Here's the note I just got from Charles Portis in response to a letter I sent to him inviting him to campus. It's obviously typed on an old typewriter on a small sheet of note paper. Here's the entire text:

Dean Hardin
Many thanks for your letter and your kind invitation. It's good to know that a story written so long ago still has a bit of life left in it. However, I'm just not much of a hand for these book gatherings and must respectfully beg off. I do wish you success with it. When you're in Little Rock one of these days give a call and we'll have coffee.

Signed in his hand.

Well, that's the answer we expected. Mr. Portis is notoriously reclusive. Still, you never know. We'll keep corresponding with him--letting him know what we're doing. Who knows? He may get interested later.