The conversation fell to a dull roar as Griffith pushed into the crowd, reemerging a moment later with a rosy-cheeked matron, her round face framed by white curls and a modest bonnet. "Settle down a minute, please!" Griffith shouted. He tilted his head toward the little grandmother. She spoke in his ear and he raised his hands to address the crowd. "Please, a moment--I think we--yes--this lady would like to say something! I think you all know her. I don't know what she has to say but please, let's give her a chance."
The noise died completely. "Friends," the grandmother called out in her lyrical voice. "Thank you, I'll just ask a moment of your attention. You know me, but what you don't know is that three years ago, I came here from Boston. My husband had died, my organization sent me on a mission, and when I finished it I journeyed to Wyoming to live with my daughter's family. When the train was about two hours outside of Red Rock, we were held up--rather graciously, I might add," she giggled softly. "We were held up by a group of bandits led by Mr. Heyes and Mr. Curry.
"Oh, they were gentlemen, true gentlemen through the entire experience, quite courteous and considerate of the ladies' safety and comfort, and my own advancing years. They took nothing from us passengers; they only wanted the gold the train was transporting that day. But they were having a terrible streak of bad luck, you see. First the dyamite was wet, then--well, to come to the point, all their attempts failed.
"I saw that these men were not, in their hearts, thieves; they were like many of our young men today, misguided, off-track. They needed to be shown another direction, not punished and imprisoned. It was not--it is not too late for them. So I gave them a pamphlet about a program that would allow them a new start in life, and I knew they could succeed, if only they found a guide to re-direct them." She smiled at Lom. "I have no doubt, after listening to all of these folks, that they did find that guide and their lives are now redeemed.
"Perhaps you wonder how it is I happened to have a pamphlet about amnesty in my handbag that morning, at the precise opportune moment. I believe it was Providence. I will also admit it was my son-in-law. You see, he has known for some time that the penitentiary system needs reform, and before the President sent him out here from Boston, he encouraged my organization, the Daughters of the Boston Tea Party, to distribute tracts about the amnesty program along with our other reading materials. Mr. Heyes and Mr. Curry were precisely the sort of men this program could serve."
The little lady resolutely adjusted her bonnet and squared her shoulders. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to join you on your march to the governor's mansion. I too would like to have a talk about honor with my son-in-law."
And with that Birdie Pickett tucked her hand into Sheriff Trevors' arm and, as a path cleared for her, proceeded to lead the way down Twenty-First Street.
Twenty-two minutes later, at 1:43 p.m. on May 1, 1887, with more than a hundred witnesses in attendance, including two rather bewildered but relieved young men, Governor Francis Warren signed a proclamation granting amnesty to Hannibal Heyes and Jedediah Curry, formerly alias Smith and Jones.
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As Yet the Glass Seems True by Kate
Never Turn a Good Friend into a Lady by Kate
Resist Not Evil (a novel in progress) by Kate