.MTM3NA.MTE2ODY5

[badly stained page with holes]

[letterhead] 140 NORTH DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO

[ date added in pencil] around 1920

Oct. 16th Dear Mary

 What in the devil is the reason I havent written sooner.  I dont know.  I was always intending to but you know about good intentions   It was fine to see you again after so many     years and I enjoyed every minute of the time hole in paper able to hole in paper  and was sorry that ? fold and holes in paper  It does seem as if you should come oftener and I am not the only one in Chicago who thinks so.  Gussie was complaining because you didn't see her when you passed through on your way home & of course the Johannsens are always crying for you.  Well life is very strange.  here you are a long way from most of your old time friends & the fates never seem to care any thing about the residences or feelings of men, they just throw us around without reason or purpose   Still some talk of the goodness of god.  Joe tells me you & Lem are both talking  of going to N.Y. or here or somewhere in the world.  Why dont you?  I am sure this is the best place the city is dirty & brutal & crass, but it is fairly free