 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 the black crow cafe worked hurriedly filling and refilling glasses for the man shouting at him from all sides the room was warm and probably picked with raucous laughter in 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 Mr. many men strike it rich so soon I've been lucky all my life friends used to call me lucky Wally much the claim sometimes yeah I'll do that only time I see a white man to talk to who's want to come in here well so yeah red fix me a problem will you know I find you here less hi there sergeant she's got king right with you how are you boy yeah it's a great dog your buddy is less worth twice as weight and you'll 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 he's late as usual he's a funny guy sergeant yeah I've known for most two years now and all I can say about him he's a sob old man 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 but then every man's business is a long as he keeps it on the right side of the law 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 annoyed sorry if I kept you waiting less sorry you're back you always keep me waiting 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 crowded all right oh thanks red what about you sorry I don't know nothing for me thanks you know the Mounties doc always on duty and Tony I don't know how they stand it well being a drinking man it would be a little hard for you to understand less less things he'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 it will I get the deck out say that's funny what me making that crack that I felt like this is my lucky night where is your luck never changes you should know that by this time no I'm serious well I was standing here waiting for 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 Saturday 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 I told him he was very lucky sparking it 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 what do you say his friends call lucky Wally what's wrong doc you look like it's your ghost you know hmm oh no I'm well you meet lots of people that's where's he states this Saturday birch Creek how long ago did you see him not so long what's wrong with wider snow less I wonder if you'd mind we make this game for tomorrow night huh luck might be changed there sorry you have to excuse me hold on wait a minute you can't hear you less how do you like that we're just sitting here I'm even cutting the day he gets up and walks out don't make sense I can say anything to make him mad he's an even tempered he sure had a funny look in his face yes I wonder might as well have another drink of gears 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 good to call himself lucky Wally that's right man with a scar 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 where'd you say that man is staked birch Creek why I'm going out there good night less come on King first dark and now you 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 sin ejected his Parker against the bidding cold of the penetrating wind get the dogs of King on King on you Huskies King right 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 we'll leave the sled here in the shadows they kept someone else had the same idea all right fellow so you finally kick or sergeant Preston how did you mind if I come in doc no no we're looking for I found the man I'm looking for what do you mean I thought so we're gonna yours isn't it yes yes it is when you let the cafe tonight you had a look in your eyes I've seen before you know I've been a police 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 it in the States goes back almost 15 years ago yes while he was an only child the only grandchild Mrs. McCready Mrs. 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 and father both of them died when he was a baby she doped 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 of her death never been discovered it was yes it was murder I was blamed for the murder because with sleeping tablets I get 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 as his own well it only my practice held a 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 to 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 pray he's already a murderer killing him will make you watch 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 anybody 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 coming all right we're ready for him come on in Wally and chop the door how'd you look surprised I made myself at home here sit down and have some tea warm you up I am surprised that the last person I'd expect to meet up here McGregor why not up here it's as good as anyplace 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 ever approved who killed the old lady did they know the man who killed her made off with the emerald yeah that's interesting doc I'll 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 buck of yours and it's still holding out to I struck a claim to knock guys 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 will be before you start feeling dizzy and sleepy before I 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 I've waited a long time for this and you walked right into it now I can't be your feet they'll start to get numb soon listen I drank it I drank all of it'll be painless just like going to sleep only you'll never wake up you don't deserve to die painlessly you gotta save me I tell you I'll turn the whole claim over to you're beginning to feel it huh beginning to get the whole claim every bit of gold but 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 am 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 like what is it the emerald the emerald Wally 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 it's you I wanted in my hands but we'll get that step before I before it's too late you have a few more minutes get the emerald here 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 me from the stairs yes now you have it now now get that stuff fine you're under arrest what did a great job doc I was nothing to it so he's poisoned me I tell you I'll die if he doesn't you'll die all right it'll be with a rope around your neck and not a pouch containing the McCready emerald oh no you don't understand there was nothing in that tea Wally you mean you lied to me it was a trick yes it was a trick I had planned to kill you a sergeant Preston changed my mind I knew you murdered your grandmother but I had to have proof what these handcuffs on in duck we'll take him back to fort one tonight all right I know what I'm like why did you insist King stay in this room with me sergeant I was afraid Wally might pull a gun on you King choose to handling a situation like that I did a more to protect you than anything else arrest and you're part of it could wipe away all the unfavorable publicity you had as a result of the trial we'll 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 Yukon the copyrighted feature of the challenge of the Yukon Incorporated is brought to you each week at this same time and originates in the studios of WXYZ Detroit all characters names places and incidents used in this drama are purely