Tracinda began her revelation with the events of the days leading up to the stranger's request for her to deliver the letter to Blackjack.She had noticed that when Blackjack and his boys hit town, everyone in Brisbee had become uneasy, and she wondered why. She and Sourdough had both overheard some pretty interesting conversations, and the two of them began discussing the rumor that had been around for so long ... the rumor about the gold that Blackjack had buried. The pair had put their heads together, and had come up with the idea that Blackjack was in town to claim his spoils.
Sourdough had told Tracinda about the conversation concerning a gold shipment. He also told her of the mysterious book that Blackjack always carried with him, and that he had seen the outlaw writing something in the book during the conversation with his gang. When Tracinda was given the letter to deliver she saw it as a chance to find out what was going on.
She told Blackjack that she had shown the letter to Sourdough, and Tracinda admitted to the angry bandit that she and the wily cook had planned to go after his gold. Thinking that the letter may tell them where it was, they had devised a plan. They would copy the letter, and since the numbers were evidently some kind of code, they would change them and give Blackjack the copy. She had taken the original letter and hidden it.
Blackjack was furious! He demanded to know what she had done with the letter. Tracinda was frightened. She had never been in such a predicament in her life, and was fearfully unsure of what to do. She looked over at Demetera, hoping for some sign, but the woman just stared at her.
Tracinda quickly concluded it was best to tell where the letter was hidden, and she reached up to undo the chain around her neck that held the key to her secret hiding place. It was gone! Her hands began to tremble as she told the irate bandit that she must have lost it when Kid Hawpe had pushed her into the carriage. She explained that the key fit the lock of a wooden box, hidden in the armoire in her room at the Serendipity Boarding House.
It was then that Demetera Woods spoke. She assured Blackjack that she knew all about the box and where to look for it. She convinced him that she should be the one to go after it ... as her presence would draw little attention from the women who ran the boarding house. Blackjack agreed. He and his one-time gambling partner left, leaving an anxious Tracinda behind with Kid Hawpe and the other desperados.
Frenchie and Molly had been studying the strange message by the fire in their
parlor, trying to figure out what the numbers could mean. They found it unusual ... the way the four names were written on the page without any explanation. Molly glanced down at the signature, and as she did, she noticed the date; June 20th. It was still early March! Why would the letter be dated June 20th?The letter had them so involved that they barely heard the door open. A figure approached, and Frenchie looked up to see Demetera Woods. The three women greeted each other as Demetera brushed by and headed for the stairs. Frenchie and Molly didn't have a chance to tell her that Tracinda was missing.
It didn't matter; Demetera was back in no time. When she approached Molly and Frenchie, she noticed the open wooden box on the table and the piece of paper in Molly's hand. She asked the women what they were doing with the box, but she didn't wait for an answer ... she reached for the letter. Molly jerked her hand away, and as she did the letter tore, leaving the top portion in her hand. Startled, she dropped the piece of paper and it fluttered into the flames of the glowing fire.
