 Now, as gunshots echo across the windswept snow-covered reaches of the Wild Northwest, Quakerpuff wheat and Quakerpuff rice, the breakfast cereal shot from guns, present the challenge of the Yukon. It's Yukon King, swiftness and strongest lead dog of the Northwest, blazing the trail for Sergeant Preston of the Northwest modern police in his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers. Un-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 Quakerpuff wheat and Quakerpuff rice bringing you the adventures of Sergeant Preston and his Wonder Dog Yukon King as they meet the challenge of the Yukon. That's the way Quakerpuff wheat or Quakerpuff rice disappears at breakfast time. These ready-to-serve cereals hit the spot from first to last delicious spoonful. Yes, wheat or rice shot from guns is exploded up to eight times normal size to make it crisp and tender. Tomorrow morning, fill a bowl with Quakerpuff wheat or Quakerpuff rice. Top with fruit, like say sliced bananas, add milk or cream and sugar. Talk about swell tasting. Say, just you watch it disappear, but fast. When Rex Dryden entered the office of the Dryden Mining Company with Jake and Ben John Dryden was slumped over his desk, a bullet through his back. Rex walked to his brother's side, pulled him upright in the chair by the shoulder of his coat and listened to his heart. After a moment, he allowed the body to drop back to the desk. Are you dead? Yes. You had drilled him clean, boss. It would have been hard to miss. Nobody could have heard the shot in this storm. Nevertheless, it must make it look like a robbering. Get all the gold in the safe, Ben. Okay, can we just leave him here? Of course, let someone else find him. Boss, just heard something in the next room. So did I. It sounded like a window hurry. Hey, it's a man. He's trying to get out. Well, stop him. All right, Joe, I got you covered. Come back here. Don't shoot. Come on. I'm coming. I'm coming. I never saw him before, boss. He don't work anywhere around here. No, no, no. Hello, Judd. Let me go. You're not going to do that, are you? Please let me go. I may, Judd. What are you talking about? I always like to have an ace in the hole. What do you must have seen? Judd, you shot my brother. No, no. You know that isn't true. I was standing over there by the stove and afterwards I saw your face at the window. I saw your gun. I'll take care of these. Easy, Ben. There's no need to get worried. I've known Judd for a long time and he doesn't have the nerve of a coyote. Do you, Judd? I don't want any trouble. Just let me go. Search him, Jake. Go on searching. Okay. There's no gun. I didn't think there would be. Here's a bag of gold dust. Give it to me. Sure. This is our door. Dried in mind in company, stamp owner. John gave me that. And three of us, Judd, we're ready to swear that we found this dust on you. Perhaps the truth. We're also ready to swear that we found this gun on you. No. With one shot fired. You can't do a thing like that, Rex. Not to me. I was the one who gave you and John your start, remember that? I won't say anything. I swear. Just let me go. You won't say anything, Judd. Or you'll hang from murder. No, no, no. Here. Take the gold. What? Take it. And this gun, too. Yeah. I didn't have a gun. I'm giving you a chance to clear out. You are? Tonight. Right away. I'll keep your mouth shut and nothing will happen to you. Rex, Rex, I won't say anything. I swear. Are you sure you were right to let him go, boss? You won't talk. In case anything happens, he's our ace in the hole. We could frame him easy. I don't see why he didn't go through with it. I'll tell you. It's safer all around for the verdict to be murder by a person or persons unknown. And that was how the murder of John Dryden appeared in the records of the Northwest Mounted Police over three months later. One of the few unsolved crimes in the territory. Sergeant Preston hadn't worked on the case. But one night, while returning from a northern patrol, he made his camp on the banks of the frozen Klondike near the mouth of Dryden Creek. Travel had been slow. A Chinook had been blowing for several days, and the ice on the Klondike was soft. There were even patches of open water, and the overcast sky gave more promise of rain than snow. The sergeant was just preparing to climb into his sleeping bag when he heard a team approaching from the direction of Dryden Creek. Yes, King. Someone traveling pretty late and fast, too. It's dangerous in this light, but the ice the way it is. The sled flashed by the sergeant's camp a dark blue. The sergeant shouted a warning. Hold up! You're going to run into trouble! But the sled continued on its way, and a few minutes later an ominous cracking sounds through the stillness of the night. Lever's gone through! Come on, boy! As the sergeant ran, he could see what had happened. The stretch of ice weakened by the thaw had been strong enough to hold up the dog team, but the heavy sled had broken through. And now the driver was struggling to keep float in the icy water. We're coming! When the sergeant reached him, he was clinging to the unbroken ice, unable to lift himself out of the water. Sergeant, lay down on the edge. Here. Take my hand. I'll try. I've got you. Go on, King. Grab hold of his parka. The driver, a young man, hardly more than a boy, was pulled to safety, and a few minutes later he had taken off his wet clothes, and with blankets wrapped around him was huddled close to the sergeant's campfire. Have some hot tea, drink it. Thanks. I just noticed a uniform under your parka. You belong to the force. Yes, Sergeant Preston. I'm Bill Dryden. Oh, is your father owned the Dryden mining company? No. My mother and my uncle. My father was murdered three months ago. Murdered? What? You mean to say the police don't even know about it? Well, I'm sure they do, Bill. I don't, because I spent the last three months above the Arctic Circle. Oh, I'm sorry. They haven't caught the man who killed your father? No. I was down in the States when it happened. Go into school. I've only been back a couple of weeks. Everybody seems to have forgotten about it. Nobody's doing anything. That doesn't sound like the Northwest Muddin'. I'm not exactly blaming the force. I realize they didn't have any clues to work on. But I'm not forgetting. And I think I found something now. I was on my way to Dawson tonight. You found something? It changes all my ideas. I thought my uncle had killed dad. Your uncle killed his own brother? There were reasons why he might have. The people on the bench claims have to buy water from us. Uncle Rex wants to charge him so much he'll be forced to sell out. Dad wouldn't have stood for that. But my uncle finds it very easy to influence my mother. A difference of opinion about business methods is hardly a motive for murder. It wouldn't be for most people. I know I shouldn't be talking about Rex this way. It's just a personal resentment between us. And I shouldn't be talking about that either. I was wrong. You said you'd found something? Yeah. A letter. Were you handing the money out? Surely. Yeah. This is supposed to be waterproof. I hope it is. Oh, yeah. Read this, Sergeant. From Judd Evans. Do you know Evans? No. Do you? He's an old prospect who had met him in Dawson. Dad had agreed to lend him money. And he wrote that he'd be at the creek on November 10th. That's about all. What makes a letter so important? He needed money. He'd be sure to come. One would think so. Sergeant, it was on the evening of November 10th that dad was killed. I see. And the safe in the office was opened. Did anyone see Judd Evans around the company buildings? No. But that's easily explained. There was a terrific storm that night. He came. He found dad in the office alone. Dad opened the safe to give him some money. Judd shot him and took all there was. Doesn't it make sense? The letter should be investigated, anyway. Will you do it? Of course. I'll have to be assigned to the case, Bill. Don't worry. Judd will be found. Thanks, Sergeant. Well, the time being, Bill, keep quiet and wait. You'll be hearing from me soon. Bill started for home as soon as his clothes were dry. But it was nearly two o'clock before he reached the cabin where he lived with his mother. There was a lamp burning in the living room. When he opened the front door, it was his uncle who greeted him. Well, where are you back? I left the note for mother. Bill, you've come back. That's right. Then you didn't start up the doors and after all. I started out all right. What ever put such a crazy notion into your head? I had some business to attend to. But I found someone else to take care of it for me. What sort of business? You owe your mother a complete explanation. I'm sorry. I can't say anything more. Please, Bill, what's wrong with you? Tell me. You'll find out soon enough. And so will Uncle Rex. Why are you so antagonistic to me, my boy? Maybe it's because you've accepted Dad's murder squeeze a leaf. It's almost as if you were glad it happened. Bill, that's an awful thing to say. Oh, he doesn't mean it now. I do mean it. And it may interest you to know that I think we're going to find the murderer before long. I think I found the motive already. Good night. The way he talks, Rex, it sounded as if he suspected you. Yes, it did. He's home anyway. Nothing more to worry about. I'll see you in the morning now. Good night, Rick. Rex returned to his own cabin a few hundred yards upstream. And there he found Jake and Van waiting for him. Is there anything wrong, boss? Not sure. There may be. What? A kid and nephew of mine. He's out to make trouble. What kind of trouble? Says he's found the motive for John's murder. Yeah? Not robbery? He's been told it was robbery. It seems to be something new he's got a hold of. Any idea what it is? No. Don't you ask him? Why don't you talk about it? Maybe I got an idea. What? Well, I was up at Gold Flats the day before yesterday, and he was in the general store talking to that archer girl. I heard some of what he was saying. Well? He said that his father would never let you raise the water rates. He said you must be glad that John's dead. He said practically the same thing tonight. And he's right. That makes him dangerous. Yes, I am glad that John's out of the way. I'll be glad when his son is too. We'll continue our story in just a moment. Boy, oh boy, here it is Valentine's Day. Gee, aren't Valentine's a wonderful idea. Hmm, wonder who's at the door. Why, it's our old friend, the postman. Hey, am I glad to see you. Howdy, young fella. Boy, I bet you've been busy today delivering Valentine's. Sure have. Got any for me? Yep. Here's a pretty special one. Oh, gee, it's real pretty. And it says, to my Valentine. That's to you, bub, from my wife. And it says here, thanks for tipping us off to those wonderful breakfasts of Quakerpuff wheat and Quakerpuff rice. My husband has been a different man ever since. That's me. You? Yep. Seems like I never used to care much for breakfast. Oh? Son, you should see me now. You mean you eat a big bowl full of Quakerpuff wheat or Quakerpuff rice every morning? Do I? Why, I pour on the old milk or cream, add some fruit. You know what? What? I am the dog-gondest happiest man on earth, that's what. Well, I can understand that. What's more, a postman like me works pretty hard. On the go all day, you need to eat a good breakfast. Everyone does. And Quakerpuff wheat and Quakerpuff rice furnish added food values of restored natural-grade amounts of vitamin B1, niacin, and iron. Say, here's another tip. What's that? Son, Variety is the spice of life. That's right. So I eat Quakerpuff wheat one day, Quakerpuff rice the next. That's a swell idea. And say, fellas and girls, why don't you do the very same thing? Buy both delicious kinds. Quakerpuff wheat and Quakerpuff rice. Those swell-tasting, ready-to-serve cereals are shot from guns. Make them crisp and tender. Yes, these king-size premium grains are exploded up to eight times normal size to make them bigger and better-tasting. Ask mom right now to order big red and blue packages of delicious Quakerpuff wheat and Quakerpuff rice shot from guns. Now to continue our story. As soon as Sergeant Preston reached Dawson, he reported to headquarters and received permission to work on the Dryden case. That same day, he learned that Jud Evans was living in Shattie Town across the Klondike River from Dawson. He and King crossed the bridge that connected the two towns, and after several inquiries, located Jud Shack. The Sergeant knocked on the door. Jud opened it. When he saw the Sergeant, the color drained from his face and the light of fear is shown in his eyes. Yes. Remember me, Jud? I'm Sergeant Preston. Well, I remember you. I commend. I guess so. One king. It's just the bench to sit down. Suppose you'll take it, Jud? Oh, no, no, no. Please. What do you want here? Did you know John Dryden? Well, vaguely. Didn't you write this letter? I guess so. Let me read a few lines. It's a wonderful thing, John, to find that some people know what gratitude is. But from the time you were a kid, I knew you had the right stuff in you. Do you still save vaguely? It was a long time ago in Nevada when John was first starting out in his own. Jud, you went up to Dryden Creek the 10th of last November, didn't you? No, no, no. I didn't. Tell the truth. I didn't see John. I didn't see anybody. You went up to that creek. What time did you get there? It was after dark. I was a blizzard that night. You're trying to make me believe you reached there and turned right around and came back. Practically. John Dryden gave you the money he promised in this letter. No. I don't believe you killed him, Jud. But you're trying to trick me. You're trying to make me talk and I won't. I don't know anything about it. He was your friend, Jud, about the only friend you had in the world. Don't you want the man who murdered him to be punished? Don't you care about that? You're young. You have the law on your side. You don't know what it is to be afraid. I'm old. I've had enough trouble in my time and I don't want any more. You haven't done anything wrong. The law is on your side, too. Oh, yes, sure. But when the others start talking, you'll believe him and you'll hang me. What others? Everybody in the whole world. Jud, I'm going to take you back to Dryden Creek with me. No, you can't. I can. I'm going to take you back to the place where you were on the night of November 10th. No, no, no. To John Dryden's office. No, no, no. Get into your car. We're leaving right away. It was nearly 10 o'clock when the first of the mining company's buildings were reached. The sergeant inquired the way to the cabin where Bill and his mother lived. A few minutes later, he called out to the team to stop in front of it. Oh, team! Oh, you're asking me. I thought you were taking me to the office. I am, Jud. It'll be locked this time of night. We'll need someone to let us in. I want to see you now, little boy. Oh, why not? What good will it do? I'm not sure. But perhaps the sight of John's widow and his son will change your mind about a lot of things. You're coming in with me. I don't know anything. Come on. Sergeant Preston, Northwest Mother Police. Oh, won't you come in? And Jud, Jud Evans, after all these years. Hello, now. What brings you to Dryden Creek? You'll have to ask the sergeant about that. I have some sad news, Jud. Three months ago, John was... Jud knows about that, Mrs. Dryden. That's why we're here. Is your son around? No, he hasn't. Where can I find him? We'd like to get him to the office. He might have Bill with us. Sergeant, he made me promise not to say anything, but you're different. If you're investigating John's death, you have a right to know. Bill's gone up to Windy Ridge. What does that have to do with your husband's death? Wait a minute. I have the note right here. An Indian brought it shortly after dark tonight. Thank you. If you want to find out who killed your father, meet me near the cave on Windy Ridge at midnight. Do you know where that is? Yes, a dangerous trail. There's no signature. Any idea who wrote this? No, none at all, Sergeant. He'll try to find out from the Indian, but all he could say was that some man in gold flats had paid him to deliver the note. A man with a black beard. That doesn't help much. No, it doesn't. I didn't like the sound of Windy Ridge at midnight, and I didn't want Bill to go, but I couldn't stop him. You should have. I couldn't. Why, Judd? Why shouldn't Bill have gone to Windy Ridge tonight? Sergeant, I've been a coward, I admit it. I've only been thinking of my own skin, and I convinced myself that was the right thing to do. There was no way to help, John. But now they want the boy. If you don't stop them, Sergeant, they'll kill him, too. Who, Judd? Rex. No, Rex and the others. I saw Rex shoot. It wasn't enough for him. Now it's Bill. I'm sure he'll never come back. Judd, stay here with the lady. You're going up there. Yes, King and I. The trail's too steep and narrow for a team. But they might be waiting for him anywhere along it. I think they'll be waiting for him at the top. They are. We have a chance of getting there in time. Come on, Cave. The cave was just below the summit of the ridge. As Bill dried and approached it, he could see a faint light glimmering in its shadowy depths. Almost there. No telling what to expect. How about someone's waiting? It's a campfire in the cave. Hello? Hello there. Come on in. I know that voice. You're right on time. Ben. What's the idea? You got the note, didn't you? What's the idea making me come way up here? I've seen you twice this afternoon. Well, I figured nobody would disturb us here. Have you got something to tell me or not? Well, what's so funny? You are. Do you mean this was nothing but a practical joke? It's practical, but it's no joke. Well, he hasn't got a gun. Keep him covered anyway, Jake. What's that? Don't turn around. Get your hands up in the air. Better do what he says, Bill. Up with him. What do you two want? Why, nothing. We're going to tell you who killed your dad. You've been wanting to find out. Haven't you? You did it. Rex hired you to do it. Wrong. He did. I'm getting out of here. Oh, no, you're not. Let go of me. Out of chance. Don't shoot, Jake. I got him. Oh, it'd be a lot easier to handle with a bullet in him. That wouldn't look so good when he's found down at the bottom of the cliff. Oh. That's no sense in waiting. Put up your gun. Give me a hand. We'll toss him over right now. No, you don't. After him. After breaking free of Ben's hole, Bill knocked Jake aside. He started running down the trail. The two men were after him at once. 50 yards from the cave, the trail dropped abruptly. The footing was icy. Bill slipped and went down. Jake and Ben reached it before he could get up and together, in spite of his struggles, they started dragging him toward the edge of the trail and the terrible drop that yawned beyond it. That moment, a volley of shots rang out. Somebody's coming. Push him over. Captain Cover, that almost hit me. Go home. The last desperate effort, Ben pushed the body over the edge of the trail. But Bill managed to grab hold of a rock and hang on. His feet dangling over a thousand feet of empty space. Ben and Jake took shelter close to the cliff wall and returned the fire from down the trail. It was the sergeant who was firing at them. They kept on climbing, from one point of cover to another, shooting whenever Jake or Ben showed themselves. And at last, one of his shots hit Jake. Hold on, your guns. You're under arrest in the name of the Queen. But Ben continued to return the sergeant's fire and Bill cried out, Quick King, get up there, pull him back. The great dog leaped forward at his master's command and ran toward Bill. Once Ben tried to take a shot at him, but a bullet from the sergeant's gun drove him back to cover. King grabbed the shoulder of Bill's pocket and his teeth and started pulling. Slippery trail was against him. It was hard to dig his feet into the ground. For a second it seemed that if he kept his hold, Bill would pull him over the precipice. Then the dog managed to brace himself and he redoubled his efforts. An inch, two inches. Bill grasped for a new hold on the rock and made it. King kept on pulling, and with his help, Bill was able to pull himself back to the ledge. He lay on the ground, panting. Just then, Ben showed himself once too often and the sergeant caught him in the right arm. His shot with his gun went out of his hand and skidded along the trail. The sergeant closed in. Had enough? Yes. Don't shoot. How about your partner? He's been hit too. You all right, sir? Yeah. I'm fine. But they were going to throw me over the cliff. You hadn't come when you did. Kinghand, give me a hand. Good work, boy. And sergeant, it wasn't Judd who killed my father. It was my uncle. I know. I expected to find him up here. Come on, give me a hand with these two. Your uncle must be arrested as soon as possible. There's no telling what he may try next. Judd and Nel Dryton were waiting for the sergeant's return. It was long after that. At last, you stay here by the stove, Judd. I'll go. Rex. What's the matter? Why, nothing. I've been expecting Bill. So he's staying out late again. He won't be long now. You can't tell about that. I'd better come in and wait with you. As Rex stepped into the living room, he saw Judd for the first time. Well, what are you doing here? I'll tell you, Rex. How do you know Judd? What are you doing here? I'll tell you, Rex. I met a man and he made me ashamed of being a coward. So you came back here? It wasn't my idea. I didn't want to. But I'm glad now that I did. What has he told you now? The truth, Rex. You did it. You killed John. You believe his story? Of course I believe it. I can see it in your face. What else can you see there? Cruelty, cunning, greed. You should be able to read something more. I'm not afraid of you. Neither am I. You should be. You both talk too much. I'm going to have to get rid of you the same way I got rid of John. The same way I got rid of Bill tonight. Don't be too sure of that. Oh, but in your cases, there'll be a difference. You'll simply disappear. I'll get into your park. I won't move from this house. If you're going to kill us, it'll have to be here, Rex. There'll be evidence of murder no matter how you try to clean it up. It won't be long before Sergeant Preston gets back. What's that? It won't be long before Sergeant Preston gets back and he knows everything. In that case, I'll make it fast. Put down that gun and keep it. The door burst open and Rex raised his gun. Gene leaked it. Rex knocked him to the floor. Rex fired, but the shot went wild. The second later, the sergeant had twisted the gun from the hand, snapping a pair of handcuffs around his wrist. You're under arrest for the murder of your brother, John Brighton. Get up. It's all right now, Mom. It's all over. Yes, I know that and I'm happy. It's just the relief to see you again. Oh, Bill. What happened up on the ridge? Jake and Ben were waiting for me. Sergeant and King saved my life. Oh, thank Heaven. And ours, too. You're not still afraid to testify against this man, are you, then? I'll never be afraid again after tonight. Then we'll take all three of them to Dawson tomorrow morning. They'll stand trial for murder and pay the penalty for what they've done. Yes, King, with these criminals on their way to jail, the case is closed. In just a moment, Sergeant Preston will give you a preview of Wednesday's adventure. Quaker Puff Wheat and Quaker Puff Rice are never sold in bags or bulk. To get the famous ready-to-serve breakfast cereals, the original crisp, fresh, wienerized shot from guns always by the big red and blue Quaker packages. The packages with the smiling Quaker man on the front. That's your family's guarantee that you're getting the one and only Quaker Puff Wheat and Quaker Puff Rice. Now listen carefully. You'll hear it. You'll hear it right on this program. Fellows and girls, you're in for the surprise offer of a lifetime. You'll hear it on this program real soon. Don't miss out. You listeners are going to get in on something big, and it's coming any day now. So be on hand. Be listening. These radio dramas, a feature of the challenge of the Yukon Incorporated, are created produced by George W. Trendo, directed by Fred Flower Day and supervised by Charles D. Livingston. The part of Sergeant Preston is played by Paul Sutton. They are brought to you on Wednesday and Friday at the same time by Quaker Puff Wheat and Quaker Puff Rice, the breakfast cereal shot from guns. Listen Wednesday, when Sergeant Preston and Yukon King meet the challenge of the Yukon in the case of Double Cross Creek. We were driving through a blizzard when we saw the light shining from the old deserted dance hall. When King and I decided to investigate, we thought we'd find a traveler who was camping there for the night. Instead, we found mystery, mystery and the threat of sudden death. Be sure to hear this exciting adventure Wednesday. For a delicious hot breakfast, eat Quaker Oats. The giant of the cereals is Quaker Oats. Yes, the giant of the cereals is Quaker Oats. Delicious, nutritious, makes you feel ambitious. The giant of the cereals is Quaker Oats. Say, boys and girls, do you want to be a star someday in sports and activities? Then start on Good Quaker Oats breakfast tomorrow because nourishing oatmeal gives you more growth and endurance than any other whole grain cereal. Still less than one penny is serving. Quaker and Mother's Oats are the same. This is Jay Michael wishing you goodbye, good luck and good health from Quaker Puff Wheat and Quaker Puff Rice. So long. This is ABC, the American Broadcasting Company.