 Remember, a hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best. The piece of hallmark card brings you a true story from the life of Wyatt Earp, on the hallmark hall of fame. This is our distinguished host, Edward Arnold. And welcome to the hallmark hall of fame. Tonight our true story is transcribed from the life of one of America's most fabulous and courageous law enforcement officers. The famous marshal and sheriff of the early west, Wyatt Earp. Now Wyatt Earp was more than a western gunslinger, more than a fast man on the drawer. He was directly responsible, perhaps more than any other person, for bringing law and order to the west. And our story tonight will tell you how it all began. Now, here is Frank Gotz. As the Christmas season approaches, one of the most enjoyable prospects is the sending of hallmark Christmas cards to be chosen with pleasure and mailed with pride. For in hallmark cards of any price, you'll find the inherent quality and craftsmanship you want in your personal greeting to your friends. And the familiar hallmark and crown on the back of the card shows too, that you'll carry enough to send the very best. And now Mr. Arnold brings you our true story from the life of Wyatt Earp, on the hallmark hall of fame. In 1864 his family migrated further west, and young Wyatt became first a stagecoach driver, then part owner of a wagon freight line, next a guide for a government surveying party, and finally in the early 1870s a successful buffalo hunter. One evening in the spring of 1873, Wyatt and his partner Brad Evans returned to their camp where they pegged out the skins from the day's kill to dry. Big fellow, wasn't he? Yeah. Skin like this might bring five dollars. Too bad we ain't got more like him. We've done all right, Brad. Oh, sure. We have. What sure we have. Not as good as last year, though. I've been doing some figurines. We're averaging about four animals a day less this go round. I sure will probably be better. I expect there's ups and downs in buffalo killing like everything else. Well, there won't be at least ways not for me. Huh? Other herds are thinning out, and they're a lot harder to find, too. Next fall most of the hunters will lose money. After that, well, we'll be very long before the animals are as scarce as hen's teeth. Oh, dear Lord, with the buffalo Wyatt, why we've seen him with a thousand. They couldn't just be wiped off the face of the earth no matter what. Well, maybe not, Brad. Maybe not. That's how I see it. Well, if you ain't going to hunt buffalo, what are you going to do? Now you're not going to do nothing foolish like get yourself married and start raising a family. I've been married. Oh, we weren't together very long. It was a... a typhus epidemic. I'm sorry, Wyatt. I just never thought that you don't seem like the marrying type to me. I'm not. Not now, anyhow. You ever think of going back to stage driving or hauling freight? Oh, that was all right when I was a kid before the railroads came through. Now, by the time we sell these skins out, we're going to be worth a couple of thousand dollars. Now there's lots of money being made in cattle these days. Folks driving their herds up in Texas. Then you just take my advice and stay away from them Kansas cattle town, Wyatt. Now, what do you mean? You get mixed up with them cowboys and them wide open birgs and the first thing you know, you'll be using that six gun of yours. Oh, I'm not denying that you're mighty handy with it. But you ain't got the temperament to be a gunfighter. Now, Brad, I got no intention of being a gunfighter. Well, you get to hanging out where they hang out and it'll rub off. Sure as fate, it'll rub off on you. Now, man's got to do something. He's got to go somewhere. He don't have to go to them Kansas cattle town. All right, Brad, since you're so concerned when I go east, I won't wear my guns. I ought to cut down my chances of getting into trouble. Yeah, you will put them on fast enough. Mark my word, Wyatt. You will put them on. A short time later, Wyatt earped drifted into the town of Ellsworth, Kansas. At the time, Ellsworth was one of the northern shipping centers for the Texas cattle herds. And over 150,000 head grazed on nearby prairies while awaiting shipment further east. With the cattle were 1,000 impatient, swaggering gun-bothered cowboys. On the afternoon of August 18th, as Wyatt slowly crossed the plaza, he was met by Ben Thompson, one of the leaders of the Texas contingent. Ben carried a loaded shotgun and with him were some 10 or 12 carmen. Pass them through. You know him, Ben? Yeah. Whether it was all right or not, Ben. I don't know any reason why I should. That's my business, ain't it? Don't tell me what's going on out there. Well, I didn't ask your friend Ben Thompson. Cards with him, but to make him my friend. He said you was. I heard him say so. Well, you didn't hear me say so. You mean you ain't from Texas? California. Well, I might have figured you wasn't no cowboy. Seen as how you was bare-hipped. Sure do apologize for the mistake, Mr. ... My name's Bebe. Ben shot the sheriff. It was Ben's kid brother, Bill. There was an argument over at Brennan Sloone. Thompson's and a fellow they was playing poker with. Sheriff Whitney tried to quiet him, and Bill Thompson cut him down point high-tailed it out of town. Ben took his shotgun to cover him, and he's been standing out there ever since. There and somebody to go after Bill. Well, them fellas out there, they're just looking for an excuse to tree Ellsworth the way they've treed all the action is larger than ever. As you will see when you visit one of the fine stores that features hallmark cards. Seeing this collection is almost like visiting a gallery of religious art. There are hallmark Christmas cards which reproduce world-famous religious paintings, and there are cards designed by modern-day artists who treat the subject of the first Christmas with a freshness and simplicity that's inspiring. The messages too reflect this mood of reverence. There are hallmark cards with a Christmas prayer inside, and a whole series that feature the stirring words of Dr. Norman Vincent Peele. Dr. Peele has written these beautiful and inspiring Christmas messages exclusively for hallmark cards. And you'll find his moving words on each of the 12 Christmas cards contained in the hallmark Dr. Peele box, as well as on individual hallmark Christmas cards. And remember as always, it's hallmark cards when you'll carry enough to send the very best. And now, Edward Arnold brings you the second act of our true story from the life of Wyatt Earp. When Thompson rolled up and down the plaza shouting threats and defying the decent citizens of Elkworth, no one would get attempted to disarm him and his cowboy allies. George Beebe would join by Mayor Jim Miller and Deputy Marshal Happy Jack Marco, a hired Indian fighter and a six-gun expert. I'm not gonna put up with this nonsense any longer, Jack. Now, you go out there and you lay down the law. Why, they'd shoot me down before I got my mouth open. A man would be plumb local to set a foot outside that door. Thompson a little while ago. He didn't bother me. Well, you ain't a Deputy Marshal. Now, that's true. I'm not. Jack, I'm tired of arguing with you. And I'm tired of listening. Do you want to arrest Ben Thompson? Arrest him yourself. Guess I'll have to. You just don't seem to be anybody else to do it. Don't stand in front of the window, Jim. Excuse me, just then. If he don't want it to. Thompson stood up to him, too. Just before you got here, Jim, stood up to him right out there in the street. He wasn't taking much of a risk seeing as how he ain't wearing a gun. I don't see where your gun's been much of, Jack. Now, just give them cowboys a few hours to get some of the devilment out of their bones. And by morning, everything will be peaceful again. Maybe. But that won't stop them from killing your next sheriff any time they got a mind to. How, uh, would you go about stopping him, Erk? And arrest him? Yes, nobody. I'm the Deputy Marshal. Oh, I ain't certain about that. Mr. Second. Shotgunner, you'd throw it down. What about my guns? Wasn't guilty of murder? Sure. One thing, though, thanks for me. Up until now, I didn't know just what I wanted to do for a living, but I'd like the idea of being alone. And mine told me I'd be putting on my guns. I don't think he'd mind this way. Well, everything's going to work out fine. The only thing is, I, uh, I wouldn't care to enforce the law here in Ellsworth. Ma, I don't understand. We'll pay you $100 a month. Well, the salary's all right for a live sheriff, but, uh, you folks seem to figure a dead sheriff's only worth $25. I figure different. And I guess maybe I can find other towns that agree with me. He refused the job of Marshal, but he had chosen his career, and he soon found law enforcement jobs he was willing to accept. Deputy Marshal of Wichita, Kansas, Marshal of Dodge City, Deputy Sheriff of Tombstone, and Deputy United States Marshal. No sheriff of the year has so successfully brought law and order to the towns and states he served. Long after the notorious outlaws, he had outshout or outwitted with forgotten, wired up at the age of 81, died peacefully in his home. But he had left behind a clear road for America, a trail leading west. It is that it's a time of expressing good wishes to all our friends. But there are so many people you like to greet that you may be wondering how you can remember them all, and yet stay within your Christmas budget. Well, Hallmark Cards has the answer for you, for even though Hallmark Cards are always recognized for their high quality, that doesn't mean they need to be expensive. In fact, there's a very attractive selection of Hallmark Cards in boxes, where even the title on the box tells you what a bargain they are, like the Hallmark Big Value Box and the Hallmark Thrifty Box. These contain 25 different Hallmark Cards and cost only $1 a box. There are also others which have 25 Christmas Cards all with the same design, and they too are only $1 for the box of 25. So you see, by sending Hallmark Cards, it's really easy to give all your friends the compliment of showing you carry enough to send the very best. Now, here's Edward Arnold. Yes, Frank, those Hallmark box selections and all the other Hallmark Christmas Cards surely do make it easy for everyone to send greetings to all of their friends at this season of the year. Well, tonight we told a dramatic moment in the history of the Old West. Incidentally, Wyatt Earp was played by William Conrad, who stars in the famous radio series Gunsmoke as Matt Dillon. Next week we travel to England and to the 18th century on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. It'll be a true story from the life of one of England's greatest actresses, Sarah Sitton, and our star will be the charming and brilliant Miss Helen Hayes. And the following week is another special event, I believe. That's right, Frank. On November 19th, we will be proud to bring, just as he performed it on the Hallmark Hall of Fame, Lionel Barramore in his famous portrayal of Scrooge in Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol. We are indeed honored to help continue this beloved Christmas tradition. This is Edward Arnold saying good night until next week. Won't you join us then? We're selected to give you expert and friendly service. It's a great card when you carry enough to send the very best. The Hallmark Hall of Fame is produced and directed by William Pruth. Tonight's transcript is by Frank Burt. Inputted in our cast were Polly Bear, Herb Bygren, Lawrence Dubkin, Harry Bartell, Joseph Kerns, Paul Dubov, and Paul Freese. William Conrad has heard every Saturday on Gunsmoke over CDS radio. Brought to you by Ellen M. Piller Cigarettes. This is Frank Goss saying good night to you until next week at the same time. When you'll hear a true story from the life of Sarah Syden, starring Miss Helen Hayes on the Hallmark Hall of Fame.