Wild Jack Rhett | Escape (12-17-50)

0:00Forget everything you had planned for this weekend because you are sitting on your couch and winning from the comfort of your own home. I'm here with SpinQuest where you can play hundreds of slot games, all of the table games you love, and you can even win real cash prizes. New users, $30 coin packs are on sale for 10 at SpinQuest.com. SpinQuest is a free to play social casino. Boydware prohibited. Visit SpinQuest.com for more details. Welcome to the old-time radio westerns, I'm your host Andrew Rines, and let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be western stories on today's story. It's going to come from escape original air dates to 17th, 1950. The story is about an old west and a great showdown on Main Street.

1:01Title of this episode is, Well Jack Rat, and I hope you enjoy, again thanks for listening. You, finding life rather dull, dreaming again of exotic places, wishing you were somewhere else, we offer you, escape. Escape with us now to the old west and the unusual story of a merciless professional killer, as Ernest Heycock tells it, in Wild Jack Rat. Red Mesa, a little town springing out of the hot dry prairie beside the Chisholm Trail,

2:10a saloon, a hotel, two general stores, and a tiny church where the decent citizen remite pray for salvation while a wilder element, trail driver and teamster and buffalo hunter, restlessly searched out friend and enemy along the dusty Main Street. A small hill rose on the western edge of Red Mesa, plagued with a rash of graves, some marked and cared for, others sinking and forgotten. Men that is born a woman has put a short time to live in his full of misery. He comes up and is cut down like a flower. He flies as it were a shadow while we're praying a couple you boys start throwing some dirt on the shelf. All art with whom to live the spirit of them that be dead and in whom the souls of men.

3:13And that same evening, a committee of the leading citizens of Red Mesa gathered together at Mayor Wayne's home to decide upon a new sheriff. Gentlemen, sit down and let's get this settled. Gentlemen, to make this town a decent place for our women-folk and children, we've got to have a sheriff taught Malon and his kind can't kill. We need the toughest gunfighter available. And I want to propose... For a minute, Mayor Wayne, let me speak. All right. Go ahead, Boylein. I don't think we should get all upset just because we lost another sheriff. Jim Speed worked off fine for Red Mesa. All we need is another sheriff just about like him. I expected that, Boylein. All you look out for is to keep that saloon of yours full of anybody who'll buy whiskey and gamble. I still propose we reform this town by sending for a man some of you may have heard of.

4:19Jack Ritt. Gentlemen, I do want my saloon full. And full of the only men will bring any money to all into Red Mesa. How punch is coming up the Chisholm Trail with Texas cattle, thirsty men on a prod from a long drive. But you give them Jack Ritt instead of a little fun and this town will go broke. We'll chance that, Boylein. We'll chance that. What about Matt Travener, what's he got to say? I have nothing to say, gentlemen. As U.S. Deputy Marshal for the district, my job is strictly outside Red Mesa. You're on your town any way you like. I'll handle this surrounding territory. Know anything about Jack Ritt, Travener? Just by reputation, professional town tamer, and I've heard he's the most cold blooded killer ever drew a gun. We haven't as right. We can't afford a man like that here. Let's put it to a vote, gentlemen. All in favor of sending for Jack Ritt, raise their right hand. Five to one. The matter is settled, gentlemen.

5:20Good night. Yeah, good night. All right, wait. You'll wait and see Mary Travener. If you don't mind, Mayor? Of course. Sit down. You'll be out in a minute. Well, Boylein is pretty mad. But after Jack Ritt is here for a while, at least I'll be less gunfighting. Be less, anyway, if Todd and Melon were out of the way, that's a bad example. It's a hard man to catch. Well, it was all you can, Travener. There's just too much territory around here for Melon, who's ganged to lose themselves in. You'd have to be taken by a town officer. And I think Ritt is the man to do it, if Melon comes to town again. He'll come there. The word gets out that Ritt is sheriff here. Melon will have to face him or lose his reputation with his own men. Oh, my father. Hello, Mary. Hello, darling. Well, Matt Travener, aren't you going to kiss me? Of course, sure. Here, Mary. What a shameless once you are.

6:21Oh, father, you're old-fashioned. After all, we're engaged. Your mother, God rest her soul, didn't behave like that when we were engaged. The war changed things, father. I know. But not for the better. Well, I'm off to bed. Don't stay up too late now. Good night. Good night, father. You look worried, Matt. Do I? Tell me about it. Well, it's just that they're sending for a new sheriff. Legal killer named Ritt. He has quite reputation, and they'll always be men that challenge it. That means more gunfighting. Is that it? I'm afraid so. It's a bloody way to piece, Mary. Oh, no. Let's not worry about it now. Come on. I'll pick some coffee for us. Three weeks later, while Jack Rett rode into Red Mesa,

7:21he was 38 and at the peak of his reputation. He stood well over six feet, better than 200 pounds of plain sinew. Taune blonde hair grew long in the frontier style, and his features, fair and tinted like a girl, were boldly aquilined. He was a picture-esque man, till one looked at his eyes, which were large and pale blue, and had the disconcerted trick of remaining too steadily on people. There was to be seen in him the suggestion of inhumanity. Well, he sent word to the committee that he'd meet him at the mayor's office that evening. There, eight o'clock now. Where is he? He's in town, and that's bad enough. Here's Sportboy Helen. We took a fair vote on Rett. Here he comes now.

8:23My name is Jack Rett, and I have your offer. I'm Peter Wayne, mayor of Red Mesa. Do you accept it? It depends on what you want. Tell me. Rett, this is a difficult town. Chisholm trail lies just across the river, and we get most of our money from the riders passing through Texas Castle. Now we want them to have a decent time with their money, but we don't like a lot of gunplay and killing. I've always been accustomed to complete authority, ma'am. I presume to know my job, and I won't have interference. That's a greed, Rett. By the way, the last sheriff had a rule that riders leave their hardware at his office. He had trouble enforcing it. A poor room. Let him pack their guns. That gives the wild ones a fair chance at you. I never give a man a fair chance at me.

9:25Is that all gentlemen? Bohel and Saloon was the usual dead fall with a huge bar along one side of the room and gaming tables toward the river. Born in Bohel and stood tapping the mahogany of the bar with his fingertips, staring thoughtfully at nothing. Good morning, Bohel and. It's no one, Samus. Oh, sure. Draw me a beer, Mike. Where's the new sheriff, Bohel and? Over there at the corner table. You hear me just before you did. Barkeep, bring me a cigar and glass of rye. Now he's going to clean and reload his six guns, one at a time. I got a he is. How do you know? It's an old gunman's trick to impress the citizens.

10:25Which is no one here except you and me. Then it's to impress me. Don't drink. Goodbye, Bohel and. You've got something to say to me, Bohel and? Yes, yes, I have. You're smart, Red. I recognize that. But your record for killing is too severe, and my business depends on an open town. Now the reform element got you and I'll go along for now. But just remember one thing. I can break you, Red. And it doesn't matter. You know what? I can break you, Red. And it doesn't matter. I can break you, Red. And it doesn't matter. I can break you, Red. And it doesn't matter. I was waiting for that, Bohel and? Well, and I guess we understand each other. Hello. No, I need luck, Matt. Just the morning's ride. Matt, here's Jack Red.

11:25Red, this is Matt Travener, US Deputy Marshal for the District. Glad to know you, Red. You're young. Don't be misled. Red, your job is in town. Mine is everything outside. So I'll leave that back you up here in Red Macer. I'll leave you strictly alone. I'll handle Red Macer. All right. One more thing. I want Todd and Mallon to come to town again. I'll have to be taken. Will you do that or shall I? What is he? Outlaw. Main line is plain robbery. Now I want him for killing Jim Speed. Let me handle, Mallon. Why? Killing's my trade. Man doesn't live with enough animal instinct to get me. Maybe. Killing your building man's reputation considerable. Just so? No. Good luck, Red.

12:26There was peace for a full week in Red Macer. And then on Saturday night, Matt Travener's prediction came true. Jack Rat was at his customary post, just opposite Bohel and Saloon, in a chair on the porch at the Chinook Hotel. Obscured by the shadows and watching the crowd, his cold, pale eyes half concealed by cigar smoke. Trouble found him thus. Aiden and Sheriff. Good evening, man. Aiden and I on the boys. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Where's the shreds of used to be, Abel? And where's your height? Yeah. Where's that great man, Wild Jack, Red? Bring him out. Ha ha. Hello, cowboy. I don't want to lose. Get to it. Here's our show. Go.

13:32That's a lot of killing for one, Sheriff. Three, man. I don't like it. Forget it, friend. Have a drink and forget it. You're Bohel and ancient. That's right. Come on now. Have one on the house. Now Mike, fix him up. I can pay for my liquor. Yeah, man. You never gave him a chance. What kind of sheriff you got stands in a shadow and kills one man. And then jumps 50 feet from his gun flash and shoots down two more. Those boys never had a chance at him. Let's drink a drink, cowboy. That was the most merciless killin' I ever seen. He's a butcher. I wish I'd gun them up. Right, right, right, right. Now, they'll kidnap me. This is my game. They were fools to play it. Never buck a man who's spent his life learning to kill son.

14:32Get out of town. Get out now. Ready? What if I don't try it, son? Don't let your anger destroy it. Drift. Go on. Drift. Blast your town. I can hold my thirst another 200 miles up the trail. Come on, boys. We'll send word back to Texas to go around red mace and let it dry up out. Yeah, sure. It won't do, Rhett. It'll do, Boellen. Barkeep. Bring me glass of rye on the house. Red stood with his back to the bar, holding his drink in a thin black cigar carefully in one hand. He stood there for about 10 minutes. Then trouble came again.

15:37Todd Millen. He's riding in with four men. That was a game. So open up the back torts. Well, Jack Rhett, now let's see your shoot down Todd Millen and four men from the shadows. Good night, Boellen. Escape under the direction of Norman McDonnell returns in just a moment. I'm here with SpinQuest, where you can play and win from the comfort of your own home, with hundreds of slot games and all of the table games you love with real cash prizes. Right now, $30 coin packs are on sale for $10. For new users, it's all at SpinQuest.com. That's S-P-I-N-H-U-E-S-T dot com. SpinQuest is a free to play social casino.

16:37Visit SpinQuest.com for more details. Before you begin your road trip, ask yourself, do you really need five full suitcases? With a 2026 Kia Sportage X-Pro's class leading cargo space, you'll have room for what you need. Find out more at your local Kia dealer today. Keep the adventure going. Kia, movement that inspires. Call 800-333-4K for details. Always drive safely and obey all traffic laws. Second-row legroom and cargo space behind second-row seats in the subcompact SUV class, according to Kia segmentation as of October 2025. Sorry, but if you think schoolteachers have it easy, you've got another thing coming. Just ask our Miss Brooks as played by E-Bardon on most of these same CBS stations this evening. And now, back to Escape! When word came to Bohel and Saloon,

17:39the Todd Mallon was riding into Red Mesa with four men. Jack Rhett simply walked out across the speed to his office, sat down and waited. 20 minutes later, Todd Mallon had arrived, and departed, not a shot fire. Then Jack Rhett went quietly to bed, but early Sunday morning he was back in his office. Come in. Morning, Rhett. Well, Travener. There's talk, Rhett. I expect that. Now, Rhett, you told me you'd handle Mallon if he came to town. Yes, Travener. Well, they say Mallon rode into town last night with four men. Road right up to this office got down, came inside. That you and he stood here with this desk between you, talk. And then a few minutes later, Mallon left and rode out of town. I play the game my own way, Travener. And I don't want interference from anybody.

18:43People say, and maybe you and Mallon made a deal of some kind. Well, now, somebody's breaking the seven. No, who could beat Travener? No, I know. That's a rifle. Sounds like one of those seven shot Spencer. And it's old hack crow. Who is he? No trapper. Comes to town every few months, sells his purse, gets drunk, goes a little crazy. Him speed. Always laid him away and jailed his sober. Oh, take a look. You better stop him, Rhett. He's only got two shots left. That'll satisfy him. I doubt it'll reload. And if he notices us and decides to shoot, then I'll have to kill him. Hey. Who's that coming out of Boellan? He won't bathe. Gamla. He's a fool. He's getting his horse. He's going to stop him, Rhett. Let him go.

19:44Rhett, the town is your territory, and I won't interfere. But why did you refuse a fair shot at hack crow? He won't bathe, it's dead. Which is the more useful citizen, Travener? Crower Bay. West is full of Gamla's. There was considerable talk that day in Red Mesa over Jack Rhett, a loop from cruel calm and condone in a shooting that had occurred under his very eyes, and within reach of his formidable guns. Then, mid-afternoon, a rider came up from the prairie and reported to find an old hack crow dead in a coup. Dry ghost and robbed. Mara Wayne heard about it and went to Boellan's saloon here more. Ah. Ah, good evening, man.

20:44Hello, Boellan. It's Dr. Brandy. And what do you think of your great Jack Rhett now, man? Looks bad. Now, look, man. Everyone knew hack crow cared his profits in his pocket. Oh, he's dead, man. So, Red allowed him to leave and Todd Malin, his men were waiting for him in the Cooley. Just simple as that. You have no proof of that, Boellan? No. And why didn't Red take Malin when he wrote in here last night? Because they made a business arrangement, that's why. Well, it doesn't look good, but shh. I've read Malin. Barkeep, glass of rye. I don't want to talk to him yet. I'm leaving. Good night, Boellan. Good night, man. Now, Mike, give me that rye. I'll take it over to Sheriff myself. Is it drink, Sheriff? Mind advice, Adam?

21:45Game never changes, Boellan. I know what you're going to say. I warned you I could break your ret. It's an old story to me. Every town's got one insider who plays along with the outpounds. And I knew you'd be that one here when I first saw you. Running a saloon, you'd know when a cattle buyer was riding out of town carrying a species. When the overland stage was loaded with gold, there was a quarrel over the spit of profits to you and Malin. And you fell apart. That's always the way. Very shrewd, right? It's an old story, Boellan. I know it by heart. Very shrewd. But you can't play the same game. All sheriffs are supposed to be crooked. You and Malin had an agreeable little chat last night. Did he make a good offer, Rhett? Maybe I should accept his offer, Boellan, just to keep you two split. Maybe I should do that. Rhett, I've seen sheriffs come and go.

22:47It's a chancey trade. Sheriffs die. They all die. It's only a question of time. You're a hard one, Jack Rhett. You might make your peace with Malin. It'd have to be that way. Otherwise, you'll have little chance in getting rid of me, Boellan. And maybe that way. I wouldn't be surprised. I always expect the worst of men and them seldom disappointed. It was turning dark as Jack Rhett left Boellan's saloon. Across in the street he walked into his office but continued on out through the back door. A few minutes later he stood in the gather in shadows opposite the whole case table. And what Boellan ride out and drift into the prairie to the south. He knew now what to expect. It would happen soon, perhaps tomorrow.

23:48He returned to his office and slept the night there. I'm in. Well, morning. Rhett, I want you to meet Mary Wayne. Ms. Wayne, very proud. Hi, I wanted to know you. The medium, Mary, not to know him. Rhett lives in a closed world. See that? I have no friends. Where to be married? I'm Thursday, Mr. Rhett. I should like you to be there. It'd be most happy. Thank you. Now, Mary, would you wait outside? I've got some business to discuss with the sheriff. But don't be long. Goodbye, Mr. Rhett. Bye, Ms. Wayne. Rhett, this afternoon I'm leaving to find Todd Mallon. You had your chance, but you let him go. Wait, Traveler. I've tried patience, Rhett, and I'm a poor hand at it.

24:50Traveler, you have a fine girl. If it's not presuming, let me congratulate you compliment her. Thank you. Was that all? I'll take care of Mallon. Give me a little time. It's my job. Rhett, I want to believe you. No man wearing a star should believe anybody. It's a weakness, haven't I told you? Let's, if I quite understand you, Rhett, understand this. Every man has his time. When it comes, he knows it. There's no turning back. Nothing makes any difference, Dan, except to stand up to the finish and go out in decent style. And yet you're the man never believes and give another man a break. Don't try to understand me. You want help with Mallon? I have no faith in help. No! Come and marry. Wait, Traveler. I'll suggest this much.

25:53Take one man. Ride to North to where the cattle trail crosses Tempest Creek. Be there tonight. Understand? Rhett, I'd hate to oppose you. If you did, you'd lose. I've been 15 years at this Traveler, which is five years beyond average luck. That evening, Jack Rhett took up his post on the porch of the Chinaco Hotel, dressed in his best, a hard white shirt, a blood-red winter tie, and a suit of black broadcloth, swelling around the big, uncompromising shoulders. He sat there calm behind the smoke of his cigar, waiting. Pull alone tonight, Jack. That's right. No offense, mind you.

26:55Good evening, Rhett. Hello, Mayor Wayne. Oh, Mayor, have you seen Traveler? Near Old North, this afternoon, back tomorrow, is it? Good. Where's the chair? Here I am. Rhett. Rhett, listen, I just come up South Creek and Todd Mallon and six men were only a quarter mile behind me, heading in the town. All right, friend. Take cover. Yeah, sure. Rhett stood up and moved into the shadow at the end of the hotel porch. Across the street, Mohel appeared in the full blow of the doorway of his saloon. I'm out of that dark and meet your friends, Jack Rhett. What are you afraid of? So in Mallon riding in to see it. Babes fall out of the urge for profits, brings them together again. You should have known it, Rhett. Nothing surprises me.

27:58Oh, there you are, Rhett. The prize to find you exposing your great reputation out there in the middle of the street. Every man has his time. You want to try out Bo Helen? Or will you wait for help? I'll wait. The arriving horses came up into the moonlit street and hauled it at the corner of the saloon. Bo Helen's hand lifted toward the group. And at that order, the horsemen spread out until they were flanked to flank all across the street. Todd Mallon advanced from the line and stopped. Squaring alert above the saddle. Jack Rhett stood alone in the middle of the street. His eyes flash in a hard fury. And it dropped his cigar and ground it beneath the boot. It was a final gesture. Are you, Mallon? Goodbye, gentlemen.

29:01Oh, man! Next day, Red Mesa buried some more men out on the hill and talked of Jack Rhett, who was more of a mystery to them now than when living, to all of them but one, Matt Travner. Nobody knows a killer's world, Mary. Wasn't any room in Jack Rhett for much pity. But he sent me away to save me from what he knew was coming. I think that was a kindness, although I had no fear. It was a fine thing for him to do, Matt. But they say he stood in the middle of the street to face them all in the moonlight. Why? It wasn't his style. As long as he was sure of himself and never gave anybody an even chance, Mary. But killers live and die by instinct. And somewhere along the evening he got the warning.

30:02After that was just a matter of pride. He killed Mallon and Bohelon before he died, standing up and in good style. And that's sort of a greatness, isn't it? What's up, baby? It's Bretski. And I'm here to tell you that SpinQuest.com is giving out free, sweet coins. All you got to do is purchase a $10 coin pack. And guess what? They're going to give you the coins from a $30 coin pack. That lets you play all your favorite games like Blackjack, Wanted Dead or Wild. And we're talking real cash prizes, baby. SpinQuest.com. SpinQuest is a free-to-play social casino. Boydware prohibited. Visit SpinQuest.com for more details. Under the direction of Norman McDonnell escape has brought you wild Jack Rhett by Ernest Heycock,

31:03especially adapted for radio by John Meston. Jack Rhett was played by John Daener with Larry Dubcon as Matt and Lou Krugman as Bohelon. Parley Bear was the narrator. Featured in the cast were Junius Matthews, Russell Simpson, Gene Bates, Paul Dubov and Sam Edwards. The special music for escape was composed and conducted by Ivan Detmarz. Next week, we escape with a story of two small boys who discover the most fabulous Christmas ever dreamed of, as Anthony Ellis tells it in his delightful tale, The Cave. Stay tuned now for Make Believe Town, which follows immediately on most of the same CBS stations. Roy Ron speaking for CBS The Columbia Broadcasting System.

32:18This has been a presentation of OTRWesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate our shows in your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to OTRWesterns.com slash Facebook. Join in the conversation by going to OTRWesterns.com slash discord. And don't forget to send us an email podcast at OTRWesterns.com. This episode's copyright under the attribution not commercial share like copyright. For more information, go to OTRWesterns.com slash copyright. Have a great day and again, thanks for listening. I'm here with SpinQuest, where you can play and win from the comfort of your own home, with hundreds of slot games,

33:26and all of the table games you love with real cash prizes. Right now, $30 coin packs are on sale for $10 for new users. It's all at SpinQuest.com, that's S-P-I-N-H-U-E-S-T dot com. SpinQuest is a free to play social casino. Boydware prohibited. Visit SpinQuest.com for more details. Hi, this is Alex Cantrowitz. I'm the host of Big Technology podcast, a longtime reporter and an on-air contributor to CNBC. And if you're like me, you're trying to figure out how artificial intelligence is changing the business world and our lives. So each week on Big Technology, I bring on key actors from companies building AI tech and outsiders trying to influence it. Asking where this is all going, they come from places like Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and plenty more. So if you want to be smart with your wallet, your career choices, and meetings with your colleagues and at dinner parties, listen to Big Technology podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Josh Spiegel, host of the podcast, Lunatic in the Newsroom.

34:29If you enjoy journalism that drifts into my old panic, wild overthinking, and a guaranteed nervous breakdown, Lunatic in the Newsroom is for you. It's news like you've never heard before, the only newsroom with a panic button. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and gasp and horror as the show spirals completely out of control. It's not just news, it's emotionally unstable. Lunatic in the Newsroom, listen today.