 The challenge of the Yukon It's King's 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 Battle through storm and snow to preserve law and order as they met the challenge of the Yukon In the early days of the gold rush thousands of men were pouring into the Yukon territory Many of them knew nothing of the perils before them and came without proper supplies and equipment and Would pay any price for a cooking pan and axe a sled or a dog team In a hideout across the border on the Alaska side Three men were discussing their way of getting rich and it was not by panning gold Yeah, that last job brought us in over five thousand dollars Counting the money old Zeb Williams was carrying in his money belt Hey, you sure picked a good prospect that time out. I watch for the ones who bring a lot of equipment with them Usually have money to a good thing you look honest You never have any trouble picking a sucker. They think you're the soul of you I don't mind that part of it. You and Frank do the rest. I don't like the rough stuff I can hold a gun on a man to make him do what I want, but I don't like killing Barton I'll take care of our end of it. Oh, you have to do it's bringing from the Yukon territory to this side of the border We'll do the rest Include and taking the equipment back and selling it again to someone who needs it bad enough to pay through the nose for it You don't think there's any chance of the Monies catching on to this to you They're too busy patrolling their own side of the border to bother with what goes on on the Alaska side Yeah, but Al gets them green horns from their territory. That's a Monies business When I bring them over here on the Alaska side, we don't have to worry about the Monies Murder committed over there is none of their business. That's what's so perfect about this scheme What if they find out about I haven't any way of finding out about this hideout As long as Al starts out on the regular trail north No money is gonna think that he'll turn off it before he reaches Klondike build roadhouse And certainly no green horn is going to know it ain't the right way to go He's going back to town tomorrow. Yes dogs are rested They take a couple of weeks before I can line up another prospective with a good load of supplies we can wait Another one like the last one will really pay off It's a lot easier than grubbing for gold the hard way. Yeah This time I'll get a room at the golden moose hotel There ought to be good pickings up there Al have been at the golden moose hotel for three days before he saw the man who seemed to be a likely prospect The man was young wore an expensive new fur parka fine boots and had on leash a wire hair terrier Al listened as he talked to the clerk. Are you sure there isn't any room at all? I'll pay you well. Well, I'm sorry, but we're full up Town's overcrowded Maybe if you wait around for a day or so, I must have a room Well, I'll try the other hotels. Come on spot. Oh, I'm sorry, mr You are looking for room. Yes, but the hotel is filled. I'll have to try somewhere else You won't have any luck anywhere else either town is packed full Well, I'll have to find something you are new in the north country. Yes. I am I'm planning to go to the Klondike Isn't there any place in town that you know of where I could get a room? I'll have to stay here a few days to make arrangements to go north. Hey, I'll tell you what I'll do I'll let you share my room with me I wouldn't do this with most people, but you look good and honest I got a room right here in the golden moose. Well, that's certainly nice of you Would you mind having spot too? He's gentle and I'd like to have him with me. No, I like dogs. Bring them along You got much baggage. Yes, I have it's outside I have two large packing cases full of supplies, but I'm sure the hotel will have a place for sure You can arrange for that. All right. Say my room number is 220 You take your bags to go on up and I'll fix things with the hotel clerk. This is really very nice of you Oh, I I didn't introduce myself. My name is Pete Nelson. Mine's Al James glad to know you I'll join you in a few minutes It was the following day that sergeant Preston with his big dog king beside him walked along the main street of town Suddenly he saw a huge husky race toward a small wire hair terrier The big dog attacked it savagely while the young man tried desperately to stop it. The mommy ran in to help Stop it. Get back there. Let's go. I say I'll stop them. Get back there Grab your dog. Get him away. I'll hold this one. Who's got him? Come on, Spock That's my dog sergeant. He's sleeping color. He almost killed that little dog Me I I'm sorry. Come on blackie. Get back here. I take care of him sergeant. All right, Andre I fixed that color yours this time. Your dog hurt much I'm afraid he is I'm glad you came along one more minute and that husky would have killed him. Let's have a look at him Easy little fella. Easy now Oh, it's a bad tear You'd better be fixed up by the way I just have a small room at the hotel and the man's sharing it with me I don't think I can take him there. I'll tell you what you can do Bring him over the police barracks and I'll have the vet fix him up for you and uh, Maybe we better let him stay there in the kennels please better. Oh, that's nice of you sergeant He's badly torn and bleeding so much. You'll have to have care. Come on. We'll get him over there right away Al james waited for pete back at the hotel room He had been careful the night before not to seem too curious about him But the big packing cases that pete had brought with him and his apparent wealth Made al impatient to get started on the trip north When pete returned after leaving his dog with sergeant preston al looked up casually Hello, Al Well, did you get everything set? Thinking starting off with me tomorrow. I'm sorry. I won't be able to go with you tomorrow. All right Why not an account of spot? He was hurt. Oh, I wonder where that fancy poochie yours was. What happened to him? Big sled dog got loose and almost killed him. You were crazy to bring a little dog like that up here He's just a good mouthful for those huskies we have I wouldn't trade spot for all the huskies in the north country. Where is he now? Amon, he stepped in and stopped the fight. He took spot over to the police barracks. They think they can save him But he's badly chewed up. It means I won't be able to leave here for at least a week He'd better not wait for me. Why don't you just put him out of his misery? You can't let a dog spoil your plans Living in town is expensive. You're wasting valuable time Spot means more to me than money and time You don't seem to have to worry much about expense, do you? Not as much as most people. Well, why come up here to look for gold then? Most people come up to get rich. I didn't come up to look for gold. You didn't Well, how about all those supplies you brought in those boxes? I brought medicine and cooking utensils blankets and other things Enough to live on for a year Well, what are you gonna do? I didn't tell you before, Al. I was afraid you wouldn't understand I'm a writer A writer. Yes. I want to do a novel on the north country. I came up here for atmosphere Well, there's plenty of that up here. It's too cold for most people Is uh being a writer the reason you're always scribbling something in that little red book Yes, I I use this notebook to take notes about things and people I might want to use in my novel. Oh, I see Well being a writer you uh, aren't used to roughing it much, are you? No, that's why I wanted to travel with you. You're used to handling dogs and you know the country Now I'll have to buy a sled and dog team myself. I suppose and hire a guide Well, I guess I could wait for you. You think your dog will be better in a week? I'm not in a hurry exactly. Oh, I'd appreciate it if you did wait You have such a large sled and dog team and you know the country so well It'd be a big help to me I'll be glad to pay your expenses here at the hotel until we leave. Well, it'll cost you quite a lot of money Oh, I have plenty. Well, then I'll wait It'll be kind of a new experience for me trailing around with someone like you There's a streak of luck meeting you well from what you've told me about the north country I'd have a hard time traveling alone. I know the north country about as well as anyone you could find Aren't you even going to try to find a claim? No, I'm just going to write But I'd rather people didn't know it. I want to live alone and not be bothered That's why I brought enough supplies up here to last a year I didn't tell anyone back home where I was going and I'm not going to write any letters I just told them not to expect any word from me at all say, uh, you know the money who took your dog No He's just going to keep spot until he's well enough to travel They put him in the kennels at the barracks. They'll let me come and see him whenever I want It was the third night that pete had gone to sergeant preston's cabin The monte always took him to the kennels to see spot but this evening as the door opened he heard a familiar bark Oh, hello pete. I was surprised for you. Was that spot barking my spot old boy. How are you fella? I went over the kennels to see him today and it seemed lonesome So I brought him back here for a while. He's getting along fine. Oh, this is certainly nice of you sergeant I didn't think he'd get well so quickly. He's not back to normal yet Can't walk very well, but he'll be all right in a few days Isn't king jealous of him? He was when I brought him in but they're good friends now king seems to know he needs help He's learned spot's name. What's this? Here's his color king Take it to spot take it to spot fella He's doing it good boy Oh, this is a smart dog you have sergeant I thought spot was intelligent, but I didn't think he'd learn a name that quickly No king has seen him before this. I took him with me and I went to the kennels each day Do you think it'll be all right if I hold spot on my lap for a while? He won't let me leave. Certainly sit down All right here spot That's it Baby you for a while The little devil he wants sympathy some dogs are like children when they're sick They want all the attention they can get all right now. I still find the little dog you have there pete has a lot of nerves Sick as he is. He wasn't a tall afraid of king. That's the trouble with him. He doesn't know his limitations When that husky came for him the other day, he should have turned and run instead of standing his ground the way he did Most areas have plenty of spunk You'll have to watch him up here though, but he's no match for these dogs. I hope he's learned a lesson But I doubt it. I guess I shouldn't have brought him I've had him since he was four weeks old and Well, I've taken him everywhere. You're planning to do some prospecting. No sergeant I'm a writer. I'm planning to do some stories about the north I might even want to use you and king in some of them if you don't mind We'd be flattered. I already have some notes about you in my notebook I even drew some sketches of king. You want to see them? Well, yes, I'd like to here's the book The sketches are on the last pages Oh, yes, here they are They're good. Are you an artist too? No, not good enough to do it professionally Who's this uh sinister looking person here at the bottom of the page? I hope that's not your idea of me No, that's al the man who's taking me north with him. He's really not as bad as he looks He has a good dog team and sled and can carry all my supplies. What are you planning to leave? Just as soon as spot can travel. Oh, that'll be about three days You know where you're going. I want to go up to the Klondike. That's where al's going You'll take the trail straight north It's a rough trip with winter coming on I expect that But adventure is what I came for and I should meet some colorful people There's one man you should meet. He can give you a lot of ideas He's an experience in himself You will meet him too because you'll stop at his roadhouse on the trail. Oh, probably the third night His name is Klondike bill Klondike bill He'll tell you stories about this country just as long as you'll listen to him You'll get plenty of material from him. I'm glad you told me about him sergeant I'll plan to stay at his roadhouse for two or three days if he's that interesting You're a traveling companion might not want to waste the time. Oh, I won't care as long as I pay the expenses He's waiting a whole week for me. He planned to leave three days ago Most of the men break their necks to get up there as fast as they can before all the gold claims are taken You're lucky to find someone like Al. I think so too Well, I guess I'd better take spot back to the kennel and not waste any more of your time Do you think I can take him up day after tomorrow? Oh, I think spot could ride on the sled for a few days It was certainly lucky for us that you came along when you did sergeant I don't know how to thank you for all this. Glad to do it, Pete I'll have spot here a day after tomorrow for you. Oh, uh, I'd like to see you again before you go That'll be fine. I'll come here for him then. Come on spot. We'll go back to the kennel A few days later Pete had called for spot at sergeant pleston's cabin and left for the north It was that evening when the sergeant and corporal green with whom he shared the cabin Were preparing for bed that king picked up a small notebook from behind a chair And brought it to the mountie. What is it king? What'd you find? Give it to me, thinner. Where do you find that? The notebook Pete's notebook must have fallen out of his pocket when he called for spot this morning He left for the north didn't he? Yes, he did and this notebook's important to him Did he leave a forwarding address, do you suppose? I'm afraid not. He wasn't sure just where he was going to live Oh, well, maybe he'll write you for it and tell you where to send it Just a chance I might be able to catch him at clown bike bill's roadhouse and the way north I told him about bill and suggested he spend a few days but he didn't get some local color for his novel Sure, you'll get it there all right Are you starting north tomorrow? Yes, more reports have come in about missing people corporal Start a few months ago with a man named Zeff Williams Seems he started for Dawson to join his nephew and never got there Since then there've been several more similar cases The inspector seems to think they're being way laid on the trail somewhere and their supplies and money stolen Well, maybe part of soopie smith's crowd is moving up here from the Skagway trail They haven't tried anything like that on this side of the border corporal They seem to feel a little safer when they're out of our territory Do you think there's a chance he might be making short raids over the border then going back? No, they could easily do that Taking care of that now. What do you mean? It's a new order out corporal The Northwest mounted has been given permission to cross the border into Alaska territory if necessary That should help us a lot I think the first place I'll check for these people is Klondike Bill's That rail from here to his roadhouse is near the border It branches away from the border from there on If each stays over to get better acquainted with Bill, I'll catch him day after tomorrow Klondike Bill shook his grizzled head and aimed a stream of tobacco juice accurately into the tall brass Cuspidore that stood near the stove in his roadhouse jumping snake sergeant I can't remember the people who come into this place They most all look the same dirty mad and cussing the country Most of them too tired to sit and listen to a good yarn I can't tell you how many have come through here during the past few months Too many to take off. I know that but there's one man on this list. I'm sure you'd remember bill His name's Pete Nelson Young man in his 20s clean shaven as a small white dog with him a wire haired terrier Well, I ain't seen any dog like that around here. I told Pete to be sure and talk to you bill I know he meant to stop here He wanted to hear some stories about the north and I knew you could tell him some you bet I could sergeant No, sir. He didn't stop here. I'd have remembered him if it was yarns. He wanted to hear I ain't had a chance to tell any lately Started one last night and after about two minutes everybody was asleep and I was talking to myself I was telling about the time I was up in the wildcat holler It was more than five years ago. I'm afraid I'm going to have to wait a while to hear that one bill I'm worried about Pete. Don't see that you can do much about him Might as well sit and wait. Maybe he'll show up Now as I was saying I was up in the wildcat holler. I uh came over the trail after he did bill so there's no possibility of that Well, maybe he didn't come north at all I know he came north. Come on gang Only thing I can do is go back over the trail and search the country between us and the border In the meantime, Pete and Al James were mushing steadily west The day had been sultry and cloudy Toward the afternoon the sky had cleared and pete looked puzzled as he noticed the setting sun ahead of him Al are you sure we're going in the right direction? Of course. I'm sure I know this country like the power of my hand But we're headed due west Sun is setting straight ahead. We'll be heading north again soon I'm returning the trail about five miles ahead Now you just let me worry about this beat. We should have come to clondike bill's roadhouse by this time What do you know about clondike bill's roadhouse? I was anxious to meet bill I was told he'd give me lots of ideas for my novel. You should have told me that long ago I'm taking a different trail shortcut We won't get the bills at all going this way. Well, let's go back then and go the other way I want to meet him. That's too late now I'm not losing time going back to listen to that old windbag You'll find plenty more like him up. We're going after all I should have something to say about this I'm running this trip from now on kid. You're just sitting back and following orders. I'm afraid I don't agree with you When we started out the agreement was that you Spot jumped off the sled. Stop him Spot, come back here Oh, hold on Full dog's all that rabbit run by his chaseman. He shouldn't be running like that. He'll open up his wound Spot, come back here. How are you trying to get him back? He's out of sight. I must get him I'm going after him. Listen, you're staying right where you are We're not waiting any longer for that fancy two-bit dog of yours He can't catch up with us. We'll be good riddance. Come on. I'm not going now. The neither are you Nope You see this get on that sled you're riding from here on God Who are you doing on that sled and stay there? No monkey business. But what's the meaning of this? You said you weren't in any hurry. You're going with me and you're not asking any questions. Get on that sled I'm going to get my dog back try it Try walking away from here and I'll shoot All right, I guess you would I'd be a fool to take a chance I'll get on the sled when we make camp tonight. Don't get any notions about sneaking away in the dark You'd be lost in less than an hour Without food or a pack it'd be about the best way a tender foot could pick to commit suicide Pete's wire-haired terrier spot had pursued the white rabbit for over a mile He was exhausted and weak but kept on with all the spirit and tenacity of his breed And then as the small dog near the main trail He felt a searing pain and blood stained the white fur on his shoulder as the old wound opened He felt himself growing weaker and stopped to lick the wound When he tried to walk again. He staggered and knowing he'd get no farther Crap to a thicket near the trail It was the following morning when sergeant Preston driving his team back from fondyke bill's roadhouse Stop the dogs when king left the trail barking Oh What's wrong king you find something? What is spot oh poor little fella you're half frozen Wonder how you got here a sign of pete His blood on us now only yours have been bleeding Wonder if you ran away from pete and couldn't get back Oh, come on spot. You're going for a ride on my sled. We'll find out for those dogs if you started one king Sergeant Preston following the trail of spot soon reached the place where the dog had left the sled It led toward the hills and the mountain continued his pursuit Darkness was falling and he was about to make camp Yet stopped his dog team when suddenly spot began to bark and pull on the leash that held him King's ears pricked forward and then sergeant Preston heard a cry ahead Quickly the mountain drove his team ahead I'm king A man was staggering beside the trail in the snow. He stopped as he heard the dog Can't you see me peace? No, I I'm snow-blooded Oh, I'm so glad you came. Well here come over and sit on the sled. What happened to you? Where's Al? I got away in the middle of the night after we camp How did you find me? That bark should tell you Spot spot old fellow Where did you find him son? We found him near the trail sit here and out when I bandaged your eyes You should never try to get away with no equipment. You're frozen to death tonight I guess that's why Al didn't bother to come after me He took everything away from me when we camp. Oh He wouldn't let me go back after spot when spot chased a rabbit When we camped I sneaked away It was hard to follow the trail in the dark. I didn't get very far And the glare from the snow blinded me after the sun came up Al took my goggles too. Lucky thing for you that spot decided to chase that rabbit I was trying to find your trail leading away from the main trail spot made things a lot easier I knew Al wasn't taking the right direction. His trail leads to the border must be over it by now there I'll leave that bandage over your eyes. I'll be all right by morning. I think thank you sir I suppose if Al is going across the border, there's no hope of catching He'll go all my money and equipment if you're better by morning are going to continue right on his trail I have an extra pair of goggles you can wear. I'd like to go with you sergeant. I'm sure my eyes will be all right The following days sergeant Preston and Pete followed the trail of Al that led through the hills across the border daylight was fading when they approached a long valley And the multi stopped his dog team at the top of the hill that left to it Do you see something sergeant? Yes, please Look over there at the left smoke coming up behind those trees down in the valley The cabin there somewhere going to look for my binoculars. It's a lucky thing that you noticed He could have spotted us coming down the hill even in this light cabin all right They won't go any farther yet, please. I don't watch that cabin for a while. It's about an hour of daylight left By watching you may be able to find out how many men are there I suppose they intended to kill me after we got here Yes, I think that's what happened to the others that disappeared Our problem is to get to that cabin without being seen and get into it after we reach it We can sneak down there after dark. No, the slept dogs would warn them They're tied at one side of the cabinet. Oh, I didn't think of that Pete I may have to use you after all But you'll be risking your life. You saved my life sergeant. At least I can do his risk it for you Maybe I can be the hero of my own novel Darkness had fallen and the small cabin in the valley was lighted by a lantern that stood on the rough table Al Frank and Bart had finished their supper but continued the argument that had lasted through the meal I still say you should have gone back and found that tenderfoot Somebody finds his body the shirt of trailers. What's the use of arguing about it? Al didn't go back after him and no amount of talk is going to help I tell you I couldn't I had all that slow to stuff on a sled I couldn't go chasing him without tiring the dogs too much to get here with it. Oh, we'd better move out of here That's all I got to see. I still don't see how you let him get away. I was tired and when I was sure he was asleep I went to sleep myself. I took everything away from him. Didn't even have any matches He tried to travel without goggles and that glare yesterday must have gone sun blind. Oh, that was right, Bart He couldn't get very far with no food or matches The son was too bright yesterday for a tenderfoot without goggles on that trail He's a writer. He probably knows that he doesn't know anything about the north country I tell you and I was careful not to tell him anything Hey, listen What's wrong with the dogs? Hey, maybe somebody's coming. Hey, you see I told you Al Put a coat in front of that lantern while I sneak out the door. I don't want a light behind him Right. You got your gun. Certainly. You think I'm crazy I got the lantern covered go ahead What Let me in. Hey, that sounds like Pete. Who is it? Is that you? It is Pete Frank. That's the tenderfoot. Let him in. He must have followed me here. No tricks you I've got a gun on you. Please Please let me in. I I haven't eaten for two days. Hey, wait a minute. I'll make sure you're not fighting a gun Al knows I'm not. What did you get here? After I left you I Realized I couldn't make it alone I followed your trail, but I I couldn't catch let him in right go on in Sit down here Get him some brandy. What's the use of wasting brandy on it? Why it's right. You don't need any brandy Well boys, I guess we can relax now. There's nothing to worry about. I told you that all along well, but I guess the next piece of business is yours Yeah Right on your feet you What get up We're going outside. What are you gonna do? Come on on your feet. You You mean you're going to kill me No He just gone out to give you some lessons and target practice. I guess you should have stayed in the hills, Pete Freezing would have been easier. This is a lot quicker Come on get going Can't you help me now barrier I get going hurry up and get it over with bark They were sure lucky for us. You must have had a hard time getting here Glad shoot them his bot's job It was kind of a nice fellow. Ah, you're too soft Good thing we have bark to handle the tough part of this bar Well, that's over with we can bury him in the morning with the rest of them We're gonna have quite a cemetery before we're through They're good work bark Hold him there king watch him boy Yes, Pete Man tried to pull a gun on me, but king got him Sergeant pression was waiting outside al when I came out with bark the sergeant took care of him with the butt of his pistol The shot you heard was fired into the air for your benefit Get over here. I'm handcuffing you two together back thing. I have his gun boy. Get up you Shall I drag Bart into the cabin sergeant? I'll help you just as soon as these two were handcuffed There that'll take care of them Watch them boy. Oh, we got the other one Yes, king this case is closed The challenge of the ucon a copyrighted feature is a george w trendle production Directed by fred flower day and written by milrid merrill the part of sergeant preston is 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 boy speaking this program came to you from detroit In the growing fight against juvenile delinquency radio has made a lot of valuable contributions One of the programs that combats juvenile delinquency is abc's sunday afternoon drama david harding counter spy Counter spy was recently praised by miss helen parkhurst the well-known pioneer in progressive education Children identify themselves with good characters like david harding and as a result come a step closer toward developing into responsible citizens Children enjoy this program because they delight in the many surprises and twists of such a clean well motivated mystery Each episode on this fast-moving program is carefully thought out and planned and keeps abreast of current problems For drama tackling real immediate situations and for downright entertainment don't miss tomorrow afternoons david harding