 The challenge of the Yukon. The King on New Millennium! 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-knotted police who preserved law and order in the new Northwest country with a 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. The bank in Lawrenceville was nearly empty when the tall broad-shouldered man entered it, closing the door behind him. Well, Charlie, let's see. Let me show you how much you've got in here. 50,000 and gold is mine in that safe of yours, young fella. All right. Here's your balance. Don't bother putting that gold away. What? Don't bother putting that away. I'm taking it with me when I leave and more of a sign. A gun! That's right, old friend, but this is a stick up. You can't get away with this! I don't show you! No, you don't! You see what happened to him. You get busy turning the combination on that safe or you'll hit the floor next. Yes, sir. Come on, quit, darling. I ain't got all day. He's turning it as fast as I can. Hey, what the? Drop that gun, mister. I'll put your hands up. Constable Riley, you came in just in time. Yeah. I heard the shot as I was coming down mainstream. He shot Charlie McDonnell. He meant to kill him. It ain't his fault Charlie ain't dead. Well, he ain't gonna do any more killing. Put those bracelets on him, Ted. He'll hang for attempted murder. Two days later, Sergeant Preston haunted his dogs before the jail in Lawrenceville with a faithful king at his heels, walked into Constable Tom Riley's sparsely furnished office. Well, Sergeant Preston, I've got it if you ain't a sight for sore eyes. Oh, aye, anyway. Fine term, and you? Oh, well, I can't complain. Sit down. I heard a couple of days ago that you were heading this way. Couldn't figure out for it first. And then I nabbed this Jackson's fellow from the robbery. I kind of thought maybe you knew what was coming off. I was talking to Ted Hammond as I came into town. He told me about your prisoner. Yeah. Ted will remember Jackson for a long time, I guess. He's kind of a quiet sort, and having a gun pointed at him ain't exactly his idea of a good time. I suppose not. Jackson's going to hang, eh? He sure is. He made a big mistake when he turned his back to the door in the bank. I took him by surprise. Now, most of them killers are too smart to take a chance like that. Yes, most of them are. Well, I'd like to talk to him if you don't mind. To Jackson? That's right. Well, I ain't got anything against the idea, but what intonation you got to talk about with him? We caught him red handed, right? Nevertheless, I'd like to talk to him. Eh, that's alright with me. I'm inclined to think that you've got something up your sleeve, Sergeant. Maybe that's just your suspicious nature, Sam. Well, here's Jackson. Uh, Sergeant Preston wants to talk to you, Jackson. Well, I don't want to talk to him. You ain't got much choice, no matter. Alright, Sergeant. Can you go in with him? Yes. Come on, boy. I'll call when I'm through, Sam. Yeah, sure, Sergeant. I'll be right in the office. You were putting careless, weren't you, Jackson? Might be I'm unlucky. Do you think luck has anything to do with it? I sure. But had good luck, wouldn't be slated to hang in 24 hours. There was a bank robbery in Curtis City seven years ago. The thief murdered a man making his getaway. Was that luck? He got away, he was lucky. He got away, alright. At the same time that a man named Dan Connolly disappeared. What happened seven years ago don't mean a thing to me, Monty. A lot of people in Curtis City believe Connolly robbed the bank. Ever been to Curtis City, Jackson? Why? You might know Connolly. His wife and son still live there and his son's a fine young man now. Yeah, yeah. He and his mother have had a bad time of it. But even so, he won't sell any of his father's possessions. He still has his father's watch and gun. What do you mean, bad time of it? The mind they'd invested in gave up. Gave up? Well, a man ought to look out for his family. This means nothing to me, Monty. You're about as tall as Connolly. Maybe not so heavy and of course you've got a beard, but... I'll see you here. Why are you talking about Connolly? Curious thing about that robbery. The stolen gold was part of a new wish you and the rest of the issue has never been released. Oh, whatever. I ain't... The thief spent one of those gold pieces a few months ago. I have that gold piece. Hold on to it. It might bring you luck. Jackson, the bank in Curtis City is mighty anxious to recover that gold. It's a big reward for its return. Get to the point, Monty. I got one of Connolly's old hats and King here caught the scent of it. He recognized that scent and he walked into this building. You win, Preston. I thought my trail was cold. But when you took over, I knew it was just a matter of time. You purposely bungled a robbery here and shot him. I hope the constable would shoot me. But instead he captured me. And I will hang. But it's better for Joe Jackson to hang. That won't disgrace my kid. Like it would if I was taken back to Curtis City to hang as Dan Connolly. You... You've seen my son? Yes, I have. You say he's having a tough time? He's a little young to show us the much responsibility. Oh. There's a reward standing for the return of the gold, huh? That's right. Well, up to now you've been calling the card and you've been writing every turn. You know who I am, but you don't know where the gold is. No. I don't know where it is. I do know. And I'll make a deal with you. No, no, no. It ain't what you think. I'm not trying to buy you off. You're no better than that, Connolly. Sure. You can take me back to Curtis City if you want to and pin that job on me. But that ain't gonna put the gold back in the bank. Not unless we find it. No, you won't. Sergeant, I'm gonna hang anyhow. Where I hang, don't make much difference, as I say it. The man that's slated to die usually gets one request. Yes, that's good. I want 24 hours of freedom. I guarantee you, I won't try to make a getaway. This dog of yours is smart enough to trail me clear to Dawson. But I got a reason for asking that. Just 24 hours is all I want. You give me 24 hours and I promise you that you'll get the gold. You'll get the gold and I'll swing for taking it. No, you ain't got any reason for handing me a favor. You want to leave, Tom? Yeah. I want to go back to Curtis City. And I want to go back on my own. What's the answer, Molly? Late that night, after Sergeant Puston had talked to him, Constable Tom Riley stood in his office with his keys in his hand, then putting them back in his pocket to walk to Joe Jackson's cell. Yeah, I just want to make sure everything's all right back here, Jackson. Yeah, everything's all right, Constable. Yeah, yeah, so I see. What was that? What was what? Well, I thought I heard something out in the office. Well, you didn't see anyone out there? No, no, I don't. Well, I guess I'll take a turn outside. Good night, Jackson. Good night, Tom. Then I'll put on my mac and arm. That'll be good to get some fresh air. Well, you look like you're ready to hit the trail, Sergeant. Dogs all in harness and everything. Oh, I just have a hunch that I might have to follow a man. Well, it's nice and clear out. Got a move, too. Wouldn't be hard to keep a set of tracks inside on a night like this. What? Someone's leaving the back of the jail. Yeah. Well, my keys are gone. When I turn my back on Jackson, he must... Come on, let's go and take a look. Why don't we find open, Sergeant? There he goes, Tim. Michael is ready to travel. Come on. Get the dogs up, King. I'm aboard, Tim. All set? Yeah. Sure, Sergeant. All right, fella. All in King. All on you, Mellow Mule. Early the next morning, young Peter Conley was busy sweeping the floor of a bank in Curtis City. At the far end of the room, the guard lounges comfortably in his chair. We're not open yet. We're open the door and telling Pete. He don't seem to hear you. Yeah, sure, Mr. Marlin. I'm sorry, Mr., but we're not open yet. If you'll stop by in 15 or 20 minutes. Oh. How come you're in there, then? You work here? I come in early every morning to sweep the place out. Well, look, kid, I'd like to talk to you. You step outside a minute? Well, all right. You ought to have a coat on. No, if you'll just be a minute. What is it you want? You're pretty young to be working, ain't you? I'm nearly 14. Uh, you... Don't you have any folks? Sure. What about your father? He's been gone for quite a while, so there's just Mom and me. What happened to him? I don't know. Mom never said she knew exactly. But he went off on a hunting trip one day and never came back. Well, that's tough, kid. Oh, it's not so bad. A lot of people in town think he robbed his bank, but Mom and me, we know he didn't. He just had an accident while he was... Oh, sure, sure, kid. Someday everybody'll know like we do that he didn't steal that money. Well, you can forget it, kid, because I robbed that bank. You what? I pulled the job. That's why I want to talk to you. I got the gold. It's holed up in the floor of a cabin about 15 miles north of town. The only cabin this side of Blackstone Creek. Oh, God! But I'm stuck with it. It was part of a new issue. I didn't release the rest of it after the robbery, and that means the minute I part with one of them coins, the law will be on my neck. Then you're the thief. Yeah. Now I want you to fix it so I can swap what I took for dust of the same value. I'll make it worth it while, kid. And I'll take it if you can use some cash. Why, uh, just a minute. Hey, where you going? Ah, I have to go inside. Mr. Marlin, Mr. Marlin. Hey, hey, hey. What's he here for? You're all excited. Look, I don't have time to tell you, but come on outside, and you better have your gun ready. What? Quick, before he gets away. Before who gets away? The man who robbed this bank seven years ago. He told me where the gold's hidden. Oh, kid, but he is... Hey, what this boy told me is true. You better reach, Mr. Marlin. Oh, so you went back in for him, huh? No, you're not going to fire that gun, and you know it. Hey, Mr. Marlin, he's getting away. I'm sorry. If I was more sure you got this great. Get away from me, you mutt! Get away! Help me! No! Good work, Shane. Call the cars off, Manny. Come on, sonner. Here's our man, Tim. Hey, this time he won't get away. He's got some teeth. Talk to the president. Hello, Peter. This man made a break from the jail in Lawrenceville, and we saw him. He was running away from you in the garden. That's right, sir. He told me he robbed this bank seven years ago, and that he had some gold hidden in the floor of a cabin just this side of Blackstone Creek. He robbed the bank here? Well, we'll go out to that cabin right now. Well, that means that Jackson has one more robbery and murder on his record. Well, he's going to hang this afternoon. Now, son, I don't know whether you know it or not, but there's a big reward for the return of that stolen gold. That's right. Come on, Jackson. The two of us are going to the jail, and it'll be a one-way trip for you. Fine. I'll go inside the bank for the boy. Gee, I forgot all about that reward. Wait until Mrs. Snyder hears about this. He's the president of the bank. I sure am glad you finally caught the trust. Yes, he's a fine boy. I knew you were there, Sergeant. I saw you watching me. Tell me, did it look real? I'm sure he'll never suspect the truth. Well, uh, hang as Joe Jackson. That's right. And the boy will get the reward. Yes. Thanks. Justice has been more than fair to me. Yes, fella. Thanks to your help, 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 the same time and reach you from our transcription studios.