 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 on King 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 One morning in late with her Sergeant Preston hauled his team before the cabin of an elderly miner named Hannibal Jenkins A boy and girl were playing together a short distance away the best girl today He doesn't want to be overlooked I'm afraid I'd have a hard time getting along without him Frankie. I hope you're going to stay for lunch Well, thanks Holly, but I just stopped off to see how you folks are getting along Yes, sir, he's inside the cabin Hello Hannibal Of course Frankie, he'll be glad to have a ramp with you Those two young inshore think a heap that dog yours King likes youngsters they seem to like him Sit down Sergeant. I'll get you some coffee. I've got some already brewed up on the stove. Thanks Oh, thanks Hannibal On the way back to Dawson's from 40 mile, but I'd stop and see how you were making up Things haven't been too prosperous lately, but I reckon I can't complain Frank and Holly seem to be doing nice. Oh, yes They're lively enough. Of course, they do get a might lonesome for their more She's down in Vancouver in the hospital. Yes, I know how's she getting along well enough? I reckon I had a letter from her the other day Dr. Toler should be well enough to leave the hospital another month or so How long have the two children been living here with you? Well, they in the mall came up here and I want it two years ago right after the poor died Then last fall here. She was taking sick That's when she had to get down to the hospital The kids want to go along with it, but there wasn't nobody down there to take care of Besides I couldn't afford Hannibal I I don't want to seem inquisitive, but I hear your claims treated out Yes, it's true Sergeant, but I haven't given up hope yet I'm gonna run another drift. Maybe I can strike the vein again. If there's anything I can do to help Oh, no, thanks. Just the same sergeant will make out matter of fact I've been able to make a little money lately by trapping. Oh, glad to hear it But if there's anything I can do later on, I'll show and let you know In the meantime, how about another cup of coffee? That same day a lean hawk-faced man dressed in trail clothes walked into the gold-nugget cafe In Dawson City push back the hood of his partner He stood for a moment near the doorway looking over the crowd of customers Then his eyes fell on a burly man with a black moustache Was seated at a corner table Howdy Frisco Lear by thunder you finally got here pull up a chair. All right. I was wondering how soon you were gonna show up Like I told you I had to wait for a few weeks If I'd put my job at the bank right after the robbery occurred they might have gotten suspicious Yeah, I reckon you're right at that. What did you do with the money? Don't worry. I've got it hidden in a safe place Well, let's go there. I'm anxious to get my hands on my share of that hundred grand relax It's safe enough besides the place. I've got it hidden isn't just around the corner You know we'll eat our teams to get there. Where is this place a couple of miles north of town a couple of miles Sure, you don't think I'd feel safe with that stuff sitting around my hotel room. Do you a Whole carpet bag full of brand new bills. Yes, but why hide it so far from town. I hid it there on my way in the Dawson I wanted some place. It was nice and deserted. I Figured that be too many cabins scattered around when I got closer to town. That's how long as it's safe That's all I care about. Come on. Let's go got your team out in front of the cafe. All right. Let's mush When sergeant Preston arrived back at headquarters he reported to Inspector Conrad sit down sergeant Preston Thank you, sir. I have an urgent message from the American authorities in Alaska Message was delivered across the border to 40 mile by a special dispatch driver from Noam He must have arrived there after I left 40 mile. Yes The message was just relayed here over the telegraph about an hour ago What's it all about sir two months ago the Bank of Noam was robbed by a holed-up man named Frisco He got away with a hundred thousand dollars in new currency has movements been trained No, they had no idea where he'd headed But several weeks later a clerk at the bank named Emmett Lea quit his job and left town They now suspect that he may have helped plan the hold up They're sure that Lea was heading for the Yukon territory And if he is guilty no doubt he's planning to join fun him and collect his share of the loop So they want us to be on the lookout for both of them What are their descriptions sir? Well Lea the bank clerk is about 5 feet 10 lean sharp featured and in his middle 30s Farnam is older and bigger heavy set black moustache There are a lot of men who might fit those descriptions, but perhaps we can pick them up I've already notified the city patrol and I'll send outward to all the police posts in the territory In the meantime here's something I want you to attend to sergeant. Yes, sir The serial numbers of the stolen money are consecutive. I have them written down on this piece of paper They're all brand new American twenty dollar bills I see I want you to go to the banks and important business houses here in Dawson Warm them to be on the lookout for this money the minute any of those bills turn up Tell them to notify us immediately right sir. Come along King After leaving the gold nugget cafe Frisco Farnam and Emmett Lear headed northward out of town For some time they kept to the main trail then at a signal from Frisco They left the trail and turned eastward into a range of heavily wooded hills Finally Frisco called a halt near the face of a steep hillside We're stopping here for see the mouth of that cave leading into the hillside there Finally covered over the brush. Yeah, that's where you hid the money. That's right inside the cave Thunder you sure picked a wild spot sure. I told you was well hidden, but it take a lantern. It's kind of dark inside the cave Got it. I'll wait like clear away some of this brush here Okay, come on right behind you now light the lantern right now It's right over there hidden behind that pile of rocks. Holy mackerel. Yeah, it's gone. Go on I Thunderfarnam if you're trying to take that cheat you you can see for yourself. It's not sure I can see that for myself How do I know whatever was here? How do I know you're not trying to keep all the dough for yourself? Help me Lear. I hid that carpet bag right here and all the bank money was stuffed inside. That's what you say for Pete's sake Why do you suppose I hung around Dawson waiting for you if I'd wanted to double-cross you? I could have been down to Skagway grabbing a boat for outside by this time maybe so The bag's not here. Where is it? How do I know? Let's look around the cave a bit for several minutes the two crooks searched around inside the cave But found no trace of the missing carpet bag Don't look at those poor tracks there some kind of an animal's been in here The critter must have dragged the bag away. Those poor tracks aren't the only tracks in here. What do you mean? Take a look at these footprints. Huh? We never made these Smaller than our prints. Holy smoke. You're right. Well now. What are we supposed to do? We've got to find the guy who made those prints and get the bag back from him sure just like that Huh be easy to find who swiped it. You got your crystal ball with you Meanwhile Hannibal Jenkins was preparing to make a trip into Dawson. Lookie here you youngins I have to make a trip into town today You suppose you can keep out of mischiefs like a bag. Of course we can grandpa. You're gonna leave right away Well, I'll be leaving for long. But first I I wanna go out and take a look at my traps what you checked over your trap line this morning. Well, what what if I did? There's a dad ratted Wolverine been raiding my traps lately And they hope and I can catch him in the act and settle his hash for good Now you two behave yourselves and I'll be back in 10 15. All right. Bye grandpa. I Don't understand it don't understand what Franky the way grandpa's been acting lately If you ask me he's up to something. What do you mean? Well, haven't you noticed the last three times grandpa's gone into town? He's done the same thing said he had to go out and look at his traps Just before he left and I think it's just an excuse That's true Has been acting sort of funny listen Let's wait until he goes to town and then go out and follow his footprints in the snow Maybe we can find out where he went golly. I don't know. Do you think we ought to why not if he's telling the truth? It won't make any difference. Well All right But I certainly hope we aren't doing anything wrong The two children waited until Hannibal returned from his mysterious trip and started off with his team in the direction of town Then they put on their parkers and went outdoors and began following his footprints in the snow The Prince led into the woods to a spot where a small log structure with a door in one side of it Stood on four stilts with a short ladder leading up to the door His footprints lead right up into that old abandoned cash cash. Is that what you call that thing? Well, sure. Saminians used it for storing food when they camp here in the old days I'm gonna see what's inside. You better be careful Franky climbed up the ladder opened the door and poked his head and shoulders inside the cash a Moment later. He emerged holding an old carpet bag in one hand as he climbed down again. Holly greeted him in surprise Golly, what was that old carpet bag doing up there? It's full of money After finding that the carpet bag containing the stolen bank money had disappeared from the cave where Frisco Farnham had hidden it the two crooks returned to town They went to the gold nugget cafe and sat there for most of the afternoon Wrangling uselessly about what should be done to recover the banished loot Leaving the money in that cave well, what else should I have done with it? I couldn't leave it sitting around the hotel day after day Oh, no, the help might have gotten nosy and found out what was in the bag when they came around to make up The room you used your head you could have found a really safe place to hide the bag quit your griping What we've got to do now is find out what happened to it as the two men lapsed into gloomy silence They saw an elderly sourdough get up from a nearby table walk over to the bar to pay his bill How much do you for that cup coffee Sam to be a channel? Recognition smaller stuff got 20 dollar bill. You must be doing all right for yourself I thought they're claiming yours at Peter's up. Well, that's right. It has but I've been making some money lately by trapping trapping Here's your change. Hey Reckon I better be getting back to those two young ins mine So long a live what do you want what that old coupe spoke about trapping gave me an idea. Yeah, I Hope it's better than your idea of hiding the money in the cave pipe down and listen What sort of a person would be most apt to go poking into that cave? How should I know it wouldn't be an ordinary traveler because it's too far off the main trail What I'm getting at is this It might have been a trapper who was trailing some kind of an animal Especially since we saw those poor tracks in there The critter holed up in the cave the trapper went in after him and found the bag by accident Maybe so, but how does that help us? Well, you remember before we turned off the trail to go to the cave There was a little old general store. What about it? If we went back there I'll bet the storekeeper could tell us who does any trapping out in that neck of the woods doesn't sound too hopeful But maybe it's worth a try so since we got nothing to lose. All right. Let's go Meanwhile after making the rounds of the banks and several business houses Sergeant Preston stopped in at the office of the Yukon Express company the clerk at the counter greeted him Hello, Bob this an official call. Yes, it is you're trying to trace some money stolen from the Bank of Nome Over in Alaska, huh? I suppose you want us to watch out for the serial numbers. That's right The money is all in brand new American $20 bills $20 bills Hey, wait a minute. I took in some brand new 20s just about an hour ago. Oh have the Mandy. Oh sure right here in the cash drawer Yes, they check this is part of the stolen money I'll be hanged. Do you know the person who turned these in? Oh sure. It was old Hannibal Jenkins Hannibal Jenkins That's right. He came in bought a hundred dollar money order to send to his daughter down in Vancouver I don't suppose he told you where he got these bills a matter of fact I asked him sergeant. He said he just got paid offers them fursy trap. You know if he's still in town He may be mentioned He was going to stop off at the gold nugget cafe for a cup of coffee. Thanks, Bob. Come along King Arriving at the gold nugget cafe the sergeant looked around the room But couldn't see Hannibal among the customers. He went up to the bartender. Well, howdy, sir What can I do for you Hannibal Jenkins been in here Hannibal sure he was in here a while back? I spoke to myself how long ago. Oh, I don't know half hour Three-quarters an hour ago. Maybe you say where he was going when he left there. Yeah I said he was heading back home to his two youngings. Thanks, I'm Nothing wrong. I hope I hope not come on King After leaving the cafe the two crooks had headed northward out of town When they arrived at Joe Parker's general store, they saw Hannibal Jenkins just leaving with an arm load of supplies As Hannibal loaded the supplies on his sled Emmett Lear nudged his companion Same old gent we saw back at the cafe. Yeah. Yes. Oh, I see Come on. Let's go inside and check with the storekeeper What can I do for you? I wonder if you can give me and my partner here a little information Yeah, sure. We'll have a can what is you want? No? Well, is there much trapping done around this neck of the woods trapping? No, not a great deal too close to town. I reckon some of the Indians bring in a few skins now and then an old Hannibal Jen Hannibal Yeah, some name man. He's the fellow just left here a minute ago. You probably saw him outside Yeah, we did well He started running a trap line a couple of months ago, and he's the only regular trapper around here That's right. I don't reckon he catches much although. He says he caught some good pelts and maybe it's true He must be getting money from somewhere. What do you mean? He was in here just about a week ago Flashing some brand new $20 bills. What's that? Where does this guy live? He's got a cabin on Jabez Creek The little creek runs through the woods about half mile from here Say, how can I go? Thanks for the information, mister. We'll find them. All right. Come on Again sure sure Hey, did you hear what the storekeeper said about those brand new $20 bills? Yeah, Jenkins is a guy We're looking for all right We could have figured that out back at the cafe if we'd used our heads now, so that was a brand new 20 He paid his bill with don't you remember? I thought you're right. Come on. He hasn't gone very far down the trail We ought to be able to catch up with him. Let's go Marsh Barnum and Lear lashed their teams forward at top speed and it wasn't long before they overtook Hannibal Frisco shouted at the old sourdough. Hey you mister, wait a minute What do you want with me mister? We Want to know where you got hold of all those brand new $20 bills you've been spending lately To me let the bill is yeah You know what he's talking about all right now come on speak up Only money I've had lately is what I've been paid for the firms that I've trapped don't give us that If you know what's good for you talk and talk fast So you're gonna be stubborn a don't make a mover out plug here You'll find out quick enough search him layer and see if he's packing a gun, right? Yeah He's clean all right, mr. Hannibal Jenkins get back to that sled of yours and start mushing We'll tell you where to go and don't try any funny stuff or you'll get a bullet in the back Do you figure on doing with him Frisco? We'll take him with that cave and work him over till he spills a truth All right, let's go When sergeant Preston left the gold-nucket cafe he returned to headquarters and reported what he had learned to Inspector Conrad Then he hitched up his team and drove out to Hannibal Jenkins Hello, thank you Hello, Holly your grandfather here. Oh, I know grandpa went to town this afternoon. Yes. I know but hasn't he come back yet? No, and I can't imagine what's keeping him. He's never stayed away this late before Why is anything wrong? No, I'm sure he's all right. He's probably been delayed for some reason I think he was intending to bring home some supplies. So maybe stopped off at Joe Parker's general store. That's right. I'd forgotten Sometimes he and mr. Parker get to talking and they forget all about the time. I know what you mean Won't you sit down and wait? He'll probably be home. So don't you want Holly? I'll drop over to the general store myself and see if he's there. Goodbye. Goodbye a Short time later sergeant Preston arrived at the general store Hello Joe you've seen Hannibal Jenkins this afternoon Hannibal Jenkins for sure He stopped in a while back on his way home from town. You'd probably find him at his cabin. No, I just came from there He's not home yet. That's funny Should have been home long ago Unless he went off somewhere with them two fellas what two fellas two gents that came into the store right after he left They wanted to know who did any crapping in these parts when I told them about Hannibal They went rushing after him wouldn't be surprised with what they caught up with him on the trail The idea of what their business was they searched me. I couldn't figure it out Thing that seemed to set him off was when I told him about Hamilton Hannibal flashing some new $20 bills around here last week Soon as they heard that they seemed to get all head up and excited Well, they look like but one was a big husky fella with a black mustache and Tell them was where What you might call sort of hatchet face partner called him Lear something like that. Thanks Joe you've helped a lot say them two fellas wouldn't be crooks would they they certainly would I wanted for robbing the Bank of Nome. Come on King Meanwhile the two crooks had taken their prisoner to the cave where Frisco Farnham had hidden the stolen bank money Hannibal sat huddled on the floor of the cave with his hands tied behind him His face was bruised and battered and his forehead was beaded with perspiration as he faced his two menacing captors Well, are you gonna tell us what you did with that money? Or would you like us to work you over a little more? I'll tell you what I did really just don't hit me anymore and speak up I've got it stowed away in an old abandoned cash shot in the woods. Where is this cash? It's located between here in my cabin But a half mile from here. I can all right get up on your feet. We'll go there right now and find out if you're lying After leaving the store a sergeant Preston returned to Hannibal's cabin No, I didn't Golly, you don't suppose anything's happened to him. Do you I hope not but well Perhaps I'd better tell you the truth, honey I'm afraid your grandfather may be in trouble Do you have something he's worn recently a shirt or sweater? But what are you going to do I found out to grandfather start to Joe Parker store The piece of his clothing as a scent guide King may be able to pick up his trail near the store Maybe we ought to kill the sergeant what we found this afternoon. That's just what I was thinking. What do you mean? Well, grandpa's been acting awful mysterious lately and just before he went to Dawson today He went out somewhere out in the woods. So after he left we followed his It was a short time later that the two crooks and their prisoner arrived at the cash in the woods Hannibal's wrists were still tied but Emmet Lear stood guard over him to make sure he didn't get away While Frisco Farnham investigated the cash. It's here. All right. I thought he's telling the truth too bad You didn't talk sooner Jenkins. You might have saved yourself that beating up you got Well, how about it Frisco the money still inside the bag I reckon so it feels heavy enough wait. I open it up see Sure Chuck full of bills just feast your eyes good enough What do we do with this jen? Afraid we'll have to get rid of get rid of me sure You don't think we'd be dumb enough to let you go spilling the beans about us. Do you as the old saying goes Dead men tell no tale, but you you can't kill me. I've got two young ones to look at Gonna kill him. Let's go ahead and get it over with. Yeah, this is a nice lonesome spot I'll put a bullet through right now. Hey, wait a minute. What's the matter? I heard some kind of a noise. I'll relax. I tell you I heard a noise I As the sergeant fired Hannibal and butted Lear with his head and both men toppled off bow Thinking fast the crook pulled Hannibal in front of me there, but before he could fire at Preston King closed into the star When I'm stand where you were picked our guns over this way Hannibal All right King that's enough boy on your feet Lear and get over there next to your partner Beat safe do something about my arm. I think it's broken. I'll attend to it in a few minutes You're both under arrest in the name of the crown All right Frank Holly. It's safe now Reckon I am thanks to sergeant Preston King How did you folks get here? To show him the cash, but King warned us something was going on Oh golly, we were so scared to tell the truth. So was I But it's all over now. Thank heavens. Hey Frankie. How about getting these ropes off my wrist? A short time later after Emmet Lear had been handcuffed and Frisco's arm had been bandaged Hannibal told his story I found the bag in a cave a couple of weeks ago, so I did Seems as how this fellow Frisco had hidden it there for some reason or another and I Knew it must be stolen money on a kind of the bank wrappers, but Well, but you didn't turn it into the police No, I didn't I'm not trying to make excuses for myself, but Well, I needed money awful bad to buy supplies and pay us his hospital bills So I figured I'd borrow some of this here money and pay it back later on when I got back in my feet In the meantime, I was keeping the bag here in the cash and see I I suppose you'll have to arrest me to know Hannibal I think you've learned your lesson and judging from those bruises on your face. You've already paid for your mistake Besides your grandchildren need you here to look after them That sure is nice of you. I'll pay back every set of the money I took pay it back to Frank and Holly What do you mean? The Bank of Nome offered a $10,000 reward for the recovery of the stolen money and Since Frank and Holly supplied the information that led me here. They're entitled to that reward The money you took will be deducted from the reward so you'll have to settle with Frank and Holly as far as King and I are concerned This case is closed In our next adventure Two tough-looking men sit talking in the cafe at Selkirk in low voices that fella Jim like he'll be an easy mark for our scheme Then he's broken asking everybody for a job. Yeah, notice. He has a good dog team. We could use for a getaway Yeah, we'll frame it so they'll think he pulled a robbery when they find them tied and gagged where we hide him We'll be far away from here Come on. Let's go find like you know If the two crooks follow through with their plan It may be that the mouties will be misled into trying to find Jim Lackey for the crime the crooks commit If Sergeant Preston and King try to trail the crooks and approve Jim's innocence They may face death when they reach the thieves hideout be sure to hear this exciting adventure next Saturday These radio dramas a feature of the challenge of the Yukon Incorporated are created by George W. Trendall Produced by Trendall Campbell enterprises Directed by Fred flower day and edited by Fran striker the part of Sergeant Preston is played by Paul Sutton They are brought to you every Saturday and Sunday This is Jay 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 Beatty defies the beast of the jungle and Victor Borgha Entertains with five minutes of musical laughs 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 in tales of Western daring Listen to mutuals hour for fun with Mark trail Clyde Beatty Victor Borgha straight arrow sky King and Bobby Benson Over most of these stations every weekday afternoon. This is the mutual broadcasting system