Your pal, JACK.

[Illustration]

CAMP GRANT, Nov. 17.

FRIEND AL: Well Al what do you think I got a letter from the girlie down in Texas and the poor kid has gone crazy over me and I only wish they was some way to stop her because of course it has got to end right here and I will just have to drop her a line and tell her the truth that I am a married man and the best thing she can do is try and forget.  But I am afraid it will be pretty hard for her and I only wish she hadn’t never seen or heard about me.

For some reason another she won’t tell me where it was she seen me or she won’t send me no picture because she says I might show it to the boys and laugh over that little girl down in Texas and of course I wouldn’t do nothing like that and she wouldn’t think so if she knew me better.  Here is what her letter says.

My Soldier Boy, so you are an officer now.  Well that is just grand and I feel all the happier and prouder to hear from you.  No Soldier Boy I won’t tell you where I saw you.  You will just have to guess.  Don’t you remember that day at------?  If you don’t I won’t tell you.  And I won’t send you my photo because I know what soldier boys are.  You would show it to everybody in camp and you would all have a good laugh over the little f—­l woman down in Texas who is fond of you.  Well Boy we will probably never see each other unless you should happen to be sent to one of the camps down here.  Is there any chance of that Soldier Boy?  So you quit a job in the big league to fight for Uncle Sam?  That was fine of you and makes me all the prouder to have your friendship.  I am glad you like the hose I knitted for you.  Do you want some more or can I make you a helmet or a sweater or something?  Just say what you need and I will make my needles fly to furnish you with it.  And write to me soon.  We are so far apart that it takes your letters days and days to reach me.  Au revoir for this time Big Boy.

Well Al I can’t remember to save my soul where it was I and she could of met.  Maybe I could if she had of put the name of the town in her letter but she just left a dash like I copied it.  I been trying to think up all the girls I met in different towns while I was with the ball club and I can remember a lot of them but nobody named Chase but of course she might of give me a fake name the time we met.

Well as I say theys only the 1 thing to do and that is drop her a line and say how things stand with me and for her to forget about me.  Its mighty nice of her to offer to knit me them other articles but of course I can’t ask her to under the circumstances and all I can do is just to call it off or maybe it would be better to not write to her back but just leave her guess the truth only I am afraid she would think I was a bum to not acknollege her letter.  I wish they was somebody to advice me what to do but I guess I can’t look for no help from you along those lines eh Al?  You never had them looseing their heads and makeing garments for you and etc.