 The challenge of the Yukon King the swiftest strongest of Eskimo Lee dogs blazes the trail through storm and snow for Sergeant Preston as he meets the challenge of the Yukon Sergeant Preston was typical of the small band of Northwest Mounted Police who preserved law and order in the Yukon during the Gold Rush of 98 that was the year that brought over 50,000 men swarming into the Klondike region and the greed for gold led to frequent violence and bloodshed but in spite of the odds against them the force preserved a splendid record in maintaining the right the challenge of the north was answered and justice ruled triumphant in the light of the moon the front of the bank adobe city seemed quiet and empty but in the small office at the back of the building voices were raised in argument sitting back in his chair behind a huge desk the banker Mack McDermott watched the man facing him cool way you better keep a civil tongue in your head Sam I got a tongue in my head all right and I am to use it I ain't seen any more he looks mighty determined to me if what he says is true if you're keeping more in half of the gold more than it is true who does the thinking for this outfit not any of you you better start thinking then because if he gets to the mountain it'll be jailed for all of us there's no reason why you should get to anybody if you see what I mean try and stop him he's mad hoppin mad if it means going to jail himself I'd lay money down he'd go through with it just to make sure you get there and you two are so handy with your guns you stop those prospectors didn't you how you mean we should guess and now before he meets anyone who listened to him as the banker here I can't take any chances but nobody will suspect you to well I always say when there's work to be done no use putting it off glad there's one man of action around here at least come on slim I'm ready you don't have to worry none about Sam he ain't likely to meet anyone he can talk to just make sure of that I see now he's must be his tracks here guess he went this way wonder if he got on his sled I don't think so if I was in his shoes I'd stay right here I hate to do this Pete it's him or us I never did like jails look huh there he is yeah he's just walking around well he ain't gonna be walking along that you're done yeah and let him have it and beat it quick no tell him who the other shot and come run him riding in the Dolby city late that night sergeant Preston glanced about the darkened settlement we'll have to go pounding on town Marshall's door I guess King unless we make camp on the corner of Main Street it's quiet quiet and peaceful what is it King what's maybe we won't have to knock on Tom's door you'll hear his coming King he's turning off to the left oh you ask he's oh right now what is it a this hour the night there can't be but if someone in the snowy he's trying to move what what's wrong Sam Sam Carson yes now that's a bad wound we'll have to how did happen Sam who did it tell me who Sam who dead if only we'd found him sooner so that's what you wanted me to see King but what was he going to tell me he started to name the man who shot him the next morning miners and trappers crowded the streets and stores of the small settlement even at that early hour the cafe was crowded Bangs Murdoch often remarked his business began with the rising sun and his doors remained open as long as there were men at the bar Sergeant Preston's eyes skimmed over the crowd till he saw bangs at the far end of the room pouring drinks even with my eyes closed why in Tarnation ain't you ready to put down the cash and back up your bolster because I swore off Kimbin the pleas of Sergeant Preston hey wouldn't you get in hello bangs hello Mike I'd known you was coming at what do you have a ton of house I forgot that's kind of hard to offer the sergeant any hospitality in a cafe and it like it's just trying to start up a game of card sergeant if I hadn't made that promise to you not to gamble anymore I'd be a richer man right now there are poor one bangs I'd like to talk to you for a few minutes me sure it's private we can go back here see you later my sure nobody bothers in here you got in your mind sergeant sit down make something whatever it is you sure looks sour enough about it what's wrong bangs where were you last night I was here like always a till what time about two o'clock I guess then where'd you go home I'm sure to McCloud me when I was out tell talked for about an hour and went to bed here sergeant you're leading up to something what is it yes I am leading up to something bangs Sam Carson was murdered last night same well we were here Olson's place King and I were riding in King found him must have happened pretty look hey now wait a minute sergeant you don't think that's why I'm here what do you mean that's why you're here I didn't even see him last night but you see he was pretty far gone when we found him too far gone to be able to save I asked him who shot him he tried to answer me they got this much out then he died before he finished it then yes you'll admit your name isn't a common one it's a nickname everywhere he calls me back that's just the point I can prove it I can prove what I was sergeant I might have gambled a lot I admit I ain't stayed any straight narrow path but ever since I gave you my word that was all over I ain't turned a card you've got to believe me I want to believe you but I certainly hope you can prove where you were look at this way why would I want to kill Sam he never did nothing to me he spent a lot of time in the cafe gambling didn't he yes that ain't reason to kill him is it ban three letters BAM not a name beginning that way to you come except mine except yours when I'd rando Bronson more even those two names are unusual I came to doby city on a slim clue bangs for two months I've been trying to find who's in back of the gold robberies and murders in these parts you bump right into another one a banker max as if the robberies don't stop I'll ruin the bank yes most of the prospectors were on the way to the bank when they were robbed it's getting so the miners won't bank bank banker Mack McDermott what's eating your nose and no one knows about Sam yet except Tom Marshall and you any reason for keeping it crying I wanted to talk to you about it first the word were to get around that Sam didn't die you said he did he did this room bang where does that door lead to outside why does anyone use it beside yourself no never lock it up keep everyone else out sure I still don't see you will the banks listen closely here's what I want you to do if you will in his office at the bank Mack McDermott hurriedly called a meeting with the two men who'd been with him the night before as soon as Pete returned with his companion the banker accused them hotly you could have taken time to be sure yeah I guess we should have stood there holding the gun on him till morning who shot him I did once once he dropped right where I stood boss I got a swore slim got it well he didn't hadn't been for that mountain now listen to me and if you've got a brain between you maybe you can remember what I say he's over in the back room with the silver dollar cafe Murdoch's taking care of him he hasn't gained consciousness yet and it's up to us to see that he doesn't yeah but listen boss that back room over the silver dollar different from letting him have it on the street there are windows in the room out there and there's a door meet me here tonight after dark and just to be sure there's no slip this time I'm going with you that night the two men met the banker and together they set up for the silver dollar cafe they were sure of the rock is laughter and loud voices in the front of the cafe would cover any noise they might make streets were deserted and darkness covered them there's the cafe ahead back up it's all dark that'll make it easier first we'll try the door if nobody's with him I ain't angered in the bump into bangs or the Mountie if anyone's with him we'll get him through the window and them to remember if he opens his mouth the two of you are as good as dead and you too remember that quiet now whose dogs that don't worry about any mutt he probably is a stray malinute awake like over to the window that cost I want to shut up who would pay any attention to a dog barking to be the last time he barks and that's funny I could swear I seen that critter somewhere before no just nervous look there's no one in there with Sam yeah he's on the couch over to the wall come on let's go in and get this over with say it's unlocked come on so I turn up the lamp you sleep what are you turning up for your fool you had less light to see in last night and you missed him this time make sure you'll never know what hit him come on now get out of here mix with a crowd out and not so fast make them what in the impression I thought I recognized that mutt sure did a good job of warning us that a bag of skunks is coming they came back to finish the job did you make you ain't so smart after all Marty put up your hand but I put that gun away slim should I let him have it boys well for a minute I was so surprised I forgot you boys were holding guns no no don't let him have it here you wouldn't dare to kill a Monty man can you know it's suicide not for me it isn't or there won't be anyone around to tell about it I have been wanting to see the sergeant here in a spot like this for a long time I always thought as much every time I looked into those greedy murderous eyes of yours I guess the same thing will happen to us that happened to Taylor Abner Keller all the rest of the prospectors on their way to your bank as a matter of fact you're right that's exactly what's going to happen all right now get moving hey sergeant agent up just keep going you heard him what about Sam somebody will find him in a couple of hours this time his mouth is shut for good empty handed the mouth he don't look so brave does he you're forgetting something Mac my partner look out for that much slim pull the gun on me will you go my arm help get the guns I guess I've got it stop it don't take me keep him I never saw a dog like that in all my life was oh Pete here got caught by a haymaker he wasn't expecting nice work bangs oh well like damn it didn't get far when he finds out there was firing at a blanket roll blanket roll that's right slim you did kill Sam the other night bang circulate the story that he'd only been wounded you believed it this one's coming to surgeon on your feet come on stop moving slim you too Pete we'll see how King's making out with his partner good work King all right get in line McDermott this parade is headed straight for the jail yes King thanks to you another case is closed challenge of the Yukon a copyrighted feature of the challenge of the Yukon incorporated brought to you every Saturday at this time originated in the transcription studios of WXYZ Detroit the characters and events in tonight's drama were pictitious