(seq. 11)

a letter written
1 yr. ago

To:
Name Dr. Miriam Van Waters
Street & Number Box 99
City Framingham, State Mass.

Box 1112
Joliet, Illinois
February 14, 1937

Dear Dr. Van Waters:

Your splendid letter arrived Thursday. Thank you so much. Coming
as it did, so soon after our fine visit, made it much nicer. I have been hardly
able to think of anything but you. I never was so glad to see anyone. It had
been so long since your last visit. You were looking very well. I thought you were
a good deal heavier than you are. Riding horses probably keeps you in such fine
shape. If I ever find one that is too old to run, I will try my hand at it.

Our visit was a little short, perhaps, but under the circumstances you
could not have stayed much longer. Mrs. Drummer's health must be considered.
I could have kept you a while longer. I managed ten minutes over time as it was and
didn't have the heart to keep on talking when I knew you must go. I wanted you all
to myself as long as possible. I am a bit piggish where you are concerned. We did make
the most of our time. I, like you, did not feel strange. I have always felt that you
liked me and believed in me and thought me trustworthy. It is a great thought to
know there is someone who has confidence in me. It is possible that some people
advised you against helping me a few years ago. My life in prison and when I have my
freedom will be such that you can ask those same people, "Now what do you think
of my judgement?" Perhaps, I could be an example and thereby help someone else.

I am glad that you think I have good sense and that my character has developed.
a good many do grow bitter, but not me. Lots of young men around me are worse
off than I am. Some of them have almost twice my sentence and not a friend
in the world. Your letters have been a comfort and a blessing to me - a sustaining
power. Nothing in the world is so dear as a good loyal friend. I used to want riches,
but now, I have suffered, been against the wall alone, looking at sure death, a look
into the hereafter and going down for the third time, so to speak. Then you came