 The challenge of the Yukon. On King! On New Husky! The Wonder Dog King, swiftest and strong as Eskimo lead dogs, blazes a veil 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 new Northwest country, where the 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 Golden Ace Hotel in the town of Whitehorse had quieted down for the night, except for a few stragglers left in the bar. Suddenly the sound of a shot was heard from the rooms above. Somebody's shooting! I come from upstairs, then. Come on, let's see what it was. Look, go out that back door. That's young Thalman. Thalman, ain't it? Look like him. Come on, let's see what happened upstairs. Wonder why Tom didn't stop. It ain't like him to shoot anybody. There's a door open, candle burning too. Jim Bendis room. Look, it's Jim. He's dead. And my brother? Tom ain't in this room. We were sure it was him running. But Tom would have gone back to his room if he'd done it, instead of running away like a common... That would have made more sense. Well, Dan went for Sergeant Preston. Maybe he can clear it up. I could have sworn it was Tom. Looked just like him. Pete, Tom and I have been here for two weeks now, working for you. You should know us well enough to know that we were... I know that Tom's a good boy, Marie. And I don't want you to get upset. But Dan and Jim, I saw him. Oh, here's Sergeant Preston now. Well, that's Tom with him. Hello, boys. Hello, Marie. Hello, Sergeant. What's this I hear about a murder? Jim Bendis was killed in Rob last night. We saw Tom here running out... You saw me? Oh, I know you did. Joe and Dan was with me. We all could swear it was you. Well, boys, you're wrong about that. Tom spent the night in my cabin. Your cabin? You see, Tom planned to take a trip north with me this morning. Looks as if the trip's off, Tom. That's lucky for me. I was with you. Oh, thank heaven, Sergeant. I knew it wasn't Tom. I could have sworn it. All right, Pete. In spite of what a mouth he tells you, you still think it was Tom. Now, Marie, I didn't say that. I'm leaving. You can get another entertainer for your rotten old hotel. Tom and I are getting out of here. There are plenty of jobs for us than other Tom. Now, now, Marie, don't get mad. We just said we thought it was Tom. Come on, Tom, we're packing. Maybe we can find a place where people will think twice before they accuse an innocent man of murder. Oh, but, Marie, I like it here. I don't want to leave. I'm leaving, Tom. And you're coming with me. Well, I'm sorry, Pete. Well, Pete, it looks as if you've lost an entertainer and a helper. I guess maybe we shouldn't have been so hasty. I want to examine Bender's room. This may be the same killer who murdered Rand James. You mean that prospector a week ago? Mm-hmm. Ain't no way of telling, is he? I wish this dog of mine could talk. He'd know. How would he know? King got the son of Rand's murderer. We trailed him, but he got away by bolt. The dog will know if the same man was in Bender's room last night. But, unfortunately, he can't tell us. Can you, boy? It was almost midnight, and the bar and the polar hotel in Dawson City echoed with applause as Marie finished it all. Oh, no more. I'll sing for you again later, boy. Well, come sit at this table, Marie. You have paid no attention to Pierre tonight. Sure, Pierre. If you'll buy me a drink, my throat's all dry from singing so much. Well, of course, Marie. Tom! Tom, bring your sister drinks. Sure, Pierre. Coming out. You and your brother like it here in Dawson? Yes. Well, we do. It's more exciting than it was at Whitehorst. Hello, Sergeant Preston. Oh, King, over here. Hello, boys. I'm there, Bill. How about a room here tonight? Well, you're lucky, Sergeant. You just got one left. Number three. So, keep it for me. Hello, Sergeant Preston. Come sit at our table. Well, thanks, Pierre. Glad to see you, Sergeant. Well, Marie, how are you? Haven't seen you since you left Whitehorst. What happened after I left? Did you ever find that murderer? No. Sorry to say I didn't, but I'm still looking. Hello, Sergeant Preston. How are you, Tom? Here are your drinks. Oh, fine. Thanks. Here's King. Hello, boy. Come here and see me, fella. He remembers you, Tom. Yeah. Well, I'll get your room ready, Sergeant. Did he say number three? That's right. You were lucky to get it. We're crowded tonight. Well, I'll see you later. What brings you to Dawson, Sergeant? Oh, just a patrol. How do you and Tom like it here, Marie? Oh, much better. We... Hello, buddy. Look, that's many burns. It's been hurt. Oh. Boys! Boys, I've been robbed! Rob! What happened, Barney? There's Sergeant Preston. Preston, I was robbed on the trail. I'm five miles back. Sit down here, Barney. You're hurt. Oh, it's just a bad crack on the head. What happened? Coming around to Ben, somebody slugged me over the head. Took all my nuggets and dust. I finally come to him. I managed to get here. Take it easy. Get him a drink, Bill. We're sure. Did you get a look at the thief? Not a good one, Sergeant. It was dark. Couldn't see him. I folded up when he hit me. Well, you'd better rest up tonight. We'll go out first thing in the morning and see if we can pick up his trail. Now, let me have a look at your head. Oh, how terrible. Don't you worry, Marie. You're safe in this place. I don't know about that. I'll be back in a minute, Pierre. You have not finished your drink. I'll wait here for you. I'll be right back. It's a bad gash in your head, Barney. You'd better lie down. No, that's nothing, Sergeant. I'm just a little weak, but I'll be all right tomorrow. Here's a drink. Oh, thank. This will sure help. I can get a room here tonight, can't I, Bill? Gosh, I just give the last room to Preston. But you can bunk with me in the back room. Well, you need a good rest, Barney. You take my room and I'll bunk with Bill. Oh, gosh, that's fine of you, Sergeant. Sure, that's all right? Sure. That's number three. Free entered her room at the back of the hotel. She stopped in her way for a moment unable to distinguish between the two men who faced her. They were identical in every respect, even to the clothes they wore, the same black sharp eyes, the same height and weight. Except for the more aggressive manner of George, she had never been able to tell one of her twin brothers from the other. If the sister can't tell you two apart, I'm sure nobody else will be able to. I guess we needn't worry. According to Tom here, we have plenty to worry about. He says Sergeant Preston has come. Yes, that's true. To make things worse, the man you rubbed just came in. George, I thought you said you weren't going to... He must have been tougher than I thought he was. I should have made sure. What's Preston going to do, Marie? He's going out with him in the morning to try to pick up your trail, George. I told you we should have left the country after that job and wait for... Lesson Tom, I'm running the show. I do all the dirty work. We do our share, hiding you and providing the alibis. If we could get rid of Preston, we'd be saved or we could get out of the country. Get rid of Preston? Are you crazy? George, that's impossible. He's staying here tonight, isn't he? I just fixed his room. Number three. I could do it quietly and get out through this room tonight before anyone knows about it. I could be out of the country before they start tracing me. And you could meet me later in San Francisco. You couldn't get near him with that dog of his always beside him. You could tell him you're nervous on account of the robbery, Marie. Tell him you'd like to have the dog for the night. Hmm. Might work. I don't like the idea. Killing a mountain... You never do like our ideas. We may be identical twins as far as looks go, but we don't think... Now, boys, don't fight. We have enough money. We can just get away this time. Tom can stay down in the bar where people can see him. They'll never suspect you, Marie. And you and Tom can leave this town as soon as you want to, openly. You'd better wait in Tom's room, George. It's closer to number three. Someone sees you come out of it. They'll think it's Tom. Right. But first I'm going to the kitchen and get something to eat. I'm starved. Tom, you wait in your room till I get back. Okay. Be careful when you go through the bar. Sergeant Prestige's there. Don't worry. I won't stop to talk to him. As George entered the bar, no one gave him more than a casual glance as his resemblance to Tom was so remarkable. He skirted the crowd carefully when he saw Sergeant Prestige talking to Pierre at a table close by with his dog King lying beside him. Before he could get away, however, he heard Pierre. That's Barney. He must have had like coconut if blow like that does not crack it. Yes, he was lucky. I wonder what is keeping Marie. Oh, there is Tom. Tom, Tom, come here. Where is Marie? You'll be right back. Hey, King, what's the matter with you? That's Tom. What? King, don't, boy. Lie down here. What's the matter with you? He is funny, Tom. First, he wagged his tail at Tom. Now, he growled at him. That's odd, Pierre. I've never seen King do a thing like that before. Glad Tom didn't notice it. What, I heard his feelings. Sorry to keep you waiting so long, Pierre. I almost gave you up, Marie. Now, I will order three drinks. Count me out, Pierre. I'm going to bed. Oh, Sergeant Prestige. Yes? I suppose you'll think I'm silly, but this robbery tonight, I'm afraid of every dark corner. I won't get a wink of sleep. Would you mind letting King sleep in my room tonight? Why, I'll be glad to, Marie, but we're leaving rather early tomorrow. Just wrap on my door and I'll let him out. You see, being on the ground floor and I've lost the key to my door. Oh, naturally, you're nervous. What's your room number? I'll put him in there right now. It's number eight at the back of the corridor. Oh, thank you so much. That's perfectly all right. Come on, fella. Hotel corridor was quiet. Suddenly, the silent figure of George slipped up Tom's bedroom. He listened a moment at the door of room number three, then entered noiselessly. A night leaned in his hand as he suddenly approached the bedside of the sleeping man. Shhh. Have you, Sergeant Prestige? You won't pray on me tomorrow. Marie sat on the edge of her bed tensely waiting for George's knock. King paced the floor in front of her, growling uneasily, as he sniffed at a parka that lay on a chair in the corner. He knew that scent and connected it with violence and death. Twice his master had told him to get this man, but twice the trail had been lost. Marie stirred restlessly as the dog passed. King, will you lie down? Down, you beast. You're driving me crazy. Quiet, King. Get back there and lie down. George, is it you? Let me in quick. You won't have to worry about that. I've just left you more some glasses. There was a reason for King to growl at you tonight in the bar. He knew you weren't Tom. Also, he must have run across your scent before. Let's talk. I'll tell you. And now that knife has blood on it, and you were surprised when you saw me alive. Bill. Yeah? Look in the room I was supposed to be sleeping in, number three. Oh, sure. This was quite a clever setup, Marie. Hiding one twin brother, loved and murdered, and letting the other one cover for him. Tom and I are innocent. Oh, no you're not. You deliberately took King tonight. George, you're pressing. Marie's been murdered. Stand with the knife. I was afraid of that. Bill, go down and bring Tom up here. If we just had sense enough to kill him. That's enough out of you. You and your sister and twin brother are under arrest. Watch him, boy. Yes, fellow? We depended on our eyes, but you had a scent. So that's how he knew. As far as King was concerned, they weren't identical twins at all. Good work. 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 rate you from our transcription videos. Howling and speaking, this is the Michigan Radio Network.