 The challenge of the Yukon It's King 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 Sergeant Preston of the Northwest mounted police Walked back to the cabin with young Phil Williams after the funeral of Phil's father The cabin seemed lonely and deserted and was filled with a stale tobacco smoke of the prospectors Who had helped fill with the final rites of the funeral? The sergeant's big lead dog was at his side and whined as they entered the room that still retained a scent of death My down king. I don't blame him for whining This cabin is a gloomiest place in the world Sit down sergeant. All right, Phil. I Can't stay very long Just wondered if you'd made any plans about your future thought maybe I could help you yes I have sergeant. I'm leaving Dawson Dad's claim isn't any good. He hadn't been sick. I'd have left long ago Selling the cabin and going up the Klondike River with Steve Randall Steve Randall But Phil Steve's bad medicine. What made you decide to do that Steve's all right now And then he gets into a little trouble Just because he has a lot of energy in a quick temper we get along fine I had an idea that I thought might interest you but maybe it won't what was it sergeant Well, I thought you might be interested in joining the Northwest Mounted Police me be a money me. Yes, I'd be glad to recommend you Of course, it's not an easy life, but it's exciting and interesting I never thought of it. I don't know anything about it. What would I have to do? Well, you'd have to go into training of course Here's a pamphlet that'll tell you about it if you're interested. I couldn't go back on Steve now I Promised I'd go with him. I'll let no rush about it. Take that along and read it Maybe if your venture with Steve doesn't turn out the way you thought it would you might try being a money. Thanks sergeant. I'll read this Steve's quite optimistic about this prospecting deal. Be wonderful if we strike gold. I'd like to be rich money isn't everything Phil To change your mind. Let me know. I'm afraid it's all decided Steve hasn't enough money to go by himself I'll get enough out of selling the cabin to help grub stakers added to what Steve has He knows the country well too and thinks he has aligned the good claim if we can get up that far. Oh, where is it? I don't know exactly. It's on the Klondike River somewhere Steve spent a lot of time up there last year. I think it's near Kramer's landing. That's the nearest trading post to it Well, at least I'll see you once in a while Kramer's landings in my territory. I patrol it good I thought maybe I wouldn't see again for a year or two You and King are the ones I'll miss most after I leave. I'm sorry. You decided to do this so quickly I'm afraid I never liked Steve much. Well, that's the people don't I think that dog is makes him unpopular Diablo so big and ugly He'll take a hand off anybody who gets too near him that dog could be trained differently with the proper treatment Sometimes the dog grows to be like his master Maybe that's Steve now. He said he'd come over. I have to go anyway Come on Hello, you don't mind if Diablo comes in with me, do you don't let him in Steve Sorry Diablo got past me before I could stop it. Come on, King outside Get out, King You're too bad we couldn't let him finish it They would have made a good fight if you want to have anything left of your dog You'd better teach him some manners attack King before King even son Diablo can take care of himself He likes to fight And that bet on him even against that money yours sergeant. I don't bet on a sure thing or I'd take you up on that Well, Phil, I'll run along. I'll see you before I leave won't I oh sure Take me a few days to get everything settled. Thanks for everything sergeant You need me for anything? Let me know I will. Thanks Goodbye sergeant Did you tell him you were going away with me? Yeah Anything wrong in there? Just that it ain't any of his business sergeant Preston's one of my best friends. Yeah Did you tell him where we're going could I when I don't know myself oh Well, it's best not to say anything to anybody keep your business to yourself I don't see what harm that can be and I told you I knew where we might strike gold. Isn't that yes Well, if you got a brain in your skill, you know that if people find out about it They might follow us don't you all right Steve? I won't mention it to anyone again. I'll see that you don't Now we got to make plans When you sell this cabin we'll buy a dog team and supplies We should be ready to go in about a week if everything goes all right Over a week had passed and Steve and Phil's row their dog team over the trail north It was almost dark one evening when they approached a small cabin near the river It was far from any other sign of habitation and even the trading post was back about five miles on the trail As they came nearer to the cabin Steve Chuck Well, I gotta hand it to myself. I didn't think I'd find this place as soon as it certainly is far away from everything Look Steve somebody's living there. There's a life. Oh sure. So John Avery's cabin He's living there. Then then this isn't the gold claim you told me about I suppose it's near here somewhere You'll find all about it in good time There's an old man you heard the dogs I guess Hello, John You don't sound very cordial Grandpa, but what are you doing back here? Just aiming to do a little prospect Aren't you going to invite us in? It's a friend of mine Phil Williams John Avery glad to know you mr. Avery. Hope we're not disturbing you too much All right, are you planning to stay here? I certainly Will I on its Diablo? He likes to stay in the cabin with don't bring that ugly beast into my cabin now John That's no way to talk about Diablo. We may not like it Steve why can't we camp somewhere instead of staying here this cabin's too small for all of us the Diablo to it's big enough Come on Diablo I get your car cuss out of the way John before I let Diablo eat you for his supper Steve Come on in where it's warm. If you'd rather we went somewhere else, mr. Hey, yes, you better go on in Soon as you get warm Phil you better go out and feed the dogs and fix them for the night. That's Steve Do you think we ought to stay here? I feel it. I don't let old John bother you He's never offered to take anybody in with him. He let you freeze first I'd take lots of people in if they were the right kind of people Don't consider you one of them. No, it's not the way to talk to an old friend. Oh I Met your grandson in Dawson John Seems as if he couldn't stand your margely ways He said he had a prior fist loose for enough money to get back to the states and left you here alone He didn't like to work at Miley. I Gave him the money to get out I bet it just about broke you out to part with it, too And you were there with just claim on these my clay matrix Who told you that I decided to help your grandson try and forget the days he spent rotting up here with you I Must have given them just a little too much to drink it Made his tongue wag something off Steve. I'd better go out and feed the dog. No, sure go ahead. I Thought maybe you're a little on some up here all alone John. I've lived alone most of my life. I Never get lonely Well, you won't get lonesome from now on We're gonna stay with you. What do you mean? I decided you needed a partner You got more gold now than you could ever spend Time you gave somebody else a chance you get out of here now My dog doesn't like it when you threaten Don't go out that gun John Sorry, I had to shoot but it was either you You shot the old man. Yeah, yeah Threatened to kill me and I had to shoot him Guess he's a little bombing Oh, that's too bad. I didn't mean to kill him Guess I got a little excited. You seem pretty calm about it. Well Accident is an accident. We better go back to trading posts and report this right away So you won't get into trouble. Don't be a fool. That's how we would get into trouble Nobody will know anything about it Steve I listen here John never sees anybody but twice a year he goes to the trading post for supplies He hasn't any neighbors who come to see him. How do you know so much about him? I was up in this neck of the woods last year His grandson was here then And now he's left to go back to the States Nobody can find out about this unless we tell him Steve This isn't a claim you meant when you talked about coming up here was it And what if it was you mean you plan to come up here because your new old John was here alone and Unprotected feel why don't you're smart enough? Here's a fortune lying right in your lap And you're worrying about an old codger who didn't have more than a couple of years to live anyway, but Steve You can't get away with this We start working this claim and somebody's bound to see us and start investigating who said anything about working his claim What else would you I know old John has plenty of gold hidden in this place, and I know where it is His grandson gave me plenty of information than Dawson We're taking that gold and skipping Steve Why did you get me in on this you could have had all the gold for yourself? You know I needed a dog team and supplies to get here And another thing and planning to hide out in the mountains for a while until all this blows over I Didn't want a chance traveling alone in the cold. I Was pretty sure you'd be reasonable about it. I didn't know the plan included murder. Nobody's gonna know it's murder What do you mean? After we find the gold we're going to burn this cabinet with old John in it Nobody'll know what happened to him Why it's so awful now listen Phil you're either playing along with me or not I'm in this right now up to my ears and one more killing won't matter too much It's only fair to warn you there's another bullet in this gun why Steve I didn't say anything about not playing along with it Just a shock that's all He didn't tell me what you're playing. Oh, yeah Hey, I guess you're right Just the same until I'm sure of you. I'm the one who's handling the guns. Oh and another thing Phil Don't forget Diablo He's gonna be watching every move you make Eat your fellow I'm sorry you don't trust me more than oh no hard feelings. It's just in shorts Now I'll tell you the rest of my plan the rest when they find out that old John has been burned to death in his cabin His grandson is going to be legal heir to this claim and it's a rich one, isn't it? You bet it is But John's grandson hates this country. He wouldn't come back here for all the money in the world So I'm going to write to him and offer him a price for it. You know where to find them I Took care of that when I talked to him in Dawson. I got his address then Before we left, you knew just exactly what you were going to do. You had this all planned. Yeah Now maybe you won't be worried about playing along with me You know, I'm a lot smarter than you thought I was I asked you You're a lot smarter than I thought you were Though it was early morning Darkness still covered the vast stretches of the North country as Phil and Steve finished packing supplies on the bags of gold on the dog sled Steve was careful to watch every move of Phil's Even when the only thing left to do was to start the oiled soak branches that were stacked against the cabin You stay over the sled Phil. Well, I'll touch it off Aren't you gonna put Diablo in harness? I sure I am. He's my lead dog, isn't he? But I'll have time to do it when I come back to the sled and certainly don't trust me much Do you see you've watched every move I've made or you can't blame me for being careful? I guess you're alright, Phil You wouldn't be full enough to give up a chance like this And until we get away from here, I just ain't taking any chances Watch him Diablo It'll take me just a minute or two Here Diablo It's a piece of meat Eat it boy. I can just pin this to the tree with my knife. I hope it holds There she goes and it'll be blazing in a minute. Come on. Let's get away. I'll be roaring in no time. Come on, Diablo Hey, what's he? I had some dried beef in my pocket. I gave him a little piece of it Oh, so you're trying to make friends with him, eh? Well, I won't do you any good Diablo's my dog And he does what I say. Sure is your dog. I didn't think you'd care if I fed him Well, don't do it again Phil. Nobody feeds that dog but me understand. Sure Steve You should have told me. Come on Diablo. Up front! We better get out of here before that cabin starts to flame No human eyes saw the column of smoke that rose from old John Avery's cabin as Phil and Steve sped north into the mountains It was three days later that Sergeant Preston stopped his dog team in front of the trading post at Kramer's Landing on his regular Patrol All right, King come on in with me How are you, Eric? Fine, thanks You're up here a little early this trip, aren't you? Yes, I came straight up here instead of following my usual patrol He ain't trailing anybody, are you? You know a man with the name of Steve Randall? Steve Randall? Well, yes, he was around here last summer. You seen him since then? No, I haven't You after him for something? He came up this way with a young friend of mine, Phil Williams I didn't know much about Steve. After they left, I made some inquiries Seems he spent some time in Selkirk before he came to Dawson and was wanted down there for getting into a shooting script Not exactly the right kind of a man for this friend of yours to be run around with, huh? That's right Phil told me they were coming up here somewhere. I'm sorry you haven't seen them They were going to do any prospecting around here that had come to you for their supplies. Yep, it was the only trading post from miles around Well, hello, Red Eagle Ring first to trade. You know, Sergeant Preston, don't you? I know I don't think he does Do you live in the Indian Village east of here, Red Eagle? No, we live in Cabin on River He lives about eight miles from here Red Eagle is one of the best trappers in the territory for me Me see Cabin on River all gone from fire me see today Cabin burned down. Who's is it? Old man. Him name is John him live there a long time Him burn up in Cabin. You saw his body. Huh? Say that must be old John Avery I don't think you knew him Sergeant. He lived alone out on the river towards Red Eagle's place Wonder how it happened. Did you touch anything Red Eagle? Did you take the body out? Oh me not touch me look Then come here. I'll go back with you when you leave. You can show me where it is Well, I'd be glad to help you bury him Sergeant if you want me to go with you That won't be necessary. Thanks Eric Red Eagle will help me. You can show me where the cabin is The cabin of John Avery was almost entirely destroyed and it wasn't a pleasant task to bury old John a Sergeant Preston bent over the body. He noticed something that brought a puzzled frown to his face. Just a minute Red Eagle Look at John's head Oh from bullet John Avery was shot. He didn't burn to death Man kill him. Yes. I think someone killed him and burned the cabin deliberately going to have a look around here No cover all track then tracks me make when we find Cabin burn. Oh, I can see those tracks are fresh Red Eagle I'm not accusing you of doing this The wind's blown this loose snow over any other tracks might have been main What a knife in three Yeah, it's a hunting knife. There's a paper pin to the tree trunk. But that looks like You got it loose that picture of police on paper. It's the mother police pamphlet. I gave to Phil Williams. My name's on it Knife go through picture You mean maybe him want to kill you. I don't think so Phil left us here hoping someone would report it to the mother police What if he wrote a note on it anywhere? I have something If you use burnt wood to write it I'd make it out Must be an M Word might be And there's a letter N Maybe Where him go that's what it is ready go this means mountains north they've gone into the mountains north of here Oh, they're only one trail through pass All other trail not good. But you show me that trail ready go me not going mountain You don't have to come with me ready. Go just show me the trail Oh They show you good. Well, very old John first and we'll find that trail once I got on it I'm sure Phil will have it marked some way. Come on ready go Phil had to admit that the hideout to which Steve had led him was a perfect one The seldom used motton trail led to a cave high up the slope that overlooked the winding path below Anyone approaching had a pass directly beneath them and could be easily identified They'd been there three days, but Phil knew that Steve still distrusted him. I Guess you Diablo better stand watch for a while Phil. I'm gonna have a little sleep Why don't you let me have a gun Steve? I'm pretty helpless without one. Why do you need a gun? If you see anyone coming all you have to do is call me. I'm a better shot than you are Still don't trust me. Do you? Oh, it's not that I just cautious or ammunition won't last forever This one box is all it's left. I can't take any chances on wasting any but this dog Why does Diablo have to stay with me every minute? He's just helping you that's all If anyone comes Diablo get their scent before you can even see him watching me not the trail I can't even walk as far as that boulder without having him snarl at me. I don't know why he acts like there Maybe it's just your imagination How long do you plan to stay here a couple of weeks? By then it'll be safe to go back to Kramer's landing and get the news about old John's death I Keep this fire going. I'm gonna get some sleep. I didn't sleep a wink last night. That was Diablo's fault He'd start growling every two minutes Seem to me that you were prowling around little that's what bothered him. I think growl every time I turned over He'll get used to you after a while Diablo is always suspicious of everybody I keep an eye on that trail Diablo you keep watch oh boy Unguard for it It was early the following morning and Phil was busy folding up the bedroll in the cave when suddenly he heard the voice of Steve at the entrance Yes What's wrong Someone coming up the trail keep your head down Did you bring the bullets here? Here's the box. I'm going to get over behind that rock I don't think we can be seen up here with a sunshine and right into the canyon from the east It'll blind anyone who tried to look up here. It's a dog team one man quiet. I said Diablo Hey Look at that big gray lead dog That looks like Phil that's King. That's Preston Monty. You can't shoot him Steve You can't shoot a money back Phil get away from me Diablo watch. Oh, what's wrong with you? I had good reason for not pressing you. You knew that Monty was going to follow us. Are you crazy? Why would I want to be caught? I'm not as crazy. You thought I was Yeah, I was right to watch you. I Don't move or Diablo leech you alive. I watch a boy Stay back there after I get the Preston. I'll take care of you This rifle loaded Wait what? There's nothing but rocks in this box Phil What did you do with the bullets that were in here? What do you mean? That's why you were crawling around last night. You put rocks in here took the bullets out. Oh, you dirty double-cross it I watch him Diablo Don't move Phil I'm going to get that Monty with the one bullet. I have left and I'll tend to you later Steve. Don't shoot it Preston There's too late Phil I got him I start walking down there You'll have a gun on him and some rifle bullets on the sled and I'm getting them Won't do you any good to go down there Steve that dog of Preston's won't let you near him Diablo take care of King The Mountie is conscious and can shoot I'll use you as a screen to get to the sled and get the bullets and Get along now or I'll bash you over the head with this rifle Watch him Diablo Only Phil's cry of warning had saved sergeant Preston from a fatal wound The sun shining into his eyes had blinded him and he didn't see the figure of Steve above him At the sound of Phil's warning he dropped to the ground in the bullet from Steve's gun creased his head as he fell As Steven Phil approached the Monty's still lay unconscious his big dog King standing guard beside him The great dog bear his fangs as the men approached and Steve stopped uncertainly Don't try it Steve you go near that sled King will get you Diablo take care of him while they're fighting I'll get the bullets second As Diablo launched himself at King King met the attack in mid-air and the two animals rolled in the snow with roars of savage fury It was then that Phil turned on Steve though. He realized he was no match for the larger man He knew we had to keep him from the Monty and the sled Desperately he grasped him around the waist and held on stubbornly as Steve tried savagely to beat him off You're not gonna get it on your head It was an unequal struggle and Steve at last broke free leaving Phil on the ground trying desperately to get to his feet Steve rushed towards Sergeant Preston then the gray shadow of King leaped on his back Diablo crawled away thoroughly beaten Desperately fighting the big dog King Steve called to his dog for help as Phil rushed to Sergeant Preston's side Sergeant Preston, are you all right? I was afraid Steve. It killed you. It's my head. I have a stunned I guess Where's Steve? King's holding him. I threw all Steve's bullets away and Steve was trying to get your gun. My gun helped me up Are you all right? I'm a little dizzy. I'll be all right in a minute King is King of Steve pinned to the ground Did you find the pamphlet I pinned in the tree with my knife Yes, I did and I found the mark she left for me on the trail. Good work, son All right, King come here fella Phil has your coverage Steve. Don't try to get away. Come here boy You little double crosser. I should have shot him first I knew the only way I could get you was to pretend to be part of your dirty plan. Stay right where you are How's King Sergeant? Get a tough fight with Diablo. He has a couple of bad cuts on his shoulders bleeding a little but I think he's all right Aren't you boy? I guess Diablo is the one that needs attention. Where is he? He's over Behind that big rock like in his wounds. If I ever get a hole of that yellow curl beat the hide off You won't get the chance Steve I'll take charge of Diablo. You won't need him where you're going. You haven't got anything on me Oh, yes, I have you're under arrest for the murder of John Avery. Where's your proof? Phil was part of it all. He was the one who did the killing my word is as good as his Never mind, Phil, let him rave For your information Steve Phil left a message for me in a John Avery's cabin He'd hardly do that if he were guilty, would he and I must warn you anything you say he'll be used against you The gold up along to John Avery is up on the trail in the cave Sergeant Our dogs and sled are up there too. I think I'll take over now, Phil You better go up and pack the sled and we'll start back to Kramer's landing What about Diablo Sergeant? You think I ought to shoot him? No, we won't have any trouble with him now that he knows that King is master The proper training Diablo will be a good sled dog King will bring him back to our dog team and we're ready to leave and sergeant About that pamphlet you gave me The mounted policeman. Yes. Is that prop proposition still good? Do you still want a new recruit? I certainly do Phil Now more than ever If you can do this much without any training you'll make a fine money if I can rid the country of people like Steve I couldn't ask for anything better. Good. I'll make the arrangements for you and we got to Dawson I hadn't been for this rotten dog neither one of you would be alive right now Well, I guess he's right King old boy. Thanks to you this case is closed The challenge of the Yukon the copyrighted feature is a George W. Trendl production Directed by Fred flower day and written by Milford 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 At last the singing commercial has come into its own at least the jingle on David Harding counterspy has found a stellar role Recently Don McLaughlin who plays the part of Harding received an unusual fan letter Requesting a recording of the jingle that opens and closes the broadcast McLaughlin sent the record on its way, but the more he thought about it the more curious he became What was the jingle going to be used for? Stepping into his radio sleuthing role Don checked up on the listener who'd written Seems he was running dances to raise funds for a new parish house and in order to provide continuous dance music Uninterrupted even while changing records. He figured the counterspy jingle would nicely fill the pause It was catchy and you could also dance to it You can hear this tuneful little ditty on every fast-moving story of David Harding counterspy Don't miss this Sunday's counterspy story