Monday, October 24, 1910
"Julius, Mr. Jackson lent me a wagon. A few men helped me move Preacher Sam's car to the dump. He and Tommy signed their statements. Sam and Crystal boarded their train to Casper." Sarah said as she put her coat on the rack and brushed off the wet snow.
"I appreciate your attention to detail."
Sarah smiled at the compliment. "Can I talk to the prisoner now?"
Julius shrugged. "Go ahead. Some county deputies from Plentywood will be here at 5:30."
Sarah greeted the prisoner, "Hello."
TJ Guffman was charmed by her. 
"Hi." He looked past Sarah. "Julius, do I really have to wear these chains while I am inside the cell?"
"Yes."
TJ shrugged. "You're only making this harder for me."
Julius chuckled at him.
Sarah smiled. "Can I interview you?"
"That'd be just fine." He stood up and went to the back of his cell. "But, before you do that, could you get me some cold water?"
Sarah nodded.
He walked to her with the tin cup and then he dropped it. It rolled over to the bars.
Sarah leaned down to get it. She took the cup and put in some water. She placed it on a ledge with a sliding door. She opened it and stepped back. TJ took the cup.
"Thanks." He drank the water.
"Ok, what do you want to know kid?"
Sarah got a chair and brought it up to the cell.
Julius cautioned her. "Not too close."
Sarah was embarrassed, she scooted the chair further away from the cell.
"Ok… what is your name?"
"Thomas James Guffman."
"Where's home?"
"Copernicus."
Julius barked, "Oregon."
TJ smirked. "I forgot. Copernicus, Oregon. It's a town so small that it does not appear on maps so don't waste your time trying to look for it."
Sarah looked at him suspiciously. "Yes, I've met a lot of people from small towns in Oregon like that."
Sarah thought for a moment. "Why do you do it?"
"Why do I steal?"
"Yes."
He made a sad face. "I have ten starving kids."
Sarah gave him a dubious expression.
"Um… I'm addicted to strawberry shortcake?"
Sarah snickered at him and shook her head, no.
"I like to steal. It's exciting."
Sarah nodded. "I can believe that one. Do you ever get caught?"
He hemmed and hawed, "Once in awhile."
"Then why do it?"
"Sweetheart, I'm a pick pocket. I am a criminal, but, no one really suffers."
"I just want to understand why people do bad things. To me the fascinating part of a crime is why the criminal thought that committing it was the best thing he could do at the time."
TJ scratched his chin. "Well, to me it's just a matter of temptation. I feel good about myself when I get away with it. I'm getting even. It's as though I am going against everyone who ever cheated me or insulted me or pushed me on a school yard."
"But Russell didn't do any of those things to you."
"I realize that. Sarah, I know it doesn't make sense, but that's why I do it. Are you doing some thing for the newspaper on thieves?"
"No. I am student of the human condition. I believe I can learn something from everyone. So, I like to listen."
"You are quite a young lady, Sarah."
Sarah and TJ talk for another hour. She made her final notes and then said, "Ok, I got everything I need."
She scooted her chair back.
Julius said, "Sarah, can you try and organize this file cabinet?" He pointed at a file cabinet behind his desk.
"Sure."
She went to work on the file cabinet.
"Julius, can I relieve myself before the county deputies get here?"
Julius nodded. He grabbed his gun and slowly opened the door.
TJ and Julius walked to the back room. A minute later, a toilet flushed.
Two men in uniform came in the front door.
Sarah smiled. "Can I help you?"
"Sheridan County Sherriff's Office. I'm Deputy Bloom; this is Reynolds; we're here for the prisoner."
Julius and TJ came out of the back room. Julius smiled. "Evening David, Tom."
"Evening Julius." Deputy Bloom rolled his eyes. "TJ? Not again!" 
He shrugged. "And the worst part was this little girl is the one who caught me."
Deputy Reynolds shook his head. "When will you ever learn?"
He looked at Julius and began chuckling.
Deputy Bloom also laughed. "Well, that explains a lot."
Deputy Reynolds agreed with him. "I've always wondered why Julius is twenty-five-years-old and unwed. Now we know."
Julius tilted his head. "Huh?"
Deputy Bloom gave Julius a clip board with paper work. He hand them some paperwork to sign.
Reynolds took off TJ's cuffs and put on some which belonged to the county.
Julius signed the paperwork.
Deputy Reynolds said, "It's not illegal in this state, however, Julius, I know this will break your heart, you two cannot get married."
The deputies laughed as Julius handed them the clip board.
"Um, Sarah is a high school kid, we're just friends."
Deputy Bloom said to Deputy Reynolds. "Yeah, buddy, why would Julius be interested in a woman?"
They laughed.
Julius was bewildered.
Reynolds giggled,
"Ok, ok, ok, we've got to get back to the county jail."
Bloom nudged him, "Maybe Julius and the girl could do each others hair or maybe go shopping for dresses."
Julius shook his head. "What are you talking about?"
"Never mind. We'll see you later, Julius."
Julius cautiously nodded. "Um, right."
They closed the door.
Julius said, "What was that all about?"
Sarah eyes bulged when she looked at him.
Julius was flabbergasted. "What?"
Sarah pointed to the mirror next to the coat rack.
Julius looked at his reflection. The necklace he was wearing had a red heart with white lettering.
"Who is… Nomis?" He fiddled with a small gold chain around his neck.
"That's 'Simon.' That's my necklace!"
Sarah got up and said, "Here, let me remove that for you."
She took off the necklace.
She turned around and moved her hair. He put in on her.
Julius shook his head. "I am never going to hear the end of this."
Sarah chuckled, "Don't worry about it."
Sarah put on her coat. When she put her hands in the pockets she felt something pricking her right palm.
"Ouch!"
She took out her hand and kissed the palm. She realized there was a piece of paper in her pocket.
"Dear Sarah,
I enjoyed talking with you. Good luck in your studies.
TJ Guffman."
Sarah reached for the item in her pocket which pricked her.
She smiled. "Julius? I wouldn't worry too much about those deputies making fun of you."
She handed Julius a badge.
"Sheridan County Sherriff's Office."
