 The challenge of the Yukon, its king, swiftest and strongest lead dog of the north country, blazing the trail for sergeant Preston of the northwest mounted police in his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers. On King, on new Huskies. Gold, gold discovered in the Yukon, a stampede to the Klondike in the greedy race for riches. Now back to the days of the gold rush, when sergeant Preston and his wonder dog king battled through storm and snow to preserve law and order as they met the challenge of the Yukon. A large crowd had collected at the dock to greet the last boat of the season, landing at Dawson City on the Yukon River. Cheers cut through the clear air as the Bonanza bell steamed into port. Among the crowd was sergeant Preston of the northwest mounted police, who was there to check the names of newcomers into the north country. Beside the sergeant stood a big gray dog who never left his master. As the boat docked and prepared to unload its passengers and freight, a small man whose head barely reached the mountain shoulder came toward him. A small man smelled strongly of fish and was therefore known as fishy Freddy. Hello there sergeant Preston. Oh hello Freddy. You look all excited about something. You meeting someone on the boat? Nope not someone. I'm meeting something that's more or less important to me than any person. Oh what's that? I've been saving every penny I made catching fish to buy a piano. It's on the Bonanza bell right now. A piano? Well why in the world would you want a piano? Well I know it does strike people funny fishy Freddy playing the piano but well it's the only pleasure I've got in the world. I'm very good to look at and I'm very smart at popular but I can't forget all that if I can play the piano. Where'd you get it Freddy? A friend of mine shipped it up from White Orson. It took every penny I had. I guess it ain't much of a piano. It was in a bar down there and they're getting another one. But if it's caught on the keys at all it'll be worth it to me. Where are you going to keep it? You're having a cabin. Well Barney said I could keep it at the Goldmugget Cafe. He says I could play it in there nights and he'd give me my meals for doing it. Good. Maybe you can pick up some tips once in a while. Well I could sure use them all right. Well there goes the gang blank. I have to go and check the passengers now. Come over to the Goldmugget and hear me play. I'll do that Freddy. Hope the piano's all right. Come along King. Let me through please. Excuse me. Look at the passengers. I bet they all think they're going to be millionaires in a week. Wait till they get a taste of seventy below. Just a moment sir. We check all newcomers. Your name please and your occupation. Francis Babson. Mining engineer. Your home and next to Ken. Newbury Port Massachusetts. Here's to Ken my sister Imogene Babson. Thank you sir. Go ahead. Your name please. Sure and it's Pat and Molly. I ain't got any occupation and you don't have to ask where I come from. The map is all over me face. Oh yes Ireland of course but what part. Dublin and I've got ten brothers and sisters. Let's see now there's Molly Mike. Oh that's enough. All right Pat. Go on. I'm being on a stand here all day. Watch that. He's made. But with everyone on the board. If he hadn't been almost two feet taller than me I'd have thrown him to the fish. I'll take care of him. Stop that pushing. What's the idea of this. Your name and occupation. What's the idea of this red tape. Hey you take that dog away from me before I kick his teeth. Quiet you won't lose anything but a foot. Your name please. It's Red McGraw. I was a stevedor in Frisco. No relatives. Go ahead. But watch that tamper you'll get yourself in trouble. I can take care of myself. Next please. Your name sir. Later that night in the hotel room Red McGraw sat talking with two other men. Turk Marshall was a short heavy set man with shaggy brows and black whiskers. Slim Taylor was small quick and shifty eyed. Both of them feared the big red had a giant before them. Well the first thing you got to get through those thick skulls of yours is that we aim to be seen together. That's why I got this room on the ground floor. You want to talk to me come in the window. Did you locate a hideout anywhere. Sure Red we got one on the river just like you said. Nobody could ever find its way off through the trail through the woods. You have to walk close to the river bank for a quarter mile. Did you have sense enough to hide it from the river if someone passes it in a boat. Sure we did. You think we're dumb. Yeah I do. We build a shack back in the woods trees hide it from the river. And what about a place to keep the first room for him in the shack. And there's a cave and a hill just a little away from the shack. In that case we get a lot of we're going to get a lot of them. How about a boat. It's all fixed too. Here's a canoe for you to use to get the town from the hideout. We bought a scowl from a little run of a salmon fisherman. His name was fishy Freddie and did he smell. We ain't got time for jokes. Now we got to work fast before the river freezes up. The trappers are bringing lots of furs in here right now. We'll get about three loads of them on the scowl and head down the river and work the next time. Are you going to hide out with us. No I am too big to try hiding myself from people. I'm going to be very much in evidence around. Monies don't suspect people who attract attention you better stay away from whiskey red that's how you got in trouble at last time. Listen you little cockroach I'm the one who's giving orders around here. Try giving them to me and I'll knock that gold tooth of yours through your windpipe. Don't get mad red slim didn't mean nothing. All right. Now tomorrow find a place where the trail comes down to the river. It better be a long way from the hideout. We'll tie the boat there and hold up the trappers on the trail then we'll use our boat to take the first back to the cabin so there won't be any way you're tracking us there. Will there be any killing. We'll let you take care of the boat baby face. You leave the man's part of this job to turkey me. Dusk was falling the following evening when red and turk concealed behind a clump of trees watched a trapper approach a trail a mule loaded high with furs plotted beside him red got his rifle ready. You're going to shoot him before he sees us. Sure I'll plug him and you grab the mule we'll take the furs and the trappers body down the boat we'll dump the body in the river and on the way back to the cabin so nobody'll know where he was killed or when here he comes. Yeah I can't miss him from here. You got him. I'll stop the mule. Oh oh there he is now. Oh hang on. Oh I got him. Is it ever dead. Bring the mule. Get up. Put this man's body on the mule take the furs of the boat along with him. Help me lift him up. All right over there. Now they won't be a sign of a crime. How about the mule. When we get him unloaded we'll just give him a crack and let him run. Nobody can recognize a mule. Get up you lapid slug. Soon as we get to dump this body the current will carry you downstream. You and Slim can take the furs. Aren't you coming with us. Now I'm going back to town and be very much in evidence that they go like a cafe tonight. Nobody will know I left. That's a boy Freddie. Whoever would have thought that smelly little squid could play a fan. I ain't heard the piano since I left Arkansas. Oh I wish he'd play an Irish jig but he says he don't know any. Oh look look there's bread in the ground. Watch out for trouble drinking. He loves to pick a fight. Gosh he's a big fella. Must be six feet forward. He's as strong as an ox too. Don't tangle with him. Hey you. You're up again. Are you talking to me mister. Yeah I'm talking to you. Cut out that rotten noise. Look he's making Freddie stop. Everybody wants me to play. I don't want you to. I don't like music so quit it. Oh let him play. What's wrong with you. Anybody wants an argument. When I come into this place after this I want you to quit playing right away. You understand. You weren't so big bigger than I was. What put me down. Oh you. I just wanted to show you how I can lift you up with one hand. Come on boys. Now that there's peace and quiet let's have a drink. It was a week later that Red and Turk again took their places on the trail near the river. Their guns ready to ambush the first trapper to appear with a load of furs. Quiet here come somebody. Looks like a trapper carrying his furs in his back. Maybe we better not bother with them. There ain't enough furs to matter. It depends on the furs. Their minkier fox would be passing up a good bet. Yeah that's right. We can't lose anything. There's nobody on the trail. No horse immuble to be left for evidence. I'm gonna let him have it. You got him. Come on Red. Sergeant Preston was watering his horse at a creek that wound down to the river from the trail north of Dawson. King his dog was lapping water thirstily beside the horse when the shot rang out from around the bend ahead. King raised his head and looked at his master for instructions. It's probably just a hard old king that we better find out. Go on King I'm coming. Stay there. All right come on fella. King had rounded the bend ahead of the mountain when suddenly Sergeant Preston's horse stumbled. The mountain's head struck a small rock as he fell and he lay motionless on the ground. A moment later as Red and Turk bent over the body of the trapper Turk suddenly grasped Red's arm. Red look there's a big grey dog coming around the bend he's coming for us. Where? My gun give me my gun. He got time. Get him. Get him. Get him. That took care of him. Gosh you swung that gun just in time. He was coming for you. Sure knocked him out. Grab those for us Turk. We gotta get to the boat right now. I want to get into town before this body is found. Are we taking this body with us? There we have it time. Leading there. That dog belongs to our Mountie. He's probably coming along the trail. Now hurry. Forget the furs to the boat and go back to the hideout and then I'll go back to town. I'm coming. The big grey dog lay motionless on the trail blood dripping from the cut in his head where the gun had struck him. Slowly his eyes opened and he lifted his head but sank back again as a searing pain ran through it. He lay still for a few moments while the world seemed to swing dizzily about him. Then the scent of a man who had struck him pierced his nostrils and a growl rumbled in his throat as he rolled upright on his haunches. There was no sign of the man who had swung the gun at him. Only the still figure of the trapper lying dead on the trail. King waited a moment trying to gather his strength. Then he rose dizzily to his feet and started back toward the place he had last seen as his master. As he rounded the bend he saw the Mountie's horse standing beside the trail and then the figure of Sergeant Preston lying a few feet away. His own pain was forgotten as he crouched at his master's side whining and licking his face and tugging at his sleeve. Finally the Mountie stirred and his eyes opened. All right old fellow, I'll be better in a minute. All right, King, don't worry boy. Are you hurt bad? Just my head, I was stunned I guess. You remember me now, don't you? I'm Pat O'Malley. I saw you at the boat when you landed here. Oh, yes, I'm a little groggy. My horse fell and my head hit something. Oh, you've got a lump on your head like a hen's egg. Yeah, I'm better now. Your horse ain't hurt now, no? That's good. What happened to your dog here? What? King? Got a cut on his head. King, old fellow, come here boy. But I couldn't see very well when I came too. Oh, it's a nasty cut. Pat, it was the first aid kit in my saddlebag. I'd better fix this right away. Oh, would you listen to the man? Wasn't to fix the dog's head. You're the one whose head needs fixing. The dog's all right. That cut ain't bleeding. Here, let me help you up now. The head's better. I'm sure I can walk. You stand right here. Now get your horse and go back to town with him. You better not try to walk now. Come here, King. Let me look at your head again, fellow. You know, I can't figure out how King got this cut. That tip hurt of his, Captain, for being hurt much. The cut isn't too bad, but how'd he get it? No, no, no. Quit you worrying about that dog. He's lively as an eel. Now let me help you on this horse and get you back to town. Wait a minute, Pat. Look at King. He's running down the trail. What's wrong with him? He wants me to follow him. But that's the other way from town. You've got to get... Which way did you come from, Pat? I came from town. I remember now. I heard a shot around that bend. Going to see what it was. My horse fell. Now you better not try to do anything until your head's better. King knows something. My head's clear now. Steady, fellow. Come on, Pat. I've got to see what it is. Come on there. You sure think a lot of that dog is yours, Sergeant? King wouldn't act like this. Must have been something wrong. He's barking around the bend. There he is. There's a man lying on the trail. Hurry, Pat. Get up there. Oh, no. Easy, fellow. Yes, King, I've seen. Who is it, Sergeant? It's Old Dan Forester, a trapper. Someone shot him. He's dead. Dead? I think the man who hit King is the one who killed Dan. Where is he, boy? Find him. He's going toward the river. Now he's stopped at the bank. I thought he would. That's how they worked it. It worked what? Yesterday, the body of a trapper was found in the river. He'd been dead a long time. The mule of another trapper came into town alone, and his owners disappeared. Some fur thieves are working in this territory, Pat. And they use a boat? Yes. Until now, they've carried the victim body away in the boat with them. This time, King must have frightened them, and they left this one. You can't track him now. King could tell them from here if they'd gone on foot. But King knows that killer. If he could point him out to me, I might solve this case. Sergeant Preston had left the body of the trapper at the cabin of one of his friends near the edge of town. King ran along beside them off his horse. They went down the main street toward police headquarters. Suddenly, Sergeant Preston saw King stopping the street ahead. The hair on the dog's back bristled. An angry growl roared from his throat, as he ran toward a large standing in front of the gold-dug at bar. A man rushed into the cafe and closed the door, just as the great dog hurtled against him. King! King, what's wrong with you? What's wrong with you, King? Back, father. Let me in here. No, you're not coming in. Stay like I said. Back. Is that your dog out there? Yes. Did you just come in here, Freddie? No, I was just leaving. Red McGraw just came in as if someone was chasing him. And I heard your dog. Red McGraw? Where is he? Over there at the bar. He never likes me to play my piano. That's where I was leaving. I see. Well, Freddie, you play that piano anytime you want to. It's none of his business. He gets off and off when he drinks, Sergeant. I'm afraid of him. Was King chasing him? Yes, I think so. Freddie, I have to go back to headquarters right away, but I'll be back this evening. I'd like to hear you play that piano. Well, I'll play it if Red McGraw in here. He's starting to drink now. I won't do it, Sergeant. You play that piano whether he's here or not. And I hope he tries to stop you. I'll play a few years, Sergeant. Sure. I won't be afraid then. Later that night at the Gold Nugget Cafe, Freddie stood beside his piano surrounded by prospectors and trappers. Come on, Freddie. Give us a tool now. What about an Irish song to change? Play Frankie and John. I'll give you a fat tip if you would. No, not just yet, boys. I'll play like it. But why? Count a Red McGraw over there, isn't it? Gerard, he's been drinking all evening. He's in a nasty human. Why don't we get a couple of chairs and beat him over the head? Why, there comes Sergeant Preston. It's the first time I ever saw him without his big dog. I'll get him over here. Then you can play, Freddie. No, buddy. He seems to want to stay over there beside the door. I'll play. I'm afraid now. Freddie's going to play for us, boys. That's fine. Hey, you little piece of rotten salmon. Isn't that saying that to play that thing when I was in here? All out of alone. He's not hurting nothing. Watch out now, boys. Red's mean when he's drunk. I say he's going to quit playing that thing. Look out. He's got the axe for the wood box. Get away from there. Get off that shoe. You'll never play this thing again. You stop him. Stop it. He's been up up here. There. Stop it, buddy. Get back or I'll use it on you. Stop it, Alex. He's broken it. He'll never play again, Sergeant. You're under arrest, McGraw. Sure. It's a Mountie. The one who was on the pier with a big dog to protect him. The dog isn't here now. But you got a gun on you. If you weren't wearing that uniform, I'd break you in half. Oh, you what? Well, maybe you have a little more than just a jail sentence coming to you. Here, Pat. Hold this coming about. What you going to do, Sergeant? I'm going to teach this bully a lesson. All right, Red. I'm taking my tunic off. I'll be out of uniform then, and I'm off duty. Here, hold it, Pat. Sure. He's going to find red. Clear the floor now. Make a ring, boys. This will be worth watching. Now, Red, you're not fighting the law. It'll be a pleasure, Marty. He's like a gorilla. Goof! Well, look at that track with you. That Marty's too smart for you. You want that left, Sergeant? Goof! Goof! That's not how you, Sergeant. Hold some water on him, boys. When he comes to, I'll take him to jail. That's the best fight I ever saw. Yes, you took him fast, Sergeant. Muffin! It's right to see you to fight like this. It should have been worth it to you. That's not why I'm a muffin! Sergeant Muffin! It was two days later. Red McGraw was sullen as he sat in the small jail. Oh, Jake, the jailer handed his supper through the bars. Here's your supper, Red. I hope your jaw is well enough to chaw that stew meat. You think it's funny to remind me of the fight all the time, don't you, Jake? Well, if I hadn't of had too much to drink... All right, go on. You should have known better than to tangle with a Mountie. They're train boxers. Listen, Jake, about our proposition. If you just get me out of here... I told you no. I think we're in here to stay till you get enough money to buy another pie in here for Freddie. But how can I get the money when I'm stuck in this rotten jail? Well, it sure looks kind of hopeless, don't it? I thought maybe you'd get some friends to help you out. No, I haven't any friends. Here you go, Freddie. The outside king. Now all I got to do is go to joya. On supper, get my piano, bro. There's another prisoner for you, Jake. This time it's your nephew. Why, Freddie? Why'd you arrest him, Sergeant? Freddie tried to steal some money from the gold nugget café, and we caught him out of it. I was going to give it back, Uncle Jake, honest. I just want another piano, that's all. I'd have given all my tips until I fade it back. Sorry, Freddie, but the law is the law. Open up the cell, Jake. Stealing money. Get in there. And, Sergeant, if you put me in jail, there's nobody to take care of my savanness. I've got to take care of them. I'll get somebody to do it for you. Sorry about this, Jake. Well, will you look who's here? Well, it's all your fault, you big bully. If he hadn't broke my piano, it wouldn't be here now. Listen, you little mackerel, if you're going to room with me, you'd better watch your tongue. Well, rough stuff there, Rad. I'll see you later, Jake. All right, Sergeant. You had any supper, Freddie? I don't want any, Uncle Jake. If only he'd let me go to my fishnets. You better eat something. I'll go out and get you some supper. You say that to Jaylor as your uncle? Right. He won't do me any good. Oh, shouldn't have taken that money. Now I'll lose my salmon catch, too. I know what I'd do if he was my uncle. What would you do? I'd ask him for the key to the jail. I'd tell him if I was you that I'd be back again by morning. You could slip out about midnight, fix your nets, be back here again before morning. Nobody would know the difference. Oh, I wonder if he would. I'd be back by morning. Uncle Jake knows our mornies. Harry, he wouldn't do it, because he knows you'd know about it. All right, don't do it. Sleepy. I didn't sleep a wink last night. Hope you don't mind if I snore. Sometimes I snore so loud I wake myself up. Good night. Good night. Snore you want to. Yes, I'm soup ready. Oh, I can't eat, Uncle Jake. Red star in his sleep. Don't talk too loud. Well, the way he sleeps, nothing would wake him. Here now, you eat this. Why'd you take that money, son? I just didn't think I guess I just wanted another peyote. Well, I'll get somebody to take care of the nets for you. Don't worry. Red's asleep. Listen to him. Yeah, he always snores like that. Uncle Jake. Yeah? You know our mornies, don't you? I always thought so, up till now. I can't tell anyone exactly where them salmon nets are. If they give me the key to their cellar, our little people are all asleep. I'll go out and fix the nets and I promise I'll be back here before it's light on. I can't do that. Red's liable to wake up and take the key away from me or something. I got an idea. You give me your handcuffs. Just before I go, I'll handcuff him to the bed. If he hears me getting out, he won't be able to get to me. Well, will you promise you'll come right straight back here? Sure, Uncle Jake. I'll get you in trouble. All right, Freddy. Here's the handcuffs. And here's the key. Now, you remember you'll be back here before it gets light. A few hours had passed. The jail was silent except for Red snoring. Quietly, Freddy stepped toward him. What are you doing, Freddy? Whoa, you... Thought I was asleep, didn't you? Well, I ain't been asleep at all. You mean you heard me and Uncle Jake? Sure, I did. I heard every word. Now, give me that key. No, no! I'll break every bone in your body. Sure, Red. Don't hit me. Yeah. Why, you... Well, you can't go now, Red or I'll handcuff together. And Uncle Jake didn't give me the key to the handcuffs either. Oh, you dirty little fishy twerp. This ain't gonna stop me. You're coming with me. Now, give me that key. When I get these handcuffs sorted apart, it'll be just too bad for you. Now, we're getting out of here. Please, Red, don't go so fast. I'll keep stumbling in the dark, Red. Shut your whining. If it wasn't for you, I could have used a canoe to get here. Now, they might crack it. I could have paddled. We've come so far. We're all this way through these trees. Oh, Red, don't go so fast, please. Come on, I said. There's a cabin way back here near the river. Man, this is where we're going. Now, get in there. Church, Slim, you here? It's Red. I'll light the lantern quick. Red, what are you? Get the first pack and not a boat right away. We're leaving tonight. Where you been? We couldn't find you anywhere. Who says? I've been in jail. I get a file out of that boat and cut me loose. We're handcuffed together. Are we going to take him with us? No. He's going to stay here and feed the fish he's been trying to catch. Please don't tell me, Red. I won't tell all this to him. How say you won't? That with a bullet through your head. I get that file, Slim. Get your hands up. What? Wait, wait, wait. You won't leave that file, Red, at the cave for those... Why won't he let go? Oh, buddy of yours. Come on in, Drake. Well, we've got all of them, I guess, Sergeant. Look at the fur. Collier, I'm sure glad you do guard here. Unlock those handcuffs, Jake. You did a nice job, Freddie. You're a very good actor. You mean, this was all planned for him? Freddie ain't even my nephew. Are you dirty little fish peddler? You mean, he didn't steal any money at all? No, Red. And after tonight, the boys in the gold nugget will take up a collection to get him another piano. Sure, God even with you, you big bully. For busting the one-hour ad. I'll put these other handcuffs on the other two. Come on, you. Oh, hey, Sergeant. I didn't know whether he was buying this or not. I had a hard time holding King back, Freddie. You see, Red, King was the one who pointed you out to me. He knew you were the killer on the trail the other day. That poor... I should have bashed his head in without price for... That's enough, all of you. Yes, King old boy. Thanks to you, the case is closed. The challenge of the Yukon, a copyrighted feature, is brought to you each week at this time, and all names and incidents used are fictitious. Listen again next week to another exciting adventure during the days of the Gold Rush. Fred Boy speaking, this program came to you from Detroit. Real-life crime stories direct from police files all over America. That's what gangbusters brings you every Saturday night over most of these ABC stations. You hear some of the most daring stories from criminal annals ever reenacted, and before any case is presented to the radio audience, it's triple checked. A gangbusters representative gathers the material from law enforcement bureaus, and the chief of each bureau must approve every fact in the report before it is prepared for the error. Here's another interesting item about gangbusters. Each Saturday night, this program broadcasts clues of criminals currently wanted by the police. Since gangbusters started, hundreds of clues have been aired, and over 90 percent of the people wanted have been captured. Don't miss gangbusters when it's heard tonight over most of-