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e the child of the warden。 Overnight the newspapers and television mentators turned Tracy into a heroine。 Governor Haber himself visited the prison hospital with Warden Brannigan to see Tracy。
〃That was a very brave thing you did；〃 the warden said。 〃Mrs。 Brannigan and I want you to know how grateful we are。〃 His voice was choked with emotion。
Tracy was still weak and shaken from her experience。 〃How is Amy？〃
〃She's going to be fine。〃
Tracy closed her eyes。 I couldn't have borne it if anything had happened to her； she thought。 She remembered her coldness； when all the child had wanted was love； and Tracy felt bitterly ashamed。 The incident had cost her her chance to escape； but she knew that if she had it to do over again； she would do the same thing。
There was a brief inquiry into the accident。
〃It was my fault；〃 Amy told her father。 〃We were playing ball； and Tracy ran after the ball and told me to wait； but I climbed up on the wall so I could see her better and I fell in the water。 But Tracy saved me； Daddy。〃
They kept Tracy in the hospital that night for observation； and the next morning she was taken to Warden Brannigan's office。 The media was waiting for her。 They knew a human…interest story when they saw one； and stringers from UPI and the Associated Press were present； the local television station had sent a news team。
That evening the report of Tracy's heroism unfolded； and the account of the rescue went on national television and began to snowball。 Time； Newsweek； People； and hundreds of newspapers all over the country carried the story。 As the press coverage continued； letters 。and telegrams poured into the penitentiary； demanding that Tracy Whitney be pardoned。
Governor Haber discussed it with Warden Brannigan。
〃Tracy Whitney is in here for some serious crimes；〃 Warden Brannigan observed。
The governor was thoughtful。 〃But she has no previous record； right； George？〃
〃That's right； sir。〃
〃I don't mind telling you； I'm getting a hell of a lot of pressure to do something about her。〃
〃So am I； Governor。〃
〃Of course； we can't let the public tell us how to run our prisons； can we？〃
〃Certainly not。〃
〃On the other hand；〃 the governor said judiciously； 〃the Whitney girl has certainly demonstrated a remarkable amount of courage。 She's bee quite a heroine。〃
〃No question about it；〃 Warden Brannigan agreed。
The governor paused to light a cigar。 〃What's your opinion； George？〃
George Brannigan chose his words carefully。 〃You're aware； of course； Governor； that I have a very personal interest in this。 It was my child she saved。 But； putting that aside； I don't think Tracy Whitney is the criminal type； and I can't believe she would be a danger to society if she were out in the world。 My strong remendation is that you give her a pardon。〃
The governor； who was about to announce his candidacy for a new term； recognized a good idea when he heard it。 〃Let's play this close to the chest for a bit。〃 In politics； timing was everything。
**********
After discussing it with her husband； Sue Ellen said to Tracy； 〃Warden Brannigan and I would like it very much if you moved into the cottage。 We have a spare bedroom in back。 You could take care of Amy full…time。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Tracy said gratefully。 〃I would like that。〃
**********
It worked out perfectly。 Not only did Tracy not have to spend each night locked away in a cell； but her relationship with Amy changed pletely。 Amy adored Tracy； and Tracy responded。 She enjoyed being with this bright； loving little girl。 They played their old games and watched Disney movies on television and read together。 It was almost like being part of a family。
But whenever Tracy had an errand that took her into the cell blocks； she invariably ran into Big Bertha。
〃You're a lucky bitch；〃 Big Bertha growled。 〃But you'll be back here with the mon folks one day soon。 I'm workin' on it； littbarn。〃
**********
Three weeks after Amy's rescue Tracy and Amy were playing tag in the yard when Sue Ellen Brannigan hurried out of the house。 She stood there a moment watching them。 〃Tracy； the warden just telephoned。 He would like to see you in his office right away。〃
Tracy was filled with a sudden fear。 Did it mean that she was going to be transferred back to the prison？ Had Big Bertha used her influence to arrange it。 Or had Mrs。 Brannigan decided that Amy and Tracy were getting too close？
〃Yes； Mrs。 Brannigan。〃
The warden was standing in the doorway of his office when Tracy was escorted in。 〃You'd better sit down；〃 he said。
Tracy tried to read the answer to her fate from the tone of his voice。
〃I have some news for you。〃 He paused； filled with some emotion that Tracy did not understand。 〃I have just received an order from the governor of Louisiana；〃 Warden Brannigan went on； 〃giving you a full pardon； effective immediately。〃
Dear God； did he say what I think he said？ She was afraid to speak。
〃I want you to know；〃 the warden continued； 〃that this is not being done because it was my child you saved。 You acted instinctively in the way any decent citizen would have acted。 By no stretch of the imagination could I ever believe that you would be a threat to society。〃 He smiled and added； 〃Amy is going to miss you。 So are we。〃
Tracy had no words。 If the warden only knew the truth： that if the accident had not happeped； the warden's men would have been out hunting her as a fugitive。
〃You'll be released the day after tomorrow。〃
Her 〃getup。〃 And still Tracy could not absorb it。 〃I… I don't know what to say。〃
〃You don't have to say anything。 Everyone here is very proud of you。 Mrs。 Brannigan and I expect you to do great things on the outside。〃
So it was true： She was free。 Tracy felt so weak that she had to steady herself against the arm of the chair。 When she finally spoke； her voice was firm。 〃There's a lot I want to do； Warden Brannigan。〃
**********
On Tracy's last day in prison an inmate from Tracy's old cell block walked up to her。 〃So you're getting out。〃
〃That's right。〃
The woman； Betty Franciscus； was in her early forties； still attractive； with an air of pride about her。
〃If you need any help on the outside； there's a man you should see in New York。 His name is Conrad Morgan。〃 She slipped Tracy a piece of paper。 〃He's into criminal reform。 He likes to give a hand to people who've been in prison。〃
〃Thank you； but I don't think I'll need…〃
〃You never know。 Keep his address。〃
Two hours later； Tracy was walking through the penitentiary gates； moving past the television cameras。 She would not speak to the reporters； but when Amy broke away from her mother and threw herself into Tracy's arms； the cameras whirred。 That was the picture that came out over the evening news。
Freedom to Tracy was no longer simply an abstract word。 It was something tangible； physical； a condition to be enjoyed and savored。 Freedom meant breathing fresh air； privacy； not standing in lines for meals； not listening for b