August 4, 2022 • 31 mins
Original Air Date: March 21, 1954
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Show: The Six Shooter
Phone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739)
Stars:
• James Stewart (Britt Ponset)
Special Guests:
• Sam Edwards
• Will Wright
• Howard McNear
• Bert Holland
Writer:
• Frank Burt
Producer:
• Jack Johnstone
Music:
• Basil Adlam
Exit music from: Roundup on the Prairie by Aaron Kenny https://bit.ly/3kTj0kK
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Show: The Six Shooter
Phone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739)
Stars:
• James Stewart (Britt Ponset)
Special Guests:
• Sam Edwards
• Will Wright
• Howard McNear
• Bert Holland
Writer:
• Frank Burt
Producer:
• Jack Johnstone
Music:
• Basil Adlam
Exit music from: Roundup on the Prairie by Aaron Kenny https://bit.ly/3kTj0kK
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:13):
Welcome to the old time radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrea Ryins,
and let's get into this episode.This episode is going to be the six
Shooter. Original aritate is March twentyfirst, nineteen fifty four, and the
title is Dual at Lockwood. Hopeyou enjoy any and thanks for listening.
(00:36):
In a moment, you'll hear JamesStewart as the six Shooter. Just one
of the many fine programs brought toyou Sundays on NBC. Later this evening,
listen to the NBC Star Playhouse withone of your favorite stars. Here,
Meet the Press, America's number onenewsmaking program, and be sure to
keep tune for the dramatic story ofcommunism in America on Last Man Out.
(00:58):
A wonderful lineup of great programs,all of them heard only on NBC.
James Stewart as the six Shooter.The man in the saddle is angular and
(01:19):
long legged. His skin is sundyed brown. The gun in his holster
is gray steel and rainbow mother ofpearl, its handle unmarked. People call
them both the Sick Shooter. TheNBC Radio Network presents James Stewart as the
(01:44):
six Shooter. A transcribed series ofradio dramas based on the life of Brick
Ponson, the Texas plainsman who wanderedthrough the Western territories, leaving behind a
trail of still remembered legends. Now, in just a moment, you'll here
(02:04):
Act one of the Six Shooter.But first I want to be sure that
all of you know the beginning nextweek we change our day and time of
broadcast. Instead of Sundays, we'llbe on the air Thursday evenings. In
other words, our next Six Shooterprogram will be broadcast Thursday, April first,
and every Thursday thereafter. For timeof broadcast, please consult the listing
(02:29):
in your local newspaper. We hopeyou'll like our new Thursday evening time.
Now Act one of the Six Shooter, starring James Stewart. Oh, I
(02:51):
hope, West West. What doyou hollering about? Jim Cassidy, I'm
looking for West, Miss Singer.You know where I can find him?
Low, No, ma'am, heain't in town this morning. I just
come from there jail in Lockwood.That's very my day now, Miss Singer.
(03:16):
West ain't in jail. I'm Morton. That's all over now, all
over, sure and nobody's have totry arrest him again. Either they'll arrest
him again, Jim someday, don'tmake no mistake about that. They'll arrest
him or they'll kill him. Youall gotta go sooner or later. Granny
Paul West, if I was asclose to my time as you already yours,
(03:38):
I wouldn't be talking about killing anddying so much. Your time's closer,
and you think Wes maybe even closerthan mine. Dog going West.
She told me he wasn't eating thehome. Granny's getting cantankers in her old
age, that's all. But whatdo you want? Nothing special? Nothing
(04:00):
special? I just thought maybe you'dlike to know Brit Pompst's in Lockwood.
Yeah, he's staying at the hotel. Why didn't you say so before?
What's the difference? You wasn't seriousof a day. I wish you couldn't
have been. If he's a sickshooter, you will find out whether I
(04:21):
was serious or not. I'll bein Lockwood at four o'clock this afternoon.
Maybe maybe it Pomps will be gone. He won't leave. Not if he
is, I'm coming in to payhim a visit. You mean you want
folks to know what sure? Whynot? WHOA sheriff Hitleman ain't gonna like
the idea. He meet that plainenough last week. You think I'd let
(04:44):
Ben Hitelman get in my way?And I grant you wouldn't mean much killing
an old geezer who should have beenput out the past your ten years ago.
What if he asked for it,I reckon, I'll have to oblige
him. I go on spread thewood. We ought to draw a good
sized crowd. Is six shooter inme well. As soon as we'd finished
(05:11):
fencing in the last couple of thousandacres on the tip top ranch, old
man Jeffers sent me into Lockwood toget some signs printed up. He wanted
everybody to know that he owned thebiggest spread in this part of the state,
and he figured posting these signs everyquarter of a mile so they through
the trick. Of course, theworden had to be just right. He
wrote it all down so I wouldn'tforget any tip top ranch property of Rex
(05:35):
Jeffers. Keep out. This meansyou dress passers will be shot at sight
if you ain't able to read thisnotice. Keep out anyway, Rex Jeffers
means what he says, signed RexJeffers As Thursday night when I got into
town and the office of the LockwoodClaren was closed, But first thing Friday
(05:58):
morning, I headed over to givePete Drum the order. Pete Pete was
the owner of the Clarien. Whatin thunders recks they can have brit folks
all over the tip top starts inwhere it leaves off bes as. I
thought he had a fence rounded novel. He has, he has, But
I guess maybe Rex fields up ain'ta novel two thousand posts just so they
(06:18):
can see his name in print.All right, all right, I'll do
him, but it'll cost him fifteendollars. That's my prize. Fifteen don't
can't be done for a cent lesspaper is expensive? Britt Well, how
soon do you figure you can getout of pat Oh? I don't know.
Got me a few more of theseauction handles in an offer, and
(06:38):
I suppose I can shift over toyour order. It's a good thing you're
coming to town today Monday, Istart getting ready for next week's paper.
That ties me up plan to Thursdaymorning and the way things have been happening
around here lately, well, whatdo you mean, p I don't tell
(06:59):
me that you ain't here. No, no, can't say have well,
sir Lockwood's got a brand new gunfighter, Oh gunfighter, just a kid,
but he's faster in grease lightning.The first thing you know, West Senior
will be just about as well knownas Sam bass A, Bill Longley or
any of the rest of them deadeyes, West Sanger. Two killings in
(07:21):
less than a month, That's whatit's got to his credits so far.
Wyatt and Barker, he was thefirst. Wyatt and West got into some
kind of a mix up over toCharter Jensen's place. Well say, West
beat into the draw and pumped fourshots into Wyatt's body before and even hit
the floor. He would say afterwardshe just tooed around any wired for Sheriff
(07:44):
Hittelman to take him in for questioningwhy he acted like he didn't have a
worry in the world, and thethings worked out he was right, There
wasn't nothing the sheriff could charge himwith a scene as how, Wyatt was
already drawn his gun when West cutloose or just had enough of them hand
bills there. Now, what happenedto that paper you're giving read you know
(08:07):
the word and on it for yourpost. Oh oh right here, yeah,
thank you, thank you. Let'ssake, I suppose Rex Jeffers wants
his name in the biggest type ofyeah yeah, yeah, I right.
He liked that would standout good andplaying Oh yes, he well, I
guess this will have to do.It was big enough for Lincoln's assassination.
(08:28):
It ought to be big enough forRex anyhow. Like I was saying,
folks just didn't know what to makea West singing, and the way he'd
killed wild Back. He wasn't surewhether it's one of those times when the
young fellow just sort of flies offthe handle and then settles down again afterwards,
or if West would take up gunslingingfor a whole career. About ten
days later they found out. Itwas on a Wednesday when he come riding
(08:54):
down means To again, and wewas all kind of cunious to see how
he'd behave. So some of thesotter mosied over to Charlie Jensen's place when
he went inside, and we'd nomore than got there before he was in
a mix up with Todd Apple.That's a brick, I tell you.
If I hadn't seen myself, Iwouldn't believed it. West out drew Todd
(09:15):
by almost a full seconds. Yougot to get the devil's due. West
Singer is a fast man with asix shooter, and I ought to know
I've seen the best. I've seenthat gun of yours in action. Well
that was some time ago. Ohyou're still walking around on your hind legs.
That's a pretty good sign he ain'tcompletely out of practice. Or what
about the shore than the arrest youngSinger after the second shooter osho, oh
(09:37):
shoo, he arrested him. Takea look at last week's clarion. Let's
the orts right there on the counterbehind them. West Singer acquitted jury Farnes
Todd Apple killing was self defense.Yeah, I guess they had to rule
it that way since both men wasarmed. But sheriff Hitelman he sho didn't
like it. He told West thenext time he come in to town,
(09:58):
strand up, he wouldn't be aliveor no trial afterwards. Well, Ben
Hillman's a man of his words.Singer out and all that cheff and as
young as he used to be Britsand he slowed down some of these last
few years he slowed down the lots. Well, you take last winter when
he went after Jake Gordon. IfJake's gun hadn't jams, Ben wouldn't be
(10:18):
you now. And believe me,Jake couldn't hold a candle to young singer.
No, No, the candidate JohnGarlin. What happened to that other
cave? I was sure I hadtwo of them? He speaking of the
sheriff. Yeah, I think maybeall wander over and see how he's gotten
along. His office still around thecorner, Yeah, same place as always.
I'll drop back and see you later, Okay, Britt, But do
(10:39):
you take it easy? Well?Locke would never had been what you might
call him a real peaceful town.They'd had Derek sheriff, gun fighters and
shooting, no doubt about that.But Ben Hellman, he'd managed to keep
things pretty well under control. SoI he'd find somewhere. I had on
this a singer. As I turnedthe corner, I got a little glimpse
(11:03):
of Ben through the side window athis office. He's putting on his hat,
getting ready to go out somewhere.George Pete was right. Ben had
aged even more than I expected.He was carrying some extra weight and round
his middle too. Maybe that's whatmade him look shorter than I remembered him.
His mustache had turned to kind ofa brownish gray. And well,
(11:28):
I opened the door and stepped inside, and I remember him. So Ben
didn't say anything. He just sortof stared at me, frowning, and
then he sighed and took off hisstuts and hello, Brea. All right,
then I heard he was in town. I'm just gonna start looking for
you. Oh well, I guessI saved you the trouble. Yeah,
(11:52):
how long you figured? I'm stayingin Lockwood, britt all the rest of
the day, maybe part of tomorrow, depends on how fast Pete Drum finishes
up some print. And he's doingfor me? What's matter you? I
should get rid of me? No, no, no, if you have
to run off now, that toturn him into a holy terror for certain.
So he left because you was scaredof him, you know, hold
him back after that? Well,I just what the sam Hill are you
(12:15):
talking about? Then? You everhear a fellow called west Singer lives out
east of tom Yeah, yeah,Peters just telling me about him. Well,
it seems he's spoiling for a gunfight. With you with me. Yes,
why I number laid eyes on theman in my life. Well,
he knows you, at least byreputation. Oh, he got the shooting
(12:37):
off his mouth the other day,telling some of his pals how he could
out trigger any man on the state. One of the boys who was listening
brung up your name, said he'dbet you could teach West a few things
about slapping leather. See. Ofcourse West had to back up his raging.
He told him if he was everto come around Lockwood, he'd show
him who was the best shot.He'd show everybody. Oh well, I'm
(13:00):
not just so much talk at thetime. Maybe, but you're in town
now and the West don't do somethingabout it. Well, you ain't gonna
look like much. Besides, you'rekind of a tempting target. Brit m
What are you talking about? Man? You're the six shooter, aren't you,
And a young gunfighter will put abullet into you, will give him
(13:20):
a real claim to fame. Ohwell, it's crazy, banned. He
doesn't have any cause to pick afight with me. They're all crazy brit
gun slingers like West. The ideaof getting killed themselves. It don't even
enter their heads, they wouldn't begun slingers. Well, you better get
(13:41):
over the hotel where it is,Singer, get the town around four o'clock.
I want you out of the wayuntil I finished with him. Until
you finished with him, I warnedhim, the next time you come into
Lockwood and the Proud, he'd havethe answer to me. You can shoot
it out with him if I haveto. You're are you sure you can
(14:03):
handle him? Then? Of courseI can. No, No, I
ain't sure. He's young, he'sawful fast. Yeah, yeah, that's
what Pete said, But I gottatry. It turns out that I ain't
still man enough. Well, Iall this knew that sooner or later one
(14:26):
of them would come along who wasyounger and faster. Now I listen,
man, you know he's gonna forme, not you. That ain't the
boot brit. I'm the one wholaid down the law, told him what
I'd do if he ever tried topull off another shooting spree. Sure,
sure, so it's my job tostop it. Oh, you might be
(14:46):
a better magical wist. I don'tdeny that. And if he should get
past me, not that he would, you understand, But if he should
well then, yeah, but II just couldn't step back and let you
take him on the first. Folkswould never pay no heed to me.
Afterwards, they'd say, I'd talkbig to Wesh, but it was you're
(15:09):
gunning listen to you see my point, don't you? Yeah? Yeah,
I see your point. Ben.We'll return to James Stewart as the six
(15:33):
shooter in just a moment. Besure your tune to NBC Radio Thursday evening,
March twenty fifth for the Academy Awards. At that time, you'll hear
the entire Academy Award ceremonies direct fromthe Hollywood Pantageous Theater, where the finest
artists in the Motion Picture industry willbe assembled. Donald O'Connor will be your
(15:54):
host, and during the evening,some twenty five Academy Award Oscars will be
handed to their new owners. It'sHollywood's most thrilling night of the year,
jam packed with glamor from beginning toend, and you can hear every moment
of it when you tune to NBCright now. Of course, the names
of the Oscar winners are a highlyguarded secret, a secret that any number
(16:15):
of Hollywood actors, actresses, writers, musicians, and directors would love to
know. Remember it's a date withNBC Radio this coming Thursday evening, and
that means be tuned to the stationto which you're now listening for the Motion
Picture Academy Awards ceremonies. Directly fromthe stage of a Hollywood Pantageous Theater,
(16:45):
now Act two of The Sick Shooter, starring James Stewart as Britt Pontsit.
(17:11):
You sure couldn't blame Ben for feelingthe way he did. He was the
sheriff, and if west Singer cameinto Lockwood bound and determined to have another
gunfight, all Ben and just hadto take a stand, that's all.
And I sure didn't like the idea, young feller, I've never even met
up with his gunning for me andsomebody else is going to try to hold
him off. No, that's justnot that I was anxious to get mixed
(17:34):
up with him or anything. Butwell, anyway, as long as the
band had made up his mind,it wasn't much I could do about it
one way or the others, atleast for the time band. So I
I mosied over to the hotel.The clerk stopped me as I was passing
(17:55):
the desk. He pointed to awoman sitting on the other end of the
lobby. He said she'd been waitingfor me to come in. Elderly lady,
white hair, wrinkled, yellow face, with a blue straw bonneted under
its chin. Uh, ma'am,Yes, my name's pons It, ma'am
(18:15):
Ritson. Oh would you would youmind sitting down here? Mister ponz It
sure it's in. It's about West. Oh, yes, yes, West
Singer, that is. I'm hisgrandma. I see huh. You know
what he aims to do this afternoon, mister Ponzi, Well, i'd heard
(18:38):
some talk about it. Just ma'am. It ain't just talk. He means
it. He means to kill you. No, no, don't get too
upset about him a singer. There'sprobably will be any trouble between me and
Wes. What do you mean,well, Sheriff Heleman. We'll be waiting
for him, and if we startsanything, he'll more and more like la
(19:00):
landon jail. There ain't no jailcould hold him anymore, and Ben Hittelman
won't be able to arrest him againneither. He'll shoot Ben without Betton,
and I say, I'm afraid Idon't understand him. As Sayer, I
figured you were worried about West.I thought that's why you wanted to talk
to me. Worried about him.I'm worried about all the men he's gonna
(19:26):
murder if somebody don't stop him,men like Wyat Barker and Todd Apple,
Ben Hittelman. He'll be next.Huh, Well, just what is it
you want from me as a singer? I want you to kill Wes.
I want you to shoot him downlike it's shoot down a mad dog.
(19:47):
You're the sick shooter. You're theonly one who have a chance against him.
No, Sheriff Hittman's the lawn asThomas Sayer, it ain't know what
kind of lawyers at the turn Westloose after his other killings. He ain't
fit to live, mister Punzit maybeit's my fault he turned out the way
he did. Maybe if his bornpower had been here to raise him.
(20:07):
But they wasn't. I've done mybest, of course you did, my
singer. Of course, he couldn'thave been born mean. The meanness wasn't
in his blood. I don't knowhow it got into him. Sometimes pretty
hard to explain a thing like that. It's only one way he can end
up. He'll be killed sooner orlater. I'd even thought about doing it
(20:32):
myself. Maybe it's my duty.Oh no, you shouldn't be talking like
this. Man. You've got tokill him, mister punzit today, this
afternoon, before anybody else's blood ison his hands. And I understand how
you feel, a Singer, Butmy trying to kill West, wouldn't it
just I just don't see how thatwould be the answer. Then what is
(20:55):
the answer? I racked my brain, ask God's help, done everything I
could think of. What is theanswer? Well, I'm sorry, ma'am,
I'm afraid I just don't know.It was about three o'clock in the
(21:18):
afternoon when missus Singer left the hotel. I watched her get into her buggy
and drive off. She sat there, stiff, tall, her eyes straight
ahead, not looking one way orthe other, and I waited until she
dwindled down to just a little speck, and then I walked outside. There
(21:42):
was a kind of a stillness inthe air, like on a hot summer
day, just for a thunderstorm.Town was practically deserted, Nobody was in
the stores, nobody in the street. Nobody but Ben Hillman Rich. I
told you to keep out of sight. Yeah, yeah, I know,
Ben. Now you get back atthe hotel before it's too I'm not waiting
(22:04):
on the hotel, Ben. WhatNow I made up my mind. I've
decided to take a little ride thisafternoon ride. What are you talking about?
All? I thought maybe i'd headover that way, toward those hills
over there and running right into WestSinger. I suppose we might meet up
if he's coming in that direction.You know, darn well, he's coming
(22:25):
from that direction. I told youhe lives east of town, not of
the thinker. I guess you did. Yeah, I'll be saying now you
listen to meet Bridgie. Now Ihave listened to you, and I see
your point. Ben. If there'sa gun fight here in Lockwood, or
if it looks like they're going tobe one, while, it's up to
(22:45):
you do something about it. That'swhat I've been telling you. Sure.
Yeah. But on the other hand, whatever happens outside of town, beyond
the city limits, that is well, I don't see that that's in of
your business officially, No, butwow, wow, Britt I won't let
you do it. I know whatwill happen between you and Singer. If
(23:07):
you do get the draw on him, you'll hold off, you won't kill
him. But if he gets thedrawing you so, I'm band Britt,
Britt. I didn't ride very farthis couple of miles, and I rained
(23:37):
up near a clump of spruce whoaboy who scar. The scar wandered around,
nibblings and tufts of dried up grass. I settled down in the shade.
Wait. About ten minutes later Isaw him coming toward me, not
her end, just plodding along slow, easyly. Of course, I couldn't
(23:57):
be sure that this was your singer, but it seemed more unlikely that it
was him. And when he gotclose enough so I could see his face,
while there wasn't much doubt about it. He was young, I heard,
to be younger than his year,just a kid. Not a bad
looking boy either, but there wassomething about his eyes and the way they
(24:18):
kept darting from side to side likean animal on the prow. When he
saw me, he rained up andslid out of the sideline. Coddy,
you're right out here from Lockwood,Miss, that's right, I hear Brett
Ponset's in sound? Is that afact he was in town? Was?
(24:47):
I might have note he'd run outon me. You got any idea which
way he headed? Yeah, I'mBrett Ponson. That's right, there's something
I can do for you. Fora second, his eyes stopped moving and
just stood there, as if hedidn't quite know what to do. But
(25:08):
it didn't take him long to makeup his mind. His right hand whipped
down toward his holster so fast thatit was all I could do to get
hold of the shotgun before he finishedhis jaw, and even then had looked
like he might just go ahead andsqueeze the trigger, but he managed to
hold himself back. We weren't morenabout eight feet apart, staring at each
(25:32):
other. His revolver aimed right atmy face, and the shotgun I board
from Pete drunk pointing straight at hisbelly. What are you trying to pull?
Mister? How's that? Had shotit? But no matter when you
sink you nothing, nothing at all? All I'd go ahead. You've been
(26:00):
telling everybody around town you're gonna killme, all right? Go ahead,
you couldn't miss me. Go on, you couldn't miss me, not at
this range. Sure, sure,but but but I'd still be able to
let go with a blast two.You know, is that what you're worried
about? West? And I guessit'd tear a pretty big hole through you.
(26:25):
I had a free Do you thinkI'm a shower? Don't. I'll
tell you one thing. I thinkyou know. You never faced up to
the fact that you might get killedin one of these gunfights yours. As
long as you got off the firstshot, you figured the worst the other
feller could do was just to nickyou if he was lucky. All right,
(26:45):
you can get off the first shotnow, but if you do,
I don't need to be able toaim this shotgun. I just couldn't help
ye. Ye, your local putsit, we'd both did. Yeah,
well, yeah, you can't expectI'm ended to commit suicide, right,
(27:11):
I'm waiting, singer. You knowthere's no waiting. You know I don't
did that's right? But what doyou expect me to do? I expect
you to put your gun away andget out of here. And you'd better
not come into Lockwood again looking fortrouble because this isn't the only shotgun in
town. Well, after a minuteor so, he turned and he climbed
(27:41):
on his horse, and I Idon't know for sure what happened to him
after that. I heard that hemoved on farther west and finally got into
a gunfight with somebody who outdrew him. I guess it was bound to happen,
Colony, I just don't understand whatgets er a fellow like him.
(28:22):
During this month before Easter, cripplechildren are making their annual appeal to you.
They are appealing to you to continueto support the medical, therapeutic,
educational, recreational and vocational services whichare indispensable to them, the services which
are given by the Easter Seal Societyin your community. Won't you answer the
appeal of cripple children by giving generouslyto your Easter Seal Society? You may
(28:47):
be assured that your gift will beused to provide services that would not otherwise
be available to cripple children. Mailyou're a gift to day, you may
send it to your local Easter SealSociety or to Cripple Child in care of
your local postmaster. The six shooteris a transcribed NBC Radio Network Production and
(29:18):
Association with Review Productions. It isbased on a character created by Frank Burt
and is written by him. MisterStewart may currently be seen in the Universal
International Picture The Glenn Miller Store.Others in the cast were Elvia Allman,
Sam Edwards, will Wright, Howardmcneer and Bert Holland. Special music for
this program was by Basil Adam andthe entire production is under the direction of
(29:42):
Jack Johnstone. All characters and incidentswere fictitious in any resemblance to actual characters
or incidence is purely coincidental. Bythe way, you'll be interested annoying that
the six Shooter has been chosen forbroadcast to our men overseas through the facilities
or the Armed Forces Radio Services.This is John Wall speaking and reminding you
(30:03):
once more. The next week,beginning April first, the six Shooter will
be heard on Thursday evening listen toJan Murray and Sunday at Home on the
NBC Radio Network. This has beena presentation of OTR Westerns dot Com and
(30:37):
we hope you enjoyed. Please takesome time to like and rate our shows
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Podcast at OTR Westerns dot com.This episode's copyright under the attribution and non
(31:00):
commercial Sharelight copyright. For more information, go to OTR Westerns dot com,
slash copyright, Have it Right Day, and again, thanks for listening.
Welcome to the old time radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrea Ryins,
and let's get into this episode.This episode is going to be the six
Shooter. Original aritate is March twentyfirst, nineteen fifty four, and the
title is Dual at Lockwood. Hopeyou enjoy any and thanks for listening.
(00:36):
In a moment, you'll hear JamesStewart as the six Shooter. Just one
of the many fine programs brought toyou Sundays on NBC. Later this evening,
listen to the NBC Star Playhouse withone of your favorite stars. Here,
Meet the Press, America's number onenewsmaking program, and be sure to
keep tune for the dramatic story ofcommunism in America on Last Man Out.
(00:58):
A wonderful lineup of great programs,all of them heard only on NBC.
James Stewart as the six Shooter.The man in the saddle is angular and
(01:19):
long legged. His skin is sundyed brown. The gun in his holster
is gray steel and rainbow mother ofpearl, its handle unmarked. People call
them both the Sick Shooter. TheNBC Radio Network presents James Stewart as the
(01:44):
six Shooter. A transcribed series ofradio dramas based on the life of Brick
Ponson, the Texas plainsman who wanderedthrough the Western territories, leaving behind a
trail of still remembered legends. Now, in just a moment, you'll here
(02:04):
Act one of the Six Shooter.But first I want to be sure that
all of you know the beginning nextweek we change our day and time of
broadcast. Instead of Sundays, we'llbe on the air Thursday evenings. In
other words, our next Six Shooterprogram will be broadcast Thursday, April first,
and every Thursday thereafter. For timeof broadcast, please consult the listing
(02:29):
in your local newspaper. We hopeyou'll like our new Thursday evening time.
Now Act one of the Six Shooter, starring James Stewart. Oh, I
(02:51):
hope, West West. What doyou hollering about? Jim Cassidy, I'm
looking for West, Miss Singer.You know where I can find him?
Low, No, ma'am, heain't in town this morning. I just
come from there jail in Lockwood.That's very my day now, Miss Singer.
(03:16):
West ain't in jail. I'm Morton. That's all over now, all
over, sure and nobody's have totry arrest him again. Either they'll arrest
him again, Jim someday, don'tmake no mistake about that. They'll arrest
him or they'll kill him. Youall gotta go sooner or later. Granny
Paul West, if I was asclose to my time as you already yours,
(03:38):
I wouldn't be talking about killing anddying so much. Your time's closer,
and you think Wes maybe even closerthan mine. Dog going West.
She told me he wasn't eating thehome. Granny's getting cantankers in her old
age, that's all. But whatdo you want? Nothing special? Nothing
(04:00):
special? I just thought maybe you'dlike to know Brit Pompst's in Lockwood.
Yeah, he's staying at the hotel. Why didn't you say so before?
What's the difference? You wasn't seriousof a day. I wish you couldn't
have been. If he's a sickshooter, you will find out whether I
(04:21):
was serious or not. I'll bein Lockwood at four o'clock this afternoon.
Maybe maybe it Pomps will be gone. He won't leave. Not if he
is, I'm coming in to payhim a visit. You mean you want
folks to know what sure? Whynot? WHOA sheriff Hitleman ain't gonna like
the idea. He meet that plainenough last week. You think I'd let
(04:44):
Ben Hitelman get in my way?And I grant you wouldn't mean much killing
an old geezer who should have beenput out the past your ten years ago.
What if he asked for it,I reckon, I'll have to oblige
him. I go on spread thewood. We ought to draw a good
sized crowd. Is six shooter inme well. As soon as we'd finished
(05:11):
fencing in the last couple of thousandacres on the tip top ranch, old
man Jeffers sent me into Lockwood toget some signs printed up. He wanted
everybody to know that he owned thebiggest spread in this part of the state,
and he figured posting these signs everyquarter of a mile so they through
the trick. Of course, theworden had to be just right. He
wrote it all down so I wouldn'tforget any tip top ranch property of Rex
(05:35):
Jeffers. Keep out. This meansyou dress passers will be shot at sight
if you ain't able to read thisnotice. Keep out anyway, Rex Jeffers
means what he says, signed RexJeffers As Thursday night when I got into
town and the office of the LockwoodClaren was closed, But first thing Friday
(05:58):
morning, I headed over to givePete Drum the order. Pete Pete was
the owner of the Clarien. Whatin thunders recks they can have brit folks
all over the tip top starts inwhere it leaves off bes as. I
thought he had a fence rounded novel. He has, he has, But
I guess maybe Rex fields up ain'ta novel two thousand posts just so they
(06:18):
can see his name in print.All right, all right, I'll do
him, but it'll cost him fifteendollars. That's my prize. Fifteen don't
can't be done for a cent lesspaper is expensive? Britt Well, how
soon do you figure you can getout of pat Oh? I don't know.
Got me a few more of theseauction handles in an offer, and
(06:38):
I suppose I can shift over toyour order. It's a good thing you're
coming to town today Monday, Istart getting ready for next week's paper.
That ties me up plan to Thursdaymorning and the way things have been happening
around here lately, well, whatdo you mean, p I don't tell
(06:59):
me that you ain't here. No, no, can't say have well,
sir Lockwood's got a brand new gunfighter, Oh gunfighter, just a kid,
but he's faster in grease lightning.The first thing you know, West Senior
will be just about as well knownas Sam bass A, Bill Longley or
any of the rest of them deadeyes, West Sanger. Two killings in
(07:21):
less than a month, That's whatit's got to his credits so far.
Wyatt and Barker, he was thefirst. Wyatt and West got into some
kind of a mix up over toCharter Jensen's place. Well say, West
beat into the draw and pumped fourshots into Wyatt's body before and even hit
the floor. He would say afterwardshe just tooed around any wired for Sheriff
(07:44):
Hittelman to take him in for questioningwhy he acted like he didn't have a
worry in the world, and thethings worked out he was right, There
wasn't nothing the sheriff could charge himwith a scene as how, Wyatt was
already drawn his gun when West cutloose or just had enough of them hand
bills there. Now, what happenedto that paper you're giving read you know
(08:07):
the word and on it for yourpost. Oh oh right here, yeah,
thank you, thank you. Let'ssake, I suppose Rex Jeffers wants
his name in the biggest type ofyeah yeah, yeah, I right.
He liked that would standout good andplaying Oh yes, he well, I
guess this will have to do.It was big enough for Lincoln's assassination.
(08:28):
It ought to be big enough forRex anyhow. Like I was saying,
folks just didn't know what to makea West singing, and the way he'd
killed wild Back. He wasn't surewhether it's one of those times when the
young fellow just sort of flies offthe handle and then settles down again afterwards,
or if West would take up gunslingingfor a whole career. About ten
days later they found out. Itwas on a Wednesday when he come riding
(08:54):
down means To again, and wewas all kind of cunious to see how
he'd behave. So some of thesotter mosied over to Charlie Jensen's place when
he went inside, and we'd nomore than got there before he was in
a mix up with Todd Apple.That's a brick, I tell you.
If I hadn't seen myself, Iwouldn't believed it. West out drew Todd
(09:15):
by almost a full seconds. Yougot to get the devil's due. West
Singer is a fast man with asix shooter, and I ought to know
I've seen the best. I've seenthat gun of yours in action. Well
that was some time ago. Ohyou're still walking around on your hind legs.
That's a pretty good sign he ain'tcompletely out of practice. Or what
about the shore than the arrest youngSinger after the second shooter osho, oh
(09:37):
shoo, he arrested him. Takea look at last week's clarion. Let's
the orts right there on the counterbehind them. West Singer acquitted jury Farnes
Todd Apple killing was self defense.Yeah, I guess they had to rule
it that way since both men wasarmed. But sheriff Hitelman he sho didn't
like it. He told West thenext time he come in to town,
(09:58):
strand up, he wouldn't be aliveor no trial afterwards. Well, Ben
Hillman's a man of his words.Singer out and all that cheff and as
young as he used to be Britsand he slowed down some of these last
few years he slowed down the lots. Well, you take last winter when
he went after Jake Gordon. IfJake's gun hadn't jams, Ben wouldn't be
(10:18):
you now. And believe me,Jake couldn't hold a candle to young singer.
No, No, the candidate JohnGarlin. What happened to that other
cave? I was sure I hadtwo of them? He speaking of the
sheriff. Yeah, I think maybeall wander over and see how he's gotten
along. His office still around thecorner, Yeah, same place as always.
I'll drop back and see you later, Okay, Britt, But do
(10:39):
you take it easy? Well?Locke would never had been what you might
call him a real peaceful town.They'd had Derek sheriff, gun fighters and
shooting, no doubt about that.But Ben Hellman, he'd managed to keep
things pretty well under control. SoI he'd find somewhere. I had on
this a singer. As I turnedthe corner, I got a little glimpse
(11:03):
of Ben through the side window athis office. He's putting on his hat,
getting ready to go out somewhere.George Pete was right. Ben had
aged even more than I expected.He was carrying some extra weight and round
his middle too. Maybe that's whatmade him look shorter than I remembered him.
His mustache had turned to kind ofa brownish gray. And well,
(11:28):
I opened the door and stepped inside, and I remember him. So Ben
didn't say anything. He just sortof stared at me, frowning, and
then he sighed and took off hisstuts and hello, Brea. All right,
then I heard he was in town. I'm just gonna start looking for
you. Oh well, I guessI saved you the trouble. Yeah,
(11:52):
how long you figured? I'm stayingin Lockwood, britt all the rest of
the day, maybe part of tomorrow, depends on how fast Pete Drum finishes
up some print. And he's doingfor me? What's matter you? I
should get rid of me? No, no, no, if you have
to run off now, that toturn him into a holy terror for certain.
So he left because you was scaredof him, you know, hold
him back after that? Well,I just what the sam Hill are you
(12:15):
talking about? Then? You everhear a fellow called west Singer lives out
east of tom Yeah, yeah,Peters just telling me about him. Well,
it seems he's spoiling for a gunfight. With you with me. Yes,
why I number laid eyes on theman in my life. Well,
he knows you, at least byreputation. Oh, he got the shooting
(12:37):
off his mouth the other day,telling some of his pals how he could
out trigger any man on the state. One of the boys who was listening
brung up your name, said he'dbet you could teach West a few things
about slapping leather. See. Ofcourse West had to back up his raging.
He told him if he was everto come around Lockwood, he'd show
him who was the best shot.He'd show everybody. Oh well, I'm
(13:00):
not just so much talk at thetime. Maybe, but you're in town
now and the West don't do somethingabout it. Well, you ain't gonna
look like much. Besides, you'rekind of a tempting target. Brit m
What are you talking about? Man? You're the six shooter, aren't you,
And a young gunfighter will put abullet into you, will give him
(13:20):
a real claim to fame. Ohwell, it's crazy, banned. He
doesn't have any cause to pick afight with me. They're all crazy brit
gun slingers like West. The ideaof getting killed themselves. It don't even
enter their heads, they wouldn't begun slingers. Well, you better get
(13:41):
over the hotel where it is,Singer, get the town around four o'clock.
I want you out of the wayuntil I finished with him. Until
you finished with him, I warnedhim, the next time you come into
Lockwood and the Proud, he'd havethe answer to me. You can shoot
it out with him if I haveto. You're are you sure you can
(14:03):
handle him? Then? Of courseI can. No, No, I
ain't sure. He's young, he'sawful fast. Yeah, yeah, that's
what Pete said, But I gottatry. It turns out that I ain't
still man enough. Well, Iall this knew that sooner or later one
(14:26):
of them would come along who wasyounger and faster. Now I listen,
man, you know he's gonna forme, not you. That ain't the
boot brit. I'm the one wholaid down the law, told him what
I'd do if he ever tried topull off another shooting spree. Sure,
sure, so it's my job tostop it. Oh, you might be
(14:46):
a better magical wist. I don'tdeny that. And if he should get
past me, not that he would, you understand, But if he should
well then, yeah, but II just couldn't step back and let you
take him on the first. Folkswould never pay no heed to me.
Afterwards, they'd say, I'd talkbig to Wesh, but it was you're
(15:09):
gunning listen to you see my point, don't you? Yeah? Yeah,
I see your point. Ben.We'll return to James Stewart as the six
(15:33):
shooter in just a moment. Besure your tune to NBC Radio Thursday evening,
March twenty fifth for the Academy Awards. At that time, you'll hear
the entire Academy Award ceremonies direct fromthe Hollywood Pantageous Theater, where the finest
artists in the Motion Picture industry willbe assembled. Donald O'Connor will be your
(15:54):
host, and during the evening,some twenty five Academy Award Oscars will be
handed to their new owners. It'sHollywood's most thrilling night of the year,
jam packed with glamor from beginning toend, and you can hear every moment
of it when you tune to NBCright now. Of course, the names
of the Oscar winners are a highlyguarded secret, a secret that any number
(16:15):
of Hollywood actors, actresses, writers, musicians, and directors would love to
know. Remember it's a date withNBC Radio this coming Thursday evening, and
that means be tuned to the stationto which you're now listening for the Motion
Picture Academy Awards ceremonies. Directly fromthe stage of a Hollywood Pantageous Theater,
(16:45):
now Act two of The Sick Shooter, starring James Stewart as Britt Pontsit.
(17:11):
You sure couldn't blame Ben for feelingthe way he did. He was the
sheriff, and if west Singer cameinto Lockwood bound and determined to have another
gunfight, all Ben and just hadto take a stand, that's all.
And I sure didn't like the idea, young feller, I've never even met
up with his gunning for me andsomebody else is going to try to hold
him off. No, that's justnot that I was anxious to get mixed
(17:34):
up with him or anything. Butwell, anyway, as long as the
band had made up his mind,it wasn't much I could do about it
one way or the others, atleast for the time band. So I
I mosied over to the hotel.The clerk stopped me as I was passing
(17:55):
the desk. He pointed to awoman sitting on the other end of the
lobby. He said she'd been waitingfor me to come in. Elderly lady,
white hair, wrinkled, yellow face, with a blue straw bonneted under
its chin. Uh, ma'am,Yes, my name's pons It, ma'am
(18:15):
Ritson. Oh would you would youmind sitting down here? Mister ponz It
sure it's in. It's about West. Oh, yes, yes, West
Singer, that is. I'm hisgrandma. I see huh. You know
what he aims to do this afternoon, mister Ponzi, Well, i'd heard
(18:38):
some talk about it. Just ma'am. It ain't just talk. He means
it. He means to kill you. No, no, don't get too
upset about him a singer. There'sprobably will be any trouble between me and
Wes. What do you mean,well, Sheriff Heleman. We'll be waiting
for him, and if we startsanything, he'll more and more like la
(19:00):
landon jail. There ain't no jailcould hold him anymore, and Ben Hittelman
won't be able to arrest him againneither. He'll shoot Ben without Betton,
and I say, I'm afraid Idon't understand him. As Sayer, I
figured you were worried about West.I thought that's why you wanted to talk
to me. Worried about him.I'm worried about all the men he's gonna
(19:26):
murder if somebody don't stop him,men like Wyat Barker and Todd Apple,
Ben Hittelman. He'll be next.Huh, Well, just what is it
you want from me as a singer? I want you to kill Wes.
I want you to shoot him downlike it's shoot down a mad dog.
(19:47):
You're the sick shooter. You're theonly one who have a chance against him.
No, Sheriff Hittman's the lawn asThomas Sayer, it ain't know what
kind of lawyers at the turn Westloose after his other killings. He ain't
fit to live, mister Punzit maybeit's my fault he turned out the way
he did. Maybe if his bornpower had been here to raise him.
(20:07):
But they wasn't. I've done mybest, of course you did, my
singer. Of course, he couldn'thave been born mean. The meanness wasn't
in his blood. I don't knowhow it got into him. Sometimes pretty
hard to explain a thing like that. It's only one way he can end
up. He'll be killed sooner orlater. I'd even thought about doing it
(20:32):
myself. Maybe it's my duty.Oh no, you shouldn't be talking like
this. Man. You've got tokill him, mister punzit today, this
afternoon, before anybody else's blood ison his hands. And I understand how
you feel, a Singer, Butmy trying to kill West, wouldn't it
just I just don't see how thatwould be the answer. Then what is
(20:55):
the answer? I racked my brain, ask God's help, done everything I
could think of. What is theanswer? Well, I'm sorry, ma'am,
I'm afraid I just don't know.It was about three o'clock in the
(21:18):
afternoon when missus Singer left the hotel. I watched her get into her buggy
and drive off. She sat there, stiff, tall, her eyes straight
ahead, not looking one way orthe other, and I waited until she
dwindled down to just a little speck, and then I walked outside. There
(21:42):
was a kind of a stillness inthe air, like on a hot summer
day, just for a thunderstorm.Town was practically deserted, Nobody was in
the stores, nobody in the street. Nobody but Ben Hillman Rich. I
told you to keep out of sight. Yeah, yeah, I know,
Ben. Now you get back atthe hotel before it's too I'm not waiting
(22:04):
on the hotel, Ben. WhatNow I made up my mind. I've
decided to take a little ride thisafternoon ride. What are you talking about?
All? I thought maybe i'd headover that way, toward those hills
over there and running right into WestSinger. I suppose we might meet up
if he's coming in that direction.You know, darn well, he's coming
(22:25):
from that direction. I told youhe lives east of town, not of
the thinker. I guess you did. Yeah, I'll be saying now you
listen to meet Bridgie. Now Ihave listened to you, and I see
your point. Ben. If there'sa gun fight here in Lockwood, or
if it looks like they're going tobe one, while, it's up to
(22:45):
you do something about it. That'swhat I've been telling you. Sure.
Yeah. But on the other hand, whatever happens outside of town, beyond
the city limits, that is well, I don't see that that's in of
your business officially, No, butwow, wow, Britt I won't let
you do it. I know whatwill happen between you and Singer. If
(23:07):
you do get the draw on him, you'll hold off, you won't kill
him. But if he gets thedrawing you so, I'm band Britt,
Britt. I didn't ride very farthis couple of miles, and I rained
(23:37):
up near a clump of spruce whoaboy who scar. The scar wandered around,
nibblings and tufts of dried up grass. I settled down in the shade.
Wait. About ten minutes later Isaw him coming toward me, not
her end, just plodding along slow, easyly. Of course, I couldn't
(23:57):
be sure that this was your singer, but it seemed more unlikely that it
was him. And when he gotclose enough so I could see his face,
while there wasn't much doubt about it. He was young, I heard,
to be younger than his year,just a kid. Not a bad
looking boy either, but there wassomething about his eyes and the way they
(24:18):
kept darting from side to side likean animal on the prow. When he
saw me, he rained up andslid out of the sideline. Coddy,
you're right out here from Lockwood,Miss, that's right, I hear Brett
Ponset's in sound? Is that afact he was in town? Was?
(24:47):
I might have note he'd run outon me. You got any idea which
way he headed? Yeah, I'mBrett Ponson. That's right, there's something
I can do for you. Fora second, his eyes stopped moving and
just stood there, as if hedidn't quite know what to do. But
(25:08):
it didn't take him long to makeup his mind. His right hand whipped
down toward his holster so fast thatit was all I could do to get
hold of the shotgun before he finishedhis jaw, and even then had looked
like he might just go ahead andsqueeze the trigger, but he managed to
hold himself back. We weren't morenabout eight feet apart, staring at each
(25:32):
other. His revolver aimed right atmy face, and the shotgun I board
from Pete drunk pointing straight at hisbelly. What are you trying to pull?
Mister? How's that? Had shotit? But no matter when you
sink you nothing, nothing at all? All I'd go ahead. You've been
(26:00):
telling everybody around town you're gonna killme, all right? Go ahead,
you couldn't miss me. Go on, you couldn't miss me, not at
this range. Sure, sure,but but but I'd still be able to
let go with a blast two.You know, is that what you're worried
about? West? And I guessit'd tear a pretty big hole through you.
(26:25):
I had a free Do you thinkI'm a shower? Don't. I'll
tell you one thing. I thinkyou know. You never faced up to
the fact that you might get killedin one of these gunfights yours. As
long as you got off the firstshot, you figured the worst the other
feller could do was just to nickyou if he was lucky. All right,
(26:45):
you can get off the first shotnow, but if you do,
I don't need to be able toaim this shotgun. I just couldn't help
ye. Ye, your local putsit, we'd both did. Yeah,
well, yeah, you can't expectI'm ended to commit suicide, right,
(27:11):
I'm waiting, singer. You knowthere's no waiting. You know I don't
did that's right? But what doyou expect me to do? I expect
you to put your gun away andget out of here. And you'd better
not come into Lockwood again looking fortrouble because this isn't the only shotgun in
town. Well, after a minuteor so, he turned and he climbed
(27:41):
on his horse, and I Idon't know for sure what happened to him
after that. I heard that hemoved on farther west and finally got into
a gunfight with somebody who outdrew him. I guess it was bound to happen,
Colony, I just don't understand whatgets er a fellow like him.
(28:22):
During this month before Easter, cripplechildren are making their annual appeal to you.
They are appealing to you to continueto support the medical, therapeutic,
educational, recreational and vocational services whichare indispensable to them, the services which
are given by the Easter Seal Societyin your community. Won't you answer the
appeal of cripple children by giving generouslyto your Easter Seal Society? You may
(28:47):
be assured that your gift will beused to provide services that would not otherwise
be available to cripple children. Mailyou're a gift to day, you may
send it to your local Easter SealSociety or to Cripple Child in care of
your local postmaster. The six shooteris a transcribed NBC Radio Network Production and
(29:18):
Association with Review Productions. It isbased on a character created by Frank Burt
and is written by him. MisterStewart may currently be seen in the Universal
International Picture The Glenn Miller Store.Others in the cast were Elvia Allman,
Sam Edwards, will Wright, Howardmcneer and Bert Holland. Special music for
this program was by Basil Adam andthe entire production is under the direction of
(29:42):
Jack Johnstone. All characters and incidentswere fictitious in any resemblance to actual characters
or incidence is purely coincidental. Bythe way, you'll be interested annoying that
the six Shooter has been chosen forbroadcast to our men overseas through the facilities
or the Armed Forces Radio Services.This is John Wall speaking and reminding you
(30:03):
once more. The next week,beginning April first, the six Shooter will
be heard on Thursday evening listen toJan Murray and Sunday at Home on the
NBC Radio Network. This has beena presentation of OTR Westerns dot Com and
(30:37):
we hope you enjoyed. Please takesome time to like and rate our shows
in your favorite podcast application. Followus on Facebook by going to OTR Westerns
dot com. Slash Facebook. Joinin the conversation by going to OTR Westerns
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Podcast at OTR Westerns dot com.This episode's copyright under the attribution and non
(31:00):
commercial Sharelight copyright. For more information, go to OTR Westerns dot com,
slash copyright, Have it Right Day, and again, thanks for listening.
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