t very
friendly since I been nice to him. I noticed none of the other fellos
had much to say to him. I felt kind of sorry for him. Hes a human bein
even if he is a Captin, Mable. So every time I saw him I used to stop
him and talk to him. Democratic. Thats me all over, Mable. "Smith" he
says "If they was all like you round here war would be hell, no joke."
By which he meant that we would make it hot for the Boshes.

I been feelin awful sorry for you, Mable. What with missin me and your
fathers liver gone back on him again things must have been awful
lonesome for you. It isnt as if you was a girl what had a lot of fellos
hangin round all the time. Not that you couldnt have em, Mable, but you
dont an theres no use makin no bones about it. If it hadnt been for me I
guess things would have been pretty stupid though I dont begrudge you a
cent. You know how I am with my money. I guess you ought to anyway. Eh,
Mable? Never talk of money matters in connexun with a woman. Thats
me all over.

[Illustration: "THE ONLY PLACE THERE FLAT IS ON THE MAP"]

[Illustration: "YOU CAN READ EM TO YOUR GRANCHILDREN"]

Now I got started an found a fountin pen an the Y.M.C.A. givin away
paper like it does Im goin to rite you regular. They say there goin
to charge three sents for a letter pretty soon. That aint goin to stop
me though, Mable. There aint no power in heavin or earth, as the poets
say, as can come between you and me, Mable. You mite send a few three
sent stamps when you rite. That is if your fathers able to work yet. And
willin, I should add.

Of course it aint nothin to me but Id keep these letters what you get
from me as a record of the war. Some day you can read em to your
granchildren an say "Your Granfather Bill did all these things." Aint I
the worst, Mable? Serious though I havnt found noone so far what has
thought of doin this except the newspapers. I guess Ill get a lot of
inside stuff that theyll never see. So this may be the only one of its
kind. But it doesnt matter to me what you do with them, Mable.

Later Ill tell you all about everything but I guess you wont understand
much cause its tecknickle. Lots of the fellos are gettin nitted things
and candy and stuff right along. Dont pay no attenshun to that, though,
or take it for a hint cause it aint. I just say it as a matter of
rekord. Independent if nothin. Thats me all over.

Yours till the war ends
_Bill_

_Dere Mable:_

Having nothin be