Headed notepaper: John Leng & Co. Ltd., Courier and Advertiser, My Weekly Secrets, People's Journal, People's Friend, 7 Bank Street, Dundee. Signed. 'Our Mr Davidson will be in London on Friday, 15th curt., and would like to meet you to discuss with your the possibilities of your next serial for us. I shall be obliged therefore, if you will call to see him at our London office, 186 Fleet Street, at 2.30 afternoon on that day.'
Headed notepaper: John Leng & Co. Ltd., Courier and Advertiser, My Weekly Secrets, People's Journal, People's Friend, 7 Bank Street, Dundee. Signed. 'Our Mr Davidson is to be in London on Monday July 1st and he would like to meet you at our London office, 186 Fleet Street, at 3 o'clock afternoon on that day. I hope you will be able to meet him and that something profitable will result from the interview. I have been hoping for a long time to get an opening instalment from you. Perhaps it is too much to expect before the end of the present month but if it were to come I would make and effort to have it considered in time for the meeting between you and Mr Davidson. I hope you keep well and with kind regards.'
Headed notepaper: John Leng & Co. Ltd., Courier and Advertiser, My Weekly Secrets, People's Journal, People's Friend, 7 Bank Street, Dundee. Signed. 'The story, 'The Woman in Their Mother's Place' is the story you wrote for us under the title 'The Stepmother'. We paid for it during the period from March, 1929 to February, 1930. I am glad to hear you have not forgotten the story which you discussed with Mr Davidson. I should like to have you at work on another story for us, and shall look forward to getting the first instalment in the course of the next few weeks.'
Headed notepaper: John Leng & Co. Ltd., Courier and Advertiser, My Weekly Secrets, People's Journal, People's Friend, 7 Bank Street, Dundee. Signed. 'I am obliged by your letter of 23rd August. Your story 'The Stepmother' has not been published previously in any of our papers. Your impression that this story has already been used is somewhat disturbing. As we hold the first serial rights of 'The Stepmother' we presume it has not appeared elsewhere. I shall be glad to hear from you on this point.’
Headed notepaper: John Leng & Co. Ltd., Courier and Advertiser, My Weekly Secrets, People's Journal, People's Friend, 7 Bank Street, Dundee. Signed. 'I am wondering whether you have been able to get down to anything for us. We had expected to have a first instalment before now, and as we are making our arrangements, I am naturally anxious to know whether we can depend upon anything from you.'
From: 40 Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square W1. 'Your brother had a sudden attack of heart failure this morning due to coronary thrombosis, that is, clotting of one of the blood vessles of the heart. As you you, he had been in a very weak condition for some time and very anaemic as the result of the haemorrhagge from the bowel. [...] As you know your brother was a great sufferer and was very patient and brave through it all. The marvel is that he lived so long under the very serious conditions from which he suffered. I rather think he felt that the end was near since we had difficulty in getting him to take his food and to look forward to getting better. We did all we could for hii [sic] at St Mary's and the Sisters and Nurses were most attentive. With kind regards and deepest sympathy to your self and family and please convey the same to Mrs Philip Allingham. You have been a most devoted brother to him for many years.'
Headed notepaper: 58 Thorpe Avenue, Thorpe Bay, Essex. Signed. ‘Is this possible? I want £250 to help my married daughter buy a house. Would the A.P. advance me that amount in respect of future reprints you have from me? If so I would undertake to write for no other firm for the next three years (*if during that time you continued to want my stuff) (with the exception of one story for Dundee. I have to do this one story probably next year, because I have promised it.) You understand that I don’t want this £250 to interfere with my regular weekly cheque. But you sometimes pay me lump sums for reprints and it could be cleared off that way. If there is any difficulty or if you think it would be wise not to make such a request please say so and that will end the matter. I value your advice. I have read the opening of ‘Alone in London’. It is very old fashioned but the ‘guts’ are there and will I think make a good story.’
Headed paper: Answers, Editorial Department, 108 Fleet Street. 'I have entered you on our pay-sheets £4.4/- for the copyright of your story 'The Crime and Capture of Widow Kelly'. I have no doubt that Mr. Alfred Harmsworth would give you permission in the course of a year's time to re-publish the story in any book you may give to the public. If you care to send me the school story I will read it and see if it is suitable for any of our papers.'
Headed notepaper: Yes or No - One Penny Weekly, 11 Gough Square, Fleet Street, London. Signed. 'May I remind you that we have not received the fifth instalment of your serial [...] The story has now reached a point where we think it advisable you should transfer the scene to Russia and keep it there as much as possible with all local colour and effect that will be likely to lend strength to the story.'
Headed notepaper: Cliff Coomb, Broadstairs with photographic engraving of house and coastline. Signed. ‘You know how much I would like to meet you in this matter of the £250. My being here means delay as the Directors have to sanction anything of this sort. I will phone to the office on Monday and see what I can do, and then will let you know without delay. I agree with you that 'Alone in London' is old fashioned. When rewriting it you will make the man more like the one in 'Deadman’s Lane' story. Our title for that story was 'The Man who Fascinated Women'. Anyway I am sure you will make it an A1 tale. I am looking forward to the next Jane Carter. Please send it here. You will hear from me about the other matter just as soon as I can get it settled.'
