Letters from Grandpa 9 March 1916

The International Hotel
Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,
Modesto,
California

Dearest Mine: Your aunt hasn't got a thing on me at all. I don't know what I did to her that she should take such a liking to me nor do I know what she did to me that made me like her so well. Anyhow it's apparently a mutual admiration which I shall do all in my power to maintain. And if her message of love hadn't accompanied the remark that she didn't write because she was afraid the reading of her letter would take up too much of my valuable time, I'd have taken it to heart and been pretty sore. And I'm very grateful to both her and your grandmother for their kind message. Tell them fair exchange is no robbery and I reciprocate, eye for eye, dollar for dollar,~love for love.

I should like to meet your grandmother dear, I'd like to see "you all," but time is such a slow traveler when you're anticipating something pleasant,-and oh, how it flies at other times!~~This is going to be a long summer for me dear, but I'm hot going to let any grass grow under my pedal extremities~~or other parts of my anatomy. We've decided it would be greatly to our advantage to stay on the road all summer. By this scheme we are getting acquainted with the country and people, advertising our work with practical demonstrations and reaping an immediate pecuniary harvest, all of which, especially the last, are very necessary. When winter approaches we will be all fixed (I hope) so we can go right into our office home.


Your letters of yesterday and today were brief dear but didn't I tell you once before that it was unnecessary to apologize for that? "Short but sweet" is a fitting remark, or comment, on them, and I love 'em short or long.

Ever yours
Frank

Austin, Nevada,
March 9th, 1916
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Address next to Elko
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Letters from Grandpa 7 March 1916

The International Hotel
Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,
Modesto,
California

Allene Dearest, Your promised  fat one was received today as per schedule. In it you speak of getting my letters earlier in the day, but two days after they are written. One of those days is lost between here and Battle M't'n. And in your post script you sort of prod my memory regarding some very important questions you asked me a month ago.

I remember very distinctly dear of telling you that I had some plans for the future but that I couldn't tell you what they were--nor even consult you regarding them--as the time and the place were not right.

First dearest I want to ask if the important questions weren't regarding these plans and then that you be patient and wait;--will you, Allene?

So you'd be extremely jealous if I worked over girls or women patients, huh? Am glad to hear you say that dear but you'll have very little cause for any feeling of that kind as most all our work has been and is on men. Anyhow I'm not stuck on working on nervous touchy women. Doc. W. seems to like it and it "goes" with me fine.


Business is still good tho' no big jobs on hand.

Anxiously awaiting your reply dear to find out if I'm on the right track regarding those important questions and to hear what answer you will give to my requests I am,

Your ever sincere,
Frank

Austin, Nevada,
March 7th 1916

Letters from Grandpa 6 March 1916

The International Hotel
Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,
Modesto,
California

Dearest:-Ever since I regained consciousness,-and that happened after a twelve hour sleep which ended at seven o'clock this morning,-I've been thinking of the explanation of the mail service I gave you in my post script Saturday night. Maybe you noticed at a glance that I was all "twisted," if not you will know that the day for the missing letter (when you get this) was yesterday and not today.

Well the big rush is over and I'll be able to rest up a little. Have a full day's work laid out for tomorrow but can take my time. We will probably leave here Saturday and haven't decided where to, but will let you know, of course.

Got two letters from you today dear and in one of them you sort of apologize for its being brief and promise a longer one tomorrow. It isn't the length of your letters dear that counts,- it's the daily expressed tho't, so in the future just bear that in mind dear~~and me too.

Austin's a dull town. I've only been out of the hotel about twice and both times were to go to the P.O. to mail letters to you--and I'm going again now.

All my love dear.
Ever yours
Frank

March 6th, 1916

Letters from Grandpa 4 March 1916

The International Hotel

Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,

Modesto,

California

Allene Dearest, The storm is still on. It's work, work, work and I like it, 'ceptin' it doesn't allow me much time to talk to you,~nor to anyone.

So you think two hundred is a lot for one piece of work! Moore and I got five hundred for a single job here in this town--and the patient died a year afterwards!

"'Tis a small world after all." To think your dentist should have been born in Austin. I hope the place looked different then. It's surely a delapidated [sic] place now.And bye the way "Doc" Grove doesn't need to "puff up" with his display of office furniture, fixtures, appliances, etc. (You didnt [sic] say that he does dear.) but anyhow his "finest office in Modesto" or "the most up to date"~well Elko's goin' to have something pretty classy.

I think perhaps I was joshing dear about getting flustered but I do know I'm awfully anxious to see you.

All the love I've got is enclosed herewith for you dear.

Ever yours

Frank

Austin, Saturday P.M.

March 4th 1916

P.S. There is no incoming mail here Sundays nor outgoing Mondays so the second day after receipt of this you can expect a blank~~~

Letters from Grandpa 20 December 1915

Note: I apologize that this is out of order...I found it unfinished in my drafts just today!


Box 162
Elko, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley
1020 15th St.
Modesto, California

Allene Dearest:~
Had I known~really known~how happy I was going to be I never could have waited for this morning's mail. You got my telegram so know I received the picture O.K. but you don't know what I did the first thing.~~I went to the jewelry stores~all three of them and bought, what I tho't, was the neatest little sterling frame. And now your picture, dear, is right on my dresser where I can look at it and into those great big beautiful eyes of yours whenever I go into my room. And, oh but it is a perfect picture!~Such a characteristic pose and your own natural expression, excepting perhaps the usual trace of a smile. I am pleased Allene, almost beyond comparison. Even the card that accompanied it has been taken care of.~It's in the frame~behind the picture.

Now for a little exciting news about myself~~~ My Los Angeles proposition is all off. I've gone into partnership with a dentist!! We had [a] lawyer draw up [a] contract yesterday and will sign it today.

You may and may not have known it dear, but I followed this line, in partnership with another fellow for four years in this state and we made plenty of money, so I almost know what I'm doing. We will open up offices here in Elko just as soon as we can get our furniture shipped in~probably about the middle of January. We will, in the meantime,~make a professional trip into one or two of these neighboring little towns (villages or mining camps). We're going to start right after Christmas.

I was pleased, dear, when I read that part of your letter in which you said "the L.A. proposition didn't sound encouraging" to you, pleased to note that you took interest, at least enough to make intelligent comment. Do you know, about half the time, (putting it mildly) a girl has got more business sense in a minute than a man has in a month? Lots of time tho' she won't impart her knowledge till too late.

By this time your homecoming is ancient history~~you've see everybody, in the village, shaken hands etc., been to picnics, parties and pink teas, huh? And weren't "auntie" Helene and uncle Will glad to see their "little" girl!!~~not any more so that I'd be. Tell them I haven't forgotten them,-that I said "hello."

Will close dear, thanking you for the dearest Christmas present I ever got.

Yours
Frank

Elko, December 20th,
1915

Letters from Grandpa 2 March 1916

The International Hotel

Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,

Modesto,

California

Well Dearest here it is eleven thirty P. M. I quit work just an hour ago and came down stairs and one of the boys tackled me for a game of pool. Well I beat him. Have been working on the deliberating patients' case.

I landed him with a compromise of two hundred and ten. We'll finish him day after tomorrow then maybe I'll have more time and will be in better condition to write. As it is God knows my back is about broken and I'm all out of sorts and all in but the shoestrings.

But anyhow you wrote me a dandy long letter which I got today. You told me about Mrs. Maze getting fat and I've got nothing more to say. If you want to take on weight, well it's up to you dear-I've nothing more to say about it.

With all my love dear I'll say good night and leave you alone.

Always yours

Frank

March 2nd

Letters from Grandpa 1 March 1916

The International Hotel

Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley

Modesto,

California

Here it is nearly eleven P.M. Dearest, and I just finished work.

My deliberating patient will be up to see me at ten in the morning,-about the time I finish with this first one. I'll "land" him.

Last night I was so tired when I finished work I hardly knew what I was writing. And in your letter you told me about your headache and your left ear burning like sixty and I didn't even tell you I was sorry, dear, when I was all the time. Now today's mail brings another letter telling of more suffering, but I'm glad it's all over and the little mole is gone.

You're sure some goer when you start if you always to the rounds as you did this time.

Don't know why you didn't get a letter Monday cause I wrote Saturday and Sunday too and that's doing pretty well--for me. Sunday's was mailed in Battle Mountain.

Aw, thunder dear, I can't write tonight,-it just won't come out of me, so buenos noches.

Just yours,

Frank

March 1st

[On the back of the last page:]

Now my left ear is burning-I wonder if it is a forerunner of a "call" you're going to give me, afc of this excuse.

Letters from Grandpa 29 February 1916

The International Hotel

Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley, 

Modesto,

California

Talk about work, Dearest--I got up at 6:30 this morning and our sheepherder patient came in at nine. We'll [sic] I worked over him all morning and since then have been making the bridgework. The upper jaw will be one solid piece of gold. I just finished putting it together,---its [sic] nine forty P.M. I will cement it in the mouth in the morning. Will finish the balance of his work tomorrow and will then "nail" the other fellow. I tell you I'm pretty tired-didn't notice it till I came down stairs-but I'm anxious to get that job done.

Got two letters from you today dear. One was for'ded from Golconda. Telegraph comes in pretty handy and from tone of your letters, it has "saved my bacon" several times. I try to keep up my end of the correspondence dear but sometimes it's awful hard to find time or material, so must resort to the wire. 

Now what have I done to call forth a "roasting" from your auntie and you?

No I've never read any of Hiteliens' works so you'll have to tell me about "Bella Donna," if you want me to know.

Alright dear,----if possible----I'll take your advice and not get discouraged, or feel blue, or worry, or "nuffin." And I'm glad everything is going to be lovely and you're sure of it and that you are all much interested and are very fond of me and especially you dear, so I'll accept the stacks of love you've sent and look for more.

Always yours only

Frank

February 29th, 1916

Letters from Grandpa 29 February 1916

The International Hotel

Wm. Easton, Proprietor

Austin, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley, 

Modesto,

California

Here am I, Dearest,-sound and safe. And what would you expect--?--Well don't venture even one guess till I tell you the very first patient has paid the expense of the trip--or at least he will. Two patients were bro't into the office the first thing, by an old friend, and I landed one for a hundred and sixty dollar job and the other is trying to make me cut from two hundred and twenty five to two hundred even. There's nothing to it, I'll land him even if I have to compromise. There's no other dentist here.--Maybe we will be detained longer than one week.

Now dear that's all I'm going to bother you with regarding business matters tonight. But it was such an agreeable welcome and surprise when we were not counting on "taking in" much more than expenses. Will enclose a card- my friend's picture and names of the patients on reverse side. These fellows are sheepmen--sheepherders.

Listen dear, in your letter of the 25th you remark about lack of "pep" in your letters account of short acquaintance. There may be something to that, but Allene dear, let me assure you there is not the least expression or word in your missives that I do not give a thorough analysis and I think I can detect the you from the other parts. Ant it does sound good dear when you sort of forget yourself and just say the what you think in plain ungarnished words. It's just like a warm greeting from an old friend whom you haven't seen in years. I know your presence is going to knock courage clear out of me, dear, so I'll try and be honest, and frank, and sincere while I'm rational.

Sometime, as soon as fortune favors, if you'll permit me,--I'm going to Modesto and give you an opportunity of getting better acquainted with me,--so you can be at ease--and me too--at all times.

Must leave you now dear--goodnight.

Always yours

Frank

February 28th, 1916

10:30 P.M.

Letters from Grandpa 28 February 1916

Battle Mountain, Nevada

Box 22

Miss Allene S. Kelley,

Modesto,

California

'Nother note Dear to tell you all's well and we leave for Austin in a few minutes.

It's ninety miles up there and it takes about nine hours to get there and they charge by time rather than mileage. Nine "bucks" one way!~And we make it up on about the first patient who 'lights.

"And you still grow fat," dear!! How much have you taken on lately? And say you'd better hold on 'cause I tho't you were heavy enough but maybe you think that's a matter of opinion--and maybe you're right. But anyhow dear I admired you the way you were and if you go piling on fat you're liable to spoil it all.

Say I've got to beat it dear and get out tickets etc. Train leaves in thirty minutes and everything's all piled up here in our room.

With all my love

Yours

Frank

Battle Mountain,

Feb'y 28, 1916