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Old Time Radio Westerns
King Proves His Worth | Challenge of the Yukon (12-16-51)
00:37:16
Original Air Date: December 16, 1951Host: Andrew RhynesShow: Challenge of the YukonPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• Paul Sutton (Sgt. Preston) Writer:• Fran Striker Producer:• George W. Trendle Director:• Fred Flowerday Exit music from: Roundup o...
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Now, as gunshots echo across the windswept snow covered reaches of the wild northwest, Quaker Oats, the giant of the cereals, presents Sergeant Preston of the Yukon. It's Yukon King, swiftest and strongest lead dog of the Northwest, blazing the trail for Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police in his relentless pursuit of lawbreakers. Un King on, you huskies. 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 brought to you by Quaker Oats. The long journey from Selkirk northward to Dawson was one few men in the Yukon Territory cared to make during the strenuous winter season. But Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police with his great dog Yukon King, hadn't hesitated to set out by dog sled in spite of the hazards of cold and wind and snow and ice. Ever since the Mountie and his dog had started the trip, snow had been falling steadily. A fine, hard snow that whipped by the wind, stung their faces and smarted their eyes. Finally, after after traveling several hours, Sergeant Preston halted the dog team for a short rest. Tough weather to be traveling, King. It can't be helped. Those two cooks were following. Can't be too far ahead. For several minutes, the Mountie let the dogs rest. Then as the intense cold began to penetrate his clothing. All right, boy. The range of hills not too far ahead. We'll push on until we reach it and find shelter in one of the canyons there. Up front, fella. All right. On, King, on you Husky, some distance ahead of Sergeant Preston and King. Gil Dolan, a big, rough featured man, rode the runners of the dog sled in which his partner, Jay Corey, sat. Jay was a smaller man, sharp featured and wearing a scraggly beard that covered his face. The biting wind and severe cold penetrated the fur lap robe, and Jay, shivering under his parka, finally complained to Gil. Hey, Gil, I'm about to freeze to death. I can't go much further in this wind and icy snow. Take places with me, then you handle the team a while. The exercise will warm you up. You know doggone well I'm not good at handling the team. Then stay where you are and stop complaining. You can't blame me for the weather, you know. This range along here'd be a good place to dig in for the night. Maybe. If you know as well as I do Preston will be on our trail with that big dog of his as soon as he hears about the bank robbery on Selkirk. He's not gonna start after us in this kind of weather. You don't know Preston. He'll set out in any kind of weather. Do you think Preston got back to Selkirk from Marlow? That looks stupid. He was due back this morning. That's why we robbed a bank last night and hit the trail away from there. I figure we'd have a good start if he didn't get back sooner than expected. If you figure we have a good start, there's no reason we shouldn't stop a while. I can't take it any longer. All right. Stop the beeping. We'll stop and dig in under that ledge over to the right. Good. They swear they'll slow that Mountie as much as it does us. We don't have to worry. At Gill's command, the dog swung off the trail to the right, and a few moments later they reached the ledge. Gill called the team to a halt. Well, here we are, Jay. We'll dig in here and rest a while. We can see back down the trail far enough, just in case that Muddy is following. Gill and Jay settled down in sort of a natural lean to under the ledge. A couple of hours went by. The snowfall had stopped, but the cold seemed to become more intense. Gill, who had decided to move on, stood up and took another look down the trail. The wind was blowing up trail toward him, and even before he saw the Mountie coming along on the other side of the slight ridge behind which they were hidden, Gill could faintly hear the dogs barking. A.J. somebody's coming. I hear dogs coming up the trail. Yeah, I do, too. Look, Gil, there he comes. That's a Marty, all right. He must be Preston. In a minute he'll be within rifle range. Now. Try a shot or two to be able to pick him off before he finds out where the shot came from. In a minute, I'll let him have it. King ran beside his master as Sergeant Preston drove his dog team along the trail. Beyond the ridge, the air was crisp, and even though the trail had become a trackless expanse of sparkling whiteness that blended into the rest of the landscape, the great dog and the Mountie unerringly followed the route that led to Dawson. Once more, the sergeant called a halt for a moment's rest. Hulking Hurry, husky. Hello. We're making good time, boy. The big husky stood beside his master, waiting for the order that would start the team on the way. The wind blowing from behind them gave no warning of danger. For a few moments, Sergeant Preston stood motionless, gazing over the glaring white wasteland before them. Then, without warning, an instant rifle shot rang out. We'll continue our adventure in just a moment. Geico's motorcycle expertise gives me the coverage I need. Like 24. Seven claims, I'm on cloud nine, clouds are wholly unable to support the weight of an adult human. What's happening? Furthermore, clouds are not numbered. Even if you procured a jetpack and searched, you'd find no cloud numbered nine. However, at that altitude, you'd likely befriend a flock of migrating snow geese. Geese who'd encourage you to leave your 24.7geico motorcycle claims insurance behind, as they would take you in and even share their dinner of crickets and clovers with you. GEICO assumes no liability for any indigestion that may occur from a clover cricket dinner. Geico expertise for your motorcycle. Listen, mothers and dads, with strenuous holiday activities coming on, don't feel like tired old folks. Remember, you can get more energy, more stamina from oatmeal than from any other whole grain cereal. Yes, eat a dish of creamy, delicious, hot Quaker Oats tomorrow morning for the tops in life giving Proteum, the kind that gives you that youthful, energetic feeling. For here's the real scientific truth about breakfast foods. University proves Quaker Oats the best of all 14 leading cereals. Yes, 14 nationally known cereals, both hot and cold, of all shapes and kinds, were put to a test by a leading state university. Results were recently published in Food Research, a nationally known scientific journal. And Quaker Oats is first in life giving protein. So treat the whole family, including yourselves, Mother and dad to creamy, delicious, hot Quaker oats. It's the giant of the cereals in nutrition value and flavor. Costs less than a penny a serving and cooks in only two and a half minutes. Remember, Quaker and mother's oats are the same. Now to continue the mount he fell. King, startled by the sound of the shot, turned ready to streak after the one who had fired it. But he saw no one. Nor could he catch any scent that would point the way to the hidden man. For a moment, the big husky growled in frustration. Then his growling changed to a whine of anxiety as he nuzzled the form of his master lying in the snow. The intelligent dog tried to arouse his master by barking. Then, as the sergeant stirred, the loyal dog whined and tugged at his sleeve. Behind the ridge, Gill and Jay watched a moment. You hit the money all right, Gil. He's lying on the trail and that dog is going nuts trying to get him up. Yeah, we'll try to pick off the mutt and then we'll go out there and make sure Preston is done for. Wait a minute. Look. The money's getting to his feet. Yeah, he's staggering. I'll try another shot. Maybe this time I'll be. I killed him. He staggered back. It must have fell into the ravine that runs alongside the trail out there. Good he isn't already done for. That'll make it easier for us. First I'll hit the plug. That crazy dog, though. He'd stop running back and forth. I'd have a better chance. Anyway, I'll try a shot at him. Sergeant Preston had staggered to his feet and had slipped and fallen into the small ravine alongside the trail. Some of the loose snow fell after him, covering his form as he lay motionless. King ran back and forth on the edge of the ravine, barking and whining. When the shot rang out, the bullet whined close. The big dog knew he, too, was in danger. Seemingly ready to desert his master. The intelligent husky barked to the other dog, then headed at a fast pace along the trail. The dog team followed with the empty sled, disappeared around the bend. Gill and Jay saw the husky and the dog team leaving. Hey, big dog. And the huskies running away. What of it? Let him go. We'll go down there and make sure about Preston. We don't have to worry about that dog of his now. Yeah, that's right. Let's take our dog team and get going. A short time later, the two crooks stopped their dog team near the place where Preston had fallen. Come on. We'll Take a look. I'm with you. Hey. I thought he went over about here, but I don't see him down there. Neither do I. If there was some way to get down there, I'd go look around. It was too steep and icy to get down or up. Ah, what's the use? I'm getting cold again. Let's get going. He's done for now. He's down there wounded. His dogs are gone, and he couldn't catch up to us with him out of the way. Jay, I think we'd better turn back towards Selkirk. That dog and his dog team arrive at Elk Landon a couple of miles north of here, folks might come looking for him, eh? Say, that's right. We'll turn back, then take a branch trail around Selkirk and keep going south. All right, get on the sled and let's get started. Yeah, I'm all set. Good. Push. Push you whiskey. Push. The intelligent dog, King had led the dog team around the bend out of danger, where he stopped. The other dogs seemed to understand as the great husky walked slowly around them, whining, they settled in the snow as if to wait. Then King turned and started back along the trail. Cautiously, the big dog reached the bend on the trail, then stopped Watching, he saw the two crooks leaving in the other direction. His first impulse was to chase them, but he knew they carried guns, and he felt instinctively that he should try first to find and help his master. King waited until the two men were out of sight. Then he ran back to the place where Preston had fallen into the ravine. In the ravine, Sergeant Preston, who at first had been stunned by a slight bullet crease on the temple, and again by the fall, which had been broken by the deep snow drift below, came to under the thin blanket of snow. I seem to be buried in a snow drift. My sight hurts. Blood stain on the snow. Wounded in my sight. Maybe better find out. Dazed and temporarily out of his mind, the Mountie loosened his cartridge belt and dropped it in the snow. He unbuttoned his jacket under his parka and felt his side. Then, buttoning his jacket, he staggered along the ravine, leaving his cartridge belt behind. King's frantic barking up on the edge of the ravine seemed to bring him back to normal. King. That's King barking. Preston, feeling slightly weak but otherwise all right, stood looking around him. He now realized where he was and looked up to see King barking and peering down at him. I'm all right, boy. I can't get out of here. Get help, King. Get help. Go on, King. Go To Elk Landing. Get the constable. Hurry, King. Go on, boy. The intelligent husky whined a moment as he tried to understand his master. He knew instinctively human help was needed. And then the word constable seemed to register. King left the edge of the ravine and headed for Elk Landing on the run. The constable, Bill Barker, was at the trading post in Elk Landing talking to the storekeeper and his wife. Things have been mighty quiet around here since the heavy snowfall. Weather like this at least keeps people out of trouble, Mike. That it does, Constable. You know, from the few people who've been in the store lately, it seems like everybody's sitting at home with their feet warm and before the fire. That's sure a fact, Flora. Seems almost useless to open the place in weather like this. I hear a dog barking outside. Must be someone coming. See anyone out the front window, Flora? No, Mike, but I still hear that dog. I wonder if. Constable, come here and look. There's a big dog barking and jumping at your office door across the street. A dog, huh? Yes, I see him. Strange that he's making. By Jiminy, that looks like Sergeant Preston's dog. King. King. Here, fella. Here, King. Come inside, boy. Come on. Well, King, how did you get here? Doherty. Looks like he's kind of tired out, Constable. Poor dog. I'll get him some warm food and running back to the door. He wants to go out again. Now, what on earth is the matter with him? Wait a minute. Wait a minute, King. Where's Sergeant Preston? Where's Sergeant Preston, boy? By golly, he seems to be trying to tell us something. You think maybe there's something the matter, Constable? Yes, I do, boy. King's acting. I'd say Preston's in trouble or he needs help. Well, what are you gonna do? I'm gonna let King out, get my dog sled and then have him take me to Preston. Do you really think this dog can do that, Constable? Take you to the sergeant? Yes. I happen to know how intelligent King is. By thunder. I'll go with you if you want me to, Constable. Flora can look after things here till we get back. All right, Mike. Be out front in 10 minutes. All right, King. All right, we'll go with you. Let's go, fella. Come on. Hey, wait, King. Come back, boy. Come here. Easy, fella, easy. You'll soon be taking me to Sergeant Preston. But first I'll get my dog cleaned. King seemed to understand. He obediently followed the constable to the shed behind the office and stood by patiently as the constable hitched the dogs to his sled Then, after picking up Mike, the constable spoke to the loyal husky. Now king. Find Preston. Find Preston, fella. Great day. Look at him go. We'll have to push hard to follow that dog. We'll do it. Push. Push the huskies push. In the ravine, Sergeant Preston walked about to keep war. His temple throbbed with a steady pain from the bullet crease, and he used his handkerchief as a bandage to cover the crimson mark. He soon found that the ravine was unscalable and seemed to be sort of a pocket in which he was a prisoner. The cold wind whipped about him and there was no shelter. He walked the length of the ravine and found a blank wall at one end. As he approached the other end, he saw what appeared to be a small cave. A cave that must avoid shelter until help comes, if it ever does. But as the mount, he moved cautiously toward the opening. A lean gray shape appeared in the opening. A large, hungry wolf. Instinctively, Preston's hand moved to his gun, but he withheld his fire, thinking the shot might bring others out of the opening. He decided discretion was the better part of valor and started slowly back along the ravine. He moved up the ravine to the approximate place where he had fallen, then stopped and looked back. The gray, sinister figure had moved after him and squatted on its haunches, almost out of gun range. If there were others, they'd have come out by now. I'll risk a shot. And missed. He's wise enough to keep far enough away, at least. He did move back. But he's sitting again, watching. Waiting. That opening. Presence of that wolf in the ravine may mean the opening leads out of here. Once I met at him. I'll try to find out. Move closer again. Closer than before. I'll try. Another shot. Got him. Now go make sure he's done. Climut. Two more. Down near the cave. The bounty watched as two more slinking gray shapes moved cautiously forward. They're moving closer. At the sound of the shots, the two wolves merely sat down out of range, as if waiting. Preston never took his eyes from them, knowing how swiftly wolves could move in. He started to walk slowly back, then noticed that they were stalking him. Moving slowly, seemingly judging his pace, but then becoming bolder. The wolves moved closer. Preston stopped and took aim. Have to keep them back. One of the wolves fell, but the other ran back a short distance and stopped. Preston pulled the trigger again. Empty. I better reload in a hurry. Preston removed his gloves and reached under his pocket to get more bullets from his cartridge belt. My cartridge belt gone. I must have unbuckled it while I was still in the daze at the spot where I fell in the ravine. Must be around here someplace. Preston searched hurriedly in the deep snow for his cartridge belt, but couldn't locate it. I'll never find it in these snow drifts. As he realized his predicament, Preston glanced up. Another gray shape stood near the opening. He was without ammunition, and he knew it would only be a matter of time before the hungry wolves sensed the situation and moved in with their fangs of death. A chill ran down the mountie's spine as he thought of what he had to face. His lips moved in a silent prayer as he stood waiting and watching. Finally, the gray figures began to move forward slowly, cautiously. For a moment, Preston looked around wildly for something to use as a weapon, but found nothing. Then, grasping the barrel of his gun, he stood ready to go down, fighting to the last breath. Come on, I'm ready for you. But as the wolves moved near, a welcome sound broke upon the mountie's ears. King. King. Captain, we're up here. The constable and Mike, shooting from the edge of the ravine, killed another of the wolves and sent the last one scurrying for the cage. We'll cause your rope and have you out of there in a cliff, sergeant. Within a short time, the constable and Mike had pulled sergeant Preston up beside them. The mounties stood a moment to regain his composure as he patted King. Good boy, King. If you hadn't brought the constable. My Jiminy, Sergeant King is almost human. We found your dog team down the trail. The dogs were birds in the snow. Good. I was afraid the crooks had taken them. Crooks? Yes, two of them. They ambushed me. See there? Attacks show. They came here, then turned back and went towards Selkirk while I was still dazed. I must have unbuckled my cartridge belt and dropped it in a drift. I couldn't find it and my gun's empty. You hadn't come along when you did. I'm glad we did, Sergeant. What happened anyway? I notice you have a handkerchief on your head. Briefly, Sgt. Preston related the details of what he remembered. When he had finished, Mike said, well, you and King better come back with us and rest up, Sergeant. You both have been through a lot. No time for that, Mike. We're turning back and going after those two crooks. Very well. I'll go with you, Mike. You'd better take my team and go back to Elk Landing. Just as you say. I sure hope you catch those dirty killer, Sergeant. So do I, Mike. I thought they left me for dead in that Ravine. Well, so long. I leave you now. Mush. Good lucky Sergeant. For the time being, you ride the sled and I'll drive. All right, Constable, up front. King. All right on King, on your husky. We'll continue our adventure in just a moment. And now here he is, that famous teller of tall tales. None other than your old friend Gabby Hayes. Talk about adventures in the Yukon, fellas and girls. Why I guess shiver when I think of the fust time I went looking for gold years ago. But what I found was a ferocious polar bear. Somehow I got up into the polar bear country. One bright sunny morning when I was fixing breakfast, I sudden looked up and bearing down on me was the hugest polar bear I ever seen. Welsher. First thing I done was eat a big bowl of nourishing hot Quaker oats. The giant of the cereals. Why you get more strength and more energy from oatmeal than from any other whole grain cereal. And giant power. Why, that's what Quaker Oats poured into me here Tootin. So I tackled that polar bear with my bare hands. I fought him off with one hand and with the other I grabbed my shiny new prospectin pan and I let the sun reflect off of it right into his eyes. And can you believe it? That polar bear was so blinded you'd a thought he was playing blind man's buff. Yes siree Bob. And now say, you fellows and girls want to know how the giant of the cereals can help you too the way it does old Gabby? Well then start eating Quaker oats. Treat yourself every morning from now on to a heap and bowl of creamy delicious Quaker oats. Or make it mother's oats. Cause shucks, they're just zactly the same. Now to continue, Gil Nolan and Jay Corey had moved along the trail towards Selkirk for some distance. As dusk approached, snow began to fall again. The wind blew with greater intensity so that traveling became even more difficult. Hey Gil, we better find someplace to hole up for a while. This is turning into a blizzard. Yeah, I reckon you're right, Jay. We aren't far from that deserted cabin we passed when we were going the other way this morning. And let's go there and put up for the night. Nobody will find that mount his body. Even if they do find his dogs, they aren't going to know about us. That's true. We'll move on till we reach that cabin. Before long the two crooks reached the cabin. They had some supplies with them and soon had a fire going in the pot bellied stove. They settled down in Chairs before the fire after having hot coffee, they felt snug and secure. Well, hey, luck is with us. It seems like we'll stay here. The storm will accept is either lying dead and buried in the snow in that ravine or he's injured and can't get out. We're safe enough. You know, I heard a lot about that dog. Oppressed, believe me. He acted like any other scared mutt when he heard those bullets whine near him. He sure lit out along the trail with the dog team at his heels. Yeah, if anyone finds him, they wouldn't know where to look for Preston's body. Not unless that mud of his is able to talk him and this new snowfall cover our tracks. Even if someone did get wise and try to follow. That's right. We have nothing to worry about. The bank cash in that covered bag on the table will pay away for a mighty long time. There's 10,000 there. 5,000 each. I'm gonna turn in on that cot over there and get some sleep. You better do the same. That's a good idea. Maybe by morning this one will be over. Wait. Holy micro. Amati. Two of them. That's Sergeant Preston. I thought he was once. You killed me, eh? They'll kill that dirty Red Cross right now. Fire. As Gill drew to fire at Preston, Jay jumped behind the big stove near which he'd been standing. Drop your guns, both of you. Get out from behind that stove. During the initial excitement, the great Dog King had slipped unnoticed from behind the two Mounties and moved like a streak in the shadows along the wall. He was opposite Jay when Preston's bullet hit the stove. And as the crook pointed his gun over the top of the stove to fire, the mighty husky sprang with a snarl. Jay's bullet went wild as he fell under the impact of King's attack. Take him off. Help. Stop him. Watch him, boy. Pick up the guns, Constable. Right. I have them. You were in the ravine with a bullet in you. I didn't know how you. That bullet creased my temple, that's all. Human. Forgot about my dog King. Because of him that I'm here now. I knew we should have plucked that darn mutton. Gang was too small from all appearances. Constable, here's the bank cash in his carpet bag. The bands around the bills are stamped with the name of the Selkirk First National. Fine, fine. I'd be many sergeants. No matter what you go through to do it, you always get your man. We all have that reputation, Constable. Don't forget you helped get these Crooks. It was your understanding of King that saved my life. King really proved his worth on this occasion. He's proved his worth many times in the past. All right, you two. We arrest you in the name of the Crown for armed robbery and attempted murder. Thunder I wish that bullet had hit you a bit closer. Kill. If you weren't wounded, I'd break your neck for what you tried to do to me. My arm. Let go. Get away from me. I'd say it's lucky for him he is wounded. We'll fix his wound, untied him and get them to sell Kirk. Constable, I admit I'll not forget for a long time the experience I went through today. But at least with them behind bars, I'll be ready to say this case is closed. Sergeant Preston will return in just a moment with a word about our next exciting adventure. Hello, folks. This is your friend Aunt Jemima. Do your children like extra light pancakes? Then for supper tonight, just add milk to my Aunt Jemima. Pancake or buckwheat mix and bake. The lightest pancakes ever and the only pancakes with that good old south flavor. Fluffy, golden feather light. Aunt Jemima. Pancakes good for breakfast, lunch or supper tonight. Mm. And now, here is Sergeant Preston. Sergeant Preston reporting for duty, Inspector. Sergeant. The young constable at Selkirk, Denny Carter, is trailing the notorious murderer Lefty Nash. Denny trailing Nash? Should I go after them, sir? Yes, immediately. We can't let Denny face Lefty Nash. And you know why, Sergeant. The inspector and Sergeant Preston are both concerned about Denny Carter going after the killer Lefty Nash. Why must the young Mountie be prevented from meeting Nash? And can Preston reach him in time? Be sure to hear this next exciting adventure. These radio dramas, a feature of Sergeant Preston of the Yukon Incorporated, are created by George W. Trendle, produced by Trendall Campbell Enterprises, directed by Fred Flowerday and supervised by Charles D. Livingston. The part of Sergeant Preston is played by Paul Sutton. Sergeant Preston of the Yukon is brought to you every Sunday at this same time by Quaker Oats, the giant of the cereals. This is J. Michael wishing you goodbye, good luck and good health from Quaker Oats, the giant of the serials. So long. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System. This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate this episode within your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube become one of our ranch hands and unlock some exclusive content. We want to thank the following ranch hand, Steve who joined us recently. You too can join by going to otrwesterns.com send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com and you can call and leave us a voicemail. 707-986-8739 this episode is copyright under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.