 The challenge of the Yukon It's Yukon King Swiftest and strongest lead dog of the Northwest Placing the trail for Sergeant Preston of the Northwest mounted police in his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers 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 When her grandfather died Norma Roswell came to the Yukon territory to take over the fur company which the old man had owned and operated The company was located in Dawson City Norma knew absolutely nothing about the fur business and She admitted as much to Hugo Groton her grandfather's assistant who had been managing the business since the old man's death Frankly, Mr. Groton. I feel pretty helpless trying to take over a business that I know nothing about I'll have to rely on you to run things while I'm learning my way around you can rely on me completely Miss Roswell In fact, you lead in trouble yourself about the details at all. I doubt if an attractive young lady like you would find it very interesting anyway You were my grandfather's bookkeeper, weren't you? That's right When his health began to fail last summer I more or less took over the active management of the company I really don't even know the simplest facts about the business Where do we get the first that we handle from trappers? Yes, we buy from trappers and also from traders who operate trading posts out in the wilderness and we ship the first to the states Is that it? That's right. There's an agent in San Francisco who markets the first for us I suppose the warehouse down by the river is where we store the first for shipment exactly exactly We receive the first here at the office and transfer them down to the warehouse at the end of each week I'm learning fast. There's a great deal to the fur business Such as learning how to judge the quality of furs and how to bargain with the trappers and traders But as I say you can leave the details in my hands I'll have to until I learn more about the business It's past two o'clock if you'll excuse me miss Ross Well, I'll drop over the post office and see if any mail has come in for us from our agent in San Francisco Do you think it's safe to leave me here in charge? Oh, yes, of course the clerk will be here to help you and if anyone should bring in a load of furs You can ask them to wait around till I get back. All right, mr. Groton. I can manage Instead of going to the post office Hugo Groton went to a cabin on the outskirts of town Inside the cabin a group of hard-looking men were playing cards The leader was a big black bearded man named Turk Malone. They looked up in their game as Groton entered Howdy Turk. Hello boys What's the deal are we still gonna be able to keep going with our deal now that the day was taken over the campaign Sure. I sure don't worry about her She's a babe in the woods doesn't know a thing about the fur business. So she'll have to leave everything in my hands Then you'll still be able to handle all the stolen furs. We bring you certainly the same arrangement as always I pay you gender generous price for all the furs you bring in and I enter that price on the company books Then afterwards you kick back half of the money to me. You sure don't cheat yourself, honey Do you we take all the risk you rake in half the profits? What are you complaining about? I'm providing you with an easy way to get rid of all the furs you steal. In fact, the whole scheme was my idea Now Not those furs that flat nose brought in this morning. I Paid him six thousand for the lot of them Which means I have three thousand coming back to me. They had to move over three grand flat Okay, Turk got it right here in my pocket. There you go Groton One thousand Three thousand thank you Well, I'd better be getting back to the office In the meantime Keep up the good work Meanwhile at the fur company office normal Ross. Well was receiving to visit it I'm Sergeant Preston Northwest Mounted Police. This is a friend of mine Hal Bradford. How do you do? I sure am pleased to meet you miss. Won't you sit down? Thank you What a beautiful dog you have Sergeant. What's his name King? He's the greatest dog in the North country I hope you don't mind my bringing him into your office. Oh, not at all sergeant. I'm very fond of dogs You're new to the territory aren't you miss Roswell? Oh very much. So I just arrived in Dawson yesterday You see my grandfather died several months ago and left the company to me So I came to the Yukon to take over you're going to operate the company or so I'm going to try for the time being though. I'll have to depend pretty heavily on Hugo Groton He's been taking charge of things since my grandfather's death. Yes, I'm acquainted with him What was it you wanted to see me about sergeant in the last few months has been an outbreak of fur robberies all over the territory Trappers have had their fur stolen two of them have been shot to death We're pretty sure the same gangs responsible for all of the crimes But up until today we hadn't been able to get a lead on them or trace any of the stolen furs And now you have a lead. It's not exactly a lead yet Eventually it may help us catch the criminals What exactly do you mean how Bradford here is a trapper? He has a cabin out on the Squaw River Several days ago his furs were stolen while he was out tending his trapline Oh, I'm sorry to hear that not have as sorry as I was luckily howl took the precaution of branding a small mark on each Pelt so now he'll be able to identify those furs if they ever turn up. Is that it? That's right Now be able to prove they were stolen from me But why are you telling me all this the gang must have some way of disposing of all the furs they steal I'm probably selling them the various fur company trading post you mean they may have sold some to this company quite possible As your company received any furs in the last couple of days Oh, yes, we received them this morning, and I know there've been others there in the back room waiting to be transferred to the warehouse Would you like to look them over? Well, you sure would all right? I'll show you where they are They're right in here What sort of furs were stolen from you well among them there were a couple of dozen silver foxes a lot of beavers and links And a couple of Wolverine pelt I believe that's just what was in the bale of furs. We received this morning They're right over here in the corner. Golly. Those look like my furs. See if your brand's on the pelt It's there all right. Take a look Small X mark. That's right. I'll bet it's on every pelt in this bundle. Let's see Sure, it's on the next one and this one this one too. I found it. There's no doubt about it These are the furs that were stolen from me who brought in this bale of furs miss Roswell Why I really don't know sergeant. I was here when it happened that mr. Groton handled the transaction What does the man look like? Well, he was heavy set and his nose was flat as though it had been broken He was wearing a wool cap and a Mackinac. Did Groton know him by name? I'm not sure. You see the man was already here when I arrived at the office this morning Oh, mr. Groton was examining the furs and then a little while later. He paid him off and the man left Oh, that's probably mr. Groton now. Maybe he can tell you more. We'll go out and talk to him Sergeant Preston too was anything wrong this bale of furs you bought this morning was stolen from Hal Bradford here Stolen you say that's right. I identified him by a mark I branded on the pelt I told sergeant Preston what the man looked like who brought them in perhaps you can tell him who the man was why? Well, no, I don't know who he was you had any dealings with him before. No, I'd never laid eyes on him before this morning This was well says that he has a flat nose And that he wore a Mackinac and wool cap. Can you add anything to that description? No, I don't believe I can To tell you the truth, I didn't pay much attention to his appearance Well, he shouldn't be too hard to identify Notify the city patrol maybe we can pick him up before he leaves town. All right, Hal. We may as well be going come along How How would you like to do me a favor? What shirt sergeant? What's up? I'm wondering if Hugo Groton may not know more than he's telling Groton What do you mean when he found out the truth identified the stolen furs and we have a description of the man who brought the men I got the impression that he was a bit frightened. Well, yeah, not to mention that he did seem kind of nervous. I Still don't see exactly what you're driving it Groton's been in complete charge of the Roswell fur company ever since the death of Miss Roswell's grandfather That means that he's been in position to dispose of all the furs the gang's stolen in the last few months I get it. I think he's working in coasts with a gang. It's just a hunch but it may be worth following up What is it you want me to do for you, Sergeant? I'd like you to wait here and keep a watch on the fur company office If Groton leaves the office follow him and let me know where he goes. Sure. I'll do it Well, what's the idea? Groton really is working with a gang. He'll be worried that we might find the man who stole your furs So probably try to warn him as soon as possible to stay undercover. Why sir, if I follow him I can find out where the gang's hideout is. That's right Now keep out of sight as much as possible so Groton won't see you and just follow him wherever he goes Don't try to investigate any further. Notify me at headquarters and let me handle the situation. Right 20 minutes later Hugo Groton emerged from the fur company office and went back to the cabin on the outskirts of town Where he had met Turk Malone and the gang of fur thieves He didn't know that how Bradford was following Where's flat nose? He went out a while ago to get some tobacco Well, what's wrong? Plenty Those furs he brought in this morning have been identified by the trapper. He stole them from identified Okay, it seems the trapper put a brand mark on each pelt and that's not all the Mounties have a description of flat nose And they're out looking for him right now You've got to keep them out of sight until the search dies down. Yeah, you're right Maybe that's flat nose now Bradford hello groton your dirty crook, you know this guy groton. I'll say I know him flat nose He's the trapper whose furs you brought in this morning. Yeah, what's that? Well, I was coming back to cab and I spotted this guy trailing groton after Groton went inside He hung around for a minute or so Sort of sizing up the place So I figured that but put a gun on him find out what he was after. It was a mighty good thing you did He identified those furs you stole from him and now the Mounties are out looking for you Jumping catfish if you hadn't caught him He probably would have gone to the Mounties and led them here to the hideout Well, he won't go shooting off his mouth now. We'll see to that Wait a minute Turk If you're thinking of killing Bradford that may not settle things What do you mean or all we know it was the Mounties who told Bradford to keep a watch on me If so, they're going to get mighty suspicious when they find out he's disappeared Never thought of that you ain't suggesting we ought to turn him loose. I am not by a long shot What do you think we ought to do groton? I have a scheme that will account for Bradford's disappearance and at the same time put me completely in the clear It'll make the Mounties think I had nothing to do with the fur robberies. Let's hear your scheme Now here's what I've got in mind Right after I go back to the office flat nose can show up again with another bail of furs Hey, I don't like to hold your horses a minute and listen As soon as you show up I'll pull a gun on you and pretend I'm going to holler for the police Well, then what then you jump me and take the gun away from me There'll be three of us there at the office me and normal Ross will in the clerk You can tie us up or lock us in the back room and make your getaway and let her put you in the clear all right But how will that explain Bradford's disappearance? Very simple The Mounties will think Bradford spotted flat nose and went after him. They'll wait for him to come back And when he doesn't show up, they'll figure he ran into trouble Yeah, I said that's pretty smart Later that afternoon after Hugo Groton had returned to the fur company The crook called flat nose entered the office the clerk stared at him in surprise Well, what do you stare at me that way for why why no particular reason I'm just surprised to see you come back You were here this morning. Weren't you? Well, what if I was? It happens. I got another bunch of furs to sell Where's the factor mr. Groton's in his office talking to miss Ross? Well the owner of the company. I'll go get him You wait right here. All right make it snappy certainly. I'll get him right away Mr. Groton, yes, what is it dad that man who was here this morning the one sergeant Preston is looking for he's here again What's that you mean the man who sold us those stolen furs? That's right, mr. Ross Well the fella with the flat nose. He just came in with another bunch of furs all the confounded nerve We'd better go get sergeant Preston right away. Mr. Groton Do you suppose you can keep him talking until the sergeant gets here? We'd better not take any chances I have a gun here in this drawer Here it is. What are you going to do? I'm going to cover him with this gun and make sure he doesn't get away For heaven's sakes mr. Groton be careful if he's a member of that gang he may be a killer. Don't you worry miss Ross? Well, I can handle him Get your hands up mr. Hey What are you pointing that gun at me? I said get your hands up. All right. All right, but what's the idea? The game's up mr. We found out those furs you sold us this morning was stolen from a trapper out on the Squaw River You can't prove that. Oh, yes, we can the trapper has already identified them by a mark. He branded on each pelt Now then I'd better search you and make sure you're not carrying a gun. Oh, no you don't That's better now reach all of you What are you going to do? I could kill a whole bunch of you But the shots are make too much noise, so I guess I better just lock you up in the back room Alright get moving a A short time later at mounted police headquarters sergeant Preston was talking to Constable Alex Ross Any report yet from the city patrol Alex? Not yet sergeant, but they've all been notified to be on the lookout What's the clerk from the first company? What's wrong? That flat north fella. He just showed up again at the office. Oh still there Oh, he got away mr. Groton tried to hold him with a gun But he knocked Groton down and got the gun away from him. He locked us all up in the back room Well, you just broke out a few minutes ago. Come on Alex. We'd better get over there When the two Maldives arrived at the fur company office they learned the details of what it happened No, my Ross. Well had been much impressed by Hugo Groton's apparent bravery even though that cook got away I think it was very brave of mr. Groton to do what he did. Don't you sergeant? Yes Are you sure you feel all right mr. Groton your jaws swollen? Yes. Yes. I'm quite all right. Thank you He hit me pretty hard, but I feel all right now strange He should have come back again the same day you say what he wanted He had another bunch of furs with him that he wanted to sell us probably stolen like the first bunch probably so Any chance of King trailing him sergeant? I'm afraid not Alex He'd left something behind or if the office were empty it'd be a different story But as it is there's no way for King to pick out his scent. Isn't there any hope of catching him? Oh, of course there is mr. Roswell, and I'm sure we shall send her later Oh, by the way, were you living in case I have to get in touch with him at the Victoria Hotel? I guess you know where my cabin is located. Yes, I do. All right, Alex We might as well go back to headquarters right now. I think more we can do here I guess this puts Groton in the clearing side of looks that way Alex apparently my suspicions were wrong Where's Hal Bradford? Why I posted him right here in the shadow of this building. It's not there now Where do you suppose he's gone? He must have seen the flight nose man decide to trail him to the gang's hideout Oh, yeah, that must be it. I'll just have to sit tight and wait till he gets back bite galley If he does find their hideout, we ought to have the gang behind bars by nightfall. Let's hope so Alex Nightfall came there is still no word from Hal Bradford By seven o'clock the sergeant began to be seriously worried in spite of constable Ross's efforts to reassure him Lux sergeant. There's no call to be worried The crook headed out to the creek somewhere. It may be a couple of hours yet before Bradford gets back to town Maybe so Alex, but I still can't help worrying Anything's happened to Hal. I'll feel responsible. I'm sure he's all right. Hey Wait a minute. What's the matter? I'm wondering if we were right to eliminate Groton as a suspect Well, sure. Why not? If he were mixed up with a gang he would have worn the flat nose man not show up again And when he did show up Groton certainly wouldn't have tried to capture him There'd be too much danger of the crook squealing on it. True enough But suppose that whole incident was staged just to make it look as though Groton were innocent You mean the flat nose man showed up again just so Groton could put on an act for our benefit? That's right No, but lucky if they cooked up the whole thing beforehand just to throw us off the scent That means Groton must have gone to the hideout and told him about the furs being identified That's just the point for all we know Groton did go to the hideout We've been figuring that how followed the flat nose man, but he may have followed Groton and been captured by the gang Holy smoke. I never thought Alex. I'm not going to wait any longer I'm going to talk to miss Roswell and find out if Groton left the office any time after Hal and I were there I'll go with you sergeant. All right. Got your park. I must go a Short time later the two Mounties arrived at the Victoria Hotel knocked on the door of normal Rosswell's room. Oh It's you sergeant won't you come in why no thanks. We just stopped by to ask you a question Do you know Hugo Groton left the office between the time how Bradford and I was there and the time I came back with Constable Ross Why yes, he did he went out just a little while after you and mr. Bradford left with the stolen furs Why you say where he was going? Yes, he said he was going to the Yukon Territorial Bank to discuss our account with the manager. Thanks. That's all I wanted to know Why do you ask sergeant is anything wrong? Why hold not miss Roswell? I'm just checking out that song. Come on Alex After leaving the hotel the two Mounties went to the home of the bank manager Henry McLeod What was it you wanted to see me about sergeant? You're acquainted with Hugo Groton, aren't you? Why of course he's the manager of the Rosswell fur company the Groton come to see you at the bank this afternoon No, in fact, I haven't seen him for several weeks. Were you at the bank all afternoon? I Come back immediately after lunch and dinner leave until five o'clock then there's no chance that Groton came to the bank And mr. Of course not sergeant. I'm sure he never came in thanks for the information Alex I think we'd better go to Groton's cabin have a little talk with him Meanwhile after locking up the office for the night and eating his evening meal at the cafe Hugo Groton had gone to the gang's hideout Howdy boys By time he was showing up good. What's the matter? You weren't worried were you well? We haven't you and our fingernails if that's what you mean But we want to find out how things stand yeah Well, you can relax everything's under control you mean they fell for that act you and me put on over at the fur company office We hook line and sinker. I could tell from the faces. They were plenty puzzled, but they're convinced I'm innocent What about Bradford they say anything about him not a word They're evidently assuming he followed flat nose just as I figured they would in that case We may as well get rid of Bradford right now sooner the better by thunder if you kill me You won't get away with it sergeant person. I'll catch up with you and you'll all swing for murder You'd better not kill him here. The shot might be heard. Don't worry. I ain't that foolish Me and the boys were figuring on heading down to the Pelly River country tonight We'll take Bradford with us and get rid of them somewhere along the way good enough Well, I may as well be getting back to my cabin. Yeah, no reason for us to squat here any longer either All right boys get your gear together hitting the trail right now When sergeant Preston and Constable Ross arrived at Hugo Groton's cabin, they saw that the windows were dark Looks like he's not home. I may have gone to the gang's hideout. Wait a minute. Here he comes now Yes, we were According to miss Roswell, you left the office this afternoon shortly after Hal Bradford identified those stolen furs Yes, that's right. I did mine telling me where you went. Of course not. I went to the Yukon Territorial Bank I wanted to see the manager about the company account. You're lying Groton See here sergeant I don't like your breath Groton I've already talked to the manager and he says you never set foot in the bank this afternoon. I Why are you checking up on me this way? Hal Bradford was told to follow you whenever you left the office He hasn't come back. What happened to him Groton? I don't know anything about Hal Bradford Oh, yes, you do. There's no doubt you're mixed up with that gang of fur thieves I'm warning you Groton. You want to save your own skin. You'd better tell the truth. Don't threaten me Preston You have nothing on me. Where were you coming from just now? I I was out for a stroll. That's out for a stroll, huh? Maybe a spell in jail will refresh his memory. Yes, sergeant. There's no time for that Alex How may be in danger right now? What are you going to do first? I'm going to search Groton now Wait a minute Preston you can't play it and stand still Oh Carrying a gun, eh? I'll take charge of this for the time being. Now what Sergeant? We'll have King follow Groton's back trail It just came from the gang's hideout. King will lead us there. Hey boy Get this man sent King All right backtrack King backtrack King had been trained to understand such a command with an eager bark He pounded forward get moving Groton. You're coming with us King led the sergeant to the cabin on the outskirts of town, which the gang had just vacated So you were just out for a stroll they go I'll strike a match sergeant There's a candle on the table there. Good. I'll light it Place is empty. Yes Look for these cans and bottles people have been living here very recently King had caught a familiar scent the scent of the man Who had been with his master earlier that day? Suddenly he gave an eager wine. What is it boy? It's hard something It's a mitten Alex. This is one of Hal Bradford's mittens. Are you sure? I'm positive He made them himself out of Wolverine fur We're showing them to me this this morning the gang must have been holding him prisoner here. All right, Groton Things just prove that howl did follow you here to this cabin. You're still going to play innocent I have nothing to say. I've already told you I know nothing about Bradford very well search yourself But I warn you if anything has happened to howl you'll hang for murder Take him to headquarters and hold him on suspicion and we're coming back to this cabin and put King on Bradford's scent Meanwhile Turk Malone and the other four members of the gang were traveling southward Several hours after leaving the cabin. They came in sight of a small canyon Howl Bradford was lying on Turk sled bound and gang That can you know where there's a good place to get rid of this guy We'll take him down there shoot him and dump his body Be spring before anyone finds him. You ever do find him that easy. Let's go A short time later the gang halted their teams inside the canyon. Oh, you much Where you get off even me to that snow grip turn that's what I'm gonna do I Which one of us is gonna plug him that don't matter You know take a few pot shots at him with for target practice I'll take the first shot Here goes as Turk raised his gun to fire a shot suddenly rang out from the rim of the canyon Turk fell his flat nose raised a cry of alarm Mounies up there in the cliff The crooks dropped to the ground behind their slaves and tried to shoot it out But the Mounties had the advantage of a higher position And after two more the gang had been put out of action the remaining two men quickly gave up the fight Well Constable Ross remained on the cliff keeping the men covered with this carbine Sergeant Preston descended into the canyon and took charge of the situation After he had collected the crooks guns Constable Ross followed him into the canyon and helped him handcuff the prisoners Then the sergeant untied Hal Bradford. There you go. How? He was sure saved my life sergeant man alive. I thought I was a goner. Sorry. I ever got you into this hell How they managed to catch you all right luck That's all it just happened that flat nose came back to the hideout at the wrong time He spotted me trailing Groton and put a gun on me By the way, how did you manage to get here King followed Groton's back trail to the gang's hideout Now he found your mitten that put us on your trail good old King. I was hoping you'd find that mitten You're drafted on purpose. Yeah, just in case you did locate the hideout I managed to pull it loose just before the gang hauled me out to the sled I figured I'd recognize it because I was showing you my mittens this morning. It's a good thing you did Where's Groton up they took him to hand quarters and how him on suspicion in spite of the evidence He refused to admit that he was mixed up with a gang or do anything at all about your disappearance Groton thinks he's gonna leave us all in the bag He's got another thing coming He was the one who steamed up all these fur robberies the first place Yeah, you're doing right. He was and I'll testify to that in court Don't worry with your testimony and that of how Bradford will have no trouble convicting him three of the gang Wounded to wearing handcuffs and Groton and custody back at headquarters Looks like we'll have no more trouble with this particular gang of fur thieves a sergeant right Alex Once Groton and these men have been sentenced this case will be closed On a lonely trail near Selkirk Dave that money sergeant Preston is in town. We can't take any chances with him so close. Oh stop Long as I have my luck piece no monies will ever catch up with us But to make sure we'll take care of that guy sergeant Preston before we head away from here They came here just to trail our gang. Well, he'll be found with a bullet in him. So stop worry Remember Logan's luck still holds Yes, Sergeant Preston and King have come to Selkirk trail the Logan gang And it might be that Dave Logan may find the chance to put a bullet into Preston when things come to a show Down be sure to listen to this next exciting adventure Logan's luck These radio dramas a feature of the challenge of the Yukon Incorporated are created by George W. Trendall produced by Trendall Campbell Enterprises supervised by Charles D. Livingston and edited by Fran striker the part of sergeant Preston is played by Paul Sutton They are brought to you once each week Until September when we shall resume our regular Monday Wednesday and Friday broadcast This is Jay Michael wishing you goodbye and good luck until our next broadcast