 The challenge of the Yukon King the swiftest strongest of Eskimo lead 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 preserving the right the challenge of the north was answered and justice rule triumphant The palace cafe and Dolphin was always crowded Men who weren't standing at the bar or sitting around tables talking were in the back rooms Concentrating on poker games But in Max Watkins office. There was another kind of concentration as Max and his three hirelings faced Joe Merrill Hey, don't mind losing money in an honest poker game, but there was five aces in that dick. You're wrong Joe How about it? Sure? He's wrong. I tell your boss that game was straight. You see Joe Pete here says the game was straight. He does hey I guess he's getting a cut of that 35,000 I lost before I got my eyes open me Maybe that's why he's a sure the game was straight I wouldn't make so much noise about it if I were you where you low down crooks the whole pack of air painted with the same Yeah, I ain't the only one that's dropped money like that I ain't the only one saying your crooked a lot of us have the same idea Only this time I'm making a bad business to see your run out of town. They can't prove a thing and you know it We're playing with Pete Sam and Bart here Three men's word against one Hey, hey, you won't have a chance. Oh, we'll see what kind of a chance. I'll have No, you don't you're not going anywhere Hey, boss Should have looked for it sooner than Better make sure he won't live to talk boss. He won't talk. He's passed that now Hurry Pete put your gun in his hand. But don't stand there. You fool. Do as I tell you. Yeah Any questions are asked. I'll do the talk Suddenly the room was full minors crowded the doorway stopping in their tracks as they saw Joe Merrill on the floor Clutching a gun in his hands thought I heard a shot in here. What a it was Pete He had a shoot in self-defense self defense. What do you mean? Thanks? What happened? They were in a game of poker. Hey, wait a minute. Here comes sergeant Preston sergeant. Hello there, Slim Mighty glad you got here sergeant Looks like I got here too late Joe Merrill Not this happened Mike. I was just telling the boys sergeant. He says Pete did it in self-defense. That's right They were in a poker game. Who the Joe Pete Sam and Bart here Joe had been losing pretty heavily and he was in a bad humor. I guess yes They got into an argument Joe pulled a gun Is that true Pete? Yeah Yeah, that's how it happened He had a couple of drinks Never thought anything like this would happen. Is it customary for them to play poker in your office max? No, they weren't playing in here. Who was in the room besides Pete? When Joe pulled the gun Sam and Barton me it all come in here Yeah, we thought maybe max could quiet Joe down Pete started to tell me what had happened and Joe accused him of lying No, I see Lying about what he said he said that Pete owed him money Well Pete it's a good thing you've got witnesses max told you just how it was sergeant He can tell it to a minor's jury at your trial trial. Hey, what is this? You'll be tried for murder Early the next morning max Watkins was talking to Pete McCreary in his cell in the Dolphin Jail The cafe owners spoke quietly outlining his plan to sergeant Preston's prisoner But even as they spoke the frown on Pete's face deepened You're trying to frame you frame you use your head. What good would it do me to try that? I ain't taking no murder rap for anybody. You understand not for enough to take that rap Sam and Barton me will swear we saw Meryl draw first four of us the only ones that know what went on That's just it. Oh, you got a perfect story. Well, what I don't get is why you shoved the blame on me so fast listen Was I in on that poker game? No, that's why I talked so fast, huh? The Monty knew Joe found out the game was crooked you put that puzzle together in two minutes No, we killed him to shut his mouth. How do you get that we killed him stuff? I don't care what the Monty knows or don't know. I don't like you don't have a thing to worry about I'll tell you something Pete. I was Planning for us to clear out of here anyway. You mean leave the Yukon. Yeah, we cleaned up plenty here in Dolphin It's like Meryl said they're beginning to get wise to us Soon as this trial blows over we'll strike out for a skagway and head for the States. Yeah Well, I just then think now what's wrong a lot of them minors on the jury Yeah, what about them clean amount of plenty of poker games and they got long memories. Oh forget it. You're just nervous Long as the four of us staying together in our stories. I'm telling you you don't have anything to worry about Just be sure you don't let that money twist you up when you get in front of them. Yeah You remember this that jury don't set me free. You're going to be the one to worry Sergeant Preston was walking slowly along Dolphin's main street when he heard someone calling him Turning he saw whitey burns hurrying toward him. Hello there whitey. Hey, where have you been keeping yourself? Hey, I just heard about Joe. Yes, I ain't got to the cafe shortly after it happened. I wish I'd have been there I didn't lock that no good skunk out so cold. He did. Oh Well, ain't much good talker now. It's too late. Who Pete? Joe sure wasn't fussy about his company when he picked them three for his game Well, I thought he always played with him. Oh, he used to That was before we all get wise. Oh, wait a minute whitey. I Just got into Dolphin yesterday. It's quite sometimes as I've talked to any of you boys What's this all about? You ain't heard about the palace thing. What about it? I thought you fellas all gathered there and got together for pogans and drinks. It's the only cafe in town. That's why You know Watkins didn't always own it. Yes, I know he bought out Mac McDonald 10 months ago And Mac went in for a store keeping What's that got to do with the palace and Max Watkins? I was getting to that Used to be a man could go there for a poker game. I know he'd stand as much a chance of winning as he did of losing That was before max and those three fellas working for him took over so salmon barred work for him to Took a while for us to see just how it worked out, but it all ended up Every time any of us got together for a game one of those was always in on it You can take it from me. Not one of the four of them turns an honest card. I see how the money we lost I Don't blame Joe for drawing on Pete only thing that surprises me is that he was so slow pulling the trigger What'd you say? Oh nothing nothing Just thinking they all on a hang You've got Pete. Yes, he's in jail now trials tomorrow trial a lot of good at trial will do Why do I have a hunch? Sometimes it pays to play them and and sometimes it doesn't But this whole thing is too perfect What do you mean sergeant? Well, I have an idea It might not work, but it's worth a try listen How many people know where you were last night? No one had it except Mac. I was talking to him this morning. Why good. Where were you out of the cabin? I don't see what you will Would you be willing to take a chance to prove Joe might have been murdered? You don't know I told you this is just a hunch Sure But I don't know how you can prove it. I'll tell you how First I want to warn you that you may be risking your life Listen sergeant Joe is my friend. I'll do whatever you say King and I'll stay as close to you as possible There'll still be danger. What's your plan? First? I want you to talk to Mac Tell him what you're going to do and he'll help me split the story Yeah, that's right I heard maybe Pete don't stand the chance. He thinks he does hey The man has got something up his sleeve wait let comes out at the trial. We might see a hanging yet Listen boss there might not be anything to it shut up might not be anything to it Your full of course there's something to it Everybody in town to be talking about it if there wasn't yeah, but I don't see how that's a trouble with every one of you Never see anything all right Suppose whitey didn't see a shoot him. It's a three of us again him ain't it that ought to be good enough for any call That's like Pete said He's pleased every minor on a jury Why he's been here a long time Every one of them would like to see us hang and all they need to do is hear his story I never looked at it. Hey, you never look beyond your own nose Why do you was coming in the back way? Could have seen the whole thing And I guess it's too late to do anything about it now too late to do anything about it I'll hang for this if he talks you hear me That's you were Peter Bart but me Not going it. I killed Merrill and I'll kill him if I have to where's he staying over in the back room at McDonald's store As far as I know why we're going over there tonight That night whitey burns that's playing a game of solitaire in the back of McDonald's store Mac as was his custom was at the cafe Through the window max Watkins and Sam could see whitey hesitate a card for his mid-air That's the way you wanted it have us Sure, we don't have any audience this time Was that dog I don't know just a stray I guess shut up your mutt Come on, Sam Try this door here It's not open we'll have to know it's open No, it isn't Mac whitey Max Watkins What are you doing here? Just came for quiet talk. That's all Down same. Yeah What do you want to talk to me about? No use wasting time. I'll come right to the point How much is it worth you not to be at that trial tomorrow? Oh Now I begin to see I told you I'm not here to waste time. How much do you want? I don't need your money max? I've got plenty of dust in my claim So if you came here to buy me off you can forget it. I mean business whitey One way or the other I'm making sure you won't be indulged in tomorrow You can take your choice. You think if I'm not there to say Joe was murdered Pete will be set free, huh? That's right I'm admitting right now. I made a mistake Shooting Joe without thinking of the window But I won't make the same mistake twice meaning meaning if you won't be Sensible and see things the way I'm suggesting Sam here will go outside Just to make sure no one sees you getting the same thing Joe got when he was ready to talk out of terror You've been getting away with a lot ever since you set foot in golf and max You've cheated every man that held a card in the cafe. That's how I make my money. Yeah Well, your money's no good here so you can get out now All right, Sam One outside make sure everything's clear. I Got a gun in this pocket. Why do you cover it? Don't worry boss? I'll make sure this time and we are Sam You weren't going anywhere. Preston put up your hands max. You're covered turn around max. You aren't hearing things Preston's behind you. All right Well, he looks like you don't believe it sergeant. I don't know. We were here. How'd you get in? I was here when you walked in I've been waiting for you as a matter of fact When King barked I knew you were walking into our trap. I got a hand it to you sergeant I never thought they'd believe it trap believe what believe whitey story that he saw you kill Joe Merrill When you heard the rumor your conscience took care of the rest double crush. Yes, you might call it that If you thought about it max you could have easily looked for tracks at the window Whitey had seen you his footprints would still be in the snow But your guilt confused you Way better open the door whitey King wants to know if we need any more help I guess Boy, I never saw a dog like him Oh, you know they were coming in here. Why was barking before they even got to the door? Yes, King the case is closed Challenge of the Yukon the 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 fictitious. Bill Morgan speaking. This is the Michigan radio network