Mrs. Cora Hefner

1017 Jefferson St.

Seattle, 4, Washington

I’m getting out of here and I’m not going upstairs again. Fix any more beds we better do is on _____, tie pink elephant reading news papers Kiss me like you did last night.

Dear Cora:

I was so thrilled with your letter and the news it contained. I hope Jean will be terribly happy in her married life. I can imagine very well how lovely she must be now. She always was a pretty girl and I know with her losing some pounds she would be a knock out. I’m so glad for you and her that she has such a nice husband and in- laws.

I’m glad, too, that you have the job you had your eye on. I know you’ll do it justice.

I haven’t much new and startling to impart. George has been behaving pretty well of late. My independence has hit him pretty hard. He even bought me a beautiful new diamond ring last week and a new electric iron – one of the modern type, heat control, etc. You know, I told him I was going to divorce him and he begged me not to – told me I was really the one for him and all that sort of bunk. I’m not holding my breath or anything, but it did sound pretty good. In view of the fact that I have no designs on anyone else, I decided I might as well try to make a go of this deal for the sake of the kids. I don’t believe I love George any more but I don’t really dislike him either. [I] just don’t feel much of anything and I think that’s better by far than being madly in love like I was for so long.

So Ray is on the briny! Well, he surprises me. He really is going places and doing things, isn’t he?

You know what I wish you’d do? Write me at 3033 Portland and tell me all the news you told me about Jean and Ray, only write as if you hadn’t written to me at the office at all. It doesn’t need to be a long letter. Just write so George can read it and as if you haven’t written or heard from me for ages. You understand what I mean, I hope? Sounds screwy, maybe, but I just don’t want him to know you wrote me here and every once in a while he asks me if xxx I’ve heard anything from you. Think you could do that for me? (Of course, you don’t know anything about my ring or the iron if and when you write as above).

I am very fond of my job. I do hope everything goes well so I can keep on working for a long time. Judy doesn’t like the idea of my not being home when she gets home but she’ll get used to it. (You don’t even know I’m working when you write, you know). Maybe I’m nuts or something!

I, too, wish we could have a good old fashioned gab- fest. Wouldn’t we have lots to talk about? Well, I won’t write any more now until I hear from you at home. [I’ll] be hearing from you.

Love

Ruth

I’ll write more fully next time