am longing to
again have the pleasure of seeing and speaking to you. After I
received your cards, which were very pretty, it is only necessary for
me to say here that I appreciated your loving kindness of thinking to
send them. By this time no doubt you know of my transfer from Auburn
to Dannemora which I thought would not be. But now that it has, I am
pleased to say all is well, and find this place better than my
previous home; see! There is only one thing I regret, and that is
I'll not have as many opportunities of seeing and talking with you.
For in the short time spent in your company can only say I miss your
presence more and more. If in the future you will write me a line or
so, such will cheer me in my moments of thought. Would be pleased to
hear of your trip abroad. I hope you had a more pleasanter time than
while at Auburn. I can not say in this letter the way I appreciated
your cards. I sat for some time looking at them and thinking. I must
say in closing that you have my sincere wishes for a merry Christmas,
as this is the last letter till after it has passed. May you enjoy it
and many to come. Give Jack my love and tell him to be good.

Believe me to be sincerely yours,

JOHN J. BELL.

Once I heard Bell described as "just an ordinary fellow who likes to
appear tough." Reading between the lines of his letter I think one can
discern the fine instincts of a gentleman. I thought I recognized such
when I met him in the basket-shop; this letter and others I have had from
him confirm that belief.

As I think my narrative must have shown, there is a very soft spot in my
heart for my comrades of the dark cells. It has been a source of deep
regret to me that Joe, Number Four, did not make good on his release; and
I hope that the others will have stronger purposes and better results.

Perhaps there may be some interest in the fate of the poor lad in Cell
Two, who tipped over his water, and whose mental and physical sufferings
added so much to my own distress during that horrible night. Upon his
release the next day he went back to the hospital, where he remained for
some time. In the month of November, while I was in Europe, he wrote me
the following letter.

135 State St., Auburn, N. Y.,
Monday, Nov. 16, 1913.

My dear Friend, "Number One":

How little those words convey, and again how much. T