Marsh didn't have to wait long. By the time he had downed his second shot of whiskey, the front door of the Capricorn swung open and in walked Blackjack Boughton. Close on his heels were Runaway Lovelace and Stampede Norman. Kid Hawpe came in behind them with Demetera Woods ... and Tracinda Burdette. The Kid had a firm grip on Tracinda's arm.Once again, a hush fell over the room as two of Blackjack's gang took their seats at a table near the bar. Kid Hawpe stayed by the door with Tracinda and Demetera. Three-Fingers Wise reached under the bar for his gun and stuck it in his waist-band. Susannah sent word to the sheriff that Blackjack was back in town with his gang.
Blackjack walked over to Marsh, and asked him if he had seen Sourdough. Marsh cocked his head and gave the brawny oulaw the best defiant look he could muster and said, "Mebbe ah seen 'im, and mebbe ah ain't. Won't be tellin' you noways ... iffin ah had". Blackjack was in no mood for horsin' around, and his voice grew louder. He told Marsh that he'd best be thinkin' and talkin' straight or he just might wind up in the bone-yard with his friend Sourdough Duke.
Marsh, bolstered by the whiskey he had consumed, was not bothered by Blackjack's threat and began to argue with the outlaw. Blackjack stuck his foot under the leg of Marsh's stool and kicked it. The bar-stool went out from under him and Marsh fell to the floor with a thud. Runaway and Stampede rushed over to Blackjack's side with guns drawn, but Marsh was flat on the floor with Blackjack's foot firmly planted on his chest.
Susannah ran toward the group yelling at the gang that she didn't want any trouble in her place. Blackjack laughed, shoved her aside, and told her to shut up. This didn't set well with bartender Wise, and he reached for his gun. Just then Kid Hawpe let go of Tracinda and drew HIS gun.
Shots rang out!
Sourdough had snuck to the front of the saloon and had been watching through the window. When he saw Tracinda standing so close to the door, unattended, he made his move. In the commotion, no one noticed the door open and Sourdough grab Tracinda's hand. He yanked her out of the door and pushed her in the direction of the Serendipity. Sheriff McAlister heard the gun fire, and ran to the saloon as Frenchie and Molly, who had also heard the shots, hurried to the porch of their home. They saw Tracinda running toward them. Sourdough retreated to the shadows as the sheriff ran past him and into The Capricorn.
Marsh was still flat on the floor with Runaway Lovelace standing over him. Stampede Norman was holding onto Blackjack, who was bleeding from his side. Kid Hawpe was slumped in the corner with Demetera pressing a bandana against his forehead, and Susannah Goal was wringing her hands. Her imported French beveled mirror that had filled the wall behind the ornate mahogany bar was shattered. Three-Fingers Wise was still standing behind the bar, gun in hand, with all six chambers empty.
As McAlister entered the room, Stampede and Blackjack pushed past him and through the front door. As they reached the walk-way Blackjack collapsed. He told Stampede to go for Doc. Norman didn't want to leave him, but Blackjack insisted. Sourdough came out of the shadows and bent over the wounded bandit. He saw a bulge under Blackjack's shirt and reached for it. It was Blackjack's journal.
The story in the Barker manuscript ended there!
