Mr. Malcolm McKay, Tenafly, N. J. Dear Malcolm: Your letter of August 25th received. Charlie and I have talked about your picture “Jerked Down” and we are just sick for you to think it has been so badly damaged and in our minds we don’t think that any picture Charlie could paint could take the place of “Jerked Down” in your heart. Charlie says he can do a picture for you and in his mind a better one but that will be a question whether it will appeal to you as being as good as your first love. Charlie would take pleasure and do his best to make a picture for you, but if your picture can be re- stored until the cracks do not trouble your eyes you had better keep it. I I[sic] don’t see how Doubleday Page Company hope to sell a damaged picture for anything like six thousand dollars so I think if it can be restored to that point of perfection that they want to keep it and resell it, it would be alrightfor[sic] you. If you desire to accept their offer and want Charlie to do a picture for you let us know so Charlie will have plenty of time as he does not work as rapidly as he use to and he has a good deal of work ahead of him. I am awful sorry that we could not come down to the ranch to see you people this summer and if we are well I am promising now that we will get down to see your country next summer. I am happy to say Charlie is improving slowly but surely and we are hoping for a very much healthier man in the coming year. Charlie joins in best love to you all. Sincerely, NR/R [Transcribed by Lauren B. Gerfen, 2012-08-22]