Episode #126 [NO TITLE LISTED]
Broadcast April 9, 1940
Copyright Registration D-69607, script received at Registration Office April 22, 1940.
Written by Tom Dougall.
Plot: Sergeant Preston, accompanied with young Constable Evans, arrive in Forty Mile. When they reached the edge of the town, a hundred miners crowded around their sled with the news of a murder which had been committed the night before. Black Mike Carney had shot and killed Eddie Ryan in the Northern Lights café after which he had managed to escape. Black Mike’s wife, Linda, would not testify. His right-hand man, Trigger Mason, practically spits and defies the law, insisting he had nothing to do with the murder. But men in the café insist Eddie was provoked into gunplay and Black Mike knew Eddie was a poor shot. Black Mike fled North for five miles and, certain that no one was following him, returned to Forty Mile and safely hid in a second floor room of the Northern Lights café. Three days later, Constable Evans receives a note tipping him off to Black Mike’s whereabouts. The criminal knocked the Mountie unconscious and stole the uniform. In his haste to escape, Black Mike never staked on Trigger’s desperation to shoot and kill the Constable to save his friend. Mike was shot and killed. Preston arrived in own to learn what happened and Linda confessed she and Trigger conpisred with Black Mike to kill Eddie. She also confessed that she was aiding in her husband’s escape. Trigger attempted to flee out the back window, but King raced out to fell the body and give Preston the advantage.
Trivia, etc. Opening narrative provided by the narrator referred to last week’s episode, even though by this time they were offering single-adventure stories: “Sergeant Preston captured a bank robber in Forty Mile and left Pierre behind when he took his prisoner down to Dawson. A week later he headed North once more with young Constable Evans who was to be stationed in Forty Mile.”
Episode #127 [NO TITLE LISTED]
Broadcast April 16, 1940
Copyright Registration D-69608, script received at Registration Office April 22, 1940.
Written by Tom Dougall.
Plot: Young Jim Hanley drove into town from his claim on Placer Creek, only to momentarily exchange fisticuffs with Red Frazer. The men fought over the love of Louise. Jim and Louise have it fixed up to get married in the spring but according to Greg Carlton, her stepfather, Red was promised her hand. The next morning, Red was found dead – shot in the back. Jim was accused of the crime but the remains of a paper found in the fireplace suggested the crime involved the a Yukon claim. Excitement ran high in the town all day long and no one could understand why the Sergeant should spend his time in the claim office when there was a murder to be solved. All the miners believed Jim to be guilty in spite of the sympathy they felt for him, but he remained a free man and that night, he called on Louise. The girl insisted they run off to the mission and get married but her stepfather puts a halt on their plans. He granted them permission in exchange for a signature on a contract, giving her mother’s $10,000 to him – not her. Louise would not sign, forcing Greg to create a story: Jim confessed to Red’s murder and tried to take Louise away with him, she would not allow it, so Jim shot the girl and then in the struggle, Greg shot Jim. Preston intervenes, preventing the murder, and verifies Greg was selling company land and pocketing the money himself. Red Frazer discovered the embezzlement and attempted blackmail with Louise’s hand and Greg’s blessing, later silenced when Jim returned and Red discovered he would not get Louise.
Episode #128 [NO TITLE LISTED]
Broadcast April 23, 1940
Copyright Registration D-69805, script received at Registration Office May 2, 1940.
Written by Tom Dougall.
Plot: A hundred miles to the northwest of White Horse, Mrs. O’Brien ran the trading post which her husband had started many years before. She was all alone except for her daughter, Ann, and the few Indians who worked around the place. It was desolate country at the southern end of the Pine River district, good for furs and nothing else. The Yukon Trading Company made a good offer for her post and Sergeant suggested she take it. He warns her of the gold strike on Pine River that was a false alarm. Within a few weeks there will be thousands of men migrating south. She has a lot of gold dust in her safe and a lot of supplies in her storehouse. “A desperate man turns to crime very easily,” Preston warns. Mrs. O’Brien scoffs until a man name Jack shows up and attempts to sell his furs, then attempts to rob her. Bull McAllister, wanted for murder in White Horse, shows up and shoots and wounds Jack in the shoulder, then attempts to shoot and rob the ladies. King charges in and takes down Bull, moments before Pierre places cuffs on the killer. Preston explained that Jack was hired by Preston to pretend to be a robber, with Preston intending to arrest the man and demonstrate what he meant about desperate men posing a threat. Bull McAllister was an unexpected surprise. Mrs. O’Brien and Ann forgive the Mountie for having saved their lives. Ann, however, fell for Jack and the two might visit the mission to get married.
Episode #129 [NO TITLE LISTED]
Broadcast May 2, 1940
Copyright Registration D-70044, script received at Registration Office May 17, 1940.
Written by Tom Dougall.
Plot: On the morning the news of the gold strike on the Klondike reached San Francisco, Laura Baker was to be married. Instead, she faced an empty parlor with young Dave Warren, who wished he could take Don Warren’s place. Don left to seek his fortune and promised to return so they can get married – while the wedding guests remained puzzled. Six months later in a café in Dawson, Don Warren caught Harvey Ransom, a card sharp, cheating him. Don pulled a gun and shot the poker player dead through the heart. Don fled the town and while a blizzard covered his tracks, Sergeant Preston was able to pick up the trail two weeks later. Arriving at Hilo Jackson’s way cabin at the mouth of Lonesome Creek, Preston discovers the whereabouts of the Warren cabin and that his twin brother Dave was there – with a warning not to make a mistake deciphering the two. At the cabin, Dave switches clothes with Don in exchange for a promise that his brother return to San Francisco and promise to take care of Laura. Preston and Pierre arrive and ask a couple questions, verifying Dave and Don switched clothes. Don, having overheard the discussion from behind the cabin and realizing the ruse was up, shoots himself. Before Don passes away, he confesses that he read a letter from Laura that was addressed to Dave: “Time changed a lot of things. I always thought I loved Don, but now I’m all mixed up. Maybe it was pity instead of love. Anyway, now that you’re both gone, it’s you I miss. I wish you’d come back home, Dave.”
Episode #130 [NO TITLE LISTED]
Broadcast May 9, 1940
Copyright Registration D-70045, script received at Registration Office May 17, 1940.
Written by Tom Dougall.
Plot: Sergeant Preston was more interested in saving Slim Elliott than capturing Barney Walsh. The latter is an outlaw who stole Miss Ryan’s old dust and it was Barney who pulled the trigger. Pierre caught a bullet in the shoulder. After mending the wound and sledding Pierre to Metka Joe’s cabin to heal, the policeman set out on the trail in pursuit of Barney Walsh and his two companions, Slim and Kurt. The men were headed for Circle City in Alaska, out of the Yukon. They stop to rest at Matt Davies’ way cabin, only to soon receive a visit from Sergeant Preston, who kept on their trail. At the way cabin, Preston holds the men at bay with his gun while he warms up by the stove and eats a hot meal, while having a conversation with Slim to offer the youth a choice of living inside or outside of the law. When Barney attempts to challenge Preston, the men draw and the Mountie wins. Kurt attempts to draw on Preston but Slim takes care of Kurt. Preston assures Slim that since he never broke any laws, he can deliver evidence against Barney and Kurt and collect the reward money.
