A friend of Jim's writes to Ellis after Jim is goes missing. He says that he and Jim shared a birthday and read each other's mail to the other. In doing so, they came to know the other's mother quite well. He tells Mrs. Lardner that he would very much like to see her when he returns to New York, three weeks from the writing of the letter. Service goes on to tell Mrs. Lardner that Jim was an admirable person. He wishes to meet Mrs. Lardner and talk more about Jim when he returns and intends for this letter to be an introduction.