 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 It was shortly after the Northwest Mounted Post had been established at the top of Chilcute and White Pass That Sergeant Preston drove down from Dawson with a load of mail from the sourdows in the Klondike His final destination was the port of Skagway But he also carried dispatches for major ward the military governor of the territory Who was making his temporary headquarters at the White Pass customs post He found the major in his office I have dispatches from inspector Conrad in Dawson, sir Sergeant Preston, I didn't recognize you at first in those trail clothes. Welcome to White Pass Sit down make yourself comfortable. Thank you, sir What kind of a trick did you have? Well, I made fairly good time Trail wasn't broken below the Stewart River. We ran into a lot of ice jams in the 30 mile But we made it in 16 days. That's excellent You're the first man to come out of the Klondike since the freezer. Yes, sir The mail was piling up in Dawson and the inspector decided something should be done about it I'm carrying nearly a thousand pounds My orders are to deliver it to the american post office in Skagway And then what? Pick up the Dawson mail and head north Your team will need a rest before you start back. Yes, sir. At least a week. That should be long enough You know sergeant your appearance gives me an idea. Well, uh, I'll be uniform on the sleds, sir I can change into that before I head down into American territory. No, no, no. I'd rather you didn't That's part of the idea You've noticed the stream of prospectors coming through customs. Yes, sir For the first time with these new posts We're in a position to check every person who comes through either Chilcourt or White Pass At the border a great improvement over the last year, sir. And the necessary one This rush this stampede is growing every minute And the best way to preserve law and order in the territory is to make sure that no criminal crosses the border I agree There are plenty of them in Skagway from competence men to killers And we only know a few of them by sight We need more information about them And I believe you're the man to get for us. I'll do my best, sir. You look like a sourdough a professional dog putcher Such people are popular in Skagway now men who know the territory well Every door will be open to you I suggest that you spend the next week in Skagway They want a list of the undesirables that should be stopped at the border. Exactly. I'll get it for you, sir. Fine And so it happened that sergeant Preston was dressed in a fur cap and parker Caribou shirt reaches and mucklucks as he drove down the white pass trail to Skagway The town was crowded with men from every walk of life and from every part of the world Cowboys and clerks lawyers gamblers merchants thieves There was no law and the dregs of the san francisco underworld preyed on the innocent The sergeant found that the best place to observe these unsavory characters Was in the notorious 303 cafe One afternoon he was seated in the corner when he noticed a young Texan talking to one of the entertainers at the next table The sergeant recognized the girl a singer named sally lee and he had met the young man the night before It was impossible not to overhear their conversation There are the two men I mentioned Tex. Well, just coming in the door. Oh, will you ask him to come over here? I'm not sure that I ought to why not? Well, the friends in a way, but I've only known him for a few weeks. Don't you worry about me, honey? When it comes to business deal, I can take care of myself I told you how much I got for my ranch. Yes, and you shouldn't have You mean I shouldn't trust you. Oh, no, but Oh, what's the use Tex? You just talk too much. That's all Go on call them over. All right But Yeah, they hurt you they're coming. Mm-hmm. Hello sally. Hi Hello Bart kirt This is tex quarry. Mr. Adams and mr. Miller. Glad to know you and sit down. Thank you Sally's told us about you tex Says you're interested in buying a claim. That's right. Well, I think I'll leave you. I stick around sally You're going to talk business. I stick around All right, you have a lot more sense than most of these tender fee tex How do you mean? Well, they won't take the word of sourdough's like kirt and me that most of the ground has been staked already Got the only thing to do is buy a claim. Oh ben clark to him at that Give me less the cricks that I should look in it. Oh What would you say to a claim on the bonanza? I'd say I couldn't afford it claim like that would be worth a fortune Well, uh, you have 20 000 dollars Why? Yeah, I do Not in cash, but the great northwest company here will honor my draft for that one here. Take a look at this deed Bonanza Number 47 above discovery. Would you pay 20 000 for that enough minute? Oh, I mean I'd have to make sure this deed was authentic, of course I just can't understand anyone letting bonanza property go for so little Well, man, I don't want to cheat you you could get a hundred thousand for that claim Yep, that used to be our prize didn't it kirt. Yeah, try and get it No one in skagway has that kind of money. Well, if you can't get it, why do you sell? Why don't you work to claim yourself for two reasons tex the country's too rough for kirt Now I've got a family back in the states. They need me I want to go home. We want to sell and get out of here. I don't like to take advantage 20 000 means more to us than 200 would a year from now You wouldn't be taking advantage of us tex sure looks that way to me Oh, you might not even get your money back From a claim on the bonanza. Well, I'll admit that charlie trains washed out close to half a million from number 46 next door downstream Still there's no telling about gold hasn't the claim been proved We've worked enough to hold it how much you get to pay about a hundred dollars It should be a good investment at 20 000 you honestly want to sell as soon as we can for cash tax I can get my draft cashed. Well, then we could close the deal tonight sure Except for the business of checking the deed. I couldn't tell you if it was genuine or not. Oh Just who are you? I know him Hello bill. Hello tax. This is 40 mile bill He just come down from the clondike and he knows the bonanza from one end to the other I'll take his word about the deed. Good enough. Good enough. Here it is bill. All right Do you happen to know the claim? Yes That's telling the truth about it tax. It's only been worked a little and the deed's okay Yes, that's the gold commissioner's signature. I know it as well as I do my own There's nothing wrong with the deed. Thanks. Well, not at all. Will I bring the money here? No, tax. I I wouldn't like anyone here to see me putting 20 000 in my pocket. Oh, sure One of you through here sally at midnight How about sally's cabin tax? Well, that suits me fine. Sure. You're all welcome Anytime after midnight. Good. It's all settled then. We'll be seeing you tax You're sure you'll be able to get the cash or cash or gold. It doesn't matter does it? No Yep, we'll be seeing you I have to change my dress tax It's nearly time for me to sing. You don't think I'm making a mistake. Do you sally? About the claim No, tax You're not making any mistakes. I'm glad to hear you say that Yeah, I'd better get over the great northwestern office right away Tax went to the great northwestern office and cashed a draft They were able to give him the 20 000 in large bills and he returned to his cabin After supper he decided against going to the 303 with so much money on him and spent the evening reading At 12 o'clock he put on his parka blew out the lamp stepped out into the dark street Oh He had only taken half a dozen steps when a man stepped from the shadows behind him and brought a blackjack down on the side of his head Tax dropped in his tracks. Got him Joe. Good work. He must have the money in his inside pocket But the sergeant and king had been waiting across the street and as joe bent over the fallen tax The sergeant stepped in pulled him upright and drove a solid left to his job Joe stepped back and the sergeant drew his gun now get out of here both of you the two men ran The sergeant knelt beside tax he hasn't hurt badly king This is bill tax What happened? Someone hit you over the head Not money. That's safe. You better go back inside and lie down for a minute. No, I can't I know all about your engagement. You can wait a little while. Go on. All right Inside the cabin the sergeant examined tech's head and decided no serious harm had been done. You'll be all right Just rest easy for a minute. Who was it that hit me? I don't know There were two of them probably members of soapy tanners gang lucky you were around bill. It wasn't accidental I heard you tell adams and miller that should be at sally's cabin tonight with $20,000 And if I heard you there was no reason why other people couldn't People who might not be so friendly The 303 is filled with soapy's men. Yeah, sally told me I talked too much. She was right You may have talked too much to her. Oh now wait a minute. I can't stand how long have you known her About a week and you told her all about selling your ranch for $25,000 And that you had the money on deposit at the great northwestern bill. You don't understand how I feel about sally Of course, I do I'm not sure how she feels about you though Well Neither am I exactly tax. I'm not saying that sally may not be perfectly all right. The man has to be careful There's absolutely no law enforcing agency in this town not even a marshal If your money had been stolen tonight, there'd have been no way in which you could have gotten it back No one to turn to I happen to have a gun on my own bill I better carry it from now on not a bad idea, but You're not suggesting that Sally might have No, I won't believe that sally might have what well that she introduced me to adams and miller No one I'd want to buy their claim That it was all a trick to put me on the streets after dark with $20,000 in my pocket There's one way to find out go to her cabin see if they're waiting for you there. I intend to It's a wonderful bargain bill that claim for 20,000. Yes almost too wonderful Well, you saw the deed you said there's nothing wrong with the deed What do you mean before you pay your money tax make sure you get the same deed Have a confidence man as well as gunman in this town tax and one of their favorite tricks In sally's cabin the girl was putting a pot of coffee on the stove while kurt miller played solitaire and barthadams paced the floor Your friend is late. It's only a quarter past 12. Let's make sure you've got everything straight Oh, how many times do we have to go over once more won't hurt Uh, he's sitting at the table where kurt is now We're sitting on either side of him. I show him the deed let him get a good look at it Then I put it back in the envelope place the envelope on the table with my left hand on top of it And hold out my other hand for the money as soon as I get the money in my pocket I spill hot coffee on him. Well, what could be simpler? That isn't the tough part All right He jumps up you and bart get between him in the table and I switch the envelopes Where have you got the other envelope in the pocket of my dress underneath my apron Here showed you where I was putting it. Let's try to switch once Here's the real deal I'll go ahead and do it. Oh dear You've got to time it just right all right if you insist Now I'm standing behind him so Spill the coffee so he jumps up you jump up. I circle the table so Putting down the coffee pot. No, I switched the envelopes Not bad. That's okay I could do it in my sleep. Well, just because you wait. Here he is now Hello tags. Howdy, Bart. Come in. Come in Hi, Sally Get those cards out of the way Kurt. Yeah, sit down right here. Thanks. We thought maybe you'd change your mind I I was just held up a little you got the money, huh? Yeah, right here. Good and I have the deed If you don't mind, I'd like to take another look at it. Sure thing All right, yeah seems to be I'll just put it back in the envelope It's yours as soon as you can count out the dough. Yeah, let's see 1000 Tex counted out the 20,000 Sally watched him closely and just as he was placing the last bill in Bart's hand She picked up the coffee pot and walked toward the table How about a little hot coffee, gentlemen? Kurt hand me those Tanks, I spill it. My hand. What's the matter with you anyway, Sally? That coffee must be scalded. Oh, I'm sorry, Tex Your hands burnt. You got any grease to put on it, Sally? Yeah. Well, hurry. My hands. All right. It was just Here, this will make it feel better. It'll take the sting right out of it There Doesn't it? Sure. That's fine. Well, at least you didn't spill anything on the deed You'd better put it away to I'll take that envelope if you don't mind bill. It's got a gun Yes, and over that envelope, adam This doesn't belong to you. I said hand it over. Shall I take it? Why you keep them covered? Well, I take a look at this, Tex Thanks, I warned you that if these two men weren't honest they might try to switch deeds I was watching through the window as I said I wouldn't I saw Sally spill coffee on you I saw Adams and Miller get between you and the table I couldn't see sally on the other side of the table But I had an idea that while you were thinking of your hand she might be sally You didn't know she didn't Very happy to say she didn't This is the deed to number 47 on bonanza. What I must apologize to you sally and to you two gentlemen Well, that's the 47 the bonanza. Yes, and you're surprised Sally you double crossed us. That's right barter. There's nothing you can do about it You sold a claim that's worth a fortune for $20,000. You won't get away with it. Go on Tex Get out of town get up to Dawson as fast as you can and have the claim transferred to your name I'm not going anywhere sally. I'll find out what this is all about. I'll tell you Tex I'll tell them too. I've been waiting for this moment My name is Sally Lee Carter. Does the name Carter mean anything to you barter? I see you remember And so do you too Kurt six months ago an old man my father The trick work with him didn't it you took his last $10,000 and When he realized he'd been swindled and there was nothing he could do about it He shot himself But he wrote me a letter first and he told me what you'd done to him and how you did it How you murdered him sally I swore that I did even then Tex I I had no idea how but I came up here They were looking for a new girl to help them with their swindles. I qualified I managed to persuade them. There was nothing I wanted in this world, but easy money So they took me on Tonight was my first and my last job though We can call it quits now. Oh, no, we can't I want that deed back. Tex. Here's your money You sold your claim but it's gone. You've thrown away a portion. We'll attend to you later But I warn you Tex you'd better take your money and forget the whole business Soapy Tanner's a friend of mine If you try to get out of town with that deed, he'll put a hundred men on your trail You'll never get to the top of the pass alive. Give me your gun Tex. I'll keep them covered until you're across the border No, you're coming with me. Good idea. I'll come too and sally can ride my sled You'll never get to the top of the pass alive. You too won't be calling on soapy for help We'll bind and gag you before we leave have any rope sally. No anything to tie them up An old blanket you could tear it up. All right. Let's have it All right Well as the sergeant found and gagged the two men part continued to threaten them even if you do get across the border You won't be safe There's 20 of soapy's men who are going to force their way through chilcoot pass tonight. Oh, that's interesting news I'll get word to them somehow They'll catch you on the trail of Dawson. You won't be talking until you're found and that may be a long long time Bart was silenced as a sergeant stuffed a gag in his mouth already sally without the lamp takes right Yeah, I got it. Let's go The sergeant and king Tex and sally headed down the street in the direction of the sergeant's captain They had only gone half a block. However, when they heard voices behind them, they looked back There were two men standing outside sally's door. They began to pound on it Um, bad luck that cuts down our time. We'll have to run come on As they ran down the street one of the men in front of sally's cabin continued to pound on the door The other looked in the window. It's dark. There's no one here. There must be sally from nobody else There's nobody on the cot. Well, where could they be sally and barton kurt? They were supposed to meet Tex here Yeah, we were supposed to get his cash as soon as he left his cabin Hey, he probably didn't show up here. They've gone to his place. That's it. We'll go there. We'll wait for barton kurt outside Hey, wait a minute. I heard something Somebody lying on the floor it's barton kurt. Come on. We got to force this door At that moment the sergeant was harnessing his teeth. Get them quiet king I'm going to take king with me tax Teams used to working without him. You won't have any trouble. Aren't you coming with us? It's time. I told you who I am You're a friend in need. That's all it matters to me. The name's preston sergeant preston northwest mounted police They're not left mounted. What are you doing in american territory? Checking on the undesirables We don't want in the ucon. They're only two places. They can cross the border. Yeah, white pass and chillcute. That's right Our main headquarters and most of our men are at white pass There are only two or three on duty at chillcute The soapy's men try to force their way through there tonight. There's a good chance they'll succeed Once they're on the far side of the mountains, we'll have a hard time tracking them down Now here's what I want you to do The break in the mountains called white pass was almost directly above the town of scagway to the east Chillcute was much farther to the north It was the sergeant's idea that tech should drive straight out of town and up the white pass trail to the northwest mounted post at the top In the meantime the sergeant would be heading north through american territory To warn the men on duty at chillcute pass and help them defend it Well, the major will try to hold out until reinforcements arrive, but he better get them there fast Climb on board selling. Thank you. Good going takes right sergeant As techs and sally headed out of town the sergeant and king returned to the main street There was a crowd of men in front of the 303 and at least a dozen dog genes In the light from the cafe the sergeant caught a glimpse of barred space He was talking to sopey, but techs and sally were out of reach now It was only the men at the top of chillcute who were in danger. Come on king The sergeant started to run with king at his side. They left the town behind The trail to sheep camp at the bottom of chillcute pass stretched ahead Hard packed and glistening under the northern lights The coastal mountains the boundary between american and canadian territory Rear their snowy heights to the east Only a man hardened by days of running behind a sled could have maintained the pace the sergeant set At five o'clock he reached sheep camp and for the first time he turned toward the mountains At the foot of the ascent he stopped for a moment In the distance south towards scagway. He could hear dogs. They're coming king up we go King and the sergeant started to climb The trail twisted back and forth up the side of the mountain steep icy and dangerous It took the sergeant nearly half an hour to make the ascent and now sopey's men were at the foot of the mountain But the customs house was nearly reached and someone hailed the sergeant from the opening of the pass What's left of us jim notice you're coming up the trail. What's the matter? What's the hurry see those men down below Yeah, they belong to sopey tanners gang they intend to force their way through the pass Who's here with you carry barns? He's sleeping. He won't be for long Do you have anything to build a barricade across the trail or sled some packing cases? But can three of us that looks like a small arm 20 or 25 I sent a message to the major asking for reinforcements. We've got to hold them off until they get here You wait carry i'll start on the barricade. All right cross here where we'll have the best field of fire The three men the sergeant and two constables worked with friday haste By the time sopey's men were nearing the top the barricade was completed When the gunman saw it they took to the cover of the boulders on either side of the trail and opened fire The defenders of the pass fired back After the first exchange sopey's men started working their way upward moving from one point of cover to another There's open ground in front. They'll have to show themselves before they can reach escape at it The gunfight continued without any let up and sopey's men crawled closer and closer The bullets ripped into the wooden barrier and barns was hit Constable downy carried him back to the shack while the sergeant held the pass alone Downy returned with more ammunition and the fight went on One hour two hours and the guns were blistering hot before there was a lull We've wounded half a dozen of them sergeant. You think they've had enough? No What time is it nearly eight o'clock? It'll be light in another hour They'll charge us before then they may be getting ready for it now The matter king something behind it you'll see it could be the reinforcements from white pass. I sure hope so The reinforcements had arrived But there weren't many the major and half a dozen men enough to beat back any attack perhaps But not enough to take the offensive The major and the sergeant held the console of war. It's too bad. They didn't have more men available Those crooks are in Canadian territory now. I'd like to move out and round them up We could let them move in sir How do you mean take cover in the cabin in the customs house on either side of the trail Let them break through this barrier and walk into a trap. It could work. I think so, sir Down the slope another conference was being held Bart was urging an immediate attack. There were only three of them to start with We know we got one of them. Maybe two maybe Bart's got something Joe There's only been fired from one spot during the last 10 minutes. There isn't any firing now. All right. Let's go. Come on. Let's go get it The men charged up the slope to the opening of the class There were no shots from behind the barrier. Maybe they're cleared out of their dead. Come on. I'll break it down The packing cases were tossed aside and the outlaws ran on into the pass and then a sharp command rang out From the customs house from the cabin from the cover of rocks on either side of the trail Members of the force opened fire Half a dozen of the outlaws dropped to the ground wounded panic sees the others Their first thought was of escape the next instant they realized it was impossible to survive. They must surrender They threw down their guns In less than five minutes the fight was over. The victory had been won We'll leave the wounded here with a comfortable downy and two other sergeant You may assign the men. Yes, sir. We'll march the others back to jail at white pass I think this is the last time any of the scagway hooligans will try to force away in the uconn Round them up Three days later while a sergeant was going over his report on the conditions in scagway with a major King rose from the floor beside his master and walked to the door of the office But when the sergeant opened the door, he found tex and sally standing just outside. Well, hello sergeant. Hello Texan sally's We don't want to bother you if you're busy. Come in. Come in. All right You uh Said something about a letter to the gold commissioner major. I have it written tex. Here you are Thank you. I'm sure there won't be any difficulty in establishing a clear title of your claim. It isn't exactly my claim It certainly is what I mean is Well, after all I think I know what he's trying to say major I saw these two heading in the direction of the mission this morning. That's right. We've just come back And now your mrs. Corey. Yes sergeant. Well, congratulations my very best and mine And kings with adams and miller and 20 of soapy's gunman in jail. This is all we needed to make our report complete Major, I'm happy to say this case is closed In our next adventure in a cabin on keno creek sergeant preston is speaking to a minor jone I'm hoping you can give me some information about what's going on here at keno creek I I don't know what you're talking about. You know well enough what i'm talking about Blackjack tully and his hired thugs are conducting a reign of terror among the miners Listen sergeant you you don't realize what you're bucking up against If I was to tell you anything against blackjack tully my life wouldn't be worth a plug nickel neither would yours Take my advice and clear out while you're still healthy Yes, a reign of terror is going on among the miners on keno creek, but not a single minor dares to talk Sergeant preston will be facing one of his most difficult cases And his own life may soon be at stake when he sets out to break the power of the king of keno creek Be sure to hear this exciting adventure Next saturday These radio dramas a feature of the challenge of the uconn incorporated are created by george w trendle Produced by trendle campbell enterprises Directed by fred flower day and edited by fran striker The part of sergeant preston is played by paul sudden They are brought to you every saturday and sunday This is j michael wishing you goodbye and good luck until next saturday This program came from detroit Today's most popular heroes of outdoor adventure are heard every weekday afternoon from five to six o'clock Monday, wednesday and friday mark trail roams the wilderness Clyde beady defies the beasts of the jungle and victor borga entertains with five minutes of musical labs Tuesday and thursday there are the indian hero straight arrow riding to uphold justice sky king zooming to supersonic action and bobby benson the cowboy kid entails a western daring Listen to mutuals hour for fun with mark trail Clyde beady victor borga straight arrow sky king and bobby benson over most of these