Demetera watched in horror as the letter was lost in the flames. It caught fire instantly, and the tiny glowing bits of ash floated up the chimney. She stared at the piece of paper in her hand. The only writing remaining on it was part of the signature and the date. Frenchie and Molly didn't know what to think. The letter didn't mean anything to them, but they knew it must have had some significance. They were also bewildered by the actions of Demetera. The demure school teacher had become a raging tigress.
Blackjack had gone to his rooms over the Capricorn to collect his journal from its hiding place, and to wait for Demetera who was supposed to meet him there with the letter. Blackjack had promised her that if his friend Beale had given him what he expected, they would have the key to finding a great fortune ... a fortune that would make HIS stash look like fool's gold.
The outlaw reached down to lift the rug covering a loose board which concealed his secret hiding place. He noticed that the rug was in a different position from the way he had left it, but he pushed the corner of the tattered fabric aside and lifted the board. He reached in, felt for the book, and removed it from the small space.
While he waited for Demetera, he sat and thumbed through the pages. When Blackjack reached a certain spot in the book, he noticed that a page had been torn out. Then he discovered that the first letter from Beale was also missing. Blackjack Boughton flew into a rage! He tucked the book under his shirt and ran to the stairs leading down to the bar.
About the time that Blackjack reached the bottom of the stairs, Demetera rushed through the front door of The Capricorn. Her eyes were blazing, and she was waving her hands wildly. She grabbed the notorious bandit by the arm, ranting something about a fire, and it took him a minute to understand what she was telling him.
Blackjack looked around the room trying to locate Sourdough Duke. He was nowhere in sight. Demetera and Blackjack headed for Susannah Goal's office, but before they could reach the back of the saloon, Susannah cut them off. She had seen the rage overtaking Blackjack and she wanted to stop trouble before it could start. He ordered her to tell him where the missing cook had gone, but Susannah had no idea. She told the outlaw that Sourdough had left shortly after being questioned by Sheriff McAlister. Blackjack asked to see Sourdough's room, but Susannah told him that Sourdough no longer stayed at the saloon, and she didn't know where he was hangin' his apron these days.
A hush had fallen over the Capricorn. Some people had slipped out the door as soon as they had seen Blackjack flying down the stairs with a dark expression on his face. The bartender, Three-Fingers Wise, had a firm grasp on his gun just in case. Susannah had signaled for one of her dealers to go for the sheriff, but there was no need to worry; Blackjack wouldn't be a problem this night. He needed his men, and they were all the way out in Horsethief Basin.
Blackjack and Demetera turned away from Susannah, and made their way to the door leading out to the street. It was very late now, but they had to get back to the cabin to talk to Kid Hawpe and the others, and to gather their wits. The stragglers left in The Capricorn breathed a sigh of relief as the sound of clinking glasses grew louder. The storm was over for now, but everyone knew .....
There was going to be big trouble in Brisbee!
