 Now, as gunshots echo across the windswept snow-covered reaches of the Wild Northwest, the challenge of the Yukon. It's Yukon King, swiftest and strongest lead dog of the Northwest, blazing the trail for Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Volleyed Police in his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers. And King Von Husky! 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. Bringing you the adventures of Sergeant Preston and his wonder dog Yukon King as they meet the challenge of the Yukon. Even in the glowing warmth of the neat, homey cabin, Judy Smith momentarily shivered as she listened to the shrill, relentless wind that tore at the door and windows in a fury of frustration. Yet for Judy and for her young husband, Dr. Harvey Smith, the beauty of the Yukon territory not only held a certain fascination, but also offered a haven of refuge that had brought them peace of mind since they had arrived at Selkirk and moved into the cabin on the outskirts of the rocker settlement. Judy's attitude of premulous listening gave way to smiling expectancy as she heard the stamping of feet outside the door. Harvey, darling, you must be just about frozen. Let me help you remove your parka. Thanks, Judy. I'll get you a bowl of nice hot soup right away. No, no thanks. Harvey, I know you're cold and a bowl of hot soup. I said I don't want it. Isn't that enough? Why, Harvey? I'm sorry I lost my temper, honey. Well, I guess I'm pretty tired. Harvey, tell me something. Tell you what, Judy? Something's wrong, isn't it? Oh, no, honey, don't go worrying about me. I'll be all right. You know, I've been worried about old Pete's condition. Now, wait, Harvey. I know you better than you think. I've seen you this way before. Now, what's the trouble? Oh, it's this infernal wind and cold and snow and ice. I'm getting fed up with it. No, Harvey, you know that, isn't it, at all? Why, only yesterday you spoke of how wonderful it was up here. No. No, there's something else, dear. And I have an idea what it is. What do you mean? I mean that the look in your face can be because of only one thing. He has come to sell her. Now, listen here, Judy, I tell you that you're right. He has come here. I arrived this morning. Oh, Harvey. Why? Why can't he? Let me alone. I thought we'd be free of him up here in the far north. Then just when I begin to feel free again, I see him. Watch him. Wait. I know, Harvey, but you can't let him affect you this way. Don't you realize that's exactly what he wants? Yes. Yes, I know that. Harvey, darling, we've got to face it. You can't keep me running away forever. You must overcome your fear of Carl Strucker. Believe me, Judy, I've tried, but it's no use. I worked and studied long and hard to become a doctor. I know. Oh, it isn't so much that I fear what he'd do. It's the effect on my nerves. I need steady nerves, a steady hand in my work. Of course you do. But ever since Carl Strucker swore, if you ever operated again, he'd kill you, you've let him hound us from one town to the other. All the way from San Francisco to the Yukon. Oh, you don't have to tell me. I know all that. Let's sit down calmly and talk it over, Harvey. Talk won't do any good. But you must face the facts. Carl Strucker is a professional gambler. And he can go into any town and make a living. Sure, sure, I know all that. But you can't. You're a doctor and a good one. But you have to become established in one place to make a living. And here in Selkirk is your chance. You know it's a growing settlement. The only doctor from miles around is old Dr. Mason. And he's leaving for California next month when the thaw comes. It's no use, Judy. With Strucker in time, I'd be... He's too blame for what happened in San Francisco, not you. I know. When he first called me to attend his wife, I told him an operation for appendicitis was necessary immediately. Yes, but he refused to let you operate until it was too late, didn't he? That's right. But will I remind ourselves of all that? Why haven't we gone through it? Bobby, listen to me. Carl Strucker is a cold, calculating gambler. Maybe he would carry out his threat to kill you if you operate again. But his main thought is to make you suffer through fear. To make you give up medicine entirely. Oh, please, Harvey. Face this thing and beat it now. While Dr. Mason's here, he could do any needed operations. But after it's good... You saw Strucker. Perhaps by now, well, he might have changed. No, honey, he hasn't changed. This morning as I left old Pete's cabin, I met Sergeant Preston with his dog King. Sergeant and I stood talking. Good morning, Sergeant. Good morning, Dr. Smith. Well, King, old fella. Good to see you again. King considered you a good friend of ours, Doctor. Oh, well, how's old Pete getting along? Well, he's holding his own. Don't worry about him. Those references have come a long way. He's the King. Hello there. I'm Sergeant Preston, Northwestern out of police. Oh, I'm Carl Strucker. Glad to know you're Sergeant. You can direct me to the hotel. Dr. Smith. But a coincidence we should meet way up here in Selkirk. Oh, the new men have met before. Yes, Sergeant, we have. In San Francisco two years ago. That's right. I have stopped in many towns since then. How about you, Doctor? You're doing well, I hope. Oh, boy. Your dog doesn't like strangers, perhaps. That depends, Strucker. Going to stay in Selkirk long? Well, that's hard to say. But perhaps now that I've found Dr. Smith living here, I might be tempted to stay at least until he should happen to leave. I see. Selkirk, Strucker, my wife and I are happy here. I'm very much needed, too. How interesting. Perhaps I should have taken up the study of medicine instead of professional gambling. Though I prefer to gamble with money rather than with life. Listen here, Strucker, I... I'm listening, my friend. Sometimes I do not understand you, Doctor. Though I feel sure you understand me. Well, I must be getting along. Go straight ahead, Strucker. The hotel's that two-story building, the under-street there. Thank you kindly, Sergeant. I will see both of you again soon. You don't like any of that, King? Doctor, I noticed... Sergeant, I hope you'll excuse me. I must be getting along. I have few more patients to call on this morning. And as I walked away, even Sergeant Preston knew there was something wrong. Judy, I can't stand it any longer. We'll just have to move on to some other place, and I'll give up medicine once and for all. The following evening, Sergeant Preston, with a magnificent dog king at his heels, entered the Selkirk trading post. One thing... Hello, Sergeant. Well, well, King. You know, if you ever come in here without King at your heels, I'd sort of think that part of you will be missing. I guess you'll be right, Jack. Hey, King. Well, what can I do for you, Sergeant? I want some coffee and bacon, usual amount of each, please. Coffee and bacon, sure thing. I, uh, suppose you heard the news about young Dr. Smith, didn't you? News about Dr. Smith? I know I haven't. Well, I guess it ain't got around then yet. What about Dr. Smith, Jack? Well, his wife was in here today. Closed out their account. What? She said they'd be leaving here long about the end of the week. Dr. Smith, leaving Selkirk for good? That's what she said. Sort of looks sad about it, too. Well, we're going to miss him, especially with old Dark Mason fixing to go south to Frisco in a few weeks. Yeah, sort of leave Selkirk without medical attention. Well, put these on my account, Jack. Sure thing, Sergeant. I'll be on again soon. Pumping. Hello, Sergeant. Goodbye, King. Good night, Jack. After leaving his purchases at his own cabin, Sergeant Preston and King went out again and walked the short distance to the cabin of old Dr. Mason. Well, Dr. Mason isn't even stuck here. He's not a good man. His character is me all the time. Good evening, Dr. Mason. Well, well, Sergeant Preston and King, come in out of the wind, Sergeant, and bring King in, too. Hi. Come on, King. Sit over there by the fire, Sergeant. That wind's mighty sharp tonight. Yes, it is. Come on, King. Is this just a friendly visit, Sergeant? Have you got a ache or pain that you want me to treat? You look quite healthy to me, though. No, Dr. Mason. Fortunately, I feel fine. Matter of fact, I came in to talk to you about Dr. Smith. Dr. Harvey Smith? Say, he's a smart medical man to my way of thinking. My mighty thankfulness, someone like him to leave behind when I go south. That's just it. I heard from old Jerk at the trading post that Dr. Smith is leaving Selkirk the end of this week. Why? Leaving Selkirk? But he told me just last week that he likes it up here and so does his wife. Well, I suppose he's beginning to realize that he can do better in a larger place in some big city in the States, maybe. Maybe. Well, I don't believe that's his reason for leaving. You don't, Sergeant? Then why do you think he is leaving? I don't know. Dr. Mason, I... Well, perhaps if you talk to him, you could persuade him to stay here. We need him in Selkirk. Well, now if he said ongoing, afraid there isn't much that I could say to change his mind, I'll tell you what, though. Maybe if we got a committee of men here in town to go to his cabinet and talk to him, they might convince him to stay. Might work at that. I'll go to the cafe with you right now, Sergeant. See if we can get some men to talk to Dr. Smith. Put my things on. All right. I'd have to suppose a good time to find most of the men at the cafe. You ready to go, Sergeant? Yes. Go on doing the... Go on, fellow. Meantime, in the gold-lugged cafe, Carl Struger, the gambler, sat dealing cards at one of the tables. I got you this time, Struger. Give me one card. There it is. It looks like I got him now, boys. All right, Struger. There. Now let me see what you've got. Sure. How's that? Three kings, two deuces. So, now you take a look at these. Three aces, two deuces. I've been missed it. Why, you dirty cheats! I got everything! Now to continue our story. As Dr. Mason and Sergeant Preston entered the gold-lugged cafe, one of the prospectors, who had just lost everything he owned at Carl Struger, pulled his gun and shot wildly. Dr. Mason, with a cry of pain, sank to the floor. The great dog king, who had entered with them, took in the situation of the glance, that even as Sergeant Preston called out to him, a massive dog had sprung into action. With teeth there, the stowage broke complete to the place. His poor contact, Mason, he was just coming in. That dog sure moved fast. That was a wonder, Sergeant. He didn't give him a chance to shoot again, though he might have shot me. Thank you, Mr. Struger. Dr. Mason. Dr. Mason's badly hurt. We'll take him in the back room. There's a cop there. Get Dr. Smith. Tell him to operate. Otherwise... Easy, Dr. Smith, right away. If necessary, he can operate right here. After moving the wounded doctor into the back room, I'm afraid I'm a way to get Dr. Smith. Do you think you'll pull through, Sergeant? I'm hoping Dr. Smith can pull him through. I'm going after him right now. I haven't got hot water ready for an emergency operation. I'm afraid getting Dr. Smith isn't going to do much good. Why not, Struger? What makes you say that? It's just a thought, Sergeant. Anyway, I'm betting you won't get Dr. Harvey Smith to operate. We'll see about that, Struger. Something about that man, Struger, I don't like. Yes, what is it? Oh, Sergeant Preston, come in. Wait here, King. Mrs. Smith, I came to get the doctor. It's an emergency. Dr. Mason's been critically wounded. Dr. Mason? Oh, no. What's that you say, Sergeant? Get into a park and come to the cafe, doctor. Did you say Dr. Mason was hurt? Bring all your instruments with you. You may have to operate right away. You're a medical kid. Now, you must go, Harvey. You must. I'll help you into a park. Come on, Sergeant, hold on. Every second he counts, Dr. Smith, we have to hurry. I'll go with you and do what I can, Sergeant. But I won't operate. I can't do it. I just can't. Give me the kid, Mrs. Smith. Here it is. Come on, doctor. Come, King. A short time later, Sergeant Preston and Dr. Smith entered the cafe, leaving King outside to wait. The two men walked through the crowd toward the back room, which had been put in readiness for the young doctor to administer to Dr. Mason. As Sergeant Preston and Dr. Smith reached the door to the back room, Carl Struger reached out and touched Smith's arm. Just one minute, Smith. Struger, just let me remind you that operations can result in death for certain people. Out of the way, Struger. Go on in, doctor. Dr. Smith, I knew you'd come. It's up to you. Bullock large. Near my heart, it seems like. I'll examine the wound. Well, I don't know. Have to operate. Have to work fast. But, Sergeant, I don't... There's life is in your hands, Dr. Smith. Well, I... All right, Sergeant. I'll do it. I'll need some help. Good. We'll have to work fast. Get plenty of hot water. It'll be a delicate operation. But I'll do the best I can. Here, that Struger's remark had put in his mind, Dr. Smith worked over Dr. Mason with a steady hand. Sergeant Preston, who was assisting, was filled with admiration by his quick, decisive movements as he went about the delicate operation. Finally, after putting the last bandage in place, Dr. Smith straightened up. Sergeant Preston was puzzled by the odd expression on his face. Well, I finished, Sergeant. You think the operation was successful, doctor? With proper care, Dr. Mason would pull through all right. I'll pack my kit now. Doctor Smith, I can't help noticing you don't seem too pleased with your work. Oh, I'm well satisfied with the result, Sergeant. It's just that I was thinking of... What were you going to say? Nothing. I'll get all, Sergeant. Keep Dr. Mason here for the present. I'll try to see him in the morning. I'll go along home now. Good night. Good night. As Dr. Smith went out into the cafe, Sergeant Preston quickly went out the back door and hurried around front to get king. Meanwhile, Dr. Smith walked slowly through the crowded cafe. Wait a minute, doc. Well, we're all anxious to know about Dr. Mason. Will it be all right, do you think? Yes. The operation was successful. We're glad to hear that. It's a lucky thing for us. We'll have you here in Selkirk after Dr. Mason gets well, leaves for the States. I... I may not be here. Not be here? No, doc. You have to stay here. We need someone like you. Why did you say a thing like that? I... I'll never mind. Forget it. Hold on, Smith. What do you want, Stugge? Do you remember what I told you in San Francisco? I've never forgotten it. I'm sure you haven't. But I just wanted to make sure. Listen here, Stugge. You can go as far as you like. I've just decided that I will stay in Selkirk. I'll get out of my way. I'm sure glad to hear Doc Smith say he changed his mind about leaving. Yes, yes, of course. But I'm afraid his sting here won't be of any help to the people of Selkirk. What do you mean? I have some business to attend to, so I'll run along now. Good night, gentlemen. Good night. Harvey Smith left the cafe and started walking slowly up the main street toward his cabin. The twilight effect of the Yukon night made it bright enough for him to notice the figure that emerged from the cafe behind him. The young doctor knew that the warped mind of the gambler, Stugge, would cause him to carry out the threat that had for so long made his and Judy's lives miserable. He thought of the calm steadiness of Sergeant Preston, which had helped him so much in performing the operation. The thought gave him courage, courage to face an issue now, to put to a test the threats of the man who walked a short distance behind him. Harvey didn't carry a gun, but he knew this fact wouldn't deter the man whose strange madness caused him to seek revenge for a fancy brawl. Suddenly, Harvey stopped and turned to face Stugge. Well, Stugge, we're out here alone. You have a gun, I don't carry one. That's too bad, Smith. You know what happened in San Francisco couldn't be helped. Come to your senses. Yes. You killed my wife with your blundering operation, Smith. I warned you that if you ever performed another operation, I'd kill you. I had to operate on Dr. Mason. You would have died. That means nothing to me. The fact that you performed an operation does. Now, wait a minute. I have enjoyed following you from place to place, Smith. It pleased me to watch you pull up stakes and move on because you were afraid. Yes. I didn't think you'd ever work up a nerve to do another operation, but I'm glad that you did. I've waited for this moment. Stugge, you're a stark, raving man. Perhaps, but I'm enjoying this moment while you wait for the bulletin to finish you off. A murderer can't escape the law here in the Yukon, Stugge. Then I tell him that I followed you because you killed my wife. The law won't deal too strictly with me. All right, then. Shoot me if you're going to. I can't stand this any longer. Yes, of course. Yes, the bullet I carried just for you, Dr. Smith. King, coming along in the shadows between the buildings just ahead of his master, saw Stugge as he slowly raised his gun and aimed at Dr. Smith. King knew that death spank him, a pointed gun. He saw the menacing gesture of the man whom he disliked so much. The great dog, without waiting for an order from Sergeant Preston, streaked across the hard-packed snow with a deep throat and gall, leaped across the road. The impact of King's attack had thrown Stugge to the ground. The intelligent dog had grabbed the man's gun on and, seeing that Stugge still held the gun in his hand, King vigorously renewed his attack in an effort to make Stugge drop the weapon. You're killing me. Get him off of me. As a sound of his master's voice, King trained to obey immediately, released his hold on Stugge's arm and stood back snarling. The great dog sensed what Preston couldn't see, that there was still danger. As Sergeant Preston approached, Stugge quickly raised up on his arm, leveled his gun. The king! I'll kill that dog in you two, Smith! Oh, you won't! Oh, my goodness! Oh, my king! I thought he'd dropped his gun before, boy. You and King have saved my life, Sergeant. Stugge was about to... Yes, I know. I expected him to follow. That dog... it has hadn't been for him. All right, he's fainted. Let's get him to a cabin, doctor. He's not badly hurt. All right. Followed by King, Sergeant Preston and Dr. Smith carried Stugge to Smith's nearby cabin. After putting him on a cot, the young doctor set to work, and working swiftly and expertly soon finished attending to Carl Stugge's wound. The last bandage had just been fastened into place when Stugge opened his eyes. What? For a moment he stared at the faces bending over him. Then, trying to rise, he spoke weakly, but savagely. You think that I will believe you've saved my life by attending me, Smith? I know my wound was cut, I know my wound was not serious. If you think... Take it easy, Stugge. How have you fixed your wound because it needed immediate attention, Mr. Stugge? No. No, it would have been all right without his interference. He thought I'd forget. Well, let me open up, sir, King. You're too weak to get up yet, Stugge. Yes. Yes, but... but soon I will be better. Yes. Thanks to Dr. Smith who fixed your wound. He thought by operating, making me think that he saved my life, he could get me to get about my intention. Well, he's gone. He killed my wife back in San Francisco with a blundering operation. Your wound wasn't serious, Stugge. But without quick medical attention, it might have been. Yes, then it was the same with Mrs. Stugge that time. If she had had an operation when my husband wanted to do it, she would have... Please, to blame for her death. That's not true. Just a minute, Dr. Stugge. I've heard the story from Mrs. Smith. If you hadn't been so stubborn and pay-headed at the time, an immediate operation on your wife would probably have saved her life. No. It was you who was to blame for what happened to her. You waited until it was too late before you'd allow an operation. You were to blame, and it's time you came to your senses. I... I don't know what to say. I was sort of out of my head all this time, I guess. She meant a lot to me. I know that, Stugge. When you finally let me operate, I did my best. But you waited too long. Well, I'm sorry, Dr. Smith. For the way I've acted. It was a madness. I couldn't control it. Let's forget it. Shall we, Stugge? Oh, thank you. Thank you. I suppose the sergeant will make out a case against me because I tried to... I don't think that'll be necessary, Stugge. I think I had to interfere to prevent you from committing murder. I think you've learned your lesson. Oh, yes. Yes, sergeant, I have. Oh, thank heaven. Now Harvey and I can stay here in Selkirk. We need him here, Mrs. Smith. Your husband showed great courage when he operated on Dr. Mason tonight, knowing what the result might be. You gave me the courage to do it, sergeant. I have a great deal to you and to King. And you can stay here with us until you're well again, Mr. Stugge. Of course you can. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, too, sergeant, for... for your leniency towards me. That's all right, Stugge. This is one case we'll consider closed right here and now, aching goat. These radio dramas are created and produced by George W. Trendo, directed by Fred Flower Day, and supervised by Charles D. Livingston. The part of Sergeant Preston is played by Paul Sutton. This is J. Michael wishing you good-bye, good luck, and good health. So long.