 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 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. You get used to gunfire in Tombstone. Usually you hear a single shot or at most two. One gunslinger goes back to the bar and the other goes to Boothill. But when you hear a whole fuselot of shots in the middle of the afternoon you think of the okay corral and head for cover. Gunman, Luke, it's just a little cool cowland. Now, I just hope he keeps shooting in the air. What's your time? Well, see, ain't that young Paige Webster? Yes, yes it is. What are you up to, Paige? I want you gents to be the first to shake my hand. What for, Paige? Try and out-shoot Billy the Kid? Oh, no, I'm just shooting up the barrel cause I'm happy. Luke, I'm going to get me married. Yes, you're right. I just popped the question to Selena Cordell and she said yes. Oh, that's great, Paige. That's just great. Man's gotta make that mistake sometime again. Yes, you're right. And I want you to be my best man, Luke. Well, now that's an honor I wouldn't want to miss. When's the wedding? Well, my gosh, man, you can't settle everything the first minute. I just found out she'd have me. We're going to discuss the details this evening. All right, get your spurs back on the ground. Excuse me, gents. Howdy, stranger. I just come in on the afternoon stage. Thought maybe you could tell me a good place to put up for the night. Why, sure, were you just... Wait a minute. See, Paige. Ain't you Paige Webster? Why, sure you are. Hello, Burley. Well, now that's hardly a friendly greeting to a cousin who ain't seen you in a dog's egg. You'd be all right with me if I never see you again. I don't know why you're holding a grudge against me. Uh, well, aren't you going to introduce me to your friends, Paige? Luke Slaughter, Wichita, this here's my cousin from Texas. Burley Webster. Cousin, huh? Welcome to Tombstone, Mr. Webster. Thank you, Mr. Slaughter. Paige don't seem to be on the welcome and committee, though. What are you doing here, Burley? Oh, easy now, boy. I'm just going through on my way back to Texas from San Francisco. You in the cattle business, Mr. Webster? Uh, no, no, I'm not. He's a gambler, Lucas, and no good nor count gambler. What's that mouth of yours, cousin? The way I figure it, Mr. Slaughter, a man makes a living the best way he knows how. I happen to make mine with my hands. I see. Well, you're looking for a place to stay overnight. I'd recommend the San Jose House. It's good enough for me. Well, then I'm sure it'll suit me if you'll kindly direct me. Mr. Webster with his bags with your tongue. Why, sure. You come with me, Mr. Webster. It's right down the street here. Thank you, God. There goes a snake bigger than a Texas rattler, Luke. That's a strange thing to call a blood relative, Paige. Oh, that don't make no difference. You don't know what he's done to me. What? Well, I never told you this, Luke. I never told nobody. But my family died back in Texas when I was a driver. And his folks took me in. Well, a few years ago, there was a killing. Nobody ever proved who did it, but he threw suspicion on me, and after that, folks just didn't want me around. That's why I came out here. If you didn't do it, why did you run away, Paige? Well, what would you do? He was top dog, slick with cards and smart with the gals. I was just the poor kid cousin. I thought it would inside straight like that. You've drawn some real right cards since you've been in Tombstone, Paige. You've got yourself a small outfit, and you've got the makings for a good cattleman. Now you're going to be married. You're supposed to be happy. Well, I am happy, Luke. Of course I am. But I sure wish he hadn't shown up right now. He'll be on the El Paso stage tomorrow morning. I'll forget about it. All right, Luke, I will. Doggone, I'm going down to the Crystal Palace and start celebrating. Don't overdo it, Paige. Well, you know me, Luke. I never drink too much. You better not. You're going to be a married man before you know it. Yeah. Imagine that, Luke. Me, a married man. Howdy, Luke. Hi. What's it done? They rung the supper gong yet? Not yet. Sit down. Enjoy the sunset. Seems like every night they ring it later and later. Don't he seems like it? Maybe. Lots of things seem like what they ain't, if you ask me. Well, I didn't, but what are you trying to tell me? Well, since you are asking me, I'm a little discombobulated by them two Webster cousins. Why? Well, this afternoon I kind of got the idea they didn't get along none too well. They don't? That's why I'm discombobulated. What do you mean? I come from the crystal palace just now and them two were thicker and fleece. Page looked like he'd been using his rope and arm to heist a glass too many times. He was drunk, huh? He wasn't sober, but the two of them was playing poker, Luke, just the two of them. High stakes, too, seemed like. Maybe I'd better take a walk down that way. Good evening, Mr. Slaughter. Good evening, Miss Cordell. Good evening, Mom. Good evening. You know where I could find Page, Mr. Slaughter? Well, I haven't seen him since he told us the good news this afternoon, Miss Cordell. I'd like to congratulate you, both of you. Thank you. Well, I wonder where he could be? We were going to discuss the wedding plans this evening. Yes, he told me. Look, Miss Cordell, why don't you let me find him for you? Well, I don't want to bother you. You just sit down here and enjoy the cool of the evening with Wichita. I'll go look for him. That's very kind of you, Mr. Slaughter. Now, I'll just tell you what I'm going to do, cousin Burley. Your little old king don't scare me none at all. I'm going to call you and raise you $50. Hey, what are you doing? Are you crazy? Well, now look here, of ain't my old friend Luke Slaughter. You've had enough Page, both poker and liquor. How much have you lost? Ain't lost nothing. I've lost my pot. Leave it. Let's get out of here. Luke, let me ask you, how much is my little outfit worth? You know better than I do. Well, sure I do, but I just want my cousin from Texas to hear it. Well, Page is powerful, proud of that little outfit as he calls it, Slaughter. He should be. In two years, he's built it from nothing to around $1,900 in stock and equipment. Yeah. Can you hear that, Burley? Put a small part seems to me. All right now, I call you $50 and raise it $300. What does your little outfit say about that? Page for the... No, no, no, just a minute. $300, huh? Well, now that requires a little study. Drop out, Page. Let him have it. No, no, no, not so fast, Luke. You hold on now. He's got two aces, a king and a douche showing. And I got me two kings and ace and an eight spot. Now that makes the whole card tell a difference, don't it? Yes, sure does. Come on, put up a shut up, cousin. This ain't no kid game. We left that back in text. Turn your cards over, Page. Now you heard what my little outfit's worth, Burley? Page, listen to me. Two years of your life, you'll bet that and your future. I bet it, and you got a witness, Burley. I'll pay to see that whole card. Your call. That's dandy. That's just dandy. I got me the case king and that makes three of them. Oh, that's good, Page, but not good enough. Three aces, Page. Three aces? But I was sure... Come on, Page. Yeah. Yeah, I... I guess I better, Luke. Oh, uh, you can give me the bill of sale for your outfit in the morning, Page. That'll be soon enough. I'll trust you till then. Yeah. Yeah, I'll have it for you at the hotel in the morning. Come on, Luke. Why did you do it, Page? Why? He knitted me. He's always knitted me. He did it again, just like when we was kids back in Texas. Two years of your life. Yeah. Yeah, I'm just a weekney paperback fool. No, you're not. Something's eating at your insides when you learn what it is. You'll be a man. I'm gonna tell Selena. You're gonna face up to what you've done and tell her the truth. Just waiting at the hotel for you. No, no, I... I can't face her like this after I lost everything. You tell her, Luke, will you? Please, Luke, tell her anything. Page, are you gonna keep running away all your life? I don't know. I guess so. I think I'm gonna be sick, Luke. Here. Get yourself a room and straighten out. I'll tell her something. We can talk this out tomorrow. Thank you, Luke. Thank you. I don't know why I bother Page. I guess I must think you're worth it. And now, act two of William M. Robeson's production of Luke's Slaughter of Tombstone. Here, Edward R. Murrow with the news. His personal knowledge of people and places, his years of experience and reporting the news put the stamp of authority on every broadcast he makes. Here, Edward R. Murrow with the news. Tomorrow night. And now, act two of William M. Robeson's production of Luke's Slaughter of Tombstone. Standing up to the bar, minding my own business. Excuse me, what's your time? Uh, sure, sure. Miss Cordell? Yes, Mr. Slaughter? I found him. Well, where is he? Miss Cordell, uh... When a man's getting married, he's sometimes... Well, in Page's case, he did. Well, what I mean to say is he... Well, he's had too much to drink. And he lost quite a bit at gambling. Isn't that just like a man? Well, most men, if you ask me. Nobody dead, Widgeton. Oh. I'm sure I'll explain it to you in the morning, Miss Cordell. I'm not so sure I wanted to. He's going to go out and drink and gamble on the very days proposed to me. What will he be up to after he's married me? Evening, Slaughter. Excuse me for interrupting, but when there's a pretty gal around, I ain't gonna make too many excuses. Well, you'll have to excuse us, Webster. Webster? Well, now, Miss, I see you know the name. Could that be maybe because you're a friend of my young cousin, Page Webster? Why, why yes. Well, then I'm right happy to make your acquaintance, Miss. I'm Burley Webster, Page's cousin from Texas. How do you do, Mr. Webster? I'm Selena Cordell. Ah, that's a right putty name to go with an even putty of gal. If you'll excuse me being so bold, Miss Cordell. Maybe I ought to tell you right now, Webster. Miss Cordell. Miss Cordell is engaged to your cousin. I must say he picked himself the prettiest filly in the corral. And I must say that sounds like Texas flattery to me. Ain't nothin' of the kind. Only I sure am sorry I can't stay on here now that I've met up with you, Miss Cordell. All right, thank you. But, of course, I could change my mind. You said you were leaving on the morning stage. Man can always change his mind, Slaughter. Now, Miss Cordell, since we've been in a relationship, you've been in a relationship with Miss Cordell since we've been introduced proper like. You'd do me a great honor if you'd let me take you to the nicest dining room in town for some supper. You just pointed out. Well, I... I... Mr. Slaughter, will you be seein' Paige again tonight? I don't expect to. Well, if you do see him, tell him I'm with his cousin, gettin' the attention I should be gettin' from him. My arm, Miss Cordell. Now, let me tell you about Paige when we was kids back in Texas. Say, he... he sure is a smooth talker, ain't he, Luke? Only that don't sound like cousin talk to me. He's got Paige's outfit. Now, he's after his girl. What you can do about it, is it, or, Luke? I don't know, Wichita. I don't know. But I'm sure gonna try. Webster, I want to talk to you. Slaughter, I thought you'd be in bed by now. I've been waitin' up for you. Where's Miss Cordell? Don't see that's any old business. But she's safe home for tonight. Meaning? Ah, tomorrow's another day. You aren't gonna be here tomorrow, Webster. What'd you say? You're leaving Tombstone right now. Oh, Emma? Yes. You recognize this deck of cards? Oh, what about it? This is the deck you used when you beat your cousin out of his outro. It's a marked deck. Where'd you find it? In your room upstairs. What call you got going through my stuff? I never gone through a man's belongings before without his permission. I made an exception in your case. Well, I've got a good notion to... To what? Webster, I'm going to give you a choice. There's a saddled horse at the hitching bar out back with your bag strapped on. You get on it and head east out of Tombstone and don't look back. Or you get set to draw. Sure. You'd like that, wouldn't you, slaughter? You'd be in the fastest gun in the territory. Which will it be? Now, this is a one-horse town anyway. No sense in getting ruffled up over it. Which will it be? It couldn't be that you want Selena for yourself, could it? Get going. Oh. Sure, slaughter, sure. Anything you say. Luke Slaughter, how are you feeling, boy? Better, I guess. I don't know. What are you figuring to do now? I don't know, Luke. I just don't know what to do. Seems to me there's much left for you in Tombstone. Lost your outfit? And from the way she talked last night you've lost your girl. Don't surprise me, nun. I'll be glad to take you to $100 to get started somewhere else. What? Thanks, Luke. You're a real friend. Yeah. Let's see. It's nine o'clock now. Suppose you come over to my hotel at ten. I'll have the money for you. And I'll pay you back someday, Luke. I don't know when, but I will. Sure you will. I'll see you in an hour. Good morning, Mr. Slaughter. Good morning, Ms. Cordell. I'm sorry to disturb you. Is Paige all right? He's all right. Why do you care? I'm worried and worried about him. You weren't talking that way last night. I know, but that was last night and I've thought and thought about it. I haven't slept a wink, Mr. Slaughter. I'm sorry to accept, Mr. Slaughter. That's... Well, that's sacred. A man and a woman have got to forgive each other many things before they're really husband and wife. I mean... Well, I love him, Mr. Slaughter. What about his cousin? Oh, him, he's nothing, but a fast-talking ladies' man. Paige is worth five of him. That's just what I wanted to hear. Ms. Cordell, I'm going to ask you to do something. What, Mr. Slaughter? I want you to be an actress. Mr. Slaughter! It's just for a few minutes. For Paige's sake. All right. I'd do anything for him. All right. Now, here's what I want you to do. Be down at the San Jose House. You've thunk up some goodens in your time, Luke, but I declare this horn swan gonna beat some more. I hope so, Wichita. Here he comes. Here I am. 10 o'clock on the dot. Great. I have some bad news for you, Paige. I can't give you the money. But you said... I know. Maybe I should say I've changed my mind. But you told me... When are you gonna stop whimpering like a scrubby calf? But you promised. Why don't you just start walking? Maybe you'll find some sheep herders will help you out. But look, all I'm asking is to borrow the money you promised to lend me. I don't think you're good for it, Paige. Well, if that's the way you feel, I'll just get along with... Hello, Paige. Oh. Hello, Selena. Where have you been since you asked me to marry you? Let's see. When was that? Why, I declare it was only yesterday. I, uh... I had a little trouble, Selena. Oh, what kind of trouble? Well, I... Lost some money. Gamblin, I suppose. You go out and gamble on the very day he proposes. Mustn't want to be married very much. Oh, Selena, that's not so. Must be. Or you'd pay a little more attention to me like, uh... Like your cousin did. Burley, you know him? Mr. Slaughter introduced us. He's a very attractive man. He's a dirty, misbegotten sidewinder. Why, Paige, what a thing to say about your own cousin. Oh, Selena. You don't like him. He took me to supper last night. After all, you weren't around. Selena. It appears like you're an extra spoke on the wheel, Paige. Why don't you slope like you've been planning to? I'll go when I get good and ready. No. You'll go now. You get your hands on me, Luke. You want me to throw you up? Oh, you just try it. I'll be glad to. You may be able to do it, Luke, but you're going to know you've been in a fight. I ain't running any more, Luke. And you ain't going to beat me. Now you get up, Luke. That felt good. And I'm going to do it again. Come on. Get up. No. No, I've had enough, Paige. I quit. Oh, that's fine. That's just fine. Now I'm going to find me that no good mealymouth cousin and do the same thing. Paige, wait a minute. He's gone, Paige. He left town last night. Gone? You mean he isn't taking over my outfit? Say, what is this? Well, if you'll stop being a man long enough to let Selena get a word in, I think she can tell you. Thank you, Luke. Thank you. Come on, Paige. We've already lost a whole day of planning. My dog is it works. The horn swagger works. Yes, Wichita did. It's the first time I've ever let a man whip me. But it was worth it. Music composed by Wilbur Hatch and conducted by Amorigo Marino. Next week at this time, we return with... Slaughter's the name. Luke Slaughter. When we meet up again, you can call me that. Luke Slaughter. Now stay tuned for Frontier Gentlemen, which follows immediately over most of these same stations. This is the CBS Radio Network.