Page 78 (1/2)

When I ca for dinner, Bates

called erly

upon a letter in Laurance Donovan's well-known

hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and

postmarked New Orleans It was dated, however, at

Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901

DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a et away for a European port

as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seeet off

as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat I expected to get a

slice of English prodigal veal at Christrateful to be loose even in this God-forsaken

hole The British bulldog is eager to insert its

teeth in my trousers, and I was flattered to see my picture

bulletined in a conspicuous place the day I struck Vera

Cruz You see, they're badgering the Governot to

catch and hang ot their

hands on the Irish situation I ae theerous-but the British consul

here has a bad eye and even as I write I aaged in

literary work at the next table, is really killing time while

he waits for me to finish this screed

No doubt you are peacefully settled on your ancestral

estate with only a few randfather's shier You alere