 The challenge of the Yukon It's you can't Strongest lead dog of the Northwest Blazing the trail for Sergeant Preston of the Northwest mounted police in his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers Gold gold discovered in the Yukon a stampede to the Klondike in the wild race for riches Back to the days of the gold rush with Sergeant Preston and his wonder dog Yukon King as they meet the challenge of the Yukon The Northern Lights Cafe in Dawson City was crowded with its usual motley array of customers bearded prospectors and trappers rub shoulders with eager gold rushers newly arrived in the territory Among the men lined up at the bar was a big broad-shouldered young miner named Ed Russell a friend standing next to him was saying That claim of yours pan it out. I hear you struck it pretty rich. I sure did Sam. My claim is really loaded But it looks like I may have to sell out. Well, how come my little boy's not very well climate doesn't seem to agree with him Doctor told us we ought to take him back to the States. That's too bad. I'm sorry to hear trouble is I can't get a decent price for my claim how much you're asking for I don't aim to take less than ten thousand dollars for But so far the best offer I've had is only five thousand Ten thousand is a pretty steep price. It's worth all of that and probably a lot more I'm telling you Sam. I wouldn't be surprised with what that claim is good for Two men seated at a nearby table it overheard the conversation between Ed and Sam One of them not the other a max you hear what that young guy was saying just now Yeah, he's got a rich claim and he wants to sell out. He's asking ten thousand bucks for it Well, we can afford to pay him ten grand or even fifty grand if necessary This counterfeit money ain't doing there's no good in our pockets just what I was thinking Why don't we have a little talk with him? Good idea. All right, you stay here. I'll bring him over to the table I May have to do it Tommy's health is worth a lot more to me than the price of my claim excuse me mister But I'd like to introduce myself My name is Art. Lusk. Glad to know you. I'm Ed Russell. I happened to overhear what you were saying about selling your claim My partner and I would like to talk business with you. You mean you're interested in buying me out. That's right How about coming over to our table and talking it over my shirt? Where's your partner right over there? At ball headed gents sitting by himself. Okay. Excuse me a minute. What do you say sure sure go right here? Well, here we are. Oh, and I'd like to have you meet my partner max Delmar max. This is Ed Russell. Well, howdy young fella pull up a chair. Thanks. I Understand you've got a rich claim and you want to sell out. That's right But I don't know whether you can meet my price. I'm asking ten thousand for now Don't you worry about that if your claims worth it? We'll pay you ten grand for it in can't absolutely Cash on the barrel in that case. I don't see why we can't make a deal. Where's your claim located? It's ten below discovery on Cy wash Creek. All right. I'll tell you what Suppose we come out to your place tomorrow morning. We look to claim over if it's as rich as you say it is We'll come back here to Dawson draw up a contract and close the day fair enough, mr. Let's shake on that That evening when Ed Russell returned to his cabin on Cy wash Creek His wife was just setting the table for supper. Hi, honey Mmm smells mighty good to house Tommy His coughs almost gone he's sleeping now. Oh, that's good He shakes off this cold. Let's hope he can stay well for a while. I just dread going through another winter up here Tommy needs a good long spell in a warm climate in order to build up his resistance. Well Looks as though he won't have to spend another winter up here. What do you mean? I found a buyer for the claim Did you really I should say two buyers to be exact their names are Max Del Mar and Art Luss They're coming out tomorrow morning to look the claim over and if everything's satisfactory We'll go back to town and close the deal. I can hardly wait Just think in another week. We may be on our way back home to the state with ten thousand dollars in our pockets Enough to live comfortably for a change and give us a real start in life Yeah, honey, I guess we have a lot to be thankful for The following morning in Dawson City, Sergeant Preston was called into the office of Inspector Conrad You wanted to see me inspector. Yes, I just had word from the United States Treasury Department The two American counterfeiters may be hiding out here in the territory. Why are they sir? Their names are Max Del Mar and Arthur Lusk. We have descriptions of them But no photographs. There's any counterfeit money turned up in the territory. No, it's that Sergeant Del Mar and Lusk Were members of a counterfeiting ring that was broken up in the States a few months ago They were the only ones who escaped. Well, how do the American authorities trace them up here? Well, it's known that they boarded a ship in Seattle that was bound for Skagway That means there's a good chance that they were heading for the Yukon territory They have any counterfeit money in their possession? Yes, sergeant according to the members of the ring who were captured Del Mar and Lusk were carrying nearly a hundred thousand dollars in counterfeit currency Probably think it'll be easy to pass up here in the Yukon the Treasury Department sent along an exact description of the counterfeit Bills. I want you to circulate this information to all the banks and business houses in Dawson. Very well, sir I'll get busy right away. Here's the full report sergeant. You can study it for yourself Let me know as soon as you get any leads. Right Inspector. Come on. Oh That afternoon Ed Russell came to Dawson and signed the deed of sale which transferred ownership of the claim to the two crooks By the way, do you mind if we take a day or so to clear out of the cabin? Take a little while to get ready for the trip back to the States. Not at all Not at all. Take two or three days if you like. Thanks. That's mighty nice of you. Well, I'd better be going I guess so long. So long and good luck to you Yeah, so long sucker. I hope he don't take too long clearing out of the territory Max you think there's any danger of those bills being spotted as phony. Not a chance Took the Secret Service a year to get wise to us back in the States up here in the Yukon They'll never be able to tell these bills from the real thing. I guess you're right Look, we'll buy up some more claims sell them off as fast as we can in a couple of months. We can make ourselves a fortune After leaving the hotel Ed went to the Yukon Territorial Bank to deposit the ten thousand dollars How much you got there Ed? Ten thousand dollars. I suppose you want to count it out. That's right Not that I don't trust you Say wait a minute. What's the matter with this money's counterfeit Ed? Well, counterfeit. Are you sure? I'm positive Sergeant Preston came around to the bank just this morning and warned us to be on the lookout for bills like these. Why those dirty skunks? They were trying to swindle me. Who was it gave you the money? A couple of smooth gents named Max Del Mar and Art Lusk I just made over my claim to them. They've got the deed of sale all signed and witnessed Yeah, we better report this counterfeit money to the Mounties right away Ed. Don't worry I'll report the whole thing to the Mounties But first I'm going over to the Palace Hotel and get back that deed of sale And while I'm there I'm going to give Del Mar and Lusk something to remember me by Boiling with rage over the way the two crooks had tried to swindle him Ed Russell hurried back to the Palace Hotel Without bothering to knock he burst into their room. Hey, what's the idea? What do you think you dirty skunks? I just found out that money you paid me was counterfeit Oh, you did huh and Just how did you find that out the bank teller spotted it? That's how Now hurry up and hand over that deed of sale you swindled me into signing Suppose we give you back that deed of sale what do you intend to do? Look if you keep your mouth shut and I go squawking to the police we might be willing to make a deal with you Don't try to bribe me Del Mar Soon as I get that deed of sale I'm going to give you and your partner a little going over just for good measure And then I'm going to report those counterfeit bills to the Mounties Yeah, that's my attitude In that case you're not leaving as much choice. What get your hands up Russell gun. Yeah, it's a gun all right Let's load it to you let out a yell for helping out blast you the king come Now turn around what are you going to do turn around and find out that's better I'll show you what I'm going to do You lay them out cold max Yeah, there's no telling how long you'll stay that way Better rip up the bed sheets time up and gag him good idea a few minutes later The two crooks finished tying and gagging the unconscious man. I don't hold them Now what are we gonna do max? I don't know. I don't know we're in a bad spot Looks like we better pull our freight for the Mounties get on our trail trouble is we need dough We got plenty of counterfeit fat a lot of good that'll do us once the Mounties get wise to us They'll spread the word all over the territory to be on the lookout for phony bills. Yeah, I guess you're right Hey, I got an idea. Let's hear it We still got the deed of sale given his ownership of Russell's claim If we can sell the claim in a hurry we can pick ourselves up a few thousand bucks and then make our getaway It'll take time to find a buyer. Maybe not they got mine brokers up here that make a business of buying and selling claims We can go to one of them and take any price. You'll give us Yeah, I guess that's better than nothing. Come on. Let's go. All right Later that afternoon the bank teller from the Yukon territorial bank came to Mounted Police headquarters He found Sergeant Preston seated in the office with the great dog Yukon King curled up beside his desk No, hello Frank. Hello Sergeant. Is Ed Russell been here yet? Not that I know of I just came in a few minutes ago Why well he showed up at the bank and our saw go with ten thousand dollars in counterfeit bills in that case I'm sure he hasn't been in the constable on duty would have notified me Well, the bills were the kind you warned us to watch out for it. I'd tell you where he got them Yes, he sold his claim the ten thousand dollars was the money. He got paid for it strange. He hasn't come around the headquarters He say where he was going when he left the bank Well, I told him to report to you right away, but he was pretty mad He said first he was going to get back the deed of sale from the men He sold the claim to and give them something to remember him by no wonder he hasn't shown up. You mean Maybe something's happened to him the counterfeiters who gave him that money or wanted criminals They might kill to keep from getting caught great Scott. I I never thought of that I should have come here before but I assumed that Ed would report the matter to you No need to blame yourself. I did a very foolish thing I don't suppose he gave you any information about the man who gave him the money Well as a matter of fact, he did he said the names were Let me see. Oh, yes at Del Mar and Lusk likes Del Mar and Arthur Lusk The counterfeiters all right. Yeah, he said he was going to see them at the palace hotel I guess that's where they're staying and better go over there right away Well, let me go with you sergeant if anything's happened Ed. I feel partly responsible. I want to find out if he's all right All right, we look at my pocket When Sergeant Preston arrived at the palace hotel He found out from the desk clerk that Del Mar and Lusk had left the hotel about an hour ago But hadn't checked out the sergeant obtained a passkey from the clerk and went up to their room to investigate Well, here's their room right here sergeant. Yes, the desk clerk said it was 2 13 Holy mackerel late said it is all tied up. Take it easy and I'll soon get this guy go. Yep. There you go Thanks sergeant. Thanks a lot Kagan's down here suffocating me. Thank goodness. You're still alive. We were halfway expecting to find you dead I'll cut through this stuff. They tied you up with how did you happen to come here? And I told the sergeant about that counterfeit money you got for your claim and he suspected right away You might have gotten in trouble luckily Frank remember you were going to the palace hotel Otherwise you might have been up here for a good long time there. Thanks. I sure feels good to get loose again I guess it was pretty dumb of me coming here by myself instead of going straight to you sergeant It's never smart to take the law into your own hands ed dealing with criminals is the job of the police I sure found that out what happened Well, I came here and got tough with them and tried to get back the deed of sale I'd signed and Delmar pulled a gun on me. He knocked me out in that case I don't suppose you know where they've gone. I do know where they went sergeant You see I came to again while they were tying me up, but they didn't know it because I pretended I was still unconscious. I heard them talking to each other what they say well They figured they'd make a getaway fast, but apparently they didn't have much money Except for the counterfeit bills they were carrying so so they decided to take the deed of sale I signed and go sell the claim to a mind broker for any price I could get I didn't say which mind broker no I guess they were just going to stop in the first office. They came to there There's a dozen or more mind brokers offices along front street. I'll try them all if necessary You feel well enough to come with me. I'm sure I feel okay except for this lump on my head. All right in here Ready, let's go come along king The first mind brokers office which sergeant Preston and Ed Russell came to was operated by a man named Arnold Brewster As the sergeant and Ed entered the office. They were greeted by Brewster's clerk Hello, Dave mr. Brewster in no he isn't I'm afraid he won't be back till this evening. I help you Well, perhaps we're looking for two men who were trying to sell a claim on Cy wash Creek You know if they came in here by their names Max Delmore and the art less those are the men all right They sure did come in here In fact, that's where mr. Brewster's gone. He went out to Cy wash Creek with him to inspect the client Thanks, Dave. That's all we wanted to know. Come on Ed. We'll get our teams and go after them It was more than an hour later that the two crooks arrived at the claim on Cy wash Creek The mind broker Arnold Brewster was with them You better go up to the cabinet let mrs. Russell know we're here Yeah, we'll borrow some digging tools from her so mr. Brewster here can inspect the claim Well, oh there sonny I suppose you're Ed Russell's little boy, aren't you yes, I'm Tommy Russell your mother home sure come on in Thank you. Hello there. Howdy mrs. Russell. I'm sorry to disturb you. Oh, you're not disturbing me This is our day for visitors. I guess Mr. Dunlap here arrived just before you did mr. Dunlap. Yes, I'd like to have you meet him Oh, mr. Dunlap. This is mr. Delmar and his partner mr. Glad to know you homework Dunlap's a name. I represent the ace mining company Well, I guess we've got some introducing to do ourselves this gent. We brought with us is mr. Arnold Brewster He's a mind broker from Dawson City Didn't my husband come back from town with you why uh, no no he didn't mrs. Russell I I guess he wanted to deposit the money in the bank and do some shopping or something You'll probably be along anytime now. I see you close the deal for the claim I take it. Yeah, that's right Then I guess you're out of luck mr. Dunlap. Oh, what do you mean? I came here prepared to make the Russell's an offer for the claim on behalf of the ace mining company But now that you and mr. Lusk bought the claim naturally you won't be interested in selling. Oh is a matter of fact We are interested in selling it you are yes Yes, you see right after we closed the deal with your husband We we got an urgent letter from the states that makes it necessary for us to leave the Yukon territory Well, that's why we brought mr. Brewster out here so he could look over the claim Well, that's fine if you and your partner are interested in selling the claim I'll make you an offer right now. No wait a minute done that I didn't make this trip out from town just for my health I'm here to bid on the claim to well We'll be glad to hear offers from both of you that right Max. Absolutely. I have no intention of engaging in any competitive bidding I'm here to make you a fair offer and you can take it or leave it all right, sir Now just what do you consider a fair offer? Well, I understand for mrs. Russell it's you would have pay her husband 10,000 for the claim I'll top that with an offer of 11,000 Leaving you a clear profit of $1,000. How about you Bruce? 11,500 see here Brewster. You've got no business making an offer like that You haven't even examined the claim if you offer 11,000. I automatically figure it's worth at least 500 more than that Very well, I'll raise my offer to 12,000 Now do you want to top that? Reckon before I go any higher, I'd better take a look at the claim Can you two gentlemen wait till then to hear my final offer? Why sure if you don't take too long Art, suppose you take mr. Brewster out and show him the diggings. I'll stay here with mr. Dunlap I guess mrs. Russell won't mind if you borrow her husband's tools. Oh, of course not. They're out back in the woodshed When art loss can Brewster return to the cabin after inspecting the claim Homer Dunlap. I'd the mind broker suspiciously Well, what's the verdict before I commit myself? I'd like to know if that 12,000 represents Dunlap's final offer. That's none of your business. Go ahead and make your own offer. Very well 12,500 13,000 13,500 Brewster, I'd like to ring your neck. I know what you're up to I was looking out the window and I saw you take that walk down the creek What's he talking about art? Search me while I was thawing out the gravel Brewster took a stroll and talked to the miner and the Next claim down the creek never mind that Well done lap. Are you gonna top my offer? Aren't you yes? I am I'll go 14,000. Oh look here you two Dunlap is merely an agent for the ace mining company. There's no telling whether or not they'll back up his offer I'm speaking for myself, and I'm offering you 15,000 what's more I'll sign a contract with you right here now if you're smart you'll take my offer sounds pretty good to me How about it Max? Yeah? Yeah, maybe Brewster's talking sense now. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I'm carrying $20,000 of my wallet right now That's the absolute limit that I'm empowered to offer you take it or leave it You want to go any higher Brewster? No, no, I reckon you'll have to count me out confounded pirate All right then done lab. Let's see the color your money We'll make over the claim to you right now after the two crooks had produced the deed of sale and signed over the claim to the ace mining company Homer Dunlap counted out the money. There you are $20,000. Thank you Maybe now you won't mind telling us why Brewster took that walk down the creek The fact is the ace mining company is buying up claims all along the creek in order to start large-scale mining operations Brewster evidently found that out and Figured if he could get hold of your claim he could resell to us for a quick profit. Well, all's well the names well That's what I always say All right, I guess you and me better be on our way. Yeah, let's go What someone's coming maybe that's Ed now getting back from town It is and there's a money with what's that Now see here what's the meaning of this shut up and start reaching before a plug all you get over there line up against a wall Go on get moving Are you keeping covered? I'll handle them out right Reach pull it better watch that dog ears Mountie one false move now pull it in his head Thank you Elmar, I advise you to put that gun down You're in trouble enough without adding any more violence to your record. Oh, make me laugh Unbuckle that gun belly yours and throw it on the ground and if I refuse you better not refuse My partner is holding a gun on four people inside this cabin including Russell's wife and kid You try any funny stuff and they'll both get plugged All right For the moment you have the upper hand that warn you you're making a bad mistake. You let me worry about that Yeah, what do you want? We can lock them in there while we make our getaway good idea I'll hurt these two guys back there. You follow up with the rest of them, right a Few moments later the prisoners had been herded into the woodshed and the crooks prepared to shut them in Remember we got guns and you guys haven't so don't try busting out before we make our getaway We'll spray you with lead The door be locked in The prisoners waited for several moments intense silence until they heard the muffled barking of huskies as the crooks prepared to drive away Then the sergeant put his shoulder against the door and he'd with all his strength But the door refused to give again the sergeant tried this time drawing back several paces and hurling himself against the door as hard as possible Still without success here. Let me try it with you surgeon. Maybe the two of us can all right together now Again and again the two men hurl their weight against the door But although the wood splintered slightly the door still refused to give finally had said it's no use Sergeant had two by four the doors barred with his two strong left to chop our way out must have an accent here somewhere Haven't yeah, that's right. I was forgetting all about that. It's right back here in the corner Added to me in here you are thanks. I'll let you people stand back, please The door was built of thick planks But finally the sergeant chopped a hole through which he could put it out does it always through and unbothered or if me outside as The prisoners rushed out of the shed and ran around to the front of the cabin They were greeted by the sight of huskies trailing lengths of harness snarling and fighting among themselves They've got the traces on our sleds. I have an extra harness inside the cabin sergeant. I'll go get it Hey, look here sergeant you kindly explaining me what this is all about. I just made a deal with those two crooks for $20,000 kind of a deal are you talking about what this claim from them? I'm afraid you paid the money to the wrong party What do you mean? They bought the claim from Ed Russell with counterfeit money, so the data sale wasn't valid the claim still belongs to Ed Thanks, Ed you're hitching up your team. I'm going over to Joe Carter's cabin and borrow another harness What for I can go with you better not it is going to be gunplay. No use arguing with me sergeant You may need help handling those credit precious time was lost before the two teams were hitched up But finally the sergeant and Ed were ready to stop may not to clear enough trail to follow Yes, they're heading north if we cut over the hills is a chance. We cannot accept them Don't worry about me, honey, I'll be all right. Tommy you take care of your mother till I get back All right, sergeant. Let's go For nearly two hours the sergeant and Ed urged their teams forward at desperate pace in pursuit of the crooks Night had fallen and the sky was brilliant for the full moon and the flashing northern lights when they finally topped the crest of a steep hill and Sighted their quarry driving along the trail in the valley far below. There they go Ed hunting With their sleds traveling at breakneck speed the sergeant and Ed literally hurled down the hillside the crooks for driving separate teams Heartlust was in the rear. He turned and began firing wildly at the sergeant Knowing the range was too great. The sergeant didn't bother to reply with his carbine Finally the crooks it's shot for used up and the hammer clicked on an empty chamber with a curse He flung the now useless gun down on his sled as the sergeant drew closer He shouted to last up for the name of the clown instead of stopping lusk urged on his team to greater effort The sergeant could have shot him But it was against his nature and against the principles of the force as they closed in King raced ahead Intending to drag the crook from his sled, but the sergeant shouting okay I'll take him up a head boy and stop that of the team Instinctively the great dog understood his master's command and raced forward in pursuit of the leading crook A few moments later the sergeant drew a breast of our plus he shouted to the team At the same time he leaped at the crook knocking him from his sled But crook fought with desperate fury kicking and punching like a madman as they struggled on the ground But the sergeant who was driven by desperation for King's sake He had to finish the fight quickly at that moment Ed Russell arrived on the scene What's he mad I'm going after the other one the sergeant raced toward his team which had hauled it several yards away He jumped on the sled runners and cracked the whip By now Delmar was far down the trail the Mounties team strained forward to their master's command Bit by bit they closed the gap between the sergeant and his quarry Meanwhile King and nearly overtaken the crook at the sound of his snarrow Delmar drew his gun and turned to take aim at the great dog with lightning speed the sergeant grabbed up his carbine and fired With a scream of pain Delmar clutched his arm and toppled from his sled as he hit the ground He tried to grab up his gun with his left hand But King stopped him with a vicious slash of his fangs The great dog was still standing over him menacingly when sergeant Preston reached the scene Good work King Certainly as soon as I pick up your gun. All right, King. I have it boy. Let him up now On your feet Delmar you and your partner are under arrest in the name of the crown Homer Dunlap was waiting at the cabin with mrs. Russell and tommy when sergeant Preston and Ed returned with the two prisoners late that night Honey, I told you not to worry All right, all right Surgeon did you get back my 20,000 I haven't searched them yet, but they probably have the money with them Don't worry. It's right here in my pocket You mean they stole 20,000. Oh, I forgot to tell you and This man bought your claim from Delmar and lusk paid 20,000 for it. Well, but of course the deal wasn't valid 20,000 that's right. I represent the ace mining company If you're willing to sell the claim, I'll pay you the same price for it. Am I willy? Holy mackerel, honey. We're rich Well king, oh boy, that seems to take care of everything this case is full We now take you to northwest mounted police headquarters in Dawson Is that for me inspector? Yes sergeant There's been an outbreak of fur robberies all over the territory Two trappers have been shot to death. It looks as though the same gang is responsible for all of the crimes I must have some way of disposing of the stolen furs I suggest we check on all the fur trading companies, sir The case is in your hand sergeant. I want that gang broken up and the criminal is brought to justice. Right, sir Come on gang. We have a big job ahead of us Yes, the sergeant is taking on a big and dangerous assignment He's up against a well organized gang of fur thieves operating on a large scale Somewhere in the background. There must be a master criminal planning every move And the next move may be death for sergeant Preston Be sure to listen to this next exciting adventure the branded pelts These radio dramas a feature of the challenge of the uconn incorporated are created by george w trendle Produced by trendle Campbell enterprises Supervised by charles d. Livingston and edited by fran striker The part of sergeant Preston is played by paul Sutton They are brought to you once each week until september when we shall resume our regular monday wednesday and friday broadcast This is j. Michael wishing you goodbye and good luck until our next broadcast This is the mutual broadcasting system