 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 mounted police in his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers Gold gold discovered in the Yukon a stampede to the Klondike in the greedy race for riches Now 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 Jim Ellis an old prospector lived about four miles outside of Star City in a small cabin It was early morning and Jim was having his breakfast a small mongrel dog sat beside his chair looking at him Expectantly ready to give you your breakfast snapper. I Guess it's just the idea. You want to share mine is that it? Here's a piece of bread. I guess I ought to set up another chair at the table every morning have breakfast with you Well, you sure good company old girl Doggy quiet snapper Sounds like sergeant Preston or bring him in Snapper won't fight with him. He's always glad to see King I'm just getting back from the tall north Jim But white make town last night. We'll take off your park and sit down. He's already. Thanks. I'm glad to stop by. I Was making a collar for snapper and I thought while I was at it. I'd make one for King too I got it over there in a cupboard. Well, that was nice of you Jim. Oh I got in along with your claim just fine Been taking quite a bit of gold out of it lately You ought to come into town with me today and bring that gold along you're all alone out here Not safe having so much of it around. Well, Mike burry living here me We've been good friends for a long time Mike drops in here a lot No, don't you worry. I'll bring the gold in later this week now now you sit down and have some breakfast Later in the day sergeant Preston was in the back room of Dave McLaren's trading post To make out his reports and attend to other paperwork when he was in Star City Oh, come on in Dave, I'm just about finished I wonder if you needed more writing paper or pencils or anything. Well, I know Dave what I need the loose end Well loose end yeah You ever been haunted by something you should have done and you can't remember what it is Is it something you've got to do in Star City? No, it doesn't seem to be Maybe it's something to do with King. Isn't he with you? He's outside in front of the post waiting for me I wish I could think of what it is. Well, you came from up north sergeant. Maybe you left something Unfinished line of business up there. Well, that's it. Oh, come found it Dave. I've got to go back to Jim Ellis place Why what's the matter at Alice's? Oh, nothing's a matter When we left this morning, I forgot to take a dog collar Jim made for King. I don't want to hurt his feelings So we'll go back for it. Well long as you're going that way sergeant The glad to do taking some equipment out to him and Could give these letters to him. Why don't you I wouldn't trust him with mail He might read it or something these letters are from Jim's knees. Oh, I'll drop them off But I've never heard anything against burying dogs. Don't like him. Oh, that's all Son, you see if you can talk Jim into going back to California Got enough gold to take care of himself and his knees for the rest of their lives. Yes, you made a good strike All right, you shouldn't keep so much gold in that cabin up there by himself with burry as neither nearest neighbor Just bait for a lot of trouble Downright dangerous Men have been killed. Yes, you're right, Dave Back to get his slant. I hear his team out there Yeah He beats the living daylights out of him. Oh Did you say King's out there sergeant? Yes Don't tangle with him for buries sake. He'd better not He won't bother him if he lets him alone But Mike will have more than he can handle if he crosses my dog. Well, I'd like to see that sergeant. Yes, sir I sure would I never yet seen a dog that didn't hate Mike's bird Hey Mike Curley Pete, see Jackson, I blame Neer took you for a Mountie in that red park And the boy did the cafe said you were in town. Yeah, I've seen it from the hotel Hey, why not come out to my place? It won't cost as much. Well, thanks. I think I'll do that Wait while you collect your gear everything I own is on my back. How far do we go? Oh my cams about four They're barking at Mike that us you there's got them stirred up I guess Move they'd likely quiet down. He's a good-looking dog. Yeah Depressed in the Mountie. He must be king. I don't know what his name is, but I'm gonna move I'll have a hard time lining up my team if you don't get out of here. Look at him Mike Not tied up or anything Any other dog would be running wild if you'd leave him like that So you were pressing the dog, huh? As Pete Jackson admired the big dog Mike Burry stretched his hand toward the mighty husky. I'll grab his collar. Come on. You move. King's head was high He growled once warning Lee and Mike's hand stopped poised over the dog's neck. Look at that Cody's got Mike Shiny as a brand-new gold piece. That's what comes of feeding the dog good. Come on Come on. I want to be friends the great dog sitting in front of the trading post glanced at Pete Jackson Then returned his level gaze to Mike Burry King tolerated Jackson's hand stroking his thick furry coast, but his attention was turned toward Mike Big Mike whose narrow eyes flashed with sudden fire. Come on. You move the scent of the angry man filled King's nostrils The magnificent husky had seen this man lash his own dogs mercilessly with a whip. He now held in his hand King saw that whip hand move. Maybe you're no different from these other mutt Maybe the whips the only thing you understand, too Don't bring that whip down one good crack where there's a meal blame soon. Don't like I've heard about this dog He's so fast he'll take your arm off before the whip comes out. I'm not kidding you. He's done am I? Don't get him riled Mike. Leave him alone. A dog done lived it. I'm afraid of King saw Mike Burry raise the whip He stood up the fur on the back of his neck bristling his eyes flashing his saber-like fangs gleaming dangerously The great husky was poised ready to spring and the man saw the lean fierce strength about to be unleashed Man and dog measured each other Leave him alone like Well Now come on P-dice Don't aim to get him riled Good looking equipment you have in here like that's not mine. I'm taking it up to Jim Ellis's Make your place before dark. We can we don't stop at Ellis's My place first get the fire bill up man sub D Can go around to Jim's later? I'm hoping for a good season next year Maybe I'll get enough of my pills to go back to the stage. You can go back right now Take plenty of gold with you if I've heard right are you local how Ellis? He keeps his gold in his cabin. No, he yeah, but Mike I'm gonna get that gold Are you with me? Well, I I don't know. Would you rather walk a trap line for the rest of your life? Hoping from year to year that the next one will be better. No, no, no, I'm with you Pete. Let's go If we take the stuff with us, he won't be suspicious. All right We leave now we can get there before the snow starts. There's a storm coming Close the door Pete. Yeah Here's my friend Pete Jackson Hey, put your stuff in the floor boy. Yeah, sure much obliged here for bringing it out, Mike Get some coffee going a little too bad here barks at you the same way your team does Mike Yeah, dogs don't like me my judges a man dogs are dumber than pack mules. Oh, no, Mike Smart or dumb this one don't like me Well, maybe he knows you're better than you do yourself Mike Julie don't have something on your conscience. You're not telling us Mike don't like dogs and they don't like him. No offense, man Take off your purpose. Yeah, we're not staying long. Well, you want to get back before the storm rages. Well, I don't blame it Mike Your friend has your gun. Take it easy Ellis Mike. No sense wasting time Jim Mike Which come over here You're not gonna let him that's it Jim, but you can't Use the gun on a quick you go. That's good into the witchhead. I guess you taught her a lesson ain't good enough I'll pull that chest from under the bonk. That's where he keeps his We'll load it on the sled and get out of here. Hey Pete the snow's starting good Cover our tracks in no time and there'll be no way of telling who did this killing Nobody'll ever figure it out It was two hours after Mike Burry and Pete Jackson left Jim Ellis cabin Heavy snow spun dizzily driven fiercely to earth by a high cold wind that was like the breath of the Arctic itself Suddenly the bark of a dog pierced the howling wind a Magnificent husky who kept steadily to a trail hidden from the eyes of the man following him on snowshoes Along with his master in a world of snow the dog obediently responded to the cry of There was sergeant Preston and the great dog King breaking a trail to Jim Ellis cabin Long before the Mount he realized that death had struck in the cabin among the foothills It's the great dog caught its scent Sturred by an urgency unknown to the man following him King lengthened his strides His ears flattened against his head as he ran his head was high his strong lean body shot ahead like an arrow from a bull His feet scarcely touching the snow It's Jim Ellis cabin ahead of sergeant Preston he looked back anxiously taught his master Here we are boy It's like we're in for a lot of snow You're mighty anxious to get that new collar of yours fella. It usually comes the door right away. Well The door's unlocking before the Mount he could swing it open the great dog nudge the door jar with his nose Then stood at the threshold whimpering as he looked inside Charred fella his dad No weapon of any kind near him Like cold-blooded murder and I'll move him to the block Mike burry was here or the supplies and equipment he left King crossed to the small dog cowering in the corner. Okay, what's happened to snapper? King drew back as his master stroke the badly frightened dog He watched knowing that snapper needed the reassurance of the Monty Then King saw the sergeant take a piece of cloth from beneath snapper It was the same color as the tunic of his master the same color King a billion red But not the same material as my tunic Heavy It's only clue we've got King We're going after a killer wearing a red Parker. Come on boy. We'll go and talk to Mike burry Want to talk to you My name I say Peter sergeant Preston a sergeant. This is a friend of mine P. Jack. Hello, please Quiet King don't bother about him growling like that sergeant dogs always hate me King usually has better manners I'm used to the critters egg them that way. I Say it's cold out sergeant. Maybe you'd like something. Oh, yeah, thanks Mike. That's a good suggestion. I'll fix some tea I know you don't drink anything stronger sergeant. The tea's right back the door in the kitchen tea. Yeah Well sergeant Preston and Mike burry talked about inconsequential generalities The great dog King stood close to his master King's reaction to Mike burry was more than mere disliked all the piece of cloth and the scent of the big trapper were linked in the Dog's mind King knew he was in the presence of the murderer With mute tortured eyes. He looked at his master trying desperately to convey his knowledge But sergeant Preston didn't understand King realized that he alone knew Mike Burry's guilt Murderer murder Can I do anything to help you sergeant was Jim Ellis all right when you left the equipment of this cabin? Oh, sure. Sure. He was fine. Why he's been murdered Mike Jim murder. It's his murderer. I'm looking for I can hardly believe it And You have any suspicions of who might have done it only this this piece that was torn from the killer's Parker It ought to be easy to find a park in that car. It's what I'm counting on people will remember a red Parker Yeah, yeah, they should Pizza long time fixing that tea. I'd better go see what's holding them up. I'll just be a second That's all right, Mike Get the cups out. Yeah, you found the tea all right Pete Preston's got a piece of my pocket. What now you need more tea than that. He'd make it strong That was his dog toward off the corner. He don't know what you're Parker. No What is it knock out drops for all of it in Take over him about 10 minutes after he drinks it murder and I'm out of your suicide Mike Who's anything about murder? When it hits him you pass out in the snow between here and now it's his place The code will get him and you'll freeze to death. That's a slick idea. It'll look like an accident Yeah, when the water boils just pour all the tea Pete. I'll be ready any minute now Are you gone and sit down? I'll watch it for you. All right. You ready? It's just a minute. There's no trouble No trouble at all. Just that I don't know where Mike keeps things Sergeant Mike was telling me about towards him Why do you figure Jim was killed for his gold? He was murdered and robbed A night like this you wouldn't think anybody'd be out from the murderer's point of view the night's perfect, Pete Snow's already covered all tracks Sergeant Looks like your tea's on the floor. I swear that don't jump for me. Sorry Mike is your hand. All right Miskett's burnt. Okay. I want me to put water on for more tea Mike. Oh, yeah Well, you know thanks. That's the same Mike. I've got a shovel on It won't take but a minute. We'll have it ready in two shakes You need something hot to warm you up after being out in this weather We've thought out nicely just being inside for a few minutes. I'll be getting along now I'm going back to Star City to ask some questions about a red Parker red Parker Yes, this piece torn from a red Parker the only clue to the killer Maybe I could help you sergeant. What do you mean? Well, I came from up north just a few days ago You know, yes as a fellow up north of here just this side of twin rocks that has a pocket just that color That's all he lives in the cabin back on the trail just a one-room shack. Oh, yes. I know the one you mean I'll go up there right now. Yeah, don't find him come back here and we'll go in the town with you. I'll do that Oh Sorry about that. See you forget it. Nobody was hurt You won't be able to cover much ground in the storm. It'll slow the killer down too. Thanks for your help. Good luck sergeant Now if you don't find him come back here. I will What's the idea I had to think of something after that dog upset the pot of tea Blame what I'd like to take just one shot at that husky just one listen Mike I Got pressed on off our necks for the time being But you've got to think of something hey Is there anybody up north with a red parking now? He won't find anything up there, but an abandoned cabin. That means you'll come back here Yeah, no we can clear out now and that'll be fine Preston comes back and finds us gone. He puts two and two together and starts after us And that's Mountie gets what he goes after Then we've got to stop the only way to stop him with a book if we do that the whole Mounted police force would be after us before we can get out of the terror tonight It's got to look like an accident. We have to figure the dog in on it too smart too smart It's a good thing the park in the goal in the kitchen feet. I got it. What get your parking snowshoes Where we going out along the North trail trail or poor follow me. I'll explain it to you while we're traveling I come on and bring a shovel with you How far are we going like this a little ways How long will it take Preston to get to that cabin about three hours? That means we got about five five hours of what? This storm is getting worse Mike relax. I got a smart idea if he it better be smart Well, you're stopping for this as far as we go It's not a blame thing here, but I'm now a trail with a lot of timber on each side of it What are you trying to impress them coming back here? I don't go right here. I'll be straight away to snow Are you digging for something? Who is I tell you? Don't see anything here, but a couple of logs under the snow. That's right Logs cover up a trap. Oh, you mean a pitfall. Yeah That's I get myself this spring and vetted it to catch your grizzly. They were too smart for a steel trap Covered it. I didn't just before the stove set it. There was dangerous We're gonna let them launch off it. Oh So when Preston come in this weather you freeze before he starts in it Look like an exit that dog gets smart will shoot him People will think the Mountie shot him to put him out of his misery. We can watch for him from behind that timber. Yeah The dog warns him or drop the dog not press them out and throw me You see him coming Pete can't see anything through the snow You ought to be here soon. It's a good thing that snow is coming down heavy It's already covered them fresh bars. We put over the pitfall. Yeah Listen, you come hard to tell the wind. I Think I hear the dog Yeah, they're coming Keep your eyes on that dog. Don't worry once smart move out of him and I'll drop him in this track Don't shoot too fast Mike Preston don't get why it'll be all the better for us. It'll be perfect if he walks into that trap under his own steam Right, but for my money, I hope that dog tries something don't shoot unless we're sure he knows what's up That's them. All right. They're getting closer Pete. They're getting closer That's it King on fella on Do that we made this trip for nothing boy We'll learn something in Star City great dog King was just a few faces ahead of his master breaking a trail through the unmarked Blanket of snow the soft white flakes were falling heavily glittering in the moonlight that would soon fade into dawn King knew from the sounds and sense of the wilderness that he in the mouth He were the only living things stirring. Let me get the star city King. I'll write a letter to Jim's knees for girl Let's have a little bit faster King. King obediently quickened his pace As the dog moved ahead a new scent filled his nostrils Freshly cut pine a saint he hadn't noticed when they covered the trail a few hours earlier You're slowing down fella. Go on. We got a lot of work ahead of him King had shortened his stride His animal caution warned him to go slowly to be alert and then he stopped abruptly The scent of pine was heavy in the air. Dang you're blocking the trail. Go on boy It's no time to be digging in the snow Throwing up a lot of snow fella. It's nothing important. I wonder. Yeah, boy. I'll help you Smells like pine Nearly cut the bow. They weren't here before they couldn't have been. They'll dig deeper King seems to be it Pine bow stretched out to cover a pitfall as the Mountie straightened King turned and looked about him Oh, why would I feel as if somebody's watching the dogs first hit up sharply on the back of his neck a Foreign scent filled his nostrils and immediately he recognized the presence of Mike Burry and Pete Jackson His master stood behind him on the trail the Mountie sense danger, but he didn't know from where it would come Neither the dog nor the man knew that at that very moment a rifle was being raised and they were the target King looked toward a growth of brush. We'd make perfect targets King It was then they heard it Mike Burry pulled back the rifle's hammer Instantly sergeant Preston recognized the sound He threw himself to the ground in a moment later a brief tongue of flame told him where the gunman was hiding The boy was over the Mountie's head. The great dog King was already in motion running close to the ground Before either Mike Burry or Pete Jackson to fire again the dog leaps And one blaring flash the dog spanned the distance separated from the killer King struck Mike Burry with a force that knocked the man to the ground I Mean Mike Burry to the ground I'm coming boy Anything and he'll turn on you Get up Burry. I See my search for the red truck has ended. Why didn't you drop them what you fool? You're done. You could have shot the dog. I couldn't. Yes. Oh, I move it. I've got this If you think I'm taking a blame for the murder you did your crazy He killed all the sergeant. Oh, go ahead. Yes. You're talking a new friend around her neck. He's already said enough The red parka the trap just set the ambush it all fits together. You'll both hang for murder first Jim's gold In my cabin under the kitchen. We'll go back and pick it up And then we're going to the jail in Star City if either one of you makes a break We won't make no trouble get moving just just keep that dog away from us I'd almost rather hang that habit of tearing me apart. Remember that and you'll live to hang King thanks to you the case is closed The challenge of the Yukon is a copyrighted feature and all characters names and incidents used are fictitious The challenge of the Yukon will be heard next week on Thursday at the same time over most of these stations Consult your local newspaper to be sure El Paul speaking this program came to you from Detroit Nothing to do no place to go Family was away from home most of the time That's the kind of explanation you often hear when children are taken into courts on juvenile delinquency charges Realizing this nationwide problem David Harding counters by Recently devoted to separate programs to some of the causes and solutions of juvenile crime Although the stories were fictional they closely paralleled some real-life case histories in both programs David Harding brought out that it's usually not the children themselves who are at fault Rather, it's their companions or their parents who've neglected them In addition to tackling juvenile delinquency David Harding counters by has been quick to dramatize any serious contemporary problems For 30 minutes of lively action paralleling the headlines listen to David Harding counters