 The challenge of the Yukon is King, the fastest and strongest lead dog of the North Country, waiting the trail for Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mother Police in his remastered pursuit of lawbreakers. Untame all your skills! Dole, dole, discovered in the Yukon, a stampede to the Kwandike 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 war and order as they met the challenge of the Yukon. It was almost midnight when Jeff Moore returned to his small cabin near the outskirts of Moose Crossing. As he entered, a big grey dog was there to greet him. The dog had the slanting eyes of a wolf, and many of his characteristics were more like a wolf than a dog. His loyalty to Jed, however, proclaimed his dog heritage. Jed was Lobo's god and no other man's protection. Well, Lobo, tell it, you should have known with me tonight. What a night! Well, with you, old boy! Look at the gold I won. Lady Luck was sitting right on my lap. One, two, three of them! It's a fortune, Lobo! How is it? It's not years up. How is the minute? I haven't changed in a minute. Come on, Lobo, boy. That's your corner, boy. I'll take a chance of you taking my hand, or... I took all his money away from him, and told him that's enough for one night. There you are! Hurry up! Hold on here! Well, I'm not the one sitting on the silver stretcher. You sure that wolf dog is tied up good? Sure, I chained in before I let you in. I don't know, boss. Let go down the table, you winners. Tonight, if you're in, I'll get right well. Yeah, part of that gold is mine. You mean it was yours, Mike. But I want it there in square. The trouble with you is you don't do too much when you play poker. Tension and gambling don't mix well. You need a clear head. I'll off my money back here. I need it. A son of mine came into town today. He thinks he's got some faith here. He doesn't want me to go in with him. We'll need supply. Well, you should have thought of that sooner, Mike. Why'd you gamble if he needed the money? Because I needed more than I had. Well then, I don't see how it would help you if I gave you back what's along. Look, give me another chance. I got a deck of cards here and some money that I found from this friend of mine. Oh, Mike, it's a real thing. Oh, so you won't give me another chance. Oh, well, all right. Come on, sit down. Turn the man up a little so he's waiting to see. God, look at the fags. They're gold. I didn't realize you won so much time. You weren't the only losers. There were lots of people in that game and the stakes were high. Who must they put in there? 15,000 here. Close to the 10, I think. Well, go ahead and deal with the cards. How much do you want to bet? Well, that's $50. You ain't foolin', are you? Well, I'd like to cut those cards if you don't mind. Well, sure. There you are. Wait a minute. Mike, you should know better than this. What's these news? I didn't win a poker tonight because of beginner's luck. I've been playing this game for over 30 years. Well, what other? Don't you think by now I know a few of the tricks? Recognizing marked cards, for instance? Mike, you better take your cards and go on home. You weren't a little drunk. You know better than to try this on an old timer like me. And whoever marked those cards didn't even do a clever job at it. Boy, you... I'm gonna have that money. I'm taking that, I tell ya. What? Put down that chair! Should I give my money or not? Mine and a lot more. And you... You get dirty, won't you? I ought to put a bullet for you. What the... I don't want any of this. Oh, great. You can't suck it off. He can't hurt you to change. Where's Chad? I hit him over the head with a chair. That's not just... What happened? Did the cards work? Well, you know they were marked. I'm gonna have to be looked at. But why did you hit him? I thought Chad's getting more money this way. Now we can take it off. And any more? It's hidden around me. All right. That shouldn't have done. The reason I came over here is that after you left the silver slip, a Mountie came in. A Mountie? Sergeant Preston and that big dog he is. How did he happen to get in so late? This is part of the territory he patrols. I know that. Sergeant Preston couldn't get in here sooner. I heard him talking to someone about dead. And I was afraid he'd come in here. He saw a light. What's happening here? I didn't know where it was. Anyway, we better leave fast. If Chad gets part of it, I'll fire that dog's game. What's wrong, Mike? I don't have to worry about Chad getting conscious. I must have hit him too hard. He's dead. We gotta get out of here fast. I don't want any part of this, Mike. I'm leaving. It's a good one with me, Grayton. Help me pick that mark card. You're in it, too. I don't want any part of the murder. You don't come. I know you'll squeal. No, Mike. I won't. Look at that gold here on this table. It must be much hidden in here somewhere. We can take enough of life right out of this town and get a good start tonight. Chances are they won't find Jed for a few days. That Mountie won't come here. If he leaves town without finding out, we'd have a chance. He won't be back here for a couple of weeks. He'll never have a chance like this again. Now, let's take this money and skip. We'll shut the cabin up and people will think Jed's not working his claim. You'll have to shoot their door down. Everybody knows how fierce he is. Nobody ever comes to this cabin if Jed ain't here to change him first. It'll keep people from finding Jed. It looks good, Mike. I'm with you. Fine. Now, come on now. We're gonna look this cabin over and see if we can find the rest of Jed's money. He's got plenty. It was almost morning and it's Mike and Grayton's struggle-for-use drift. That had been made by a strong wind and heavy snowfall through the night. Drake would be exhausted. I tell you, Mike, I can't go any farther. My legs, I can't lift them. Higher suit. But this weather is the best what we could have had. Mark, are you crazy? Float of doubt. These snowdrifts we've only made about ten miles and nobody can track them. Drift. I was insane. The wind blows snow and I track it right after we make it. I don't see any tracks in Jed's cabin. I can't go any farther. Hey, there's a cabin. That's better off the trail, man. Think we're better at this? There's no smoke coming from the chimney. Maybe nobody phones. Yeah. Now, listen. Better if nobody knows where to get it. You hide behind those trees. I'll go along to see if anybody's there. There is. You wait a while and to then say you came from the other direction. They don't know we've got to stay. All right. How are we here? The following morning when Sergeant Preston of the North West Mottice Police started to leave Moose Clawkins to complete his patrol back to Dawson, use Leclerc, a French-Canadian scrapper, accompanied him. The trail was thick with a heavy snowfall of the night before and hills in the Mottice both the trail ahead of the door. King Sergeant Preston's big lead dog was hitched up ahead of the team to lend his strength to the training animals. He's naughty. I can go with you, Sergeant. Look how he's packing snow, I think. Oh, and we'll be back. Oh, he's glad to have company, Joe. Maybe we won't get very far today, though. He's dressed up bad. Quite a snowstorm on that last night. Joe, is that a dog howling? Listen to that. Looks like it's coming from that cabin that's got the trail there. I believe it. That logo. He's dead moored dog. Dead moored him in the cabin. That dog seems to mostly work. Dead moored. I haven't seen old dead in a long time. I got to the silver clipper last night. He said he really cleaned up the total. Oh, wait. Last night he was very lucky. I wonder what that dog's howling though. Maybe he'd not like to be in the cabin alone. But he can't be alone. Look, there's a big snow just against the door. Just couldn't have left the cabin. Maybe something's wrong with that. Wait. If you are a smart dog, you will not go in the cabin with the logo moored. Get in through first when someone's home. That dog will carry you in little pieces. I wonder if I can knock on the door anyway. See if everything's all right. Okay. Hold on. Maybe he's dead. He'd not go home last night. I wonder what he had to find out. Wait here, Jones. Be careful, Johnson. That dog's very bad. I'm not afraid of him. Stay, Jones. Wait to come in. He has happened to me. He's dead. That is why it all go well. Somebody killed him. He's a little bit ahead of that terror. Look, he's counting. Everyone's seen up first. Yeah, this has been searched. They were probably looking for just money. We were locked in last night after that poker game. Oh, this is odd. What do you see? That must have been playing cards. What? I've been in his hand. Three cards. No, no, no. Don't try to get him started. They are too near low, boy. You will take your hand off. That's why the killer couldn't get them. They picked up the rest of the righteous men. You think maybe them cards, they belong to the man who killed him? Yes. I have to get those cards. No, Jones. Don't go near that dog. He won't hurt me. You know, they're not a threat of him. Step back, low ball. My friend! Here are the cards. Them cards, they are Sony killer. Have you ever played with these cards, Jones? No. I don't gamble. Well, they only truly have. No covered any trail the man might have made, but I think he left town. Why are you doing that, Jonesy? Look at those empty shelves. Whoever did this, that's all the suppliers that have. As well as his gold, Jones. I think you're going to have to go on to Dawson alone after all. I'm going back to town and see if I can find anyone who recognizes these playing cards. They're not like the kind we use to sell the flippers. Oh, darling. Them fur I have. They can wait for trade. Jed is a good friend. Me and I stay and maybe help you, eh? Put yourself to use. You know, this country around here very well. I'd like to have you with me. Oh, well, you better get Jed's body over on that cart, please. And I'll go back to town and see if I can pick up any information. In the meantime, Mike and Drake exhausted from their trip through the snow the night before. Swept in the trapper's cabin. Michael Wolfe has a good assault team outside the cabin. Drake, wake up. What? Wake up. Trapper won't just get in this hole. Are you awake? Yeah. Yeah, I'm awake now. Now, listen to me. We don't know each other. You and me, I mean. We came in here last night at different times and haven't seen each other before. Yeah. That's what it's like. We're going in after the direction for me leaves. You leave before I do and go toward Moose Cross. Make a circle. Wait for me. It's a nice bend in the trail. You know what I mean? Sure. Sure, I know. For a follow, it'll help. They haven't fainted. They're after one man. It's been two. It's better if nobody connects us. It would be too easy to identify them. Yeah. I'll see what you know. Here he comes. You better be safe. Yeah. It's a war. Well, if you don't mind me, you can share with us. Yeah, not a bit. That's what it's for. Sure. That is. I'm mighty glad to find the fire going. Your partner? No. I was just about asleep when he came in. So I'm caught in just the way it did me. You're selling from the other direction. Well, I told you I want to turn in, doctor. Not like that. I'll get this pot off. And I'll have a couple hot tea first. Yeah. I'll get the fire stirred up in the pot. I hear somebody say, are you still again? We talked too loud. I'm glad you did. I got to get the mood shorty. Yeah. That fire goes full blast, man. Yeah, it is cold in here. When you have me by the parking, that's just down the care beside the stove. Yeah. Yeah. Good. There you are. Now, look what I did. I think you got wrong. It's still your playing cards out of the pot. Oh, I'll pick them up. Yeah, yeah. I'll get only out any foot anyway. It isn't a full bag. Yes, I better be getting on the way. Full day trip, mood shorty. I'll pick some tea right away. Yes. Here you go. Thanks. I can use them to start campfires. I hope this blows up pretty soon. Good. Hold the van there. Sergeant Creston left you with a jet cabin and went back to the silver slipper today. Only a few men were in the play. It's on Barney the bartender. It looked up in surprise as the model yet. Oh, Sergeant! I thought you said you were puttin' out of this mood. I intended to, but it's an information I want first, Barney. Have you ever seen anyone playing polka here with cards like these? Not. I would like a card that we have here to serve as lippies. We finish all the playing cards here every night. We don't let people play with our own deck. We mustn't play with the trouble. I see. So, uh, there's men in the valley with our own. We could probably tell you something about it. You'd rather play polka than me. Oh. Well, hello, Captain. How are you, Erling? Good, how are you? You played cards with this about everybody in Luke's car. Did you ever see these before? I mean, tell me something different. Ah, I see it. Yeah. I'll say I did. I almost lost my shirt that night. I remember them, because I said maybe this was my unlucky color. Luke sure is willing. I belong to my gallery. I played at his cabin last week. You were a friend of mine? I know him pretty well. I stopped at his cabin this morning to get back some snowshoes he borrowed. He wasn't there. Uh-huh. What's Mike look like? Well, he looks like everybody else, I guess. He got a black beard that covers most of his face. He's not drawn. He's not short. I don't know. You remember anything more about him, Bunny? Uh, that's about as good as everything's got to be. Yeah, it's good to be. I don't know if this would help, but I saw him short-tempered too much to a man at the bar today. Oh. He's only left four arms. I looked at his boots. What does it look like? Can he get a big slit tattoo around his half-naked elbow? Thanks, Bunny. That'll help a lot. Why do you want all this information, Captain? He can probably find Mike around here somewhere. I'm going to look for him here. Of course. But I don't think I'll find him in town. Ed Moore was murdered last night. What's that? The owner of these cars was the one who murdered him. Startling questions that most of the day is searching for Mike in the town with no results. At the end of jet seven, jewels were still waiting. You find out something, Sergeant? These cars belong to Mike Sellers. He's the one we want. Uh, Mike Galloway. I don't know. He didn't have a very good reputation. He made his living gambling with much pride. Uh, what we do now, Sergeant? I don't make his living gambling, as I said. I doubt that he's head for the wilderness. He's going to get to a big town and that's what I mean. He'll take the sales post. Is the trail that goes past his cabin? Yes. We'll try it anyway. That's all we can do. Hey, what about these wood dogs? Is that one true? Yes, I'm thinking. I'll hit them up with a cane. He's never got it. I think maybe I wait outside. Or maybe right here by the door. Don't worry, Joe. He'll be all right. Come on, little old boy. You're doing well. Come on, Sergeant. It's better if you shoot him. He'll get used to me. Right now, I'm going to muckling with a broom. Come on! Come on! Come on! Come on, my son! But, uh, now I'll unleash him. I think now I'll go outside. Come on, Louisville. You're coming with me. Come on, Louisville. You're tough, old fellow, but I think we're going to be friends. As Sergeant Preston had anticipated, it was soon the train's lobo to pull in the freighters with the rest of the team. The wolf dog was afraid of King, who was larger and stronger than he, and he was soon following him peacefully as did the rest of the dog. It was late the following day when the mountain dew hooked the captain of the trapper where Mike and Grace have taken refuge. There he's coming. You stop here? Yes, I think we've got her. Hope we have more luck this time, and we did it together, Gavin. Mike must have traveled all night if he came this way. I think so, sir. But if this man has not seen this, Mike, you think maybe we better go back and start some runaway? Not yet, Joe. We'll keep on burbling. I'm almost sure he came in this direction. Good evening. I'm Sergeant Preston, no question out of police. You glad to see me, Sergeant? Come in. I see more. And this is Joe's lacquered cheese. How's it going? Sit down, make yourselves at home. Would you like some hot tea? I can't say that long, Frank. I'm trying to find out if a man I'm after is taking this trail. Have you seen a man with a wicky black beard all about medium height? That's nice. I've seen three or four like that. Yes, I know. It's not a very good description. Where's your trapper? Talk to a couple of them. This man was, you know, I guess he was just a gambler. He wouldn't know anything about trapping. A gambler, you say? Oh, you can't tell by looking at man if he's playing with cards. I guess he did have a black beard. Oh. Well, yesterday morning, I came home early from my craft line. I would've got back the night before except for that bad snow storm. When I came into my cabin, there were two men sleeping here. Two men? Yes. It turned out they weren't together, though. They left at different times and were going in observation. Oh. One of them had a black beard and he was the one who had the card. Right. He was the one who dropped out of the pocket of his pocket. But that man was a gambler, Mr. Chairman. Could you remember what the cards looked like? Were they like this one? They were. I helped him pick them up. Yes, that was the color of them all, right? Those were all my white fur. That's right. I'll give him that. He was a lot spice-free. He was also a lot. Hey, if you're planning on catching him, you better hurry. He had a long start. There's no way of following the trail either. There's no cover to all the tracks. In any way, a lot of things for you, Mr. Chairman. It was noon, two days later, when Mike and Drake approached the door of Spring Lake. The snow fell steadily and Drake was limping. Mike, what's Kev here? My foot's given out again. I can't go any further. I know what we'll do. You can't go to the edge of the lake. The rest of the while. I think the guns are around the shore of the lake and try to get the rabbit to come. When they come back here? I know. They look across the lake. You see that tall pine tree? Yeah. Well, give me about an hour. I'll go around the shore and do some hunting. You can cut straight across the lake and meet me there. I probably won't suffer with you by the time you get there. The same time. The lake's safe to cut. Oh, that's good. The only way to handle it around is to try to get some game. You build a fire in the rest of the while. You better build it before you leave. I'm not any good at stuff like that. You get some blank. You can build it yourself. Yeah. I'll give you something to cut it in my pocket. I didn't burn them off. You can light a fire with them. I'll carry the gold and most of the past. Take your time and come on your asses. The snow has stopped. And the second sun breaking through the clouds. Two long shadows on the trail. As Barton, Sesson, and Jules approach the shore of Spring Lake. Later that day. Do you think maybe you might try cross Spring Lake? He's lived around here too long to try that. Everybody knows about the horned springs in us. He wouldn't take a chance. But maybe it's not cross on. Maybe we don't know these. You got the body of rappers and cross-legged and Moose Croson. He's no hard. Moose Croson. Someone has trapped there. There is dead fire. Oh, oh, oh. Well, look, Jules. Yeah, someone built a fire all right. Oh, and Moose. Trash leads to the lake. Wait a minute. Look at this, Jules. I have burned flames, I've used it to start his fire. He's got the guys in the same place. You're going to tell him. You're right. Monk is up here. That's his trap. There's a ring called your lord. I think it's Jules. Look out there about 100 yards. Got a hole in the ice. Ooh. Oh, he's trapped. They go right through it. Come on, Jules. We're going out there and see. Might be some place. Look through here with the band then. Right here, boy. He's trapped. They're very clear. He must have started and stopped snowing about an hour ago. He must have known our treasure just like it is. Oh, there is no doubt. He's gone through a hole in life. Look, then trapped. They go right through it. Oh, Jules. All right. Let me try cleaning away from it. I can see them in the snow. I guess that's the end of my callus. This time the mountaineer does not get his man. Oh, but he ended up the same. He'd have been hanged for murder if we'd caught him. This may be his death. Oh, may as well go back. At least we know that Mike's one murderer will never kill again. It was two months later. Sergeant Preston had been sent to the town of Shelter, far off of Dawson City. The mommies stood at the front window of Sandy McNeil's waiting post, talking to Sandy as they looked out at Sergeant Preston's dog gene. About to find a lot of dogs you've got to have Sergeant. Of course, none of them can compare to King's line out there in front. Never was a funer dog than King's. That second dog is a big fella. He looks like a wolf. Oh, that's Lobo. He has a lot of wolves in him. Ah, he's the ambitious, isn't he, Luke? He used to be, but he isn't any more, Sandy. I've worked with him a lot, and now he's one of the best dogs I have. The words were barely out of the mouth of his mouth when a man came toward the trading post. He passed close to the sergeant's dog gene, and suddenly, without warning, Lobo sprang at him, striking them to the ground and pulling the left of the dog gene into a smiling heap. Hey, stop that dog attacking! Sergeant Preston and Sandy were out of the store, but King was very poor of them. He leased his Lobo, pouring him off the man whose arm had been torn as he protected his post. Hey, Lobo! Give him all he needs! I hope that Sandy won't get these dogs breaking out. I haven't had enough! Come into the store! I haven't had enough! Hey, hey, hey! What's wrong with you? Get in the way! A few minutes later, Sergeant Preston, carrying his medical gift, entered the back room in Sandy's trading post, where Sandy had taken the man whom Lobo attacked. King had followed his master into the store, and sat quietly beside the model, as he took Sandy's give and had his back picked out of his kit. I'll put your car right over here. Thanks. I'm fine. I've known this tank, don't I? I can imagine why you did it. I was just walking past. Not even looking at it. I'll roll up your sleeves, or it'll be left at all. That won't be any better. I'm sure I'll give him a nasty bite. You'll have to pay cards with one hand, won't you? That bears a testament. Call me if you need to think. Please, speaking of that... There it is. What? What's the matter? I, uh... That tattoo mark had startled me. That makes head once right at the end of my arm. It does look ugly. I'm glad that part is on my left arm instead of my right. I'll have to watch Lobo after this. Lobo? You mean that's the dog's name? The dog is, isn't it? Yeah, that's why. It doesn't mean quite enough. No, it's kind of cheating, I guess. Mike? Yeah. My name's not Mike. It's Joe. But the idea of calling me Mike Your answer to it is without thinking. You're Mike Ellicott. What do you mean? That explains why Lobo attacked you. You might have just mastered that more. I don't know what you're talking about. You shaved your beard off, but I think if I take you back to Moose Crossing, you'll be recognized. Get under arrest. No, you don't have to. Pick up your hand. All right, boy. Get his hand. Get up, Mike. He shouldn't have pulled a gun with my dog, what? What's going on? Has he been attacked in two? This man's a criminal, Sandy. He killed a man who once owned Lobo. You fooled me, Mike. I thought you were dead. But you didn't fool Lobo. He remembered your sense. That doesn't prove anything. He never saw me before. Everything I knew about you was that you had a snake tattooed on your left arm. Lobo helped me find that, too. But, sir, why did you think he was dead? Mike can explain that, I think. Who was it that went through the hole in the ice, Mike? It was Drake. Friend of mine. He was the one who done the killing. It was him. He fell through the ice and we were crossing the lake. That's enough, Mike. You didn't cross that lake. There's only one set of tracks. I won't do anything you failed to use against you. You're under arrest for the murder of Jed Ellis. That thing, the case is closed. The challenge of the Yukon, a copyrighted feature, is a George W. Crendel production, directed by Fred Bollarday and written by Newford Merrill. The part of Sergeant Preston was played by Paul Sutton. All names and incidents used are fictitious. Listen again next week to another exciting adventure during the days of the Gold Rush. Fred, for speaking, this program came to you from Detroit. Saturday night, though, not on your life if you see company with ABC, leave a lineup of shows to keep you entertained from early in the evening until it's time to go out and get the Sunday morning papers. For mystery a la mode, Ross Dolan detective is on hand Saturday night. And when Ross speaks to solve a crime, it means 30 minutes of solid action and suspense. Speaking of suspense, wait till you hear a famous jury trial, the Thuring courtroom program that dramatizes typical American jury trials. Then there's gang busters with two crime cases traced from police files all over the country. Murder and missing alone is another tense mystery that's found to keep you sitting on the edge of your chair as that famous criminal lawyer, John Kimmelone, tackles a case of murder. For smashing thrills from early to late Saturday night, be sure to listen when these great shows are broadcast over most ABC stations. This is ABC, the American Broadcasting Company. Well, sir, we not only run down the clock, but we have run it over. We are running late, everybody. So I hope you had a good time with that. Thank you, Tim. And I'll see you all on the radio tomorrow night with ol' Tricky Rick, Rick Sapphire. He's gonna be here tomorrow night, and so will I. And I'm gonna be disappointed if you're not here. So let's have a date, okay?