 The challenge of the Yukon. The Wonder Dog King, swiftest and strongest of Eskimo lead dogs, blazes the trail through storm and snow for Sergeant Preston, as he meets the challenge of the Yukon. Sergeant Preston was typical of the small band of northwest-modded police, who preserved law and order in the new northwest country, where the greed for wealth and power led to frequent violence and bloodshed. But in spite of the odds against them, Sergeant Preston and his Wonder Dog King met that challenge and justice ruled triumphant. In the headquarters of the northwest-modded police, Sergeant Preston stood listening to his superior officer, Inspector Maynard. The older man frowned as he spoke. Alaska had Sophie Smith. The Yukon has many rentals. Sergeant, he must be stopped. Yes, you're right. As a leader of organized gangsterism, he terrorizes prospectors and trappers, who are carrying gold dust and valuable furs along the remote trails. And he's clever. He's wanted from murder and robberies. As you know, we've been trying to catch up with him for the last six months. Every outlaw makes at least one mistake, Inspector. That mistake is usually enough to hang him. Well, I hope you're right. I suppose there's a reason why outlaws like Reynolds operate in the Yukon. Besides being a place of great wealth, the country's so big they feel the law won't be able to touch them. I can't give you a definite lead on Reynolds. All you have to go on is the list I gave you. Well, that gives me an idea of where he's been, anyway. I'll start to work on it immediately. And we'll do everything possible to help you. If you want a man to work with you... Well, thanks, Inspector. I have all the help I'll need. Who do you plan to take with you? King. King? Oh, yes. I know of your attachment to your dog, Sergeant, but I'm talking about... You don't understand, sir. King and I have been working together for a long time. He's more valuable to me than anyone else could ever be. It won't interfere with whatever plans you have. I certainly hope you aren't making a mistake. A dog in this country is a beast of burden. A fine, splendid animal that's place. But in a case like this... I don't know. We'll see, Inspector. We'll see. As Sergeant Preston left police headquarters, the great dog King followed close at his heels. The mountains blue eyes narrow. That list Inspector Maynard gave us is something to start on, fella. As I see it, many rentals are slowly working west. He's pulled jobs in several towns and long trails that seem to indicate that's what he has in mind. So we'll head towards Seahorse City, King. And perhaps before long we'll find a more definite clue. A few days later, in the bank in Seahorse City... Yes, sir, gents? What can I do for you? This is a hold-up, pardon me. If you want to get hurt, hand it with a dust in that drawer. What? Why, you... Pete, you and Sam let the dust out of the safe. Yes, sir, many. All right, all right. What are you still in for? I was just going to... You all right? I'm all right. Come on, it's small time. Pen pushery ain't gonna reach for any more again. Get that dust in this much. In Seahorse City late the next night, young Dr. Wells sat talking to his wife. The light from the oil lamp flickering and casting weird shadows along the walls of the snug cabin. So they got away from him? Yes. And the only man who could identify them died with a bullet through his heart. I don't know, Molly. I don't know why the law doesn't stop this sort of thing. There will be stuff. There must be. People are always punished for... What was that? What? I thought I heard something outside. You see what I mean? You can't feel safe even in your own cabin. There's only some way to find Sergeant Preston. It's been a long time since we've seen him in Seahorse. And he's never been needed more. Be quiet, lady. I ain't carrying this gun just for show. What do you want? We have no money here. You're wasting your time. You're the sob-bones here, ain't you? Yes, I'm a doctor. Well, I got a job for you to do. Put on your methanol and step lively. Wait a minute. Like I said, Doc, I don't carry this gun for show. Come with me, see? You're insensible. Ain't no one going to get hurt. Fred, Fred, maybe you'd better go with him. All right. Go with you. Who's sick? Ain't exactly a case of sickness. Our lady, you want to see your husband get back here. You keep your mouth shut about my little visit, see? You don't have to threaten me, you hoodlum. If you dare harm my husband, I'll have you hunted down. No matter where you take him. Ain't nobody going to be hunted down. What happens to him is up to you. I'll be all right, honey. Now, come on. We've wasted enough time already. Goodbye, Molly. And don't worry. Be careful, darling. Where are you taking me? I'm putting this bandana over your eyes. So you can't see where I'm taking you. I might as well tell you, Doc, you have to dig a bullet out of a fella's arm. That's all you got to do. Now, get in his sled. All right. Must you, Husky! Must! I'm telling you, before you get any ideas in your head, you don't do a good job, you get paid off and left. It was a few hours later, Sergeant Preston hauled his dogs in front of Fredwell's cabin in Seahorse City. Okay. Go, you Huskies. All right, fella. Let's go in to see the doctor. Sergeant Preston. Molly, what's wrong? Come in, Sergeant. Please. Is there anything I can do? Maybe. Maybe you'll know what to do. Sergeant Preston listened to Molly Wells' story and frowned. She told him of the robbery and murder in the bank a few days before, and of the man who visited the cabin, forcing the doctor to go with him. He threatened to kill Fred if I told anyone. There'll be trucks in the snow, Molly. I'll follow them. But if you do, you're endangering Fred's life. Oh, I knew I shouldn't have told you. You don't have to trust me, Molly. Come on, King. We might have a long trail ahead of us. But I have a hunch we'll find what we set out for at the end of it. At Manny Reynolds' cleverly concealed hideout miles north of Seahorse City, Fred Wells worked on the wounded outlaw's arms. Reynolds himself was far from a desirable patient, because, like all men of his kind, his reaction to pain was that of a coward. Oh, what? You wanted to get this bullet out, so keep quiet. You, over there. Yeah? Hold his arm. Pete. Yeah, boss, I'm here. I just thought of something. You might have been followed when you left Seahorse City. Yeah, we wasn't. I took care of all that. You would? Take it. Take it easy, Doc. You wouldn't have to go out on the trail and keep watching here. What's reason cold out there, Manny? Reason or not, I ain't taking any chances. Doc, his wife might have told somebody you brought him out here. You low-living suspicious devil. You don't have to be afraid of this. We'll settle with you, lady. The reason me and the boys ain't never seen the inside of a jail is because Manny Reynolds is always ready for trouble a long time before it comes. You know what to do, Pete. Yeah. I know what to do. When Sergeant Preston came into view, barred down a shallow valley. He and his dogs were sharply outlying on the moonlit trail. The two outlaws, serving as lookouts, acted quickly. King caught the scent of the two men as he sampled a sharp Yukon air. Oh, I see. Someone dropped on the trail. Perhaps he's been... Oh, you askie! Oh! Manny walked toward the motionless figure in the snow. As he bent low to examine the man, Pete's feet shot up suddenly, catching the policeman off guard. At the same moment, Lefty came from behind Like a streak of lightning, King threw himself in the two men. He furiously fought them, sinking his teeth into their hands and clothing. Stop! Get that bastard off! King dodged, and his one thought was to get to his master. King! King has killed you, boy! Go on, King! Away! For a moment, the great dog hesitated. He didn't understand Preston's shock for man. Why did he order him away? Do you hear me, King? Away! Slowly, with a heavy heart, King loped toward the timber. Always, he'd obeyed Preston's commands blindly. Well, if it ain't the money... Lefty, wait a minute, he sees what we got! You got the drop of the sergeant's pressure. I never expected with heavy pleasure of holding a gun on you, Manny. You wouldn't have rentals if your man here hadn't done such a good job of playing dead. As you're holding the cards, what do you plan to do? How'd you find us? Who directed you to this place? Who told you? Maybe it was the doctor's wife. And just maybe, Manny. Maybe I didn't stop in Seahorse City. Sergeant, you shouldn't have come here. Seems we're outnumbered anyway. Sergeant Bones is right, Muddy. You never should have come here. What are you gonna do, Manny? There's only one thing to do. Kill him. Hey, now, it's suicide to kill him, Muddy. Yeah, it is, Manny. Maybe your boys don't know as much about pressure as I do. He was the one that was responsible for Whitey McLaughlin getting it in the making. Whitey was a friend of yours? Yeah, a good friend. If we don't get you, you'll get us, right? That's right. I set out to find you and I have. It would have been better for you if you hadn't. You can't get away with this. Your job here is done, Doc. You'll keep quiet, or you'll get what we're gonna give the money. You know, Manny, it seems to me you're making a mistake. Yeah, a mistake of overconfidence. I'll hand it to you, all right? You're plenty cool. It's what you mean. You don't think that dog of yours is gonna save you, Muddy? Even the Sergeant Preston whistled for King, the sharp whistle that had always been a signal between the two of them. The Mount he wandered and hoped. His King waited outside the cabin. He heard. He'd waited. A powerful bond that was like a magnet held him to the place where Preston was. He'd waited. And as King heard his master calling him, he knew why. This was what he'd been listening for. He looked at the cabin, and from one of the windows saw the light streaming across the snow. It was a large window. And as he measured the distance, King broke into a run, stealing his lean, muscular body for the impact that was to come. What does that do? I'll take that, Manny. All right, you? No. Good boy, King. All right, you men, put your hands up. All right. You're all under arrest. And in Inspector Maynard's office a week later, King stood beside Sergeant Preston. Sergeant, you've done a remarkable piece of work. With no help at all, you brought in the whole Reynolds gang. With no help at all, Inspector? No, that isn't true. I had help, and believe me, I needed it. King? That's right, sir. King. Yes, fellow, thanks to you, the case is closed. These copyrighted dramas originate in the studios of WXYZ Detroit. And all characters, names, places, and incidents used are fictitious. They are sent to you each week at this same time.