July 9, 1877

Hey Kid,

Well, I guess things didn't go exactly the way I planned, huh? Guess it shows even a Hannibal Heyes plan can backfire sometimes. Next time you say you have a bad feeling about a job, I'll listen.  I sure never expected that that engineer was a Bannerman man in disguise. Guess they must have been waiting for us on the train all along. It's the price of fame, I guess--we're just getting too popular.

I hope the gang all got off the train okay. I think they did, there aren't any here in jail with me, so that's good. There's just some drunks here, and a couple of Indians--the town sheriff keeps beating on them. He's a real bastard, that guy.

Now, Kid, I saw you riding after the train as it pulled away. You crazy fool. What do you think you could do against a sheriff, three deputies, and about ten Bannermen men?  It's just my bad luck I got caught, nothing anyone can do about it.

I'm sending this letter to Silky's in the hope that you'll get it. His place isn't too far from here, and I figure that you'll need a place to hole up, and might go there. Listen to me, Kid. Don't do anything stupid. You're never going to get me out of here, so please, leave it alone. Don't get yourself killed trying.

Heyes

PS This cell is so small, I can cross it in six steps. I think I've covered about 50 miles, I'm starting to wear a trench in the floor. Sheriff keeps hollering at me to stop or he'll bash my head in. How a person can get any sleep in a cell like you do beats me.

HH

July 17, 1877

Hey Kid,

I saw you at the trial--I recognized you right off. It was a pretty good disguise, I had to look real close. But I knew it was you under the beard and eyepatch.  Thing is, that sheriff knows damn well what you look like, and he was watching you, too. He's a suspicious son of a bitch, and mean too. For God's sake, Kid, stay away.

HH

July 21, 1877

Hey Kid,

Well, the trial is over. I was surprised it dragged on so long. That Bannerman guy , Edwards, his name is, has been very decent to me, even got me a lawyer. And the lawyer was really good. Talk about a silver tongue. But even he couldn't get me off in the end. You probably read about the verdict in the paper. Just like we always thought it would be. 20 years.

Well, Kid, I haven't seen you for a while. I'm glad you decided to take my advice for once. They're taking me to Yuma Prison tomorrow, and I don't guess I'll be able to send any letters out of there. Edwards has been willing to mail these for me, but in Yuma things'll be a bit different, I expect. Don't think they have mail service or visiting hours. So I guess this is goodbye.

I'm going to miss you, Kid, but I'm sure glad you're not here. Listen, there's last thing I want to ask you to do--one last favor. Do it for me, would ya, partner?

Stay alive.

Do anything you can to stay out of trouble. Get out of the bank and train robbing business, and find some other line of work. We'd talked about doing that, wish we'd done it sooner. And Kid, change your name, so no young fool of a would-be gunslinger will take a shot at you, to prove he's faster than Kid Curry. Don't let anyone get to you. Walk away, count to ten, turn the other cheek. Play the coward, play the fool. Live your life all the way through, like I wish I could live mine. I'll be an old man when I get out.

Well, I hope I see you again sometime, Kid. If I don't, remember me. I'll remember you.

Your partner,

Heyes