 The challenge of the Yukon. On King! On you Huskies! The Wonder Dog King, swiftest and strongest of Eskimo Lee dogs, blazes the trail through storm and snow for Sergeant Fletchen, as he meets the challenge of the Yukon. Sergeant Fletchen was typical of the small band of Northwest mounted police, who preserved law and order in a new Northwest country, where the greed for wealth and power led to frequent violence and bloodshed. But in spite of the odds against him, Sergeant Fletchen and his Wonder Dog King met that challenge, and justice ruled Triumphant. Father Donovan had just arrived in Selkirk. He was a big man with merry blue eyes that twinkled a bit as he talked with Dan Riley in the lobby of the Gold Nugget Hotel. Don't worry, Lily. We men of the church are used to rough living. We aren't made of glass. Well, I thought a word of warrant here wouldn't hurt. The average prospector ain't exactly a plaster sink. Well, even though a man may forget the church for a while, he may sometimes feel the need of God. John O'Rourke must have felt it, leaving $30,000 to establish a mission in Dawson. He owned the Horseshoe Bar. Religion was the last thing you'd have connected him with. Then he leaves the church $30,000. Mercy on us, what's left? Oh, probably just a fight. There's a saloon just two doors down. It ain't unusual. Come on, let's see what happens. God, take West. Where does Buck go? I don't know. What happened, boys? Take West has been shot. Look out, everybody! Get away from Stakes. That's his lead dog. Be careful of that husky. He's vicious. He's got an overtake. We're going to have to shoot him if we want to get Stakes out of there. He won't let nobody near him. You might as well shoot Jake if you shoot Lobo. Jake eats more of the animal than he does himself. There's no difference if we don't shoot that dog. We can't just near Jake. You know, please do that. If you don't freeze first. I'm going to plug him. Wait a moment. Maybe I can help. Who are you? This is Father Johnovan. He just came to tell us. Oh, sorry, Father. I know how to handle dogs. Perhaps I can get him away. But Lobo is a vicious husky, Father. He'll carry the peaches. Don't take it fast, Father. I'll shoot him. Let me try first. Father Johnovan, no! I'm not afraid. We can't let your master lie here in the snow. Come now, boy. We're not going to hurt him. Don't go take his hand. All right, Lobo. You see? He's my hand, open to you. Ah, you see, I won't hurt your master. Come, boy. Get off him. Let me take hold of your collar. Ah, boy, steady. Come on, this way, fellow. Get me off. Well, I've never seen anything like it. Only one other man could do that. Sergeant Preston. Come on, Lobo. Come along. Let me let you get back to him when it's time. All right, boys. Carry the man into the hotel. I'll hold this dog. All right, Father. He'll get home. Make sure it's bad, ain't he? Bad enough. Buck James better not show his face around this part of the country after doing this. Buck James had headed north. His goal? A small cabin isolated well off the trail near Dawson. His provisions were running low, and he paced the floor nervously on the third night of his hiding out. Here's Buck. Let me in. Let me in, Buck. Here. How'd you know I was here? Where else could you be? It's where he always had after any trouble. Brought some grub. How's Jake West? Is he... did I...? He didn't kill him, but it was closed. It's too bad I didn't finish him. Well, he would have, but then for an old Padre, you'll have to be there. He saved Jake's life. Doc was out of town. Padre? Yeah, he's going to Dawson's. Some prospector up there left him $30,000 to start a mission. $30,000? Yeah, can you imagine that? When did he start at Dawson's? He was leaving the day after I left. He'll be coming by in a day or so. With $30,000, he could head for the border. Well, of course, Buck. He is a priest. What's the difference? We're watching that trail. Starting tomorrow. Father Donovan, a gun held on him, faced Buck James and fierce Reed quietly in the small cabin. I told you I have no money on me outside of what's in his purse. Sure, he ain't wearing a money belt, Pierce. Sure, I've searched him. He ain't got it on him. All right, Padre. How about the money to start the mission in Dawson's? Where is it? So that's where you've done this. Well, boys, I have lots of faith in human nature. I'm not a timid man, but I know better than to go around this country carrying that much money. He's waiting for me in Dawson's. Dawson? Yes, we ordered a tail there. Well, now if you let me deal with it... Although you don't sit down. We ain't through with you. But, Buck... I ain't letting him go and have him squeal on us the minute he gets to Dawson. But I don't know who you are. There are many men in the Yukon with black beards and blue eyes like yours. We shouldn't have done this, Buck. My beard. What do you get if I shaved it off? What are you talking about? Nobody knows the Padre here. Nobody in Dawson knows me. I'm changing clothes with him, Pierce, saving off my beard. With the papers he's carrying, my collar turned around like his. I can still get my hands on that $30,000. Mark, are you local? With the same size, his clothes will fit me. I ain't staying here to guard him, Pierce. I'm going to Dawson's. After I get my hands on the money, I'll come back and we'll finish him off. As Sergeant Preston and Dr. Dan Riley in Selkirk, the big lead dog king's up the side. His head on the mountain is neat. I wish you could have got here and tied him each by the gentleman, Sergeant. You and him would have had a lot in common with your love for dogs. He must know a lot about them, Dan, to handle Lobo the way he did. He told me afterwards that a dog can sense fear in a man. You're afraid he can smell it. That's true. A dog knows the scent of fear. King hates it. I've seen him growl and bristle at strangers for that reason alone. Father Dunovan loves dogs, and they seem to know it. He has a grand sense of humor. He said he was as much a veterinarian in his last parish as he was a priest. All the kids used to bring their dogs to him for repairs. And he mended as many animals as he did souls. Too bad I didn't get here a day earlier. I have to go up to Dawson. I've got to take him with me. You'll be sure to look him up when you get there. He's a kind of man you'd like, broad-minded, kind and understanding. Idea for the job he's planning to do. I'm leaving for Dawson tomorrow. I'll make it a point to meet him. I'd like to see what he thinks of King. Hello, Jane. Sergeant Preston, welcome to Dawson. We have not seen you for a long time. Hello, King. How's business, Jane? Oh, there is always too much at this trading port. Your Dawson is going to have a mission. Did Father Dunovan get here all right? He is here. You know him? No, but I hear he's a fine man. Oh. You don't sound too enthusiastic. Don't you like him? Well, me, I don't like to say nothing bad about man of God, but... Well, everybody is, uh... We're disappointed. Disappointed? He is silent, man. Solomon. I never see him smile. Is he planning to build the mission right away? We. He asked me to give him the $30,000 John O'Rourke has left. Tomorrow he will move from the hotel to his cabin. Then he will take it. I'd like to meet him. I can't go to the hotel. Come on, King. I'll be back later, Pierre. Father Dunovan? Yes. I'm Sergeant Preston, Northwest Mountain. What do you want? Why, uh... Dan Riley and Selkirk told me to look you up here in Dawson. Oh. Oh, yeah, yeah. Come in. Come on, King. King. What's the matter with you? Quiet, King. I hope you'll excuse him, Father Dunovan. I don't know what is it. Well, uh, would you mind putting him outside, and I... I'm not used to the trustees you have here in the US. But I thought... Oh, of course. Come on, King. You wait out here in the halls a lot. I hope you don't mind. No, not at all, Father. I suppose being a priest, you are not used to those. That's right. We're too busy with our church duties to have time for pets. I see. And sit outside. Thank you. I can't stay. I just dropped in to say hello. You, uh, going to be in town long? No. Passing through. Oh. Oh, hi. I see. You should wear quite a big job here in Dawson, Father. Yes. It will be hired. Trying to close the saloons and stop gambling won't be easy. And it will be dangerous. Perhaps I'd better stay around for a while. Something like that won't be necessary. I don't intend to start until after the mission is completed. How often do you make this con... this patrol? I'll be back in about a month, Father. Well, all right. Better get going. Have to get some sleep. I want to pull out in the morning. Nice meeting you, Sergeant. And, uh, stop and see me the next time you come to Dawson. I'm, uh, sure we'll meet again, Father Donovan. You are back so soon, Sergeant. You did not make very long visits. No, I had a little trouble with King. He didn't seem to like the new powdery. Oh. And you? What did you think of him? Well, like you, Gene, I was, uh, disappointed. You say he's moving into a cabin tomorrow? Wait. It belongs to Tom Jacobs at Edge of Town. Oh, yes. I know what that is. Sergeant, maybe you can tell him that it's his lonely place. Better he should leave this money here and save. No, Gene, I think he's better given the money. After all, he has the right to do what he pleases with it. Well, maybe with you here in town it is safe. I'm leaving, Gene. But, Sergeant, you are leaving? Or something of other urgency come up. I'll see you in a few days. One, King. Sergeant Truston, his lead dog, King, at his side, lay concealed in a thicket that's caught to small nobles overlooking the cabin that had been rented by the man thought to be Father Donald. The early darkness had fallen, but a bright moon lighted up the clearing. Suddenly King's ears bricked forward, and a low growl rumbled in his throat as a figure stole out of the cabin door. Quiet, boy. Not a sound. There he goes. No, King. Down. We're following later. Steady. Let him get ahead. Here's Yawn as he watched Father Donovan, who sat near the stove, deep in thought. Way past bedtime, Father Donovan. He'll put your hands behind you and pan you up. It was nice of you, Pierce, to free my hands for a while. They were getting numb. Where did I put that robe? Burke! I didn't hear you coming. Did you get the money? Yeah, stuck packing right away. We're leaving. What about the Padre here? There's only one thing to do. I don't like murder, Burke. It ain't a question of what you like. Well, Father, I guess it's the end. You want to take it standing up or sitting down? Standing up. And looking right at you. Ain't that'll make it tough for me, do ya? Now, it'll just make it easier to hitch it between the eyes. Got that gun? Get him, King! No, no, no! Oh, you don't! Get him! Get him! All right, King, back, Father. I got his gun. Now, get up, you. Watch me, boy. You're a Murphy. Yes. And you must be Father Donovan. I am. I wasn't sure, Father. That's while up you gave Pierce. I didn't think a priest could hit like that. Like with the bird to shoot you or a dog. Sometimes even the church finds force. Well, you hadn't hit Pierce. I'd have had to shoot him. I'd have killed his life. And you saved mine. You and that dog. Had dirty curves. Quiet, Bill. It was because of King, Father Donovan, that I knew this man to be a fraud. I hoped by following him that he'd lead me to you. King had no trouble in trailing him. He looks like a wonderful animal. You'll find that he is, Father, and you'll know him better. All right, boy. I'll take charge of the prisoner. You go on over and get acquainted with Father Donovan. These copyrighted dramas are written 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. Hallelujah speaking.