Challenge Of The Yukon 44-05-11 (0328) Outlaw Dog

Summary

Harold's Old Time Radio: "Challenge Of The Yukon 44-05-11 (0328) Outlaw Dog" – Detailed Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Description: Relive the Golden Age of Radio with classic shows that captivated families before the advent of television. Experience timeless tales featuring iconic programs like "The Shadow," "Abbott & Costello," "Amos & Andy," "Dragnet," and many more.
• Episode: Challenge Of The Yukon 44-05-11 (0328) Outlaw Dog
• Release Date: February 21, 2025

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Setting and Context

"Challenge Of The Yukon" transports listeners to the rugged and unforgiving landscapes of the Yukon during the lawless days of the Northwest Mounted Police. The episode unfolds in Stove 5 City, a remote settlement where miners and prospectors flock in search of fortune. Amidst the biting cold and treacherous terrains, law and order are maintained by a dedicated few, primarily Sergeant Preston and his remarkable Eskimo lead dog, King.

Main Characters

• Sergeant Preston: A steadfast member of the Northwest Mounted Police, embodying integrity and resilience in maintaining law and order.
• King: Sergeant Preston's loyal and formidable Eskimo lead dog, renowned for his strength and speed.
• Tom McShane: A gambler and prospector, whose ventures lead him into conflict and loss.
• Studs Malone: A tall, lanky prospector with a penchant for gambling and a rivalry with Sergeant Preston.
• Marty: Studs Malone's intelligent and spirited dog, whose fate intertwines with the central conflict.
• Red: A member of the Law and Order Commission aiding Sergeant Preston.
• Jim: An associate involved in the pursuit of the outlaw dog.

Plot Summary

Encounter in Stove 5 City

The episode opens with Sergeant Preston and his dog King navigating the icy streets of Stove 5 City. As they stroll past the Tiltooth Saloon at [00:59], they encounter Studs Malone and his dog, Marty.

• Studs Malone introduces Marty as "the best in the Yukon" and engages in light-hearted banter with Sergeant Preston ([00:10]-[01:25]).

The High-Stakes Poker Game

Malone reveals his intention to join a poker game, boasting about his luck and confidence in winning. However, as the game progresses, Tom McShane (alias Studs Malone) experiences a dramatic shift in fortune.

• At [02:11], Marty prompts Tom to quit, but Tom persists, leading to significant losses.

Loss of Marty

After losing his claim and dog Marty to the poker game, Tom faces the emotional turmoil of losing his loyal companion ([03:24]-[05:21]). Despite Malone's temporary possession of Marty, the dog's unwavering loyalty to Tom becomes evident as Marty returns to his original master.

• Red reflects, "a man can switch his loyalties or forget, but a dog never does" ([04:42]-[04:49]).

Introduction of the Outlaw Dog

Time progresses, and Studs Malone becomes an outlaw dog handler with Marty performing menial tasks, albeit reluctantly ([06:34]-[06:58]). Marty's mistreatment under Malone highlights themes of loyalty and redemption.

The Pursuit

When reports surface of a dog stealing rations and causing chaos, Sergeant Preston leads a team, including Tom McShane, to track the notorious Outlaw Dog ([07:44]-[08:11]). King demonstrates his prowess, leading the team through challenging trails while noticing Tom McShane's suspicious activities ([08:33]-[08:47]).

Climactic Confrontation

The tension culminates near Blackstone Creek, where Studs Malone confronts Tom McShane with his dog Marty. A fierce altercation ensues, thrown into chaos by the treacherous rapids.

• As the struggle intensifies, Marty leaps into the icy waters to save Tom from the rapids ([10:14]-[10:24]).
• King, witnessing the peril, intervenes despite the danger, reflecting true bravery and loyalty.

Resolution and Redemption

With Marty's and King's heroic efforts, Tom McShane survives, and Studs Malone faces arrest ([12:40]-[13:15]). Sergeant Preston emphasizes the importance of redemption, acknowledging Martin's (Marty's) gallantry over Malone's malfeasance.

• Sergeant Preston poses a moral question, reinforcing the episode's central theme of redemption: "What would be your verdict toward a man who was basically good, fell into bad company and became an outlaw? And then what would you say if you saw that man make an attempt to save a life at the cost of his own?" ([12:42]-[13:09]).

Themes and Insights

• Loyalty and Friendship: The unwavering devotion between man and dog is poignantly depicted through Marty and King's actions.
• Redemption and Morality: The narrative explores the possibility of redemption, highlighting that even those who falter can perform acts of bravery and goodness.
• Law and Order vs. Greed: The struggle between maintaining law and succumbing to the lure of wealth underscores the moral fabric of the Yukon community.
• Bravery and Sacrifice: Both Sergeant Preston and his dogs demonstrate exceptional courage, embodying the spirit of true heroes.

Notable Quotes

• Sergeant Preston on Gambling and Loss:
  "You know, gambling had begun to be an obsession with you. I watched it grow, and I knew it would take something important to make you stay up. You've learned your lesson and you'll miss Marty." ([05:19]-[05:21])

• Red on Dog Loyalty:
  "A man can switch his loyalties or forget, but a dog never does." ([04:49])

• Sergeant Preston on Redemption:
  "Exactly. You saw this dog make a brave attempt to save Tom's life. There's the criminal." ([13:01]-[13:08])

• Marty Reflecting on Loyalty:
  "You did me a good turn that time, Mutt, when he turned to look for you." ([10:14])

Conclusion

"Challenge Of The Yukon 44-05-11 (0328) Outlaw Dog" masterfully weaves a tale of loyalty, redemption, and the eternal struggle between law and chaos. Through the steadfast characters of Sergeant Preston, King, and Marty, listeners are reminded of the enduring bonds that transcend adversity. The episode not only entertains but also imparts timeless lessons on morality, the true meaning of friendship, and the courage to uphold what is right against all odds.

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Enjoy more classic tales from the Golden Age of Radio by tuning into Harold's Old Time Radio each week, where timeless stories come to life with rich narratives and unforgettable characters.

Transcript

[Jack McCarthy]

The challenge of the Yukon. 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. As Sergeant Preston walked along Stove 5 City's Main street, an icy wind whipped against the Mountie and the great dog walking beside him.

[Tom McShane]

Passing the frame building that was the Tiltooth Saloon. The policeman saw a tall, lanky prospector approaching.

[Sergeant Preston]

Hello there, Tom.

[Studs Malone]

Hi, Sergeant. This wind's enough to lift a man.

[Jack McCarthy]

Clear off his feet.

[Studs Malone]

How are you, King, old fella?

[Sergeant Preston]

I see you've got Marty with you.

[Tom McShane]

Sure.

[Studs Malone]

Me and Marty are pals. Huh, boy? He's a smart dog, Sergeant. I always say he's the best in the Yukon. Then there are folks that insist he's second best. I'll agree. King's a handsome looking animal.

[Sergeant Preston]

How's the claim coming?

[Studs Malone]

Fine. Sometimes I think I'm the luckiest man alive. Right now I've got a pocket full of dust.

[Sergeant Preston]

And you're heading for a poker game, right?

[Studs Malone]

How'd you know?

[Sergeant Preston]

Well, let's just say I guessed. You know, one of these days, Tom, you're going to lose your shirt.

[Studs Malone]

Not me, Sergeant.

[Sergeant Preston]

That's what they all say, bud. Good luck anyway.

[Studs Malone]

Thanks. See you later. Drop into the salute and watch me clean out the boy's pocket.

[Jack McCarthy]

At first, Tom McShane showed signs of keeping his threat to clean out the boy's pockets. But then, slowly and steadily, that illogical thing called luck turned against him. He lost what he'd won. He lost the dust he carried into the chilcoot.

[Marty]

Well, McShane, you ready to quit?

[Studs Malone]

No. No, I'm not quitting. My luck will change.

[Marty]

Studs.

[King]

Yeah.

[Marty]

What are you putting in this time?

[Studs Malone]

I'll bet the Lady Luck claim against that 5,000 you got in front of you.

[Marty]

Looks like you lose.

[Studs Malone]

Wait a minute. I'm not through yet.

[Marty]

No. Only thing you got left, McShane, is the clothes on your back and the dog sitting beside your chair.

[Sam]

That's right, Tom. You still got Marty.

[Studs Malone]

Oh, no, not Marty.

[Sam]

You never know. Your luck can change, kid.

[Marty]

What do you expect me to do? Play the Lady Luck against his dog?

[Sam]

Ain't no reason why you shouldn't. You got more now Than you walked in here with darn good looking dog for my money.

[Marty]

What about it, McShane?

[Studs Malone]

All right, studs. I'll play this hand for Marty.

[Sam]

Here's my share. It's your deal, Studs.

[Jack McCarthy]

It was an old story in the Yukon where stakes were high and a fabulously wealthy prospector could lose over a deck of cards, the gold he'd patiently worked from the rich soil over a period of weeks, sometimes months, Tom McShane realized he'd not only lost the Lady.

[Tom McShane]

Luck claim, but his dog Marty as well. And the realization was followed by a desolate ache that burned his eyes like unshed tears.

[Jack McCarthy]

When he stood and walked quickly toward the door.

[Tom McShane]

Marty followed him.

[Sam]

Hey, there goes your dog, Stud.

[Marty]

Oh, no, he ain't.

[Jack McCarthy]

Come back here, you mutt.

[Studs Malone]

Don't ever call that dog a mutt, does you hear?

[Marty]

He's mine now, and I'll call him what I like.

[King]

Listen, Marty. I don't know why I said it, boy, but you and me can't be together anymore. Understand? Maybe. Maybe I'll be able to scrape enough money and I'll buy you back again.

[Jack McCarthy]

I better grab hold of his collar.

[Studs Malone]

When he makes up his mind, there ain't much can hold him back.

[Jim]

Come on.

[Jack McCarthy]

Steady, lady.

[Sam]

Let's change hands once tonight. I'm going to see if I can't make it twice.

[Marty]

I'm holding him, McShane.

[Tom McShane]

The next morning, when Sergeant Preston went to see Tom McShane, he found him in a friend's cabin where he'd been staying while he remained in stove by city.

[Red]

Well, I heard all about it, Tom. Yeah, Marty came back last night.

[King]

Stud just came and got him.

[Red]

The funny thing, a man can switch his loyalties or forget, but a dog never does.

[King]

How do you think I feel? Losing the Lady Luck was bad enough, but Marty.

[Red]

Well, Studs didn't hold the Lady Luck very long. Red told me that shortly after you got out of the game, he was. He won the claim for Malone. A good bit of the dust he'd accumulated.

[Studs Malone]

I'll never touch another cut as long as I live. I've learned my lesson.

[King]

Sergeant Malone was in a pretty mean humor. He always is when he starts losing. Took it out on Marty when he found him here this morning.

[Red]

Yes, I think you have learned your lesson, Tom.

[Sergeant Preston]

You know, gambling had begun to be.

[Red]

An obsession with you. I watched it grow, and I knew it would take something important to make you stay up. You've learned your lesson and you'll miss Marty. But that's only half of It Marty's going to bear the other half and I'm afraid it won't be easy.

[Jack McCarthy]

And dodge.

[Tom McShane]

And Preston was right. As long as Tom McSh stayed in stovepipe City, Marty returned to his master. No matter what punishment he received from Studge Malone, the dog's faithfulness never flinched. Finally, when he saw the hopelessness of the situation, Tom left the small settlement. And a short time later, Malone also left, taking with him the dog he'd won in the poker game. Malone had had much bad luck since that night at Chilcoot Saloon. But though he lost everything else, he had a good dog and he knew he'd need him.

[Jack McCarthy]

And as the months passed, Suggs Malone taught the dog Marty the things that were to make him hated by men.

[Tom McShane]

Who traveled lonely Yukon trails. The dog performed his tasks half heartedly, knowing that this man would deal with him mercilessly if he refused. At a camp along an isolated trail shortly before darkness, two trappers sat beside the fire.

[Red]

Hey, Sam.

[Tom McShane]

What was that? I heard something. Listen.

[Jack McCarthy]

I don't see what it is. Well, I hope he. Sam, somebody's been into the ration. You're right, by Gully. Took all the meat we had. But how? Look beyond the trail. Over there. The dog. Boy, that dirty four legged thief. Ah, you missed him. Must have been that outlaw dog we heard about in Three Forks. I'd like to catch up with that mutt just once. I'd fill him so full of buckshot he'd only be threw for paperwe. At Three Forks, the head of the Law and Order Commission talked to Sergeant Preston.

[Tom McShane]

With the Mountie was Tom McTrain, who.

[Jack McCarthy]

Stood silently listening to the conversation.

[Jim]

We have definite information, Sergeant, that the dog is in this vicinity. The description I've given you is one we've gotten from several men who had misfortune to meet him.

[Red]

I know the dog.

[Sergeant Preston]

We'll set out immediately.

[Jim]

Well, if you don't mind. Get a few of my men together and we'll go with you. Stealing food in the Yukon is a serious offense and in this case it's led to the death of two prospectors.

[Jack McCarthy]

Sergeant Preston and Tom McShane with a small group of men set out to locate the outlawed dog and his master. King ran far ahead of the Mountie's team, pausing at intervals to let the sleds catch up with him. At one point along the trail, the policeman called a halt while he examined what had apparently been a campsite.

[Tom McShane]

A man of the Law and Order.

[Jack McCarthy]

Commission gathered to look at tracks.

[Tom McShane]

It was then that King noticed Tom McShane's sled pulling away from the rest of them.

[Red]

I see him, fella. Let him go.

[Sergeant Preston]

I hunch he's trying to do some private detective work. I think he's chosen the right direction.

[Red]

We'll start after him in a few minutes.

[Jack McCarthy]

Tom McShane approached the camp near the.

[Tom McShane]

Edge of Blackstone Creek. Quietly, he noticed the ledge jutting out.

[Jack McCarthy]

Over the creek, just a few yards away from a stretch of rapids. It was there.

[Tom McShane]

Studs Malone stood when the young man confronted him.

[Studs Malone]

Well, Studs, seems we meet again.

[Marty]

Who's that? Well, if it ain't my friend, the prize poker player.

[Studs Malone]

Don't reach for your gun. I've got you covered.

[Marty]

So I noticed. What do you got in your mind, Ms. Shane?

[Studs Malone]

Where's Marty?

[Marty]

Oh, that's it, huh?

[Jack McCarthy]

But he's out on a little job.

[Marty]

Probably getting some fresh air.

[Studs Malone]

Why, you. You made him the hunted creature that he is. That dog didn't have a bad streak in him.

[Marty]

No, and he learned pretty fast. You ain't gonna fire that gun machine, and you know it.

[Studs Malone]

No, I'm not gonna kill you, Studs. I oughta, but I won't. I'll just stay here and keep you.

[Jack McCarthy]

Get away from me. Get away.

[Jim]

You what?

[Jack McCarthy]

I'll take that gun. No, you don't. As the two men fought, Stud Malone edged his opponent nearer and nearer to the creek. Beneath them, under the ledge, the waters rushed dizzily toward the rapids. Malone had the advantage of greater strength, but Tom McShane refused to admit defeat. Every blow must count. It was then he heard a dog racing toward them through the timber. Marty, that's all I need.

[Marty]

You did me a good turn that time, Mutt, when he turned to look for you.

[Jack McCarthy]

Kind of hard to swim weighted down.

[Marty]

With a mackinaw, ain't it?

[Jack McCarthy]

You'll be pulled over the rapid, McShane before you.

[Marty]

Ooh.

[Jack McCarthy]

Before the man could finish the sentence, he saw Marty leap over the ledge. And once in the icy water, the dog Swam toward Tom McShane.

[Jim]

All right, Mr. Dunge, put up your hands.

[Jack McCarthy]

Question.

[Jim]

Yes?

[Sergeant Preston]

You know this man?

[Jim]

From the description, Hibbs, Yes. Yes, of course. Where's the dog?

[Jack McCarthy]

Hey, look there. Out in the creek, over towards the rapids. There's a man in there.

[Jim]

He'll be drunk to be a log, Jim. Lots of them come down the creek and get smashed going over the rapids. Put the handcuffs on this man. They will.

[Sergeant Preston]

It is a man.

[Jack McCarthy]

That's your friend McShane, Molly. He. He fell over the ledge, but there's a dog. That's Marty. Marty's pulling him away from the rapids. Hey, there's your outlaw dog. That's the one I saw myself. The great dog, King, stood on the ledge, his eyes glued to the two figures caught in the treacherous current. The spray from the rapids rose slightly beyond them. It was a mad swirl of water, and the men watching held their breath. And then it happened, King thought. First, the log caught in the current, zigzagging crazily in the chopping water. As Monty swam, he struggled desperately. The log seemed about to skirt the man and his rescuer when it veered sharply, striking the dog's head and knocking him senseless. Almost instantly, King hit the icy water. He was caught in the current, but he fought, struggling to reach the man who was frantically trying to keep close handed to Tom, reached out to grab King. The great dog felt the impact as Marty was helplessly thrown against his master. Scarcely knowing what he did, the man put one arm around his dog's neck, and with the other, he held fast to King. And King knew he must drain every ounce of strength to pull his double burden to safety. Halfway toward the rocks where Preston stood, Marty began to swim. King had battled the current to pull them away from the rapid, and now they pulled slowly but steadily toward the ledge.

[Jim]

A sticker off the fl. That's it. Fell. Keep pulling, boys.

[Tom McShane]

It was a short time later, and on the ledge, close to Preston's feet, King lay exhausted. He felt his strength coming back to and he looked up to find Marty a heap of wet, straggly fur laying close to his master. A dog's nose beside the face of the man he loved.

[Jack McCarthy]

Well, I still think he ought to be shot. He's alive thanks to your dog, sergeant. Stealing food in the Yukon. Same as murder.

[King]

No. No, don't.

[Studs Malone]

Don't let him.

[Sergeant Preston]

Jim, I want to ask you a question. What would be your verdict toward a man who was basically good, fell into.

[Red]

Bad company and became an outlaw?

[Sergeant Preston]

And then what would you say if you saw that man make an attempt.

[Red]

To save a life at the cost of his own?

[Jack McCarthy]

I'd say he ought to. Well, he ought to be given more than a fair chance.

[Sergeant Preston]

Exactly. You saw this dog make a brave attempt to save Tom's life. There's the criminal.

[Jim]

Studs.

[Jack McCarthy]

You're under arrest.

[Red]

And as for Marty, he's going to be paroled. Tom.

[Jack McCarthy]

Sergeant.

[Tom McShane]

Mount saw the gratitude in Tom McShane's eyes.

[Jack McCarthy]

And he saw, too, the unquestioning devotion.

[Tom McShane]

Shining in the eyes of the dog when he looked at his master. Preston turned and looked at King.

[Jack McCarthy]

And as he felt the great dog's.

[Tom McShane]

Warm tongue touch his hand, he appreciated the bond that existed between this man and Marty.

[Red]

That's all right, Tom.

[Sergeant Preston]

I understand. Yes, Fell. You've done a great job. A case is closed.

[Jack McCarthy]

These copyrighted dramas originate in the studios of wxyz, Detroit. And all characters, names, places and incidents used are fictitious. As sent to you each week at the same time. Jack McCarthy speaking. This is the Michigan Radio Network.