will write and tell you how I come out but I am to exited to write any
more now and I wish they was some way I could get out of it all without
leaveing no scars.

Your pal, JACK.

HOUSTON, TEX., Dec. 24.

_FRIEND AL:_ I bet you will pop your eyes out when you read this letter
and read what I got to tell you. I will begin at the beginning and tell
you what come off so as you will know what come off.

Saturday I pretty near made up my mind that it would be better for me to
not see Miss Chase so when I asked for leave for yesterday I hoped they
wouldn't give it to me but they give it to me O.K. so I had to come or
it would look funny. Well I come into the Rice at about 5 min, to 1 and
looked around the lobby and they was only one woman that was alone and
she was old about 35 and I looked around and couldn't see no girl that
looked like they was waiting for somebody, and while I was looking this
woman I seen seen me and come over to where I was standing. Well Al I
thought sure it was the girl's aunt and she had heard about our date and
was going to raise h-ll or something. Well this woman come up and says
wasn't I Corporal Keefe. Well I didn't know what to say and I kind of
stalled and she says "Was you expecting to meet some one here?" So I
said "Yes I was looking for a man." So then she kind of smirked and
says "Well I was expecting to meet a man to and I thought you was him."
So I said "No I guess you have got the wrong bird."

Well Al everything would of been O.K. and I could of got away O.K. only
just when I had her beleiving it wasn't me who should come up but Lefty
Kramer that pitchs in the Texas League and lives here and instead of him
just saying "Hello Jack" of course he had to say "Well if here ain't old
Jack Keefe" and then it was good night. Well I suppose I turned into all
the colors of the rainbow and I didn't know what to say and then Lefty
asked right out loud if I wasn't going to introduce him to the lady and
she spoke up and said her name Miss Chase and then I had to say
something so I said "Oh I didn't know you was really Miss Chase or I
would of acted different but I thought you was somebody else." So she
kind of give a funny smile and says "Yes you did" and then all of a
sudden I heard little Al's voice right behind hollering "There's daddy"
and I looked around and it was Florrie and little Al.

[Illustration: Well if here ain't old Jack Keefe (p. 154).]

Well Al Florrie come up and kissed