, dear
missus Laughter. I said, if mister slaughter won't take the
place off your hands?
Speaker 5 (03:13):
Who will?
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Well, it isn't exactly a matter of taking it off
your hands, Missus Holcombe. Aaron's built up a valuable spread here.
Speaker 8 (03:20):
Yes, but who and Tombstone's in a position to buy it?
But you and I declare, I'd go out of my
mind if we had to wait around here for goodness
knows how long selling it off.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Piece by piece and cow by cowl.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Well, I don't think that'll be necessary, Karen, and prepared
to offer you five thousand dollars for your outfit, box
stock and barrel.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Five house.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Well, not at your pretty farncy price, if you ask me,
nobody did wat your town witch?
Speaker 7 (03:45):
Its right, Luke, it is a fancy price. But I'll
sifted good.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
I've drawn up a bill of sale and a d Daron.
You'll just sign here.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
All right, Luke.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
How about the money? You want me to deposit it
to your account in the bank in town?
Speaker 7 (04:04):
Oh, Luke? I never did trust banks. They get robbed
too often.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
I prefer cash, I thought you might, so I brought
it with me. There you are five dollar bills. Count it.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
I don't have to, Luke, I know it's all.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Laire, that's an awful lot of cash you have laying around. Ern.
Speaker 7 (04:24):
Oh, it won't be laying around, Wichita. I got my
own private hiding place. Well, I don't aim to disclose
it to a swingling old coot like you, but I
will say it's under a board in this kitchen. But
I ain't specifying witchboard.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
You always was a cautious one, Ern Reckon. That's why
you live so long.
Speaker 7 (04:46):
O Wichata, Sarah, that's why I've lived so long.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Racon sheeese that say, what are you going.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
To talking about?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
He you see, Yarn, you've been reformed so long. The
greenhorns like Luke here don't even know what a bad
man you once was. What you mean to tell me, Luke,
you never heard of a gunslinger.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Named big Ern? No, I guess that was before my time.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
It just was why Aaron here was once the fastest
gun in the Panhandle. How many men was it you
helped along to their reward, Aaron? Some say twelve, others fourteen.
Speaker 5 (05:22):
I never did rightly?
Speaker 7 (05:23):
No It'chita, you talk too much, That's what Luke says.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
But be that as it may, true, is Luke, Aaron
probably could have outgunned you in his prime.
Speaker 5 (05:33):
Well, I don't know.
Speaker 7 (05:35):
That was a long time ago, and before Sarah came
along and showed me the air of my ways.
Speaker 8 (05:42):
Well, don't get the idea I was exactly a gospel singer,
mister Slaughter. You don't learn many hymns at the bird
cage in Abialeve.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
But I loved him, so.
Speaker 7 (05:51):
I hung up my gun, and for nearly twenty years
I ain't used it on anything bigger than a rattlesnake
or a coyote.
Speaker 8 (05:59):
You see, I preferred a live husband to her dead legend.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
And you live to regret it, not a single.
Speaker 9 (06:07):
Day on it, mister slaughter.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
When well you want us to move.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Off the place, there's no hurry, missus helkom, You just
take your time.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Were you too hidden on wish Mercy?
Speaker 8 (06:18):
No, we're going back east to Missouri.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Well never, folks don't go back east, not when they
got themselves are going outfit like you have or head?
Speaker 8 (06:28):
Oh but I've still got kinfuck back there.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Well, ken ain't no reason to leave God's country.
Speaker 8 (06:33):
And I've got a hankering to see green fields again
and to grow something else besides beef cattle.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
You're gonna be a farmer.
Speaker 7 (06:41):
Looks like it. If that's what Sarah wants, then it's
what I want.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Ern Ain't you carrying this devotion thing a little too fur?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
All right, come on, let's head back for tombstone, witch.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yes, I know, I know I talk too much.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
Good eating mister Slaughter.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Hey Mcnellye, what's on the fire tonight?
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Well there's fried pork chops and fried steak.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
I'd recommend the pork chops. See what's the matter with
my cattle?
Speaker 8 (07:17):
Well?
Speaker 1 (07:17):
I didn't mean that, mister Slaughter.
Speaker 6 (07:19):
Eh, evening, Luke, evening Nellie.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Pork chaps of steak don't make no difference.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
I'm hungry a woodpecker with a headache, misteak, I guess no.
Speaker 8 (07:29):
I'll bring it along as soon as I get these
Where you've been, Oh.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Do you drop by the Epithaph office to pick up
evening paper?
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Well?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Well, well, what you know?
Speaker 1 (07:42):
What?
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Here's your name in the paper, biggest Life.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
What does it say?
Speaker 4 (07:46):
We understand Luke Slaughter has decided to settle in these parks.
Yesterday we heard he bought and holcomb spread down on
the San Pedro River. We also understand Luke pay day
very pretty penny for it.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
I wonder how that got in the paper. I don't know,
lu I'll bet you don't. Between that nosy nose of
yours and that wagon tongue, somebody's going to get into
trouble someday, and I hope it will only be you.
My business is my business and nobody else's, and I
don't like reading about it in the newspaper. Is that clear?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Sure, Luke?
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Sure stop what I was just trying to be friendly.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
If you give me, I got peers. Nellie's having a
little troubles.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Yeah, those two, which you know never laid.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Eyes on them before, strangers.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Most likely must be no better. Come on, what seems
to be the difficulty, gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Oh, we ain't having any difficulty. Were just being friendly
with this little Philly here.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
It's all right, Nelly, I'll take care of this, Thank you,
mister Slaughter. I guess you boys aren't very well acquainted
in Tombstone, or you'd know that this is the dining
room of the San Jose House, not the barroom of
the Occidental Rough Stuff doesn't go here?
Speaker 5 (09:04):
Or are you owner of the hotel?
Speaker 1 (09:07):
No?
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Maybe a sky pilot then no?
Speaker 5 (09:11):
Then what right? You got button in the right.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Any man's got to help a lady when she needs it.
You boys better mind your manners or go get your
supper someplace else.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
You know, mister, I just may have to cut you
down to size.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
I wouldn't try it, sirn if I was you, why
not pop is?
Speaker 3 (09:29):
You don't know who you're talking to.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
That's right, I don't know. I don't care.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Well, you better care.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
This year is Luke's later and watch nor laughter.
Speaker 10 (09:39):
Hell well, you're quite a famous man, missus slaughter, say
this is the fella we was reading about in tonight's paper.
Speaker 7 (09:45):
Than yeah, Well, buying up ranches is one thing, and
pushing people around another.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
I'm not pushing anybody around. I'm just telling you to
mind your manners. Come on with your down let's tie
on the feedback. M I guess I must have discouraged
the two Andy Ranahans, because a couple of minutes later
they left, presumably to find a dining room where it
(10:11):
was permitted to pinch the waitresses, and I forgot all
about them. Since my business is primarily not the protection
of Tombstone's women folk but cattle, I was tending to
my business the next afternoon, in which it busted into
my office at the Cantleman's Association.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
A terrible thing has happened, an awful thing.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
What would you do? It's soholcome, what's the matter with it? Well?
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Hearing just brought her into the doctor. She's cut up,
something terrible cut her. Aaron don't know, and she can't talk.
She's unconscious.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
We better go over to the docks and see if
there's anything we can do. We got to the doctor's
office on tough Nut Street. They found Sarah lying on
a big bed in the back room. Aaron's huge body
seemed shrunken as he knelt by the bed, holding her
tiny hand in his. The doctor waves this back into
(11:04):
his office and closed the door behind him.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
How is she dark?
Speaker 5 (11:09):
She's dying with your toll?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
What happened to her?
Speaker 10 (11:13):
Luke? I've been doctoring out here for a long time,
and I've seen people die in a lot of different ways,
or treated bullet wounds, dug out arrows, sewed up knife gashes.
But I've never seen anything as rotten as what somebody
did to that poor woman.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
What did they do to her?
Speaker 10 (11:29):
Spurs big growled Shawalas they must have kicked her for
a long time. She's got holes all over her body,
dirty side wind her.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
She conscious, she won't be for long. Can I talk
to her?
Speaker 10 (11:46):
Well, I guess it don't make any difference now born.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
In Oh no, sir, Oh sir, how do you feel?
This is open? Oh?
Speaker 8 (11:59):
Not too good, mister slaughter. But I'll be all right
in a few days, doctor said.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
So, of course you will. Missus Holcombe. Who did this
to you?
Speaker 5 (12:11):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (12:13):
I never saw him before. There were two of 'em.
They rode up to the ranch just before noon.
Speaker 5 (12:19):
I was down in the wash looking after new drop carefully.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
I see go on, Missus Holcombe.
Speaker 8 (12:26):
He said, give him the money you paid us for
the ranch. I told him I didn't know what they
was talking about. Then one of them knocked me down,
and the other began kicking with his spirit.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Sare can you tell me what they looked like, Missus Holcombe,
anything about them?
Speaker 8 (12:47):
There was two of 'em.
Speaker 9 (12:49):
I I think I heard one of them call the
other I had sad. Yeah, he was a little one.
He's evil. He's cruel and mean and evil.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
It was him that did this. All right, Missus Hulcombe,
you just lie back and rest now she she tells
you anything, Luke, when she knew she did Withhta. One
of them is named Thad. Does that mean anything to you?
Speaker 3 (13:27):
No, can't see the doors.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Those two cowboys in the San Jose house last night.
Didn't one of them answer to the name of Thad?
Speaker 3 (13:35):
The little one by Tulfred? I think he did.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Wasn't he wearing toa whispers with long rowels?
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Yeah he was?
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Doctor, Come quick. The huge figure of Aaron Holcombe filled
(14:07):
the doorway behind which lay his dead wife. His broad
features sagged with shock and grief and tightened in determination.
He pulled out his gun then, which had not been
drawn against a man in nearly twenty years. So he
spun the chamber, making sure that it was fully loaded.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
What are you aiming to do? Erin What do you
think I aim to do?
Speaker 1 (14:34):
This is a job for the law. Aaron Chereh will
have those men by nightfall.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
They'll both be dead by nightfall.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
You kill them, you'll hang, let the law handle listen.
Speaker 7 (14:44):
They'll hang maybe, or maybe they'll go to humor for life.
I can't take that chance.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
They'll get a fair trial.
Speaker 7 (14:50):
They give Sarah a fair trial. Bushwack and a defenseless woman.
They got no more guts in their father head their father.
Yeah you hurt, Sarah? Say one of 'em is named Thad. Yeah,
I know who they are now, sad Jinks boys?
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Who's sad Jinks?
Speaker 5 (15:08):
Last man?
Speaker 7 (15:09):
I outdrew back in Abilene nearly twenty years ago, a
yellow coward who went for his gun when my back
was turned, but he never got it out of the holster.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Yeah that's right, Luke, I was there quiet? Would you do?
Speaker 5 (15:21):
You see? Luke?
Speaker 7 (15:21):
They weren't after the money, at least that isn't the
reason they came up here to Tombstone.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
They came a feuding. Well they got a feud now,
or I had a blood feud.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
But Aaron, you can't take the law into your own hands.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
I aim too.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Then I gotta remind you Iron, I'm a deputy, Sarah,
and it's my duty to stop you.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
I wouldn't try it, Luke.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Aaron listened to me. But would Sarah think? If you'll
put the gun back on?
Speaker 5 (15:48):
Sarah can't think no more, Luke. No, If you gents
don't mind, I'd like to be alone with her for
a little while.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Which town, Hey, Luke, go over to the Sheriff's office.
Tell him he's gonna have a shooting on his hands
if he doesn't lock those two up before Aaron finds him.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Are you there still in town?
Speaker 1 (16:11):
I don't, but I'm sure we're gonna find out if
I have to search every saloon on Allen Street, let's go.
That's just about what I did. They weren't in Hereford's
or Bob Hatches. They weren't in the Oriental or the Occidental.
(16:32):
Just about decided they've been smart enough to skip town
when I found them in the al Hambrun here.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Let's have another bottle here, listen's empty?
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Sure, can't you see we're we're dying at first, never
mind bartender, they've had their last drink for a while.
Speaker 7 (16:51):
Well, if it isn't mister Luke Slaughter, what's the idea
of the gun?
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Mister Slaughter, it's Deputy Seraph Slaughter. Signifie, I'm arresting you too,
with the murder of Sarah holkemb you must be mistaken, sorrow.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
We don't know no one named Sarah Holgan.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Those spurs you're wearing look mighty sharp. Who they are?
Speaker 3 (17:13):
My horse has awful tough hiding.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
It's too bad, Sarah Holcomb didn't have a tough hide
when you used him on her.
Speaker 7 (17:19):
Now move, nobody's moving unless he wants to be stuck
with a bullet.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Aaron, listen to me. What's your gunaway?
Speaker 5 (17:27):
Luke, it's too late.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
To play long man, Aaron.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
I can't let us.
Speaker 7 (17:30):
Step to one side out of the line of fire.
These boys and me are gonna talk business.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
If you try it. I gotta defend Amaron.
Speaker 7 (17:40):
It don't matter much to me, Luke. If I have
to kill you to get him, well.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
And I'll have to.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Who is this crazy old fool?
Speaker 5 (17:48):
Whoever saw him before?
Speaker 7 (17:50):
That's right, Sonny, But I bet you heard about me
all your life. I'm the fella who killed your pappy.
But I killed him in a fair gunfight, just like
I'm gonna kill you, not the sneak and sneaky way
you killed my wife. He's out of his mind, so Laura,
I'll tell you we didn't kill his wife.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
He's convinced that you did, and so am I.
Speaker 7 (18:09):
I'm putting my pistol back in its holster so everything
will be fair and square. Now you boys can take
off your guns and try me or you can go
for them and try me. Don't make any difference either way.
I'm gonna kill you, and either way it'll be a
quicker and easier death. And you gave Sarah.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Look, mister, you'll make a mistake and leave us out
of here.
Speaker 7 (18:33):
We'll get out of town and never come back. We're
never leaving this town. You're staying right here on boothill.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Now draw Aaron. You go for your gun, and I'll
have to go for mine.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
You do that, Luke, but I won't be aiming at you.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
I couldn't draw on Aaron, and he knew it. There
was nothing I could do to stop his vengeance of
waiting death hovered over the room. Smell of fear was
there too. Aaron stood facing the two terrified brothers, his
feet wide apart, his open hand hovering an inch away
(19:14):
from his hosted gun. The seconds that seemed like hours,
they stood there, and finally Harv Jenks went for his gun.
Aaron's arm was a blur as he pumped his shots
in the hard before he could get his gun out.
As he fell dying, he fired once and across Aaron's chest,
a red stain slowly spread. Sad Jenks stood in frozen terror,
(19:37):
his gun still holsted, and he found his voice. Mister Sulliflo, God,
don't life kills all right, Aaron, that's enough shooting. You're right, Luke.
Speaker 7 (19:48):
A bullet's too good for this one with those nice
sharp spurs. Of course, I ain't wearing spurs, honey.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
And I've got no knife to cut you up like
you did, Sarah.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
But I got two hands, big hands, hands big enough
to crack your bones, big enough to choke the life
of you a little by a little.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
I'm swinging his great hands outstretched like a huge gorilla.
Arod slowly moved across the room toward the terrified killer.
Then Jenks backed away from him until he bumped into
the bar. They seemed to remember his gun, hanging it
out of the board. Shot. That's a shot at Aaron,
but he never stopped advancing. The gun was empty. Dad
(20:34):
threw it away and tried to make a break for
the door, but.
Speaker 11 (20:38):
His one hand smashing him in the face of the other.
That's enough, parent, Let him go, Let him go.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
He's dead dead. You're sure, yes, Aaron, you've had your revenge.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
I I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Look, I I had to do it. I know. I'll
go get the duck errand no, No, Luke.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
There's nothing the duck can do for a man that
stopped six slugs.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Luke, Yes, Aaron, Luke.
Speaker 7 (21:41):
This is the only time I ever broke a promise
to Sarah.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
I know, but there's.
Speaker 7 (21:48):
One last promise I don't wanna break.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
If you'll help me, sure, I will erin.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
I I promise Sarah we'd go back to Missouri together.
Speaker 8 (22:08):
With the rest of our days.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Luke, will you see to it.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
That we Dowater of Tombstone, starring Sam Buffington, was written
(22:39):
by Thomas Houghton and adapted for radio and directed by
William N. Robeson editorial supervision by Tom Henley. Supporting mister
Buffington were Irene Tedrow, De Tatum, Sam Edwards, Chat Stratton,
Dick LaGrand, Junius Matthews and lou Merrill, with music composed
by Wilbur Hatch and conducted by Amerigo Marino. Next week,
(23:01):
at this time we return.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
With slaughters the name Luke Slaughter, and we meet up again.
You can call me that Luke Slaughter. Luke Slaughter of
Tombstone has come to you through the worldwide facilities of
the United States Armed Forces, radio and television
Speaker 4 (23:18):
Service physical bott
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