 The challenge of the Yukon! And king! And humanity! The Wonder Dog King, swiftest and 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 new northwest country where the greed for wealth and power led to frequent violence and bloodshed. But in spite of the odds against them, Sergeant Preston and his Wonder Dog King met that challenge and justice ruled triumphant. In Bakersville, a small settlement crowded with miners and trappers, the lucky and the unlucky men gathered in a group at the side of the main street. Sure, just look at the paper here. Look at it. Says here it's the greatest show ever to come to the North Country. I can't believe it. Seans believe in. You'll have a chance to see it. Next week it's coming. Flora Belle the Dancing Bear. A bear? It's a bear. It says here that's what it does. Art McCaffrey, the bear's owner, plays a hand organ. This reporter actually saw the bear dance. McCaffrey's touring the Yukon with this unusual bear. In Fort Dunning, a week later, two clerks stood behind the wire windows of the town's bank. You almost finished with those entries, Walt? Almost. Well, I'm through. I've got a lot of work to do. Well, if you're going to be here anyway, then maybe you wouldn't mind if I go over and see that dancing bear everybody's been talking about. Oh, I don't mind. Go ahead. I'd kind of like to see it myself, but then somebody's got to stay. Yeah, that's right. Well, maybe you can see it some other time. I'm going to put my mac and on and hurry over there. I don't want to miss any of the show. This is mighty nice of you, Walt. I appreciate it. Oh, forget it. I'll be back soon. The show's over. I'll be back soon. I'll be back soon. I'll be back soon. Oh, forget it. I'll be back soon. The show's over. So long. Oh, see it some other time. You know, as well as I do, they're just doing one show. Oh, well. Let's see now. Where was I? I thought everybody in town would be overseeing that show, but it looks like I guessed wrong. What can I do for you gentlemen? Yes, right, bud. Everybody in town is overseeing the show. Everybody except us. So it seems. You're strangers here, aren't you? You want to open the account? Come on, Harry. Quit wasting time with the Yoko. All we want is to open that safe, mister. And you're going to do it for us. Gun. That's right. I get over there and start turning the combination. But look here. I ain't loaded with cotton, bud. So move before I lose my patience. But you can't do this. It's against the law. We're doing this. So shut up and stop arguing. They go as cash in that drawer, Moss. Yeah, yeah, sure. You gotta keep our friend here covered just to make sure you don't change his mind. You'll never get away with this. We have a law and order court in this commission. We'll worry about a law and order commission. You got the cash in the drawer cleaned out, Moss? Yeah, everything's all right. Get the safe open. Very good. I'll speed you there. Unload the safe. We had any sense we'd have locked the place up. Close the door. Quick, girl. And hand me that money. You won't be out of town 20 minutes before somebody's on your trail. This ain't a bad haul, Harry. That's the last one. Take which came out to sled, Moss. I'll bring the rest in a minute. Right. That's what you came for. There's not a nugget left in the place. You've got to tie me up so I can't sound an alarm. No, I'm not going to tie you up. I got a better idea. You got... You wouldn't dare. No. You already committed a robbery. Dad, don't tell no tales or give descriptions either. Now, thanks for the help, pen pusher. Dad, we've got to pay you off and let... No. No, wait, I... An inspector maynard's office at the headquarters of a Northwest modern police, Sergeant Preston stood before his superior officer's death. These men have got to be stopped, Sergeant. The ports are pouring in from all over the territory. Systematic robbery. That's what it is. Robbery and murder too, hm? Yes. It seems that the criminals think it's best to cover their trail by leaving no witnesses. Bank clerks in two towns have been murdered. The other town, the bank, had been broken into at night. I'll start to work on it immediately, sir. Good. You probably don't know too much about it, Sergeant. Haven't just finished that case up in the hill country. But I'll turn these records over to you and... I don't know where you'll begin or how. So good luck. Thank you, sir. Sergeant Preston began his investigation of the robberies. He stopped first in Bakersville. Now, there was no one in the bank at the time of the robbery, except the clerk who was killed. That right? That's right, Sergeant. You see, we'd all gone down to see Flora Bell. That's Art McAfrey's dancing bear. The bank being at the other end of town. Wasn't anybody knew about it for a good hour after it was all over. And the point, Murson, where the Monty was still following the route of the robber murders. Well, Sergeant, we was all mighty curious to see this here. Flora Bell, we'd heard too much about. It seemed like everybody in town was gathered to see McAfrey's show. He held it at night. It was a week later. In Center City, King and Sergeant Preston made their way to the edge of the crowd that had gathered to welcome Art McAfrey and the dancing bear, Flora Bell. Now, there's a gentleman throwing nuggets at you, Flora Bell. Now to the man. Now to him. What's the matter with you, Clem? Throwing a few measly nuggets. Here, I got a whole poke of gold for you, Flora Bell. Hey, hey! That's all right, that's all right. Can't go hurt nobody. Folks have been handing Flora Bell pokes of dust for quite a while, old timer. When they do, she feels she ought to thank them properly by giving them an old-fashioned bear mug. I'm sure it did. Had me scared for a minute there. During this thing you ever saw. Imagine a bear that tame, Clem. After the crowd drifted away, the scarlet-coated molly stood talking to Art McAfrey while the great dog King stood beside his master clawing at the bear. And because of the robberies, you've followed me. Is that it, Sergeant? Yes. You see, in every town where you've appeared, the bank has been robbed. Oddly enough, at the time when you were staging a performance. Well, I can't do any more than give you my word that I have nothing to do with them. Sounds like a clever idea. Concentrate the attention of everyone in town. King, quiet, boy. King, I'm afraid he's a bit suspicious of your bear, McAfrey. Any he's ever met, then wild and consequently very dangerous. Oh, it's all right, fella. Now look here, the bear is tame. Give the sergeant your paw for a bell. That's it, my girl. Shake hands with him. King, King, King. You see? Now come here, boy. The bear's a friend, understand? He acts like you've convinced him, sergeant. But I don't think he can figure it out. Ah, he figures out a lot more than you'd suspect. He's battled grizzlies who were out to kill. And what he's liked in size, he made up for in cunning. He may be slightly puzzled at Flora Bell's duffel manner, but once it's proven to him, he'll accept it. As sergeant Preston talked with Arch McAfrey in the town's leading cafe, two men were standing together at the far end of the bar. So the mommy suspects something. He didn't, he wouldn't be here. But you're the one that he thinks McAfrey is, man. Yeah, maybe so. But if he does, he thinks that ordinary grinder might have somebody working with him. So far, I don't have any reason to think anything else. No, make another bet with you. When McAfrey stays in that show tomorrow, it's a sure thing Preston will be waiting at the bank. But we could fool him, Harry. How do you figure that? By pulling a job tonight. I never thought of that. Maybe a moon tonight, either. That's a cinch. We'll make a clean sweep and we ought to turn before that red coat. Well, before he even knows what happened. Now, what do you say? We'll do it. You're the more I think of it, the better I like. It was late that night, in a small, comfortable cabin, sergeant Preston stopped talking with Arch McAfrey. King, who had been quiet at his master's seat, rose rustlessly and began pacing the room. It's warm in here for him, sergeant. I've heard that the dogs up here prefer curling up in the snow than before a fireplace. Maybe. Here's something that we don't. What is it, fellow? We'll take a look outside. Anyone out there, sergeant? No. Everything seems to be all right. All right. Bring that land in here, will you? Sure, sergeant. What's wrong? I don't see it. What about? She's pulled up her stake. That or someone kidnapped her? They didn't have to bear. They'd have a hard time doing that. But she's a gold mine. You saw how those men too dust at her today. I spent two years training that bear, and I thought he was... Maybe she's a gold mine in more ways than one. If this is a trick, McAfrey... No, I tell you, it's on the level. I've got to find her. A great malamute crossed the center of the bear in the soft, dry snow. Without a moment's hesitation, began to follow it. It led from a patch of ground beside the cabin to the wide trail that was the main thoroughfare. King ran to the dark, moonless night penetrated at intervals by the light filling from windows. And as he ran, he was out of sight of the two men who tried to pursue him. Several hundred yards ahead of the malamute, the huge bear ambled inquisitively along at an unhurried gate. Snipping the air good-naturedly, Flora Bell lumbered on. The stake to which her chain was attached dragged in the snow behind her as she paused curiously at first one door and then the next. Yeah, I'll put them in the sled, Mark. Yeah. Flora Bell stopped in a track. It was a familiar occurrence and she went forward to receive the sack of gold. Yeah. In the darkness, the man carrying the heavy sack failed to see the bear until it was nearly upon him. Hey, hurry! Hurry up! Hurry up, bear! It's stoking me! I forgot when I could shoot a blade. Holy shit! As King approached the bear, he was constantly trying to thank the man who was the chief officer present for her master. The malamute saw the second man raise the revolver to fire. Instinctively, the dog... Hey, Mr. Harry! It's another one! It's another bear! Get away from me! Get away from me! Hey, it's a dog! It's a dog, Mark. I thought it was a bear. I ain't making any mistakes. The bear is standing right in front of me. Hey, there's something funny about this. Why, there's a fan in there now. Get a gun and shoot this devil. You'll tell me the reason. You want me to move? You know, as I stand still, the bear is so slow. I'll hurry up with that banner. King, King, oh boy. King, counter, all right. It's never mind reaching for that gun, you're covered. All right, call this dog off. Quiet, King. These men... These are the bank robbers. Do you know them? No. I've never seen either one of them in my life. Hey, look at you. Do you have a bear and a mutt guard to bank? You are sure a smart idea. What a job tonight. But I know we'd walk into a trap. Well, I'll be... Flora Bell sure had a lot of excitement tonight, but I heard a shot. If I thought either one of them would shoot, it was him that fired. But hadn't been for the mutt coming when he did, your bear wouldn't be good for nothing but a rug. We'd both be on our way out of here. Hey, this will make a good publicity story for the show. In time, the recital of Flora Bell's adventure was the statue of a tall story as it was told and retold by prospectors and trappers throughout the North Country. And as the dancing bear's fame spread, there was always someone present who remembered the Malamute who had saved her life, a great-hearted dog who was deaf to the praise of all men but one. Yes, King? Thanks to you, the case is closed. These copyrighted dramas are from the studios of WXY's The Detroit, and all characters, names, places and incidents used are fictitious. They are sent to you each week at the same time and reached you from our transcription studios.