 The challenge of the Yukon. It's Yukon King, swiftness and strongest lead dog of the Northwest, blazing the trail for Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police in his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers. On King, on your huskies! 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. With the coming of the summer of 1899, the year following the Great Rush to hunt gold in the Yukon territory, White Horse, the first large settlement above Skagway, was teeming with activity. Prices were high, and yet men were lax in the use of their money since each was convinced he would strike it rich within the short time. The thought of finding gold spurred most of them to hard work, but there were some, like Curly Dalton, who intended to get their gold an easy way, by taking it after others had found it. Curly had gathered three men together who thought as he did. They sat at the table in the cafe one day. Breakly, I don't intend to break my back digging her pen and for the stuff. Now I see what you're driving at, Curly. What's more, I think meeting these other two people is the same way about getting gold. Well, in that case, suppose we go over to the hotel where we can talk privately. I'll tell you all just how we'll operate. Come on, let's go. From the start, Curly and his gang used rough and ruthless methods to get what they were after. Their first job had been to rob the express office, just before the boat was ready to take on shipments to go to the States. I reckon you have some gold to ship on the boat. I just have time to fix up waybills and get it to the boat with other shipments. Oh, shut up. This is a hold-up, Missy. Wait, you can't... All right, ma'am. Get over there and clear out the safe. He's got it open for us already. There's plenty of pokes of dust here, too, Curly. They'll hurry up and grab them if somebody might command. Well, I won't let you get away with those pokes. Lots of the prospectors are sending money home. You can't do it. Help! Help! You asked for this? Let's get out of here proud of them. After that robbery, Curly and the others had quickly made their way to the cafe and were among the crowd that a short time later milled around the entrance and interior of the express office. Those crooked killers even grabbed all the waybills. To make it tough to know who lost their money. I lost my receipt, but I had a poke for $300 I was sending home. Yeah, I mislead my receipt, too. Now, we can't put any claims to the express compound. Constable says they didn't leave any trail at all. The only witness against them is the agent. And he's dead. They're gonna get them killers out of hang. That's what... A week later, Curly and Red sat in the cafe unobserved and listened to an old sourdough talking to the crowd a short distance away. Very good sport. I'll prove it by paying for whatever anyone wants, understand? Yep. The whole bills on me. An old sourdough is loaded with gold, Curly. He sure is. Listen, listen all of you. Just what I just want you to know that I was one of the first to strike it rich. Yes, sir. I come up here with a first bunch. I struck it rich right off. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Well, I gotta go home. Going home now. And I'll see you all tomorrow. Tomorrow night. All right, let's get out of here and find the others. Come on. Curly and Red quietly left the cafe ahead of the old boasting sourdough. They found the others. Then they all rode after the sourdough and they saw him leave the cafe and mounted the hitch-rack. The old man didn't realize what was about to happen as he rode along the trail. Get along there, Betsy. Get up. Hey, what's that? Hi, fellas. Give us that poker gold you got with you. You got bandanas to hide your faces. Well, no yellow-backed outlaws are going to get it. You talk too much. All right, Red. Get the poker gold. We'll get back to the cafe before we're missed. Ready? I got it. All right, let's go. Once more, they were among the first to ride to the scene when someone came into the cafe and reported finding the unconscious sourdough on the trail. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Now here's what happened, men. They put the old sourdough on his horse and left him at the constable's office. Just before I went to the cafe. I guess the constable hasn't got here yet. There won't do him any good, either. I reckon we've covered up any trail of them crooks left by now. He sure has. That's right. We didn't stop to think. We should have waited until the constable had a chance to look the ground over. Oh, well, let's get back to the cafe. Get up. Get up. Get up. And so it was that time after time, Curly was smart enough to see that any trail would be covered up before the constable had a chance to follow it. In Dawson, Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police entered the office of the inspector at headquarters. Morning, Inspector. I understand you want to see me. Oh, yes, Sergeant Preston. Sit down and make yourself comfortable. Thank you, sir. Sergeant, the gang is operating in the vicinity of Whitehorse. They've been robbing and killing, yet they managed to cover that trail effectively. They must have a clever leader, Inspector. Yes, that's true. Of course, Whitehorse is teaming with newcomers who follow the trail through Whitepass from Skagway. The last time I was down there, sir, the town was greatly overcrowded. Jim has his hands full, keeping those prospectors in line. I know. He's a fine officer, but he needs some help. Yes, I can understand that, sir. We could use twice as many mounted police as we have, but since that's impossible, I want you to get down there and see what you can do. Yes, of course. How soon can you leave here? Right away, sir. Come on, King. It's good going. Bye, Inspector. Goodbye, Sergeant, and good luck. One afternoon, Sergeant Preston arrived with his dog, Yukon King, at the Constable's office in Whitehorse. Oh, lucky. Oh, boy. Come on, King. Howdy, Sergeant. Oh, hello, Frank. How are you? Well, Sergeant, I've been expecting you. Inspector said you were having trouble down here, Jim. We made the trip as quickly as we could. I'm sure glad to see you. Frankly, we've had plenty of trouble. A gang of outlaw seems to be operating in this vicinity. No matter how hard I've tried, I haven't been able to pick up their trail. White horse is crowded right now. They could be hiding right in town for that matter. It'd be hard to get a line on them. I know. Haven't they left any trail at all on any of the robberies they've pulled? They could have, but it seems before I can get to the scene of the crime, or at least by the time I do get there, a mob of prospectors is milling all over the place. Oh, see what you mean. When the express office was robbed, the agent was murdered. Then when an old sourdough was held up, he was hit on the head with a gun butt. All he could tell me was that there were three or four horsemen who had their faces partly covered with bandanas. Do you connect the two crimes? There have been more, Sergeant. A couple of prospectors a few miles out, Indian Creek, were attacked in their sleep, knocked unconscious, and robbed of their gold. They didn't have a chance to see anyone. But somehow I feel that the same ones are responsible for all the crimes that have taken place in the last few weeks. The pattern of the crimes does seem to be the same. The idea must be not to leave witnesses or a trail. That's the way it seems to me, too, Sergeant. Well, Jim, I'll stay here in the White Horse until we find that gang at the behind bars. Come on, King. We'll go get some food and rest now. That night in Curly Dalton's room at the hotel, Curly and his three followers were talking. Don't forget when you leave here, ease out one at a time so you won't be noticed. You don't have to worry, boss. It's yours to laugh, Curly. I was excited about the jobs we pulled with us living right in White Horse listening to them. Yeah, they're a bunch of dope, Curly. Sure knows how to fool. Just how long we keep them fool depends on you, fellas. Just one slip of the tongue at the cafe and that'd be on our necks. Don't worry, Curly. We're all careful. We do a lot of listening, but very little gap. That's right. We don't talk. And what's more, Curly, with you living here at the hotel, each of us living in separate room and houses, we aren't together very much. It can't be too careful. Yeah, we got away with plenty so far. By the way, it's about time we found some other job, Curly. Might as well get as much dough as you can while it getting's good. That's all right with me. And the night after you leave here, see if you hear of anything, it'll tip us off to another easy job. You better get going right now. I'll see you all later. After leaving the others, Rad went to the cafe. A prospector came in and stood beside Rad. He immediately followed the custom of many of the old sourdough in the Yukon by turning to Rad and speaking as if they were friends. Been up here long, Mr. Long enough. How about you? I reckon I was amongst the first to rush up here. Yep. Come on, all the way from Frisco, too. Well, that's a long way to come. I suppose you were down that way prospecting for gold, huh? Sure was. In fact, I have hunted gold in Colorado, the Yukon, Nevada, and most everywhere. Yes, sir. It sure is funny how an embryo grows hasting that to yellow stuff. Well, it gets into your blood disorder. Once it does, it's there to stay, seems like. Yeah, that's right. If you ever find much gold, it seems to be an experienced prospector like you ought to have quite a lot stuck away in the bank. Bank? Ha! Bank, did you say? Now, sir, you don't catch me letting them banks What you got against banks? Well, sir, I'll tell you. I made a strike in California a few years ago with all my diggings in a bank in Frisco. Oh, that's where you have your gold now, huh? Not on your life, Mr. Can you believe this? One day, I goes into town and there's a big line outside that bank. And I got to asking around, and I found out that the bank was going under. Yeah, the time I got to the door, they closed them plum in my face. And me with nigh on the 20,000 in gold stashed away in there. Yeah, sure it happened. What do you think happened? I never got a cent of it, not one cent. The bank failed, and there I was broke again. Well, that was mighty tough luck. Yeah, sure it was. Ha, ha, ha! Well, that'll never happen to me again. You can bet your bottom dollar on that. Well, if you're broke, does make any difference anyway. Broke? Who said I was broke? Well, I dug out plenty of gold from my claim upon nugget corrections that have been here. Well, it's fine that you're fine. But if you won't put it in the bank, where do you... Mr, I got a good place in my cabin to hide my takings. It's better than any bank. Nobody knows but me where it is. And when I want it, I know it'll be there. You just take my advice and stay away from banks, Mr. Yeah, sure, I remember that. Well, I'd leave now. I have to meet a friend of mine. See you again sometime. So long. Red left the cafe hurriedly and went to Curley's hotel room. A short time later, he was telling Curley... I know. Good chance to get some more dough, Curley. Get it easy. Yeah. Well, tell us about it, Red. I heard a sourdough talking over in the cafe a while ago. About all the gold he got and his claim upon nugget correct. What about it? He likely has it sucked to win the bank. That's the point, Curley. He was saying how he lost money in a bank failure once. And didn't believe in banking his cash anymore. Ah. I wonder where he keeps it then. He was saying he had a good hide in place of his cabin. And I found out he lives out there alone. See, that does sound like a good set up for us, Red. All right. Get the others and meet me on the edge of town in the nugget-trick trail. We'd go out and get that old fool's cash and be back in town long before anyone knows what happened. All right. I'll see you again sometime. See you again sometime. I don't know where anyone knows what happened. Later that night, the four crooks pulled to a stop in front of the cabin on Nugget Creek. Oh, man. It was all right inside. It must still be up here. Yeah. Use your bandanas to cross your faces before we go in and ride. All right. All right, let's go. Thought it wasn't that you... and bandanas may ask when you face it. You must be Robert. Get back in there. Wait a minute. You can't... I can inside, fellas. There's no need to come here with guns and all. I'm just a poor prospector trying to get a little dust together. Here you are. Look, mister. We know you got a pile of gold hit away in here and we're going to get it. Tell us where it is or I'll put a bullet in you right now. No, don't I. I'll tell. It's hit under a loose floorboard over there in the corner of the cabin. Go look, fellas. Get it up and see if the gold's there. Hey, here's an old carpet bag hitting the open. Must be the gold. Good. Bring it here. All right. This is it. Several pokes of gold. Don't take that. It's all my same. Shut up, you! The back of the head will keep quiet for a while. Now let's get out of here and come back to town. When Curly and his men reached the edge of town, they separated and each one went to his own living quarters. Early the following morning, the prospector with a crude bandage on his head entered the Constable's office to report the robbery. Constable, come here to tell you I was robbed during the night. There were four of them. Sit down, Madden. Tell us about it. This is Sergeant Preston. Howdy, Sergeant. Morning, man. Looks as though you had trouble with those cooks. Oh, yeah. When I'm clipping you on the back of the head, lucky it was a glance from below. Let us sit down, Madden. Thanks. You say there were four of them? Yeah, they said they'd kill me if I didn't tell them where my gold was hit. So I told them. After they got it, the one who was given the order socked me. They got away with all the gold I had. It was hit away under a floor board in an old carpet bag. We'll go out there and see what we can find at your cabin. I'll go with you, Sergeant. Well, reband his Ned's head, and let him wait here until we get back. Oh, this bandage is all right, Sergeant. It isn't much of a wound. Well, all right. We won't be gone long. Ready, Jim? Right with you, Sergeant. Come on, King. No one knows about Ned's robberies, so we'll be able to pick up their trail. That's right. Ready, Bluggy? Get up, Bluggy! Sergeant Preston and the constable set out for the cabin on Nugget Creek. As they rode along the trail, with King running alongside, the constable was saying... Ned's cabin is just around the bend ahead, Sergeant. Good. It'll be easy to pick up the trail of four men. That's right. I think this is the time we'll get a line on those crooks. I hope so, Jim. After we... Look ahead there. The Raider 10 horse is standing outside that cabin. Uh-uh. The curious crowd from town again. That's bad, let's hurry. Get up, Bluggy! In a few moments, the two Maudies pulled to a stop in front of the cabin. Come on, King. There were several men standing in the doorway looking inside curiously, while a few others were roaming aimlessly around inside. Here's the constable with Sergeant Preston. Step aside and let him in. Hi, Sergeant. We heard Ned was robbed, so we all rode out. We can't figure out what happened to Ned, though. He isn't around. Who told you about the robbery? Well, I don't rightly know. It was sort of rumored around. I see. Let's go inside, Jim. Come on, King. Good morning, Constable. Looks like you must have heard the news after we did at the café. I thought that way. Who told you? I just heard the men talking about it. We all decided to come out and look things over. Too bad you did. You men have ruined our chances of picking up a trail. Gosh, that's too bad. We never thought of that, did we, fellas? No, I didn't. No idea. Sure, feel sorry for Ned losing all that gold. That's what he gets for keeping it under a loose floorboard, instead of putting it in the bank. That's right. Now, all of you go on outside, so we'll have a chance to look around in here. Sure. Let's go, fellas. Hmm. God, that Sergeant, those prospectors have ruined our chances again. I know. Well, they've all left. He might as well leave too. Well, I'd like to know who got them to come out here in the first place. Of course, Ned might have told someone before he reached your office. I suppose he did. Let's go back and talk to Ned. Come on, King. A short time later, Sergeant Preston and the Constable entered the office where Ned was waiting. I'm sure it didn't take you long to find any clues. No, Ned, we didn't. As a matter of fact, there were eight or ten men from town out there when we arrived. What were they doing out there? Just curious, Ned. They went out as soon as they heard about the robbery. What I can't figure is how they found out about it. Ned, did you tell anyone about it before you came here? No, sir. I come straight here to the Constables always without meeting anyone. Oh, that's interesting. Tell me something else. How many people knew you had such a gold hidden under a loose floorboard? Nobody. I kept it a secret till I was forced to tell them bandits. No one needed to know where it was actually hidden, Sergeant, as long as they knew he had gold hidden at his cabin. It was easy, for instance, for the thieves to find... Hold on, Jim. I had another reason for asking that. Remember that rusty-haired fellow who was inside the cabin the one who spoke to us? Yes. He made a remark about Ned saying that's what he got for keeping his gold under a loose floorboard and keeping it in the bank. That's right. He did say that. The only ones who'd know that would be the four men who robbed Ned and let himself. And that fellow must be... I believe he's one of that gang, Jim. I better go pick him up for questioning. No, don't do that. If you do, the others will make a getaway. Then what do you intend to do? I have a plan that may work, Jim. Now, you and Ned, listen carefully because Ned's going to play a part in this. What do you want me to do, Sergeant? A metallic yellowy-looking stuff, it's worthless. Any newcomer's been fooled by it, thinking he struck gold. I've been fooled by it myself. But you can't fool a sourdough like me, no, sir. It feels different and has a sulfur-like taste. Lots of folks is fooled by it, though. I know. That's what I'm counting on. Now, here's what you're to do and say, Ned. If you act your part well, it may work. Now, listen closely. Sergeant Preston told his plan to the constable and Ned. Later that day, Ned entered the cafe and looked around. He saw the man Preston had described standing with a group of prospectors at the back of the cafe. As Ned approached the group, they started asking questions. Here's Ned now. How are you feeling? Too bad about your gold, Ned. Lose it all. Looks like you must have got hit in the head. I got hit all right, but outside of that, I don't feel very bad. I should think losing all that gold would make you feel mighty bad. Well, it might have if I really lost all my gold. What do you mean? What I mean is that them outlaws got fooled. That's right. How do you make that up? Well, you see, they wouldn't figure I'd be wise enough to maybe hide my gold in a good place and then fill some pokes with fake gold, you know, fool's gold, and hide that under a loose floorboard. Great change. And you mean that what they took was only fool's gold instead of your real gold? Is that it? They'll find that out when they try to spend it. Ned, you sure are smarter than I thought. Yeah, it was smart all right. Well, I reckon I'll be getting along. See you all later. From the window of a store across the street, Sergeant Preston and the constables saw Red leave the cafe hurriedly and walked quickly up the street. There he goes, Jim. Do you think he fell for Ned's story, Sergeant? Looks like it. Anyway, it won't take us long to find out. We'll follow him and see where he goes. Come on, King. Just saunter along in case he works back. There's no reason why he should suspect anything. Look, he's going into the hotel. And so if the others are in there, come on. Meantime, Red entered the hotel and went to Curley's room, and the two others were playing cards. I thought you were staying at the cafe a while. Let me in, Curley. Yes, your turn. I heard something at the cafe, Curley. What did you hear? Yeah, what's up? You look worried, Red. What's worrying me is I think that prospect had tricked us last night. What do you mean? He's over at the cafe right now, crawling over the fact that we didn't get his gold. Well, he's crazy. You saw what's in that bag under the bed. He claims he kept that carpet bag filled with pools gold. Just in case he did get robbed. Yeah, you mean what we got was worthless? We ought to go back there and plug them. Get the bag and put it on the table, Red. All right. Here it is. All right, open it. Let's have a look. It takes an expert to tell pools gold in the real town. I can tell. Don't worry. Open one of those porches. Sure. What do you think? It looks like the real stuff to me. Yeah, but lots of people get stuck with pools gold. Yeah, maybe so. But we're not stucky. This is real gold. By a thunder, he must have got mixed up and tricked himself then. The other he has hidden away must be the fake stuff. I wonder. An experienced sourdough like him would know the difference with his eyes shut. I'd like to know just why he passed out that story. What do you mean, Curly? You think he had some reason to say what he did? Yeah, that's right. All right, each of you go pack your stuff and get your horse. What's the idea? Where are we going? I'm packing my stuff right now. We're not trailing ahead for Skagway. Now go on, get out of here and make it fast. You two ready? All right, but you're too suspicious, Curly. When you shot that express agent a few weeks ago, you acted like we were dopes enough to run around town boasting about it. You're not the only smart one in this gang, Curly. You're going to keep your moustache, now go on. Get back inside there. Hey, we've got to get out of here. This will stop you, fella. A sergeant question on the costable battle of three outlaws just inside the door. Curly standing back in the room quickly drew his gun. The great dog Yukon King saw the gun in Curly's hand and knowing that the gun meant death, he sprang forward. Get away, get away. I'll settle this one. Maybe I got him, but you won't get me. Look outside in his gun. Give me that gun. Oh, man, you're twisted. Drop that gun, drop it. Keep these three covered, Jim. I'll kill you. Sergeant Preston looked up as Curly battling against King. Managed to drag his arm free as he landed a vicious kick on King's side. For the moment Curly was free as King fell back and then as the great dog started for him again, Curly, having quickly grabbed his gun, aimed it at King, shouting, No, you're not. Don't, King, don't, fella. Watch him, boy. I've got his gun. I've got the other guns. Get over there, all of you. Look, Sergeant, there's Ned's carpet bag with the pokes of gold in it. This rusty head outlaw fell for old Ned's story just like you figured he might. I read you're crazy fool. You fell for a trick just like a thought. Don't call me a fool, Curly. It was your idea to stay here in town. Yes, and you might have continued to get away with your robberies and killings. If Red there hadn't talked too much at the cabin today. Yeah, well, that dumb poor cat. I should have known better to hook up with him. You're not so smart, Curly. You'll be the one to hang for killing that expressing. Shut up, shut up, you hear? Take it easy, Curly. Take it easy. We already heard about that when we were listening outside the door. Once more, your friend Red over there talks too much. This is the gang. You've been pulling all those jobs, all right? Yes, Jim, there's no doubt about it. The pattern of covering their trail by having a crowd gather at the scene of the crimes is the same in all of the jobs. That's right. That's why I was sure they were staying in town and returning to town after each job. We're arresting all four of you in the name of the crown for robbery and murder. No, you can't hold arrest with murder. It was Curly did the shooting. All of you are equally guilty. Now, Jim, we'll take these men to jail. This case is closed. We now take you to Mounted Police Headquarters in Dawson. You sent for me, Inspector? Oh, yes, Sergeant Preston, I did. Skipper Camden is first made away doing everything they own that they'll win the riverboat race tomorrow. I suggest that you keep close watch and make certain that they're not planning harm to Captain Davis or his boat. I'll keep my eyes open, Inspector. I'll take King with me and see what I can find out. Come along, King. Yes, the big riverboat race is the talk of Dawson, and the stakes are high. But Sergeant Preston may find that his assignment is much more dangerous when he sets out to make sure it's going to be a fair race. Be sure to listen to this exciting adventure, Race of the Riverboats, Wednesday. These radio dramas, a feature of the challenge of the Yukon Incorporated, are created by George W. Trendle, produced by Trendle Campbell Enterprises, directed by Fred Flower Day, and edited by Fran Stryker. The part of Sergeant Preston is played by Paul Sutton. They are brought to you every Wednesday until September, when we shall resume our regular Monday, Wednesday, and Friday broadcast. This is J. Michael wishing you goodbye and good luck until next Wednesday. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.