The Brisbee Cemetery was a dark and eerie place, and Sourdough was having a hard time trying to find his way to the chinaberry stump where he had placed the container. He had shuffled along the rocky path losing his way several times, and once he had tripped and fallen, hitting his knee on one of the head stones. He cursed as he stumbled along, but at last he reached the area where he thought the stump was located. He fumbled around in the dark until his hand brushed over the unmistakable surface of wood, and he knelt ... feeling for the roots, and the rock that he had placed over the hollow. The rock was there, but the hollow was empty.His heart began to race. He felt all around the roots thinking that maybe he was in the wrong spot. Was there more than one chinaberry stump in that cemetery? He reached in his pockets, looking for a match, but he had none. He took a deep breath trying to calm himself, but it was no use. He was in a predicament, and he had to sit down to think for a few minutes.
If he was in the wrong spot, no amount of searching would do any good. Could he take the chance of waiting until daylight? He didn't see that he had any other choice, but he sure didn't want to spend the rest of the night in that creepy cemetery! Nor did he think it was a good idea to try to get back to the boarding house. He just didn't know what to do. The clue to a fortune in gold had been in his possession, and now he couldn't find it!
The ghostly stillness was broken by the piercing sound of a coyote's howl off in the distance, and a cold shiver went down his spine as he felt something scamper across the back of his neck. His decision suddenly became easier. He got to his feet, swearing as he stumbled and tripped his way back to the cemetery entrance, and wearily trudged onward to the rear of the Serendipity.
When he reached the porch of the boarding house Sourdough was met by Tracinda, who was eager to know if he had retrieved the map. She told him that it was going to be difficult to get out of there without letting Marsh, Molly, and Frenchie know what was happening. The three had become very excited and curious after Sourdough left, and she had tried to be nonchalant, but they were getting suspicious, and hounding her with questions.
Frenchie heard the door, and had come to see what was going on. She saw Tracinda and Sourdough with their heads together, whispering, and her curiosity finally got the best of her. She knew that something was up and she didn't intend to be put off anymore. As she approached them she overheard the words "Blackjack" and "map", and it wasn't hard for her to come to a conclusion as to what the conversation was about. She decided that it was time for everybody to sit down and have a little chat. Molly brewed some tea and the odd gathering of people made themselves comfortable in the cozy parlor of the big house.
Tracinda told their friends how Sourdough had hidden a map and the unusual letter from Beale in the cemetery. They weren't sure if the map led to the gold because they hadn't had time to study it, but it had come from the book that Blackjack always carried with him. Sourdough admitted that he had just been to the cemetery to get the papers, but that he couldn't find them. Marsh spoke up and said they should rest until daylight and then ALL go to look for the map. Molly and Frenchie agreed, and though Tracinda and Sourdough were anxious to find the map and leave town, they realized that the others were right. They couldn't locate the missing container in the dark, and five people walking around the cemetery carrying lanterns, after midnight, would definitely attract attention if anyone happened to pass by. Tracinda just hoped that Blackjack and his gang didn't come looking for them tonight! Sourdough assured her that the outlaw had been badly hurt, and that he wouldn't be riding back into Brisbee any time soon.
As for Kid Hawpe and the rest of the gang .... no one knew!
