Edwin S. Blanke
Pearce, Arizona
June 4, 1911 

Mr. Theodore L. Blanke 
618 Fulton St. 
Wausau, Wisconsin 

Dear Brother Theo:- 

I wrote you a letter today from Pearce, but now I am home and reading your 
letters and Edna's. My eyes are better. Haven't bothered me for a week. My head 
is jammed full as a lawyer's just before a big case. Well. I am sorry the 
trouble occured. I didn't really mean anything bad when I wrote that Art heard 
from them. But they owed me a letter a long time and I thought I ought to get 
one too. Maybe it was jealousy. I don't care if they write to him at all if they
don't tell him what I am going to do next. It wouldn't be right (after thinking 
a little about it) for them to stop writing to him just because we fell out. I 
couldn't say much even if you would write to him, but then you were affected in 
the deal as much as I. I had him scared proper. Не knew I knew all the details 
about the case, and after the trouble I addressed an envelope (but didn't write 
anything) to Douglas and stuck it in my pocket. Mostly I wanted to see if he was
going through them, and he did. He found the letter and put it in broad sight on
the table. We left it there for several days, and no one said a word. But he got
crankery, took my money, and tried to get a row again...and did, when he hit me 
with the cup. It bent the granite cup. 

Well, it was a mean trick of mine, but if he don't behave himself, I'll tell 
yet. A note for $100 or $200 comes due Aug. 1, 1911 up here. I know a man who 
has it. I met Art on the road to Pearce the other day (Wednesday) but neither of
us spoke. If he leaves me alone. I'll leave him alone, but my gun is loaded if 
he comes around here. He just wanted to boss here. I'm glad you and Pa are 
alright again. I am leaving here June 6th. They can come if they want to, but I 
am gone! That land might be open yet, and it might not be by next fall. Of 
course I expect Pa to go and see Art if Pa gets here. But I don't want Art on my
place and I won't go to his. He hasn't near enough money, though, to file and 
prove up on a 160 acre homestead. 

I fenced another 1/2 mile. I left one side open where the 80 joins it, but put 
in posts now. I only have about 20 left and a small pile of fire-wood cut that I
will pile in the shack. The wagon and lumber that I had, I took down to the 
neighbor's. I am going to shoot old Tom and sell (try Tuesday) the other 
(Charlie) for $45 and saddle. I could get that if I took $20 cash and $25 in 
mining stock. I don't like that very well, though. I have to leave my trunk, and
stuff like that. in the shack to show that this is still my home and that I have
not deserted it. 

I thought about the fire too. but don't see any way out of it. Wrights and Blue 
can see the shack plainly (only 3/4 & 1/2 mile away, respectively). They are 
going to watch it. And Bill Harper is working for Blue. All my friends, Harper, 
Blue, and I were down to Pearce to hear the commencement excercises. They were 
pretty good. 

Say, you say you are getting all the blame. That seems funny. I was the one who 
wrote for Pa to mortgage his place and come here four months ago. And now I was 
the one to write for them not to come. I am the one who ought to be catching it.
Maybe I am too far away. I feel sorry for Pa, but he can come next fall if he 
wants to. 

Say, did you hear me laugh? Don't worry, I'm not lonesome nor homesick a bit. 
Having too good and easy times here. Wait until Blue's sister comes and cooks 
for him (one month yet). Watch me. He and Harper were here for dinner today. I 
stayed all last night with them. Agnes writes me some fine letters quite often 
yet. Sue and Ethel, it's OK. Received a nine page letter today. I'm going to be 
a Morman! Write soon. 

Your brother, 
Edwin