 Slaughter's my name, Luke Slaughter. Cattle's my business. It's a tough business. It's big business. I've got a big stake in it. There's no man west of the Rio Grande big enough to take it from me. Luke Slaughter of Tombstone. Luke Slaughter of Tombstone. Civil War cavalryman turned Arizona cattleman. Across the territory from Yuma to Fort Defiance, from flagstaff to the Wachukas, and below the border through Chihuahua and Sonora, his name was respected or feared depending on which side of the law you were on. Man of vision, man of legend, Luke Slaughter of Tombstone. I started out for Fort Wachuka too early. But an Apache runner had come to my ranch in the night with news I didn't like. I had to see Colonel Nickerson right away. Listen to that, Luke. Them soldiers are still wrestling their blankets. And here you've had me up for three hours already. Well, now that's too bad, Wichita. If anyone was to ask me, I'd say the life of a army man would be a bull-braided snap compared to traveling with Luke Slaughter. Now, did I ask you to come out here this morning, Wichita? Well, I thought you did. Well, I'll think again. Well, might be Colonel Nickerson will throw you into the guardhouse for waking him. You hope. Here's his quarters. Oh, hold on. You wait here, Wichita. If you're in there too long, I might join up with this outfit for a rest. Suit yourself. Good morning, Corporal. Oh, good morning, sir. Luke Slaughter to see Colonel Nickerson. Yes, you have a seat, Mr. Slaughter. I don't know. I guess you're new here, son. I'll see him now. But, sir, he's still in bed. Well, when it was time, he was up. But, sir, who is it? It's me, Nick, Luke Slaughter. Come on, now, get up. I want to talk to you. Luke Slaughter, you hide-bound cattle wrestler? What are you doing up this early? This isn't the siege of Vicksburg, you know. Well, on you peacetime soldiers, take it too easy. I tried to stop him, sir. Oh, it's all right, Corporal. He's an old campaigning sidekick of mine. I think I can handle him. Yes, sir. What's got you up so early in the morning, Luke? Nick, I got a message from Chief Mangus last night. He says his braves are going to hit the warpath over the government beef cutbacks. I didn't know it was that serious. What are you going to do about it, Nick? Me? What can I do about it, Luke? I'm army. I take orders. Well, there's something I can do if you'll help me. What is it? Get permission for me to go make a treaty with Chief Mangus. You mean, wire Washington? I tried. I don't know, Luke. The War Department doesn't take kindly to field officers making recommendations on policy. I know, Nick, but something's got to be done, and fast. What kind of a treaty did you have in mind? Chief Mangus has something the Cattleman's Association wants, and we have what he wants. What's that, Luke? We'll give his people beef and money in return for the use of their grazing land. They already have that deal. What do you mean? You're head of the Cattleman's Association, and you don't know that T.J. Campbell's running a herd on the San Carlos Reserve right now? No, I didn't. Well, he is, 2,000 head. But the association hasn't made me agreement with the Apaches. I don't know about that, but according to Campbell, he's got an agreement with an Apache named Lona. Lona, I know him. He can't make treaties. Only Chief Mangus speaks for the Apaches. This whole thing's illegal. Of course it's illegal. That's why I'm sending a detail up to the San Carlos today to run the cattle off. You'd better hurry. If Mangus hears about this, he's surely hit the war path. Who's in charge of your detail? Lieutenant Baker. Why? Mind if I go with him? What for? Before I deal with Mangus, I'd like to set this Lona straight. Luke, I don't like this. Why not? Because you're mixing in something that's Apache against Apache. You might set off a full-fledged Indian war. Nick, that'd be better than what Mangus wants. What's that? Apache against white man. I'll go with Baker. Luke. Yenak. Make it unofficial, will you? Yes, Colonel. Which non-ile just happened to run into the lieutenant and his men. Could. Oh, and Nick, you can do something for me. What's that? Send that wire to Washington. It'd be nice to have their blessings on a treaty with Mangus. Stubborn cuss, you're going ahead anyway, aren't you? Sure. What did you expect? For you to go ahead. Good luck. Lieutenant Baker turned out to be a fuzzy-chin young fellow with all the deceptive confidence manufactured by the United States Military Academy at West Point. Apache country was no place for him. I found myself wanting to turn him back. Sonny boy, was you aiming to butcher these cattle with them swords or just turn them around and drive them back onto a Campbell's range? What do you mean, old-timer? Don't you old-timer me, you fat-stem-dumb whippersucker? Richard. Well, he don't need to talk to me. I didn't mean anything by that old man. Well, there he goes again, Luke. Now, I ain't taking this kind of talk. Honest, Mr. Slaughter. I don't know how to talk to these old hoots. Dude, son, help me. I mean, I, uh. Now, listen, sonny boy. You better start fanning your men out to point that herd. All right, Richard, I'll do it. Somebody's got to keep his army in line. So you appointed yourself. Ain't nobody else to do it. Now, what's he doing? All right, men. New York. Sergeant Thomas, take five men to the left flank. Sergeant Smith, five to the right. Point that herd into the canyon. Rest of your arms raised. Luke, why don't you just say, rassle them in, boys, like any decent cop? If any of those front-to-hearders give you trouble, shoot them and argue later. All right, move up! Richard Towne, now that I've actually seen Campbell's herd on Indian land, I want you to go back to Tombstone. What for? I want you to call a meeting of the Kettleman's Association for this afternoon. And I especially want TJ Campbell there. All right. But, uh, what you going to do? Find Lona. I rode into the rock-strewn foothills of the San Carlos Reserve. I dismounted and studied the cliffs above me for the logical place to watch the action below. I knew that when I found it, I'd find Lona. I decided to take the long chance and approach him unarmed. So I left my guns in my saddlebag and started climbing quietly towards the craggy site. He was lying face down on the edge of the cliff, watching Baker's men work the cattle below. Lona! I am Ocata. No, put the knife down. I didn't come to fight you. I'm unarmed. Lona killed Slaughter. I'm friend of the Indians. Slaughter come with soldiers. Soldiers steal cattle. Lona watch them. No, they're not stealing them, Lona. Those cattle are not allowed to graze on the reserve. Lona, let them. Lona make rules here. Mangus is the chief. He makes the rules for the Apache tribe. Mangus! Mangus, old man. Mangus' brain, like little child. Make bad treaty for Apache. Lona make good treaty with Mr. Campbell. Lona soon be chief. Campbell cannot make a treaty with you. Only the cattleman's association can make a treaty. Lona tired of talk. Lona kill Slaughter. Cut you up good with knife. You missed, Lona. Don't try it again. Your tribe wouldn't think much of you for killing an unarmed man. Lona tell it different. Lona kill Slaughter now. No. Take that knife. The knife. Drop it. Drop it, I said. Stand up. You kill Lona now. No. Just warning you. Stay away from Campbell. Neither of you has a right to make treaties. You understand? Lona here, Slaughter. Say that you remember it. I get you. Lona get you good straw man Slaughter. In a moment, Luke Slaughter of Tombstone returns. What lies ahead for a brand new American? How does the future look for the 11,000 new Americans born every day? Well, it couldn't look better with more factories producing more goods for our mushrooming population. America is going places. Send for a free illustrated booklet, Your Great Future in a Growing America. Drop a card to box 1776, Grand Central Station, New York 17, New York. And now act two of William M. Robeson's production of Luke Slaughter of Tombstone. I see you've found everybody, what's your turn? Yeah, who called? I've been having a hard time holding them. Campbell, I see you made it all right. For sure, Slaughter. Why are you singling me out? You'll find out. Gentlemen, I'm calling this meeting of the Cattleman's Association of Arizona for one purpose. The expulsion of T. J. Campbell from the association for breaking our agreement with the federal government not to run cattle on the San Carlos Reserve. What are you talking about? I'm not finished. Also, because T. J. Campbell is guilty of making a private arrangement for his own personal gain. Well, wait up now. Sure, I made a deal, but it was fair and square. Gentlemen, this was done at the worst possible time. You all know that the government has just cut back the beef allotment to the Apaches. But you may not know that because of this, Chief Mangus has set word to me that they're about to take to the war path. Well, I didn't know nothing about that, Slaughter. Therefore, I move that T. J. Campbell be expelled from this association. I second the motion, Luke. All right. It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor say aye. Just a minute now, sir. All those in favor. So be it. All right, Campbell. You can leave now. This is a closed meeting. Well, I ain't leaving. Aren't you? You want me to follow him, Luke? No, Wichita. Gentlemen, I'm sure you realize that we must act as an organized group in this matter, not as individuals. We need the Apaches grazing land, but we must be prepared to pay for it. Good. Wichita and I'll go to the reserve and try to contact Chief Mangus, providing you men agree to honor whatever arrangements I make. And the meetings adjourned. Well, Wichita, are you ready to travel? Oh, sure, Luke. I gave up sleeping the day I hired Arnold. You lead me to my horse. Looks like the Apaches has got a reception committee all set up for us. You know, I learned one thing a long time ago, Luke. What's that, Wichita? It just ain't no good way of creeping up on an engine village. How's that? Well, figure it out. Come at the village from upwind, the dogs tip them off. Come from downwind, your courage goes back on you, and you go home smelling like you've been sleeping with coyote. Nothing is simple for you, is it, Wichita? No. And stop here. Chief Mangus is riding torches. White man braves to come to Apache Village. Great Chief Mangus fails to use the name of his friend, Slaughter. I come to talk to the chief of the Apaches. Time for talk is past. Time now for death. I cannot promise to stop my braves, whose children have swollen bellies of hunger. I come from the great association of cattlemen. We offer you beef for your hungry children in return for the right to graze our cattle on your lands. No. We are sick with promises. Is not White Father in Washington bigger than your association? Our White Father is too far away. The people I come from are here. They wish to help. My braves have demanded war. They will take more of your cattle than you will give. You do, and the army from Fort Wachuka will sweep through your villages. Pony soldiers must find village first. Then Mangus prefers to let sick women and children of his nation run from soldiers. Come on, Wichita. What is it? Listen to one more promise. Wars bring only sadness. Come. One more promise. You are too much also. We pow out for ours. First Mangus and I, then Mangus and his braves. Finally long after dark, the chief rose and spoke to me. I have told my braves slaughter as you have told me. Your cattle make graves from the San Simone valley to the Wachuka mountains. You will pay Apache nation two cents an acre, one half in yearling cows. You may build fences, but must leave them when treaty end. Treaty lasts for 10 years. Chief Mangus be dead soon. Bring peace and food to people first. The name of chief Mangus will be honored many years. Lauder, shake hand. Make treaty come true. Great chief Mangus must not shake hand of slaughter. Lauder. Lauder, go away from tribe for long time. Lauder come back with treaty for Apache nation better than promises of this man. No chief Mangus. Lauder wishes to take your place. What is this treaty Lauder brings? Man called Campbell will give 50,000 of dollars to Apache for Graceland. Campbell lies chief Mangus. The whole association of cattlemen would not offer that much money. It wouldn't pay. How do I know who to believe? If I prove Campbell lies, will you then shake hands on the treaty I offered you? I cannot stay the anger of my braves for long. Morning's first light must bring peace or war. Then I'll be back before sunrise. That's right boys. Drinks on TJ Campbell tonight. Now your glass is all full. Then boys raise them high in a toast of tombstone. Greatest town west of Mississippi. Raise them high boy like this. Who done that? Hi Luke. There wasn't a nice thing to do. Shoot the glass out of a man's hand. They look good tonight, aren't you? What do you mean by that? What are you celebrating? Nothing. Just buying the boys a drink. That can wait, Campbell. You're coming with me. You? Where are we going? To the Apaches. They're waiting for you. Hey Luke, come on. Have a drink. Tell the boys you're just joking. I'm not. Get outside and get on that horse. Boys. Boys, are you going to let Slaughter get away with this? Are you? All right, Campbell. You had your answer. Move. I know. Slaughter, you can't do this. Just keep going, Campbell. And them Indians want to talk to you, Campbell. About that $50,000 you offered them. That's right. Seems that the loner told them you'd have the money with you this morning. That's a lie. Slaughter told him such a thing. Well, they're expecting the money today, Campbell. I ain't going in there. Slaughter. Hey, my patches. Ain't a killing move in that dancing like that. Why should you be afraid? You've got a big treaty for them. I tell you, Slaughter, I ain't going near them Indians. I... The next one goes through your head, Campbell. Now move. Come on. Get off your horse, Campbell. Is this the man called Campbell? Keep talking to me, Slaughter. I'd say he was, Campbell. Did you bring money for the treaty? Slaughter, you know I haven't got that kind of money. It's out of my hands, Campbell. Then you cannot make treaty now. It was all a lie. Yeah, yeah, it was a lie. Chief Mangus, when you now shake hands on our treaty... I believe my friend, Luke Slaughter, I will trust your word. The treaty is as we said. But there must be no revenge on Campbell. We'll take care of him. The word of a brave man is accepted. I shake your hand. The horse outside the association office. Yeah. What do you aim to do with me? I've done it, Campbell. You're out of the association. And every cattleman in the territory will know what kind of an operator you are. Whoa, whoa. Slaughter, that's just the same as putting me out of business. It's a little late to worry about that, Campbell. Come on, Wichita. Let's see what's on the Colonel's mind. Hiya, Nick. Morning, Luke. I just dropped in to tell you I got word from Washington. They say it's all right for you to make whatever arrangements you can with Chief Mangus. Well, we just can't. Wichita. Thanks, Nick. That's good to know. I'll have to get started on that one of these days. Yeah, you do that, Luke. If you haven't already. Luke Slutter of Tombstone starring Sam Buffington was written by Tom Hanley and directed by William N. Robeson. Supporting Mr. Buffington were Junius Matthews, Jack Moyles, Sam Edwards, Vic Perron, Lawrence Dubkin, Ralph Moody and Norm Alden, with music composed and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. Next week at this time we return with Slutter's the name. Luke Slutter. When we meet up again, you can call me that. Luke Slutter. This is the CBS Radio Network.