 The challenge of the Yukon King the 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 mounted police who preserved law and order in the Yukon during the gold rush of 98 That was the year that brought over 50,000 men swarming into the Klondike region and the greed for gold led to frequent violence and bloodshed But in spite of the odds against them the force preserved a splendid record in maintaining the right the challenge of the north was answered and justice rule triumphant The sweating bartender at the black crow cafe worked hurriedly filling and refilling glasses for the men shouting at him from all sides The room was warm and crowded picked with raucous laughter and the heavy voices of miners just in from the creek beds The far end of the bar less Peterson stood talking to a tall thin man dressed as a prospector a man You'd notice in any crowd Left side of his face was marked with a jagged scar that distorted his features giving him an unpleasant sneering expression Many men strike it rich so soon. I've been lucky all my life Friends used to call me lucky Wally Come out to the claim sometime. Yeah, I'll do that. Only time. I see a white man to talk to who's want to come in here Well, so long Pick me up another one will you Hi there Sergeant she's got King right with you How are you boy? Yeah, it's a great dog. Do you buddy is less worth twice as late in yours. Did you see doc? I'm supposed to meet him here for a game of poker. I was talking to him earlier this evening He said he'd be here. Well, he's late as usual. He's a funny guy, Sergeant. Yeah, I've known him for almost two years now And all I can say about him. He's a sob old man. You sure don't talk much about himself. No, he doesn't I Saw him operate once under almost impossible conditions Hold the patient through to He's a fine doctor less But then every man's business is his own and long as he keeps it on the right side of the law Speak of it here he comes now. Hey doc over here I got a feeling this is my lucky night sergeant That means you think you have a chance of winning back some of that gold that's gone into Doc's pocket I suppose I don't think it. I know it. Sorry if I kept you waiting less Hello, sir. How are you doc? You always keep me waiting. So don't make a sound unusual. Have a drink. That's what I'm here for red Hey, red You have to wave a flag to get his attention tonight. It's crowded. All right. Oh, thanks, red What about you side? You know the Mounties doc always on duty And turn here. I don't know how they stand it. Well, uh being a drinking man It would be a little hard for you to understand less. Let's think she's going to clean out your parts tonight, doc Yes, sorry, I feel lucky tonight Yeah, come on. Let's get this table over here before someone else spots Well, I get the deck out You know, that's funny. Well, I mean making that crack that I felt like this is my lucky night Well, it's your luck never changes. You should know that by this time. No, I'm serious Well, I was standing here waiting for doc a tall skinny fellow was next to me I noticed him because the scion is left cheek mean looking thing hold his whole face off balance Yeah, yeah says he's got a claim state this side of birch Creek. Yes. Well, he got talking He was telling me how he got his claim state Seemed like he's only been here a short time Told him he was mighty lucky struck in it. He said he'd always been lucky said his friends call him lucky Wally Maybe I just got luck on the brain. I hope some of his brushes off on me What do you say his friends call lucky Wally? Why what's wrong doc? You look like it's seen a ghost. You know him. Oh, no, I'm Will you meet lots of people that's? Where's the state this side of birch Creek? I'll all ago did you see him? Oh, not so long What's wrong doc? He was white as snow. That's I wonder if you'd mind Make this game for tomorrow night. Huh luck might be changed there. I'm sorry. You'll have to excuse me Well, hold on. Wait a minute. He can't hear you less. How do you like that? We're just sitting here. I'm even cutting the deck and he gets up and walks out Hmm don't make sense. I can say anything to make him mad. He's an even tempered janitor He sure had a funny look in his face when he pushed that chair back. Yes Might as well have another drink he gives it's a slim hunch what? Doc was ready enough for that poker game before you mentioned that man You've been talking to at the bar you mean the fella to call himself lucky Wally. That's right That's what I thought Doc looked like he'd seen somebody come back from the dead like he couldn't believe it yet. He hoped it was right Why'd you say that man is staked a birch Creek? Why I'm going out there. Good night. Let's Come on King first dark and now you hey red give me another drink. I have to make good time King I've seen the look in Doc's eyes and other men Men that's on murder the lights from the cafe spilled on the snow as Sergeant Preston Adjected his parka against the bidding cold of the penetrating winds get the dogs up King King ran ahead of the pack never once losing a trail though It was hidden from Preston's eyes by darkness the sled covered the miles nearer and nearer to birch Creek There it is boy ahead lights from the cabin I Wonder for only in time And we'll leave the sled here in the shadows they kept hmm Someone else had the same idea Oh, I fell out. Oh, you're finally kid or Sergeant Preston, how did you mind if I come in doc? No, no Who are you looking for? I Found the man. I'm looking for what do you mean? I I thought so We're gonna Yours isn't it? Yes. Yes, it is When you left the cafe tonight, you had a look in your eyes. I've seen before You know, I've been a policeman for a long time Suppose you tell me why you want to kill this lucky Wally How'd you know there's no time to waste you may be back any minute all right sit down Sergeant I will tell you but I'm going through with it. We're not going to stop me How long have you known him? I knew him back in the States goes back almost 15 years ago Yes, Wally was an only child the only grandchild of Mrs. McCready. This is Randolph McCready He was just a kid when I first met him But even then you could see that selfish greediness in his eyes and as he grew up his greed and his recklessness grew with him I Won't burden you with the tail sergeant. I was Mrs. McCready's physician his mother's father Both of them died when he was a baby She voted on him spoiled him gave him everything he wanted She had a bad heart Perhaps you heard of the scandal that broke three years ago when she died suddenly. Yes The McCready emerald was stolen at the time for death Never been discovered It was yes, it was murder. I Was blamed for the murder because with sleeping tablets. I gave her cause the death Wally had done it Mrs. McCready had been very kind to me put me through medical school when I was a boy as a matter of fact I Think he was afraid she might leave some of her money to me that was ridiculous I know you were completely exonerated in the trial. You knew that but you never said anything. Why should I? Man's past is his own. Well, it ruined me. My practice fell to nothing as a result of the publicity I'd heard Wally speak of the Yukon many times. I knew that someday he'd come up here That's why I came here. He's guilty of murder. It's never been proved and the emerald I'm convinced that he has it. He'd never dare sell it at least not for another few years I see I swore I'd get him sergeant no matter how long I waited no matter how far I had to go I knew someday I'd meet him again. You can't take the law under your own hands I can make him pay for murdering the woman who was like a mother to me and he will pay He's already a murderer Killing him will make you one. There's no other way. Yes. There is another way Another way that you can perhaps have him jail for the murder he committed. I Know what I'm doing sergeant I won't let anything stand in my way. Listen to me doc You mustn't let your desire for revenge blind you Now listen to my plan You'll come back to the cabin and find you The hours dragged on while Doc sat in the lonely cabin waiting for Wally McCready to return King waited with him listening Oh Coming all right King we're ready for him What's up come on in Wally and chop the door How'd you you look surprised? I made myself at home here sit down and have some tea and warm you up I am surprised With the last person I'd expect to meet up here McGregor. Why not up here? It's as good as any place else Especially when you're a ruined man. Oh You're thinking yes the trial Of course, you don't remember it. I read about it. All right They freed you Never it did prove who killed the old lady today. They know the man who killed her made off with the emerald Yeah Interesting doc Say this much for you make a good cup of tea glad you like it What are you up here for? Gold no No, I came here because I knew sooner or later. You would me that's right You always wanted to come up here and try that luck of yours and it's still holding out too Now I struck a claim that'll knock your eyes out and it's all mine every bit of it It's too bad. You didn't have some of my left doc You could have used it I'm satisfied What are you looking at you? I'm wondering how long it'll be before you start feeling dizzy and sleepy Before I sat that tea you drank Wally. What's wrong with it? It was a good enough way for your grandmother to die. You ought to be good enough for you You I have waited a long time for this and you walked right into it. No, no, I can't be your feet They'll start to get numb soon. Listen, I drank it. I drank all of it. It'll be painless Just like going to sleep only you'll never wake up. You don't deserve to die painlessly You gotta say I tell you I'll turn the whole claim over to you We're beginning to feel it. Huh beginning to get the whole claim every bit of gold in it It's all yours. There's something that'll save me. I know there is I remember I don't want your gold. I Am beginning to get dizzy I Have I'm leaving you? No, no, no, don't go. What do you want and your own price anything you say you can save me Can't you yes in my bag out on the sled? I have the antidote bring it in anything you want I'll sign all the mine over to you. I'll do anything you say, but hurry. There's only one thing I want. What is it? Look, what is it the emerald the emerald walley? That's what I want the emerald. Yes You took it from the safe. You kept it with you all these years, haven't you all right at you? I wanted in my hands, but we'll get that stuff before I before it's too late You have a few more minutes get the emerald here here. It's in this pouch around my neck. Take it I was right You did it because she suspected you've been taking money from the same. Yes. Yes now you have it now get that stuff I'm you're under arrest what did a great job doc. Oh, there's nothing to it. So he's poison me I'll tell you I'll die if he doesn't you'll die all right, but it'll be with a rope around your neck and not a pouch contending the McCreedy emerald. Oh, no, you don't understand. There was nothing in that tea walley You mean you You lied to me. It was a trick. Yes, it was a trick I had planned to kill you but sergeant Preston changed my mind I knew you murdered your grandmother, but I had to have proof put these handcuffs on in doc We'll take him back to Ford one tonight. Yeah, all right. I Know what I'm like. Why did you insist King stay in this room with me sergeant? I was afraid walley might pull a gun on you King's used to handling a situation like that. I didn't want to protect you from anything else This arrest in your part in a duck should wipe away all the unfavorable publicity you had as a result of the trial You'll be able to go back to the states and take the place you deserve. I'll never be able to thank you Yes, King the case is closed Challenge of the UConn the copyrighted feature of the challenge of the UConn incorporated is brought to you each week at this Same time and originates in the studios of WX YZ Detroit all characters names places and incidents used in this drama