 The challenge of the Yukon It's Yukon King Swiftest and strongest lead dog of the Northwest Placing the trail for Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mountain Police in his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers Gold gold discovered in the Yukon a stampede to the Klondike in the wild race for riches Back to the days of the gold rush with Sergeant Preston and his Wonder Dog Yukon King as they meet the challenge of the Yukon Sergeant Preston had once lived in the town of Ogilby The small cabin which he had built with his own hands was still standing when he returned after a long absence With a few days at his disposal he made repairs to the cabin Chinking some of the logs in the side and pointing up stones in the fireplace He renewed old friendships and acquaintances At noon of Sergeant Preston's second day in Ogilvy. He had two visitors for dinner One was Ace Martin owner of the cafe. The other was Sam Blake a prospector After the meal the three men talked and relaxed before the fire It's really true Sam that you've finally struck it rich. Oh, yeah I got a gold claim that's really gonna pay off. Well, if you're right, Sam I'll benefit as much as you Ace I always said you'd never regret carrying me on credit I'll pay back every cent I owe you plus a bonus. All right, Sam, but I won't spend the cash till I see it Where is your claim? I'm not saying where it is now you're being smart. I'm going to start working at Sam I figured on starting out this afternoon or tomorrow morning at the latest But I But what? I changed my plans. Well, why'd you change your plans, Sam? I won't tell you won't tell no I don't like to be laughed at and you'd laugh if I said why I'm not setting out right away So I'm not telling we wouldn't laugh at your Sam ace mark and would I'll go ahead Sam. Tell us I promise I won't laugh well, uh It's because muck luck told me we were in for heavy snow muck luck Muck luck told me I knew you'd laugh. Oh, I'm sorry Sam. Who's muck luck? That's my dog Oh sour dozer. I like He spends so much time pushing around the country with no one but a dog per company you get to thinking you can savvy dog All right, you can laugh if you're a mind But I'm telling you ace martin Me and muck luck understand each other He knows what I say and he's got ways of making me savvy what he wants All right, Sam. All right. I won't argue with you. I think you're right, Sam. You do king and I understand each other What? Hey, now do you mean that Preston? Indeed I do Well, every man has a right to his own opinion As for me, I don't like dogs Oh, maybe they're handy to pull a sled but aside from that. I don't want any part of them Ace, have you ever owned a dog? No, sir. And I don't want to I've troubles enough with duke's laid duke's laid Oh, uh your partner in the cafe. Yeah, it's a matter with him. Oh, I reckon he's all right He gets quiet spells gets sulky and mean I don't know what it is and he's got something on his mind Muck luck never gets mean That's why I'd sooner have a dog for a friend and a man like duke Well now speaking of dog sergeant Preston, where is king somewhere outside? You should have seen him when we first arrived. How's that? Betcha I know how he acted. He was just bubbling over with high spirits glad to get back home I bet right now he's out there racing through the snow and having a gay time Yes, sir Sam was right King raced through clean snow charging into unbroken drifts and enjoying his freedom to explore familiar places He had found one of his friends a doe antelope The graceful creature had often run king and now the two enjoyed their game of tag They raced from hill to hill from drift to drift their tracks criss-crossing many times First one took the lead and then the other Presently the antelope was far ahead leaping along the edge of a woods and then A heavy gun sounded in the woods nearby King saw the antelope falter and then stumble and roll over She lay motionless as king reached her side King saw a red stain expanding on the snow He nuzzled his fallen friend gently And then he knew The antelope was dead King was angry at such wanton slaughter and he turned toward the black trees from which death had struck so suddenly and waited It wasn't long before he saw the man approaching Duke Slade walked out of the woods king knew duke slade and hated him I don't want to trouble with you so fair moose King's angry snarls brought duke slade to a halt a few yards distance and away from there get away your vicious curve You belong to anyone, but sergeant preston. I'd shoot you Instinctively king wanted to attack the man who had killed his friend the antelope His restraint came from sergeant preston's careful training Head lowered he stood tense and watching ready to attack in self-defense if duke slade raised his rifle And then he heard a clear voice in the distance It was sergeant preston's voice. It was a command to the big dog King hesitated momentarily He wanted to stay with his dead friend, but the maudi's commands took precedence over any personal desire There was an edge of impatience in that call King turned reluctantly Looked back with hatred at duke slade and then pointed his nose toward preston's cabin and trotted home So you're running with that antelope one of your old friends, right? What's the matter boy when we arrived you were glad to be home Yes, sam will be right in come on king inside boy Hi there king glad to see you. You don't seem overjoyed at meeting you, sir What's the matter king king eyed sam blake glanced at ace martin and then lay down on the floor and cushioned his nose on his front paws What are you laughing at ace? Yeah, it looks to me like king and my partner have something in common. How's that? Well, I told you how duke slade got quiet spells. Yes. Look at your dog there president Acts like he wants to be left alone. Something happened while king was out in the snow. I like to know what it was Now if he were like sam's dog muckluck, he'd speak right up and tell us all about it. He may have that when he's ready You've met in your dog king What's the matter with you? Look at him. He's eyeing the door. Someone's coming Seems to be someone he doesn't like King quiet boy Oh, hi there sergeant preston duke slade come in. Sure. Thanks Quiet king. Hi sam. Howdy anything wrong at the cafe slade? Well, uh, uh, no No, I guess there's nothing really wrong. Is baldy on the job? Yeah. Yeah, I left him in charge while I came here to see you I'm not feeling too good. I figured to go home and take a nap until this evening Baldy can handle things until then sure thing to go ahead. I hope you get to feeling better. Oh, I'll be all right after a nap Oh, there's one thing more Well, something happened to the lock on a strongbox someone busted. Oh, no, no nothing like that Seems like it's jammed that's all I couldn't lock it. We left to get it fixed Meanwhile, I didn't want to leave too much cash around the cafe with only baldy on the job We had a lot of cash on hand to trade for gold dust when the prospectors and miners come in for the weekend What'd you do with it? Oh, I left enough for baldy to make change and brought the rest along with me That all right with you? Oh, sure thing. I thought it'd be Oh sam What's this I hear about you striking at rich? Yeah I got a claim They uh, they tell me you're leaving here this afternoon to start working it Maybe so Maybe not He won't go unless his dog changes his mind about the weather will you sam? No, I won't Well, I'll shovel along glad you're in town sergeant preston. Good to see you again. It's good to be here I'll be careful with that cash. Oh, I'll be careful. But we need to worry ace No one to have the nerve to steal it while our mountains in town See you in the morning. Right. Bye. Bye, duke What's the matter with you? He don't like duke slade. I wonder why well now if that was sam's dog muck luck He just up and tell you why he don't like my partner wouldn't he sam? Sergeant preston, what do you think about the weather? We may get some snow sam but I doubt to be enough to interfere with travel I sure like to start for my claim especially after what duke slade said What was that sam? He said he heard I'd struck it rich That means people are talking about my good luck talk like that spreads quickly That's the point sergeant it spreads like wildfire The longer I'm around town the more there'll be to hear I found gold Sooner or later some ornery claim jumper will hear it and try to figure ways to make me tell where my claims at Frankly sam, I think you're right You figure I should get going as soon as possible. I wouldn't failure I'll tell muck luck what you said. I reckon maybe he'll be willing to travel even if the weather isn't my doubtful I'll go home and ready my gear so as I can sit out tonight Glad to have seen you sergeant and I sure enjoyed the grab. Glad you did Good luck sam. Thanks. Yeah, I'll get along too sergeant preston. So long sergeant. Bye Well king now we can get back to work on that shelf we were making I wish I knew what sailing you fellow you look as if you'd lost a friend There was little sleep for king that night The big dog stirred restlessly changing his position frequently His mind was filled with recurring thoughts of the death of his friend the antelope Several times he rose and approached the door And then looked at the sleeping form of sergeant preston as if debating whether or not to rouse his master And take him to the scene of the shooting Snow fell during the night big heavy flakes that continued for two hours But dawn came bright and clear with a new carpet of white across the open spaces on both sides of the frozen river Sergeant preston slept later than usual that morning. It was after sunrise when king nuzzled him awake What? Oh It's trouble king Slept overtime, huh? Well, that's one of the privileges of man enjoys on a day off Hey there quit it stop talking. Come on get up fellow I'll say smarten you must have known he was coming ain't king Come on in You're excited. What's the trouble trouble plenty sergeant preston and it means the end of your vacation What happened my partner's been murdered slayed. Yeah It must have been done with a knife judging from the looks of his place You saw it. Yeah, and you'd better come right away. Hey, what do you as soon as I put on my boots and pocket You remember yesterday when he was here? Yes He's going home to take a nap. Yeah, I said he felt sick. That's right Well, he didn't show up at the cafe last night. Huh? So this morning I went to his house. You waited until this morning Yeah, worried about him last night. We were busy mighty business. I couldn't get away I went to his house this morning after I finished work Oh his place is a wreck. Has this had been a struggle? Yeah furniture wreck dishes smashed a couple of lamps busted Looks like there'd been an awful fight blood all over the place. Anyone live near enough to hear a struggle Oh duke lived apart from all the other houses. Well, I'm ready. Let's go to duke's place. Yes, king You come to come along boy Where had duke been stabbed? I don't know the body's gone. So's the cash the body's gone Yeah, but I know where that is the snow tells the story It was dragged down to the river. We put through a hole that had been chopped in the ice What's more sergeant? I know who killed duke's lady. Who sam blake? I doubt that sam blake snow killin He's the only one who knew that duke had a lot of cash with him. You knew it Yeah, but I'd have no need to steal my own money. I knew duke had cash Baldi at the cafe knew it bald. He was with me all night Sam's the only one who could have killed duke besides that sam skipped town. I checked on that You knew he was leaving last night. He said so he went to his claim Well, maybe he did maybe he didn't I have my doubts We'll not form an opinion about the murder until we've made an investigation Well, you can do that proud of there's duke's cabin Now you see that deep groove and the new snow It runs in a beeline from the cabin of the river I followed it myself After last night's snow, there won't be many tracks for the car I know that the groove is partly filled in with new snow And I bet every dime that I have that my partner's body made that groove and blake dragged it to the river Wait a minute Was that cabin door open when you came here? Sure, it was just you see it And what's more the money that duke had for my cash box is gone. I looked around for it when I was here Um, let's go inside Look at this Bloody violent struggle I came Poor duke He must have got the first blow from the knife while he was lying in bed And he got up. He tried to fight and he fought hard getting weaker all the time I can just see it. I didn't notice any tracks around here except yours Well, I made the tracks you saw just a little while ago Tracks that were made last night were covered by the snowfall And that includes the tracks that blake made when he came here as well as the tracks from his house when he pulled out of these parts I'll see what sam has to say. How can you you don't know where he went? He was going to his claim. Yeah, but we don't know where it is. I know You do you told me confidentially where it was located. Oh Well, and I'll uh, I'll go with you. Let's get started. All right, but first we'll examine the hole in the ice Munging The river ice was thick no one could have fallen through it accidentally Moreover, there were marks to show that the three-foot hole had been cut through the ice with an axe Now you see sergeant Preston the deep grove and the snow comes right up to the edge of the hole The body was dragged through the snow then shoved through the ice the killer didn't want it found I wonder why you wonder why Well, because a man can't be judged guilty of first degree murder unless a corpse is found. That's the law King what's the matter with you boy? Why are you so uneasy? It looks like he wants to get on the trailer to kill him Look at him tugging on your parking. You want to go in that direction king King knew much more about the killing than did sergeant Preston He did his level best to tell the maury that the answer to the mystery would be found on the far side of the river But without success the sergeant seemed unduly stubborn. No king. We're not crossing the river boy Are going the other way which way is blake's gold plain east the dog wants to go west No king quiet fella. No, if it wasn't for the new snow, there'd be easy tracks to follow. There'll be tracks Did you say there will be tracks blake made after the snow start falling Come on ace. We'll pick up equipment and food at my cabin and start looking for those tracks. Yeah, right. Come along king I just standing there looking at you come king And now he's coming And he's none too well pleased with the order king obeyed but not eagerly He traveled at the maury's side with frequent backward glances toward the hole in the ice He had information for his master, but he was unable to tell what he knew When sergeant Preston reached the cabin the great dog waited silently outside While his master and ace entered and closed the door. You need any help sergeant Preston No, just sit down for a couple of minutes. It doesn't take me long to pack a knapsack. I'm used to traveling late I sure hope we can catch blake sure. We'll be able to overtake him. He'll not travel fast. Well, maybe not On the other hand, maybe he'll move as if his life's at stake which might be the case He might be planning to get to the border before the truth comes out the truth What do you mean by that about the murder you think he'd run and leave a gold claim Well in his case, I'd figure to be better to lose a gold claim than to stay around and have my neck stretched on a hangman's rope After all a man can get another gold claim, but he's got only one life. Ace, you're jumping to conclusions I'll bet all I own that he's on his way to the border with the cash that he stole from duke Your reasoning is not good, ace Instead of the facts sam found gold. Why should he steal from duke? He says he found gold I've no reason to doubt his word. Have you seen the gold? Have I seen it? Has anyone seen it? The answer is no Maybe he lied. He told me where his claim was located, ace For some time, I thought there might be gold in that vicinity. Ah, your prejudice and sam's favor All I can think about is poor duke Murder all said ace. Let's go Yes king, we're moving. Which way do you say we go? Do east from the river. Come along king King tagged along stolidly at his master's side While the mountian ace moved at a fast pace The air was crisp and clear There was a fair breeze that swept the ice clear of snow over most of the route After two hours of travel the two men saw a small cooking fire on the lee side of a large snow bank Sam was crouched beside the fire preparing food His pleasure when he greeted his friends seemed genuine Sights alive, look at the route here. I'm glad to see you surgeon. Hello sam You too, ace. Yeah, you're just in time for breakfast Get dishes from your pack and I'll pass out the grub. Likewise some tea if you got cups to hold it. We're not hungry. Huh? Sakes alive ace. What's wrong with you? There's nothing wrong with me. You look downright mad about something Did you come here by chance? No, we didn't come here by Hey, what's ailing you and you sam We came to ask you about duke slade What about him? You know what up bottom? There's no use trying to lie out of it Back up ace let the sergeant do the talking sam. When was the last time you saw duke slade? Well, uh Well yesterday when he stopped at your cabin remember he was taking the money home from the cafe. You haven't seen him since Oh Why are you asking about someone went to his cabin last night and knifed him put his body through the ice and made Off of the cash no You don't say you and I are the only ones who knew he had that cash at home now see here ace Don't you accuse me of killing your alive ace? Are you sure baldy had no chance to commit this crime dead sure he was not on my side all night long Besides, he's not strong enough to drag a heavy man through the snow Well, I didn't do it. Well, it strikes me as mighty odd. You got no further from home than this But I'm just start out during the night Got caught on the trail by the snowfall and for a time I had mighty slow going Muck luck told me it had snow should he heated what he said muck luck a dumb dog He's not dumb not by a junk full by thunder. He knows more in you do ace He knows better and accuse me of a crime If he was looking for the killer, he wouldn't come traipsing after me He'd pick up the scent and go get the right man Sergeant Preston You've got a dog that's as smart as muck luck Fact is anyone but me might say king is even smarter Why in termination? Don't you put king on the trail? But sam the trail is covered by snow covered by snow A little snow wouldn't stop a dog like muck luck or king either Right, of course. I'm right king tried to take us across the river. He tried to take us west You wouldn't go after what ace told me I thought we'd better talk to you Ace we might have done better if we'd followed king How could king or any other dog follow a scent when he don't know who he's looking for Who says he don't know who he's looking for ace. We're going back back way to the hole in the ice For what we're going to do what we should have done a few hours ago We're going to let king take the lead. What about sam play you're gonna let him go for the present But he'll get away. I doubt if sam had anything to do with the scene in duke's cabin. Come on ace. We're going back Look at king. He knows you're ready in to start back. Come on king take the lead fella King knew exactly where he was going On the return trip to the river. He ran ahead halted then turned and waited while the malty and ace martin caught up And then with a bark of assurance he ran on again It was well past noon when the hole in the ice was reached for the second time that day Oh King it's up to you What do you want to go king pointed his nose westward toward the opposite bank and then paused and looked back at his master All right king a word was all the great dog needed King resumed his journey as fast as the two men could follow The first hour of travel was across unmarked snow that had filled in the footprints of the man king trailed The dog followed that trail by a barely perceptible scent that would have escaped nearly every other dog And then sergeant preston made a discovery look there ace see those marks in the snow. Yeah I can just about see him and that's all Just a little depression but footprints nevertheless, you mean that that dog has really found a man's tracks. Yes, I do The snowstorm was nearly over when the men were turning reached this point The tracks are only partly filled in they'll be clearer in a few minutes Sergeant, maybe we're really getting someplace. I think we are But I still don't understand how that dog knew that a man came this way They've been underestimating dogs. You're going king. Where were you boy? After another 30 minutes of travel the tracks of a man were sharply defined King followed the track through a valley and over a small hill and then into a canyon He followed the canyon for half an hour and then rounded at turn and halted abruptly Less than 100 yards ahead. He saw a shack and smoke came from the chimney. He barked a signal I see it king. Hey sergeant. Look at the tracks. They go straight to the door of that shack Look at that dog travel. He's streaking towards that cabin as if he'd been shot from a gun. Come on, martin As he raced toward the cabin king knew that a killer was inside He saw the oil paper window torn aside and then the enemy's face wide-eyed was surprised The sight of that face added fuel to the big dog's anger The face dropped out of sight then reappeared behind a revolver Duke slayed the man whom Preston ace martin fought dead Saw king charging king beyond the dog the two men who had found the hideout Duke knew he had to kill he fired two shots at king Both shots went wild duke rested his gun on the window ledge and aimed more carefully at the oncoming dog. He fired again The bullet brush king's bristling fur, but the great dog didn't even break his stride Then sergeant Preston fired from the distance The marty's bullet struck the cabin inches from duke's face duke leaped back out of view And then king left the ground in a mighty leap that took him through the window Duke tried to turn to bring his gun to bear on king, but the infuriated dog was too quick He leaped and grabbed duke's wrist and his paws are jaws The gun exploded harmlessly toward the ceiling King knew duke's lad is the killer of his friend the antelope for a moment He forgot his master in his training. He was bent on just one thing Punishment for the slayer duke dropped his gun and tried to struggle He had the strength of desperation, but he was no match for king And then sergeant Preston and ace martin came through the door He would have killed me steady king on guard boy laid. What are you doing? Well, I thought it what it looked like you were dead Where's the money from the cafe? I got it here Here, uh, what's the story slayed to talk now or later? Try to make me think you've been killed and put through the ice What about that slayed who was killed and put through the ice? Oh, no one honest. There was no one killed. I shot an antelope That's all I I used the antelope to make it look like there'd been a murder in my place And dragged the carcass to the river and put it through the ice Yeah, now you can't hold me for murder. There's no one dead Oh, maybe not but by thunder you tried to get away with my cash Figure there'd be no search for you, didn't you? You're a dirty double I made a mistake ace. I don't know what I was thinking of. I'm sorry. I'll never do it again Oh, you're right about that duke. You'll never get a chance to steal from me again. You're going to jail He wouldn't send me to jail ace. He wouldn't do that. Would you we've been friends a long time? Yeah, that's right. We have been friends a long time When I trust a man I trust him all the way I trusted you and I trusted Sam Blake, but you turned on me Not only that you framed things so as it looked like someone murdered you. I suspected Sam Blake Hey, he says wait. Listen, give me another chance. I'm an all out man I trust a friend all the way When he turns on me I go all out to see that he gets punished. Hold out your hands duke And cause the usual thing when we take a prisoner into custody Sergeant I I'd like to take back some of the things I said about dogs That king dog sure is smart I reckon I never will savvy how he knew that duke slave was the man we wanted Sam will be glad to know you've changed your opinion. Well sam's dog may be smart, but He's no match for king. Oh Well king, you were right the first time boy We'd have saved a lot of time if I'd listened to you instead of trailing sam Blake And any event fellow this case is closed In our next adventure A man hurries along a corridor of a small hotel in white horse to a room at the far end A hard-faced tough-looking man unlocked and opened the door Oh, it's you boss. Come on in Well lian Things about ready for the big killing. I don't get all this boss Why are you so nice to that young guy freeman? He has a reputation for honesty lian He will find the golden and salted mine and he has cells stuck to all his friends Then we leave him to explain while we take off with the cash Now come on We'll go to the cafe and be there when he comes in where the news are finding the gold Yes, the crooked deal seems like an easy one unless someone becomes suspicious and the crooks have to resort to murder If sergeant Preston and king become involved They may face death in the attempt to solve this unusual case Be sure to hear this exciting adventure tomorrow These radio dramas a feature of the challenge of the uconn incorporated are created by george w trendle produced by trendle Campbell enterprises Directed by fred flower day and edited by fran striker The part of sergeant Preston is played by paul Sutton. They are brought to you every saturday and sunday This is j michael wishing you goodbye and good luck until tomorrow This is the mutual broadcasting system