 The challenge of the Yukon It's king swiftest and strongest lead dog of the north country Blazing the trail for sergeant Preston of the Northwest Monopolis in his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers Gold discovered in the Yukon a stampede to the Klondike in the greedy race for riches Back to the days of the gold rush when sergeant Preston and his wonder dog king Battled through storm and snow to preserve law and order as they met the challenge of the Yukon As the Balanza Bell chugged up the Yukon River toward Dawson City Three men sat at a table in the cabin playing poker Chris Rourke a dark heavy set man grin broadly as he wrapped in a stack of chips I Looked as if this is my lucky night. Oh, you're too good for me, Chris If I want to have anything left for a grub steak, I'd better quit don't quit yet Charlie his luck can last all just about hairs Gosh, I didn't realize how late it was I can't get used to daylight at this time of night up here in the north country I'd better get to bed. Oh no come on Charlie. Try one more hand anyway. No I can't lose any more money Anyway, I have to walk my dog around the deck before I go to bed. You've been shutting the cabin too long I hate dogs. I don't see why you'd be bothered bringing a red setter up here If you ever saw him hunt you wouldn't ask that all dogs a good force pulling a sled They won't do that unless you feed him over the head Guess I'd better leave before we get into an argument about dogs. I like them too. Well, good night boys Hey Well You're not quitting yet. Are you Sam? I gotta win back some of the money Deal him Chris luck can last forever Two days later the bonanza bell was nearing Dawson City and many of the passengers stood on deck ready to leave the boat when she docked Sam and Chris stood together at the rail Well, Sam there it is Dawson yeah, I'd be happier about seeing it if I hadn't met you on the boat That's too bad. I want all your money, but you must have learned a few tricks about playing poker. You're an expensive teacher. I Don't know what I'm gonna tell a Yeah, he's my partner back in the States He came up here first to get things lined up while I sold the business wheel Half that money I lost really belonged to him Who were planning on that money to grub stickers? Well, I don't blame it when I wanted to face it Say is he own half that diamond pin you showed me? No, that's my Sold it to me. You'd have been able to win back someone had money. Yeah, I'd have lost that too See maybe I can still sell it to you. I was thinking about it last night Well, I'll buy it from you, but that won't be enough money to grub stay here on your partner. Yeah, I know Just can't face a but nothing tell you what I'll do Sam I'll give you up money to grub state here if you give me that diamond pin and Guarantee a quarter interest in your claim if you and age you try gold. I hate to give up that pin, but Guess there's nothing else to do. It's a deal and yeah, she got it. Sure Chris. It's a deal Charlie McNeil that red-setter doggy here Charlie doesn't like me very well I don't like dogs and he didn't like having me take some of his money away from him when he played cards with us the other night You ready to leave the boat Charlie? Yes, the rest of here is more than ready. I will both be glad to get on dry land. Won't we boy? Maybe you'll be able to play a better game of poker on dry land. I'll take you on sometime Chris Never I strike gold and get some capital. I'm gonna get back every cent I lost And it takes somebody smarter than you I'm afraid Anyway, you won't be able to spare the time from playing nursemaid who had lap dog These huskies up here lead him for breakfast if you don't watch him You wouldn't know a good dog if you saw one, but I sure know a good poker hand when I see one and that pays off Maybe it'll be a different story the next time we play we won't be playing with your cards But why you little punk are you insinuating? Why you Come on get your bag. We're gonna die. I want to wipe up the deck with him. Don't be a sore head He was only kidding you you'll get even the next time you play cards. Yeah I'll really take it the next time Waiting for me on the dock Sure hate to tell him the bad news a few hours later Sam squirmed uncomfortably as he faced his partner Abe in the hotel room in Dawson What's wrong with you Sam? You're acting funny. I might as well tell you and get it over with Abe. I Know what I Lost all our money what? How well I I got in a little game on the boat gambling again. I should have known it I had to take it right out of your sneak and how I wait a minute everything's gonna be all right all right Half that money was mine. You didn't have any right to touch it. I know but Chris walk promised a grub steak with our own money Rockers a crooked gambler. I've heard about him on the boats. I didn't think he cheated half that money was mine You didn't have any right to gamble with now wait. I tell you you'll get your share of our claim if we find gold He'll own half our claim of the grub states it. That's a rule, but I gave him a penny old a big diamond in it You grub stakers for a quarter of our claim and I suppose you want to split the other three quarters with me No, Abe. I'll give you the other half. I'll just keep a quarter of it Please don't be mad Abe. I haven't raised a how you wouldn't have told me about the damn it pins sure I would This way you'll come out all right Sure hate making any deal with roark. He's crooked That matters for you Well, if I remember some of our little deals back in a state, you're not exactly a model of virtue Since when did you get so righteous? I know enough about you to put you in jail for a long long time You're tied in with all of it Well, I suppose there's nothing we can do We'll have to let him grub stakers Maybe we'll find a way out of it. Huh? If I know you Abe, it's Chris that it better watch out. You're too yellow to do anything about it yourself All right, let him grub stakers, but if we find gold in the strike is a big one Well, we'll have plenty of time to plan that I guess It was a few weeks later that sergeant Preston of the northwest mounted police was riding the trail torque Dawson on horseback Oh As he rounded the bend he drew his horse up sharply when he saw a red setter on point in the middle of the trail ahead Oh, hold her easy fella. We don't spoil this steady boy Good shot. You got two of them. Thanks for stopping Come on fella. Oh He's a beautiful dog. Well, I saw him in time Rusty wouldn't have broken that point if you jumped over him. He's one of the hunting us dogs. You've ever seen I'm Bill Preston don't believe I've seen you before I've just been here a few weeks I'm Charlie McNeil glad to know you sir. I didn't know you. Oh, here comes your dog with a bird Good work, Rusty I'll fetch the other one boy. He was certainly careful with it. Oh, he can carry an egg without breaking it Now I've trained him myself. Maybe you'll take me hunting with you some time. I'd like to watch him work I'd be glad to sergeant. He has the keenest nose you ever saw in your life. Here he comes with the other birds Good work, Rusty Come here fella. Let's have a look at you You're a beauty. He likes your surgeon Rusty's more or less of a one-man dog He doesn't usually make friends that easily. He knows I like dogs. Don't you fella? I have one of my own I'd like to have you see Charlie usually have him with me, but cut his foot the other day and I made him stay home Is he a sled dog? He's my lead dog when I use my dog team in the winter Summertime he runs along with me when I'm a horseback. I'd like to see him. Well, uh, why don't you drop in the barracks tonight? You're busy. No, I'm not. I'd like to do that Do you think your dog and mine will fight? King Mines? Well, I can see through Rusty does too. No, I'll bring him with you Thanks, Sergeant. We'll see you later. It'll be fine, Charlie. I'll look for you this evening. Come on boy. Good luck It was thus that a strong friendship began with the Monty and Charlie McNeil Through the following months They spent many evenings together in Charlie's cabin at the edge of town and hunted together when Sergeant Preston was off-duty Winter had almost arrived when Charlie made his first gold strike He was looking for Preston to tell him the good news when a voice hailed him on the street Or Sam How are you fine? Just got to town. Well, Charlie. This is my partner. Abe Willis I'm glad to know you even I made a strike on the client. I'm just about to celebrate How about joining us? That's funny. I just filed a good play myself. Sure. I'll celebrate. Oh, no This is something come on into the gold-legged cafe. I'm eating Chris Rourke there Chris Rourke. Oh, I know you didn't like him when you met him on the boat thing. You can forget that for a while Yeah, I don't like him either But he happens to own part of our claim. He does But he's been in town all the time. Nob will use it. No, but he grubs take this So he owns an interest. I don't blame Abe for being bitter about it See Charlie coming up on the boat. I lost all our money playing poker with Chris I lost some of mine too, but I knew when to quit. Here we are There's Chris at the bar. Come on About time you two are getting here. Chris, you remember Charlie McNeil? Oh, sure. Sure. How are you Charlie? Fine. Thanks Charlie just made a strike, too. So I brought him along to celebrate. Well, well, you struck it rich, too, huh? You remember what you said on the boat as soon as you struck gold You're going to get back the money I won from you. I remember Chris And I meant every word of it. Well, no time like the present. How about a little game tonight? It suits me Shall we play here at the gold nugget? Sure. Sure. We'll all be here at eight. I'm not playing poker with you, Chris It's all right. Hey, we'll let you watch that won't be a bad idea. I Will watch Carefully. What are you insinuating? I'll cut it out you two. We came here to celebrate. Hey bartender How about a little service? Hey, where's that red poochie yours Charlie? Did a slut dog eat him like I said? You'll see him tonight, Chris You'll be with me. What do you have boys? Well, name your poison. First one's on me Later that night on the gold nugget fair Charlie Chris and Sam would play poker at a table in the corner While Abe watched the game Charlie's Irish setter Rusty lay quietly at his master's feet. I'll see you. The dog's tail thumped as he heard Charlie's laugh I got your beat Chris. Oh, well, I said I do it and I have I've won back every cent. I lost you on the boat Well, the night ain't over yet Well, you had time for me to get it back your luck wasn't as good tonight as it was on the bonanza bell, Chris Maybe it's because I've been watching them kind of close. Yes. What do you mean by that Abe? They get easy crab was only fooling. Can't you take a joke? You better not try any more jokes. Oh And Charlie deal now Chris I'm through What? You mean you're quick now. I did what I said I was going to do I want my money back from you now. I'm leaving but you can't quit when you're ahead not a head I broke even with and that's all I intend to do Come on, Rusty. We're going now. I'll show you. Yeah, Chris. You've had too much to drink. Hey sure has Yellow am I? Well, if you want to come outside right now, I'll show you who's yellow. I don't have to go outside right here I'll get that curr out of my way Don't you kick that dog? Oh now you're asking for to settle this right? All right, but it boys. Here comes a money Kick my dog and I'm gonna beat him for it. You and who else I ain't afraid of you or that main g curry I'll show you really stopping No fighting in here. You'd better leave well If you say so sergeant for you lucky for you that sergeant Preston arrived in time to save you beating I'll be over to see you in the morning, Chris We'll settle this then how many time you lie. I think it's time you left here too, Chris You've had too much to drink. Come on Charlie. I'll walk home with him. All right, Sergeant Come on, Rusty. Yeah, the money's right Let's get back to Chris's cabin. I Have another drink Abe's right Chris. Let's go to your cabin Well, you two have a nightcap with me there if we go back now sure sure we will Have another Sam. No, I know more Chris. Even I'd better get back to the hotel. I'm sleepy. Yes, oh my well If you don't have one I will Hey, what are you trying to do drawing yourselves because you lost most of your money tonight? He doesn't have to worry about that That's what he owns part of our gold Clim. You're pretty mad about that ain't she Abe? Well, I'm not exactly broke Anyway, I still have that ace in the hole that Sam gave me Have another Sam. No, I know more Chris. Even I better get back to the hotel. I'm sleepy. Yes, oh my well, if you don't have one I will say what are you trying to do drawing yourselves because you lost most of your money tonight. He doesn't have to worry about that That's what he owns part of our gold Clim. You're pretty mad about that ain't she Abe? Well, I'm not exactly broke Anyway, I still have that ace in the hole that Sam gave me you what that diamond pin I hope you didn't tell a lot of people about it Sam wouldn't be hard to steal Nobody knows I didn't tell anyone but Abe and he's never seen it. Let me show it to you You got it hidden in the fireplace. Yeah behind this stone here. It is Let me see it. Just a second. Why don't I open the box there? Ain't that a beautiful diamond Go Sam You mean you'll get in that diamond in a quarter inch of snark clean just for grubs taking this Well, I was kind of desperate. I didn't know you're a fool Well bargains are bargain So you see I don't have to worry about losing that money tonight Well this diamond and the gold I get from your claim I can afford to lose a little money now The following morning Chris was late getting up and he wasn't a bad mood from his excesses the night before He was expecting Sam and Abe and when a knock disturbed his breakfast. He didn't get up to open the door Well, come in come in roll out the door down morning Chris What are you doing here Charlie? We're interrupted last night You haven't forgotten have you know I haven't forgotten a thing I ain't taking anything back not even what you said about my being yellow. No I See you didn't bring that curry yours back with you today. It's a good thing. You didn't he'd have got another kick in the teeth You still have something coming for that Yeah Well, how about this? Why you all show you? No, you don't That's the last time you'll do that Oh Here's one for rustic Then another All right, get up if you can I just gave Chris the beating I promised him last night You sure knocked him out. He's colder in the mackerel good You can take care of him. I'm leaving your face is all cut up. You want me to help you? I can take care of myself You sure gave Christian off a beaten. Yeah, he isn't conscious yet It's good for him He had more net coming to him A short time later Sergeant Preston was walking along the main street of Dawson when he heard someone shouting his name Hello, Sam, what's wrong? I was just going to the police first to get you Huh, what's the matter even I went over to see Chris this morning when we got there Chris and Charlie McNeill We're having a terrible fight Charlie McNeill. Yeah, when we got there Charlie had not Chris out and he was leaving Abe and I went to take care of Chris, but Well, he was dead bad. You mean Charlie killed him. He knocked him down and his head hit the corner of the stove I didn't think Charlie would continue that fight. They started last night But he'd forget it by this morning. Well, he's got a bad temper He sure was mad about Chris kicking his dog last night. I'll go right over with you Sam I'll have to put Charlie under arrest Charlie McNeill was still patching up the cuts on his face made by the fists of Chris when Sergeant Preston knocked at the door of his cabin Come in Hello, Charlie. Well, Sergeant Preston glad to see you sit down I'm afraid this isn't exactly a social call Charlie. What do you mean? Your face is all cut up I just had a fight with Chris Rort. Yeah, I Told him last night that I'd be over to settle things with him this morning and I did I'm not sorry either I Gave him a beating. You'll never forget Maybe after this he'll think twice before he kicks another dog. You mean you don't Tell me what happened darling just what I said we had a fight and I knocked him out Didn't you try to bring him to after you knocked him out? Certainly not. I wasn't going to pick him up and nurse him Now I left Anyway, Sam and Abe came in I suppose they took care of him. Sorry to have to do this Charlie, but you're under arrest Arrest For what? You heard him call me yellow last night. You saw him kick rusty. He deserved a beating and I gave it to Charlie Chris is dead What when you knocked him down he hit his head that killed him Oh What will this mean? It means you'll go on trial for murder I didn't intend to kill him, but you did kill him come with me. I'll put you in the local jail until your trial Guess there's nothing I can do about it. I wish you'd controlled your temper. What about rusty? Will you let him stay at the jail with me? Sorry, that's against the rules. I'll take care of him for you, Charlie I'll bring him over to see you as often as I can. That'll help some. Thanks, sir Penalty for murder Hanging yes, it is I'll go with you But I'm telling you right now I'll never hang for the murder of Chris Rock I'll never hang I tell you a few evenings later Abe and Sam sat alone at a table in the Gould nugget cafe Sam looked pale and nervous and a worried frown creased his forehead Abe looked at him impatiently. Will you quit looking as if you just buried your grandmother? I can't help worrying about Charlie. Maybe they'll hang him. Why don't you think about us for change? You didn't think about me when you gambled all our money away You got it all back now and that diamond pin you got that too. Nobody knew Chris had it He said so. Yeah, but maybe he told someone. Maybe somebody will look for us. Stop blubbering Just when we're on easy street at last Chris dead go claim all ours. You're kicking up a fuss. I don't like it, Abe You and I ain't made of the same kind of stuff You're weak. I'm strong You're gonna spoil everything because you're yellow hot Now let's not quarrel, Abe You drink your drink. We'll talk about something else I see you get your gun on you tonight. That's so of you. Well, you never carry one. I always do Well, it's just that when we play cards and go home with a lot of money. I feel safer with a gun. That's all Let's see that revolver you're salmon. What kind is it? You've always kept it packed away. It's just like yours. I think yeah, I'll let you see it. I stop Sam Hey, Sam Sammy he pulled his gun on me. We called it was either him or me I saw what happened Sam pulled his gun first. I look when I heard ABL Hey, Sergeant, I had to shoot him it was self-defense. I got witnesses a bright sergeant I saw it all Barney you keep a bright here. I'll have to hold you for questioning a come on boys Help me carry some of the background One of you men got a doctor Bill bring some brandy, will you? Watch it now. Yeah. All right Salmon Abe. We're good friends. I can't see why Sam would pull a gun on Abe. Put him here on this card. I'll see what I can do for him I'm afraid he's a goner sergeant. He fired almost point blank. I doubt that he'll get conscious Here's the brandy sergeant. Oh, thanks, Bill. You men better leave this room small. He needs all the other is Your colors of your need is fine. All right, send the doctor in as soon as he comes and hold Abe there. We'll watch him for you Sam Sam can you drink some of this? It's Sergeant Sergeant Preston. There you are Sam. Try and swallow this. Yeah. No use Sam. Can you hear me? Sam, I want you to try to answer a question. Did Abe shoot you in self-defense? No No, he has to see my gun. Oh Yes, Sam. All right, Sam. I'm listening. What is it? There had been a sudden drop in the temperature that day, but no snow had fallen as yet Sergeant Preston with Abe handcuffed beside him Shivered as they neared the jail when the sharp wind bit into him King walked behind Abe watching his every move. I don't see why you're keeping me here I had witnesses that were self-defense. I told you you were under arrest for murder, Abe. I tell you he pulled his gun Abe you killed Sam He was conscious before he died and told me everything but nobody will believe it. He's dead He can't testify a dying man's words and a confession has accepted testimony in any court. There we are get in there Monking it's cool in here. Jake Jake, where are you? What is it King? Walk over here with me Abe. Don't try to get away Don't worry So Charlie That's not chubby. It's a gillet tug and gag. Stay right where you are Abe King. Hey boy. Got him. I'll untie Jake I'll get that gag out of your mouth first Jake I've been here for hours. No ropes are cut. Get up. Let me help you. Where's Charlie? I don't think he tried to escape. I guess I wasn't watching too careful He grabbed me when I brought him a supper. Has it been gone long? Since supper time. I don't know how long ago that is Seems if I've been kicking my heels on this floor for a week. There's another prisoner out here for you, Jake How could you do a better job of holding this one? Sergeant, I'm sure sorry. Charlie was such a nice fella. I guess I trusted him too much. All right Abe. Getting that done I'll go after Charlie right away Jake. I imagine the first thing he did was go back to his cabin for supplies Probably right. I don't see how you're going to tell which way he went from there Won't be any tracks with no snow on the ground. I know a sure way of telling. I have his dog Rusty Rusty will follow Charlie to the ends of the earth and King and I will follow Rusty. Come on, King I'll go back to the barracks and get that red set up Sergeant Preston with Rusty on leash and King running free picked up Charlie's trail from his cabin where he stopped to get food Rusty strained at the leash and set a fast pace throughout the night to get to his master The early dawn was breaking while he topped the hill and saw a dying campfire beside the trail below Rusty flying eagerly and Sergeant Preston unhooked the leash and let him run Then with King beside him Preston made a wide circle of the campfire and came toward it quietly through the woods As he approached he saw Charlie with Rusty in his arms I know you've come to me if you ever got the chance. Oh, did I Charlie? Sergeant Preston You followed Rusty. You shouldn't have tried to escape Charlie. I told you I'd never hang for killing Chris and I mean it I wanted to take me back. Charlie got that gun. Get him, King! Get away, King! Get back! Get away Rusty. Stop it, I say. All right, King. I have his gun. Are you hurt, Charlie? Why didn't you let me do it, Sergeant? I'd rather die than go back. There's no reason for you to shoot yourself You're going back but not to hang. What? I was trying to catch you to tell you you're innocent. You're a free man Free man? But I killed Chris. No, you didn't Charlie. Abe and Sam killed Chris. Abe and Sam? You're not Chris out all right, but it was Abe who hit his head on the stove after you left and killed him. But why? Chris had grub-sticked them and owned part of their gold claim He also had a diamond pin that Abe wanted. It was a chance to get both This was almost a perfect crime, Charlie. Even you yourself thought you were guilty of killing Chris. Oh, I did. I thought I'd killed him. Then Abe decided he'd get rid of Sam too, so the entire gold claim would be his. He was worried about Sam anyway, afraid he might talk. So he killed him right in the gold nugget cafe and made it look like self-defense. But Sam didn't die at once and confessed everything to me. Oh, I'm sure glad you caught up with me, Sergeant. You have to thank Rusty for that. Oh, and King. If he hadn't grabbed my arm, I'd have shot myself. Well, he saved my life. Rusty didn't know what King was doing. That dog of yours has plenty of nerve, Charlie. He went right after King, even though he must have known that King could kill him in a couple of minutes. Oh, we're sure lucky, Sergeant, to have dogs like these. Yes, we are. Thanks to them, this case is closed. Oh. The challenge of the Yukon, the copyrighted feature, is a George W. Treadle production brought to you each week at this time. All names and incidents used are fictitious. Listen again next week to another exciting adventure during the days of the gold rush. Fred Foy speaking, this program came to you from Detroit. Here's Kay Arman. If you are called up on the telephone some day evening when you are home you might be asked to name a certain tune stop the music from your living room prizes you might win are fictitious you are you might even get a brand new car a thousand dollar fond or a diamond ring stop the music it's quite the same so now the time hello deez for sunday night may bring wealth to you stop the music when prizes choose so that is the way this program goes you may be telephoned who knows it is the latest sensation stop the music on this abc station on sunday night on abc don't miss stop the music sunday evening over this abc station this is abc the american broadcasting company