 Now, as gunshots echo across the windswept snow-covered reaches of the Wild Northwest, Quaker-puffed wheat and Quaker-puffed rice, the breakfast cereal shot from guns, present the challenge of the Yukon. It's Yukon King, swiftness and strongest lead dog of the Northwest, blazing the trail for Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police, in his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers. On King, on your Huskies. 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 Quaker-puffed wheat and Quaker-puffed rice, bringing you the adventures of Sergeant Preston and his Wonder Dog Yukon King as they meet the challenge of the Yukon. You fellas and girls know a good food when you taste one. And here's what's so good about Quaker-puffed wheat and Quaker-puffed rice. They're made from only the premium grains of wheat or rice. And these choice-flavor-rich grains are shot from guns, actually exploded up to eight times normal size to make them bigger and better tasting. Yes, they're crisp, tender, delicious. Just see how good they taste tomorrow morning. Treat yourself to Quaker-puffed rice or Quaker-puffed wheat. Sergeant Preston rode along the trail toward Whitehorse with the great dog Yukon King running alongside. It was spring, and the thaw had brought a great deal of activity to the great Northwest country. Suddenly, Preston heard a distant shot. He stopped for a moment listening. A shot, King. We'll go along the trail a bit and see what we can find out about it. Get up, Lucky. Sergeant Preston, followed by King, rode at a fast pace. Until, as they rounded a bend in the trail, the Mountie saw a figure lying on the ground and a horse grazing nearby. Well, Lucky, hold on, steady. It's not dead, King, but he's wounded and unconscious. Have to get my first aid kit. Do what we can for him, boy, and we'll take him to the nearest cabin. Sergeant Preston gave the wounded man first aid and tied him on his own horse. Then the Mountie leading the other horse continued along the trail until he came to a cabin. There, he reigned to a halt. Well, Lucky, easy, fellow. Preston took the still unconscious man from the horse and carried him to the door just as it opened. Ned! Sergeant, what's happened to Ned? Better let me get him inside. Yes, yes, of course. The bedroom is through that door. There. That's your husband? Yes. Sergeant, is he old? He's unconscious, but he's still alive. I'm Lucy Dummond. We settled here last fall. What happened to Ned? I heard a shot and later on the trail I found your husband. It's a shoulder wound, rather serious, but with proper carry ought to pull through. I'll send a doctor from Whitehorse. This isn't more than three miles from town. But why would anyone shoot Ned? I don't understand. Maybe when he's able to talk, Ned can tell us something about it. He's coming up the trail away from town, you know? Ned heard of a deserted claim up that way. He decided to go look at it. Our claim here doesn't pay off very well. I see. Well, I'll go to town and get the doctor. I'll come back with him so I can question Ned when he comes to. I'll be back as soon as possible. By the time Sergeant Preston returned with the doctor, Ned Delman had regained consciousness. After the doctor had treated his wound and made him comfortable, the mounting questioned Ned. What reason would anyone have to try to kill you, Ned? I don't know, Sergeant. I haven't any enemies as far as I know. Strange that someone would shoot you for no reason. Did you see the man who fired the shot? No, the shot came from across the gully on the other ridge. I was heading for the branch trail further on that led to that ridge to look over a claim. I heard about it last night in the cafe in town. The old sourdough who was working it gave it up and left when the thought came. They couldn't get anything much from the claim. What did Ned? He was rather old and had a spell of sickness during the winter. I thought maybe he hadn't given it a chance that I could work it along with the one we have here. I see. Old Mr. Higgins was awfully nice. He used to stop here sometimes during the winter in his way to town. Frank Higgins? Well, yes, that was his name. He's been gone about a month now. They say he went to Selkirk. Stranger didn't stop to see me. I knew old Frank quite well. Did he come to say goodbye before he left? Well, no. No, he didn't. Ned hurt in town that he'd left. That's right, sir. I think King and I'll go over to Frank's place on the ridge and have a look around. I might get a line on the person who shot you. I'll stop on the way back to town. Come along, King. Mr. Higgins. A short time later, Sergeant Preston and King reached the Higgins' cabin. It was located on a stretch of level ground between the ravine and a low hill. Hello, buggy. Come on. The Mountie walked slowly about the cabin as his keen eyes took in every detail. Because of King's calm attitude and disinterested sniffing, Sergeant Preston concluded that there were no fresh sense to indicate the cabin's recent use. Well, boy, I'd say no one's been in this cabin since Higgins left. Let's look outside, King. Finding no signs to indicate that anyone had been near the cabin, Preston and King studied the level ground in the vicinity, as far as a tunnel into the hillside, a hundred yards behind the cabin. No fresh sand, eh, King? Probably no one's been here since Higgins left. Now we go along the ridge and find the tracks left for the person who shot at Delman. Let's go, King. Sergeant Preston and King thoroughly examined table land between the mountain and the ravine for marks that would show the place from which the shot had been fired at Ned Delman. Preston rode slowly and kept his eyes glued to the ground, where the end of the ridge sloped downward into a gully. He pulled him a stop. A puzzled expression on his face. Well, King, no sign of anyone. Ned Delman clearly made a mistake, but he seems pasty as the shot came from this way. Yet I'm just as pasty. No one's been in this vicinity since Frank Higgins left. Well, we'll go back and have another talk with Delman. Let's go, boy. Once more, Sergeant Preston and King stopped at the Delman cabin. Well, blugging. We're here, King. No, I didn't. There's nothing to show that anyone's been on that ridge since the thaw, Delman. But I swear the shot came from over there. I'd have no reason to try to fool you. I hope not. But the fact remains we found no sign of anyone having been there. That's strange. I agree with you, Mrs. Delman, it is strange. Tell me, Ned, who was it told you Frank Higgins had left a month ago and deserted his claim? Well, no one in particular. I heard the men in the café talking about it last night. It seemed some prospector passing through Whitehorse about a month ago met Frank on the trail, headed for Selkirk. I see. But you didn't hear about it until last night. That's right. I just happened to mention at the café that I'd like to find another claim that had been already worked and that was nearby. Then I heard about old Higgins deserting his. I see. Well, I'll go into town and make inquiries there. Sergeant Preston rode to Whitehorse. His first move was to have a talk with the constable. He sat in the constable's office with King beside him. After relating what had happened, Preston remarked... The mystery to me, Sam, how and why Ned Delman was shot. Also, why does a certain vagueness about Frank Higgins' sudden departure? I didn't even know he'd left until you brought it up a few moments ago, Sergeant. Well, Frank didn't come into town very often. I'd like to meet at least one person Higgins spoke to about his decision to leave his claim. Say, I bet we could get some information at the trading post. Mike ought to know. No, I had to school. I'm ready. Come on, King. A short time later, the two Mounties entered the trading post with King at their heels. Sure, and it's good to see you and King again, Sergeant. Thanks, Mike. And you, Constable. I suppose the two of you are needing some supplies. I hear the Mounties stop and eat once in a while, like the rest of us. We're here for some information, Mike. Sure, and what is it you'd be asking me, Sergeant? What do you know about Frank Higgins? Frank Higgins, is it? Well, now it was a surprise to myself to hear all Frank up and pulled stakes and eye onto him a month ago, especially with him owning me a bit of a bill and him usally so prompt and careful like about paying in the past. It isn't like Frank Higgins to do a thing like that. That it isn't, but leave he did without us so much as a word of pardon to anyone seems like. What do you make of that, Sergeant? I'd rather not say it yet, Sam. Tell me, Mike, what do you know about Matt Delman and his wife? Sure, they seem like a nice enough couple hour and hour. They've been around here only during the past winter, mind you, so I can't rightly say much about them. Well, thanks for the information. By the way, who told you Higgins had gone? Oh, I heard some of the men speaking of it. It seems some stranger met him on the trail and got talking to Higgins. He mentioned it when he was in town for a day or two. Did you see the stranger? No, I never laid my eyes on him. And nobody seems to remember much about him. Well, we'll see you later, Mike. Let's go, Sam. So long. Come in again, Sergeant. The two Mouties went to the cafe and inquired, but found out no more than they had from Mike. As they walked back toward the constable's office, Sam was saying... I guess old Frank decided to pick up and leave without telling anybody about it. If he'd wanted to keep his departure and his destination a secret, Sam, it doesn't make sense he'd tell that stranger about it. That's true. But frankly, I'm more concerned about who tried to kill Delman than I am about Frank Higgins leaving town. That's the case we've got to try to solve. Sam, my opinion is that Frank Higgins and that Delman are mixed up in the same case. What's more, I don't believe that Higgins voluntarily left Whitehorse if he left it on. What do you mean? I'm convinced we'll solve the entire case involving Higgins' disappearance and the shooting of Delman when we solve the mystery of the ridge. We'll continue our adventure in just a moment. When you're traveling up here in the Yukon, you never can tell what kind of a scary adventure you're going to have next. Like one time when it was just about dusk and I was on the trail back from the dead Dutchman goldmine. I was just about... What's up there? It's an ambush. I'm trapped. Don't make a move. You'll want to stay healthy. I'm after one thing. That they're gold. Gold? I don't have anything to do with the dead Dutchman goldmine if that's what you think. Don't pull that. Where you got it hid. But I have no gold. Quit stalling what's in them packages. Oh, well, that's the swellest tasting ready to serve breakfast cereal from here to Dawson. It's the cereal shot from guns. Guns, guns. What? I mean that Quaker popped wheat and Quaker popped rice are shot from guns. What good are those guns? Say, when the choice premium grains of wheat and rice are shot from those guns, they're exploded up to eight times normal size. What? Eight times? That makes them bigger and better tasting. They're crisp, tender, with bang of nut-like flavor too in every mouthful. But I'm after gold, buddy. How do I know there's Quaker Puff wheat and Quaker Puff rice in them packages you carry? Oh, that's easy to prove. Just take a look at these famous red and blue packages. We pack Quaker Puff wheat and Quaker Puff rice in a fine, modern package with a sealed inner lining to doubly protect its flavor and crispness till it hits your table. Yeah? That's why the original, the one and only wheat or rice shot from guns is never sold in bags or bulk. Sounds like the real McCoy. It sure is. As you fellas and girls know too, your appetite strikes it rich when you pour out a heaping bowlful of those tenderly crisp, melding your mouth kernels and top them with milk or cream and fruit. What's more, Quaker Puff wheat and Quaker Puff rice give you fellas and girls added food values of restored natural grain amounts of vitamin B1, niacin and iron. So every morning enjoy this delicious nourishing treat. Quaker Puff rice or Quaker Puff wheat. Now to continue. Sergeant Preston told the constable he was convinced that if the mystery of the ridge were solved, they'd find the solution to Higgins' disappearance and to the shooting of Ned Delman. When the two Mounties arrived at the constable's office, Sam said, What's the next move, Sergeant? Now take King with me and inspect Higgins' mine. Meantime, I suggest you try to find someone here in town who can tell us more about that stranger. All right, just as you say. If I do happen to find out anything important, I'll write out to meet you. Good. See you later then, Sam. Come on, King. The tunnel of the Higgins' mine ran back into the low hill for about 20 feet, then turned sharply to the right, forming an L. At the end of the L, there was a vertical shaft or air vent from the ceiling to the top of the hill. This shaft, about six or eight feet long, was large enough for a man to move up to the hilltop. A narrow wooden ladder ran from the floor of the tunnel up through the shaft, which had been recently dug. The opening on the hill was concealed by heavy brush. On the opposite side of the small hill, just down the slope from the air vent was a weather-beaten trapper shack long forgotten and deserted. Two rough-looking men were in the shack. One of them spoke. Gil, eh? You think that Snooper Delman is alive after the bullet you put into him earlier today? Well, I couldn't tell from up there. But it wasn't moving when that Mottie took him away. Yeah, better go up and relieve Rusty's lookout, Steve. He's got to get to town for more supply. Sure. It's a good thing Rusty is known well enough to go and come as he pleases in town without folks being curious. I'm sure he's busy at that phony claim of his half a mile from here. Yeah. Now that the Mottie is in town, it wouldn't do for us to be sane. He'd ask questions, maybe. You know, Mr. Go, when I went to the cafe and said it was passing through and told that story about meeting the old man head north, I didn't hang around long enough for anyone to get used to me. Good thing that Mottie didn't come in the mine shaft when he came back. He had to put a bullet in him, too, eh? I know. We're digging in the cross tunnel where the old man first made his stride. We'll be ready for him this time if he comes back. If he does come back and goes into the tunnel, a lookout can tip us off. And the other two can go around and cover the tunnel entrance. We're two out there with guns and one at the top of the vent. You'll be trapped. We'll bury him right in there beside the old man. I'll go up and relieve Rusty now. Don't take him long to get to town and back. The three men used a back trail that led from the shack so that they never had to go around the ridge near Higgins' Cabin or the tunnel entrance. Rusty left and rode to the trading post in town. He entered the store while Preston and the Constable were still at the cafe asking questions. This was before the Mottie and Dog had set out for the ridge. Hi, Rusty. I didn't expect you back so soon. What do you mean, so soon? Well, the other day, you bought enough supplies to last a week or more. You're two or three men. That's my business, as long as I pay cash for what I get. I'm sure there's no reason to be so touchy about it. Uh-oh. There goes the Constable and Sergeant Preston into the Constable's office. Sergeant Preston, is he the man you... I mean, is he in town? He sure is. Big as life itself. They were in here a bit ago asking about that stranger who told about Higgins' Laven. And from what I figured, there's something in the winces I... Now, what is it you come in for, Rusty? Uh-oh, there's the sergeant. He just come out. He's mountain up. I've heard a lot about that dog, is. I wonder where he's heading now. There he goes, heading out the main trail. Might be going to the Higgins' place like it's not. He knew Higgins and put them two and two together. I figure he's a bit worried about the old man. Now, what was it that you said you wanted? Nothing, nothing right now. I'll come back later. What's gotten to that one I'd like to know? He beat it out of here like Lucifer was at his heels that he did. Look at him go now. Raising up the street towards the back trail. Oh, here comes the constable across the street. Lakers not, he'll ask me the same questions all over again. Hello, constable. That man who left here sure seemed to be in an awful hurry, Mike. Did you pull a gun on him or something? No, nothing like that, constable. At least I wouldn't be admitting it to you. I didn't get a chance to see who he was. Oh, that was some sort of odd prospector. Rusty something or other. Don't hang around with the others in town much. The funny thing, he'd come in saying that he wanted an order. Then when we saw the sergeant riding away through the front window, and I said something about him maybe going to the Higgins place, Rusty up and left here like a shot. He did. Oh, well. No, what can I do for you, constable? Nothing, nothing right now. Goodbye, Mike. Great day. Must be the look on my face that's setting them all a-running. Glory be. Riding at a fast pace, Rusty reached the shack by the back trail, and warned Gil and Steve about Preston coming out to the Higgins place. Later, as the three tense men watched from the brush on top of the hill covering the air vent, Sergeant Preston came into sight on the main trail, with King running alongside. Steve instinctively raised his rifle, but Gil pulled his arm down. No, Steve. You'll miss you'll get away. Anyhow, you might hit him, but not kill him. We couldn't get close to that big dog around here. You know, it was a lucky shot I took this morning at Delman. Gonna take him about five minutes to ride it till where the gully closes off. Then he'll come back along the ridge below us. Well, that mutt of his might warn him we're up here. Well, he didn't earlier because the wind was blowing from them doors. And it's still blowing that way. He won't catch our scent, but we gotta keep quiet. What do we do when he gets up here? Well, he gets into the tunnel. We'll run over there and jump down alongside the entrance so the gun's ready. Steve, you stay here so he can't come up the van. But that dog... If he starts to come out toward us, give him a bullet. We'll trap that mutt in his dog too. All right, come on, Rusty, let's go. I'll be quiet when you get down there. A short time later, Sergeant Preston pulled rain near the entrance to the shaft. Hello, buggy. Come on, King, let's go inside. As Preston entered the shaft, the great dog King started behind him. Then he suddenly whirled barking as his keen ears caught the sound of gill and Rusty's steps moving forward above. King, what is this? King! Back here for the quick. The mutt he and the dog hurried back through the main tunnel, which was well-lighted by the rays of the setting sun. They turned to the branch tunnel, which, though shadowed, was brightened by a lighted lantern hanging from a spike in the wall. Good, the tunnel turns here. A lighted lantern means they've been in here too. We're safe now, fella. If you're up that way, buddy, we got your prep. Watch that tunnel, Steve. Don't worry, I'm ready, Barb. There's an air shaft, but something's up there. We'd have closed in when it gets dark, buddy. We'd have fixed you on that putt. You don't have a chance. He's in, King. I'd better look around the corner of the tunnel. He might try to sneak up on us. Sergeant Preston eased to the corner of the tunnel. He realized the situation was desperate. He pulled back his head as he saw the gleam of a gun at the tunnel entrance, a bullet whined close by. Back to him. Then he heard a slight sound that made him whirl and looked toward the air shaft. Preston tensed. He hoped to get a shot at Steve's legs as the crook moved down the ladder. Suddenly there was a dull flood and a groan from up in the air shaft, and Steve's unconscious body fell sprawling at the bottom of the ladder as his gun fell beside him. It's the Constable King. I was coming to find you. I heard the shooting and saw a man on top of the hill. I circled around and got up there to investigate. Just after two of them went down toward Higgins' tunnel. Glad to see you, Sam. I sneaked up to the bushes above and saw the man in the air shaft. So when I got a chance, I sucked him on the head with my gun, but... We've got the advantage now, Sam. We'll leave King here in the tunnel, and we'll go up to the air shaft and over the hill to get the two at the tunnel entrance. King can keep them from running into the tunnel. Good idea. Let's do it. King, stay here, boy. Stay in the light corner. Cautiously, the two Mounties went up the ladder to the top of the hill. Meantime, on either side of the tunnel entrance, Gil and Rusty stood pressed against the supporting beams on each side. Now and then, one of the other would peek around into the tunnel. Suddenly, a small stone fell from the slope just above the tunnel entrance, and Gil stepped back a bit and looked up, and then cried out. Hey, Rusty, look out. There's two Mounties coming from above. I'll show them. As Gil yelled and raised his gun, Sergeant Preston leaped. Get the other one, Sam. The Mountie landed squarely on Gil before he could shoot, bearing him to the ground, and the two men rolled on the ground, trading blows. The constable jumped from above with his gun ready, but Rusty had already turned and headed into the tunnel. This will settle you. No, no. No more. That's enough. No more. You don't want to run into the tunnel. Get him, King! What's this one, Sam? I'm getting easy, fella. Here's the other one. I put handcuffs on him. Put these on the one King caught. We'll move back into the new part of the tunnel where it turns. Come on. Come along, King. Look, Sergeant, where there's been recent digging. There's gold in that ore. Yes, so we know Higgins didn't give up this mine. Ah, King's found something. Here in this corner near the air shaft, the earth is soft and sunken. That's enough, King. That's enough, boy. Sam, he's uncovered the edge of a parka. We've found Frank Higgins. Gil and Steve planted all. I went to the trail a month ago and put them up at my shack. One day, as we left the shack for a towel... Shut up, you fool! No. I won't hang for what you and Steve did. As we left the shack, we heard somebody yelling loud. We investigated and found the noise coming up through the air shaft in the bushes on the top of the hill. We went down and right into the tunnel. Well, Higgins was in there dancing around because he struck gold. I see. Go on. They said they were going to stay and be partners with him. But the old man got mad and ordered him away. They slaughtered him and Gil put a bullet in him. Then they buried him right there. They're all under arrest in the name of the Queen for the murder of Frank Higgins. No, wait. They did it. Gil tried to kill Delham, too. Why? Because he was coming to inspect the old man's claim. The court will decide what happens to you. Well, Sam, the mystery of the ridge has been solved at last. This case is closed. In just a moment, Sergeant Preston will give you a preview of Friday's adventure. Hey, fellas and girls, just think of having your very own models of the dead Dutchman goldmine on Sergeant Preston's Yukon Trail. Of Sergeant Preston's cabin. His dog sled and team of huskies to hitch up and move around. Of a Yukon riverboat with a paddle at turns. Well, hurry to your grocers. These exciting models and many more, actually 59 Yukon Trail cutout models, are yours on the big red and blue packages of Quaker Puff Rice and Quaker Puff Wheat. They're yours at no extra cost. Get every single one of the eight different Yukon Trail packages. These are not ordinary models. They're larger, easier to build. And you get the interiors of the buildings. The inside of the White Horse General Store of a supply cache of the Dawson City Hotel. You even got scenery. The Klondike mountain and forest. The Indian waterfalls. And remember, they're yours right now. Without it costing you a single extra penny. You get them right on packages of Quaker Puff Wheat and Quaker Puff Rice. And only on the original, crisp, fresh, shot from gun cereal that is never sold in bags or bowls. They're at your grocers now. Hurry and get the complete set of eight Sergeant Preston Yukon Trail packages of Quaker Puff Wheat or Quaker Puff Rice. Remember, fellas and girls, all may help through the Red Cross. So give a dime, a quarter, or more if possible. Yes, give whatever you can to the 1950 Red Cross Fund. This year, thousands of boys and girls like yourselves will need help. I can't begin to tell you all the Red Cross does. Like helping people in fire and flood areas and in dozens of other fine services. So do your part. It's important. All may help through the Red Cross. Listen, Friday, when Sergeant Preston and Yukon King meet the challenge of the Yukon in the case of 20 little Indians. When the miners of Goldflat were persuaded to build a new mission for Father Michelle, we thought the men would lose their taste for violence in work. But there were some men in the town who were intent on robbery and ready for murder. The moment came when I saw a killer's gun trained on a little boy and King ready to give his life to save the child. Be sure to hear this exciting adventure Friday. These radio dramas, a feature of the challenge of the Yukon Incorporated, are created by George W. Trendall, produced by Trendall Campbell Enterprises, directed by Fred Flower Day and supervised by Charles D. Livingston. The part of Sergeant Preston is played by Paul Sutton. They are brought every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the same time by Quaker Puff Wheat and Quaker Puff Rice. The breakfast cereal shot from guns. Remember for delicious hot breakfast, enjoy Quaker Oats. The giant of the cereals is Quaker Oats. Delicious, nutritious, makes you feel ambitious. The giant of the cereals is Quaker Oats. And here's why Quaker Oats is called the giant of the cereals. There's more growth, more endurance in oatmeal than in any other whole grain cereal. So make your hot breakfast nourishing Quaker Oats. Quaker and Mother's Oats are the same. This is J. Michael wishing you good bye, good luck and good health from Quaker Puff Wheat and Quaker Puff Rice. So long.