The Golden Room

Karen left the mayor's office and went downstairs to the lobby. She was heading for the exit doors, when a young man – a tall, handsome young man – intercepted her.

'Pardon me, Ma'am,' he said in a courtly manner. 'By any chance are you Miss Karen Grant?'

Startled, she said, 'Why, yes.'

'I'm Bruce Lester,' he said, introducing himself. 'I'm Minna Lester's nephew.'

For an instant, Karen was shaken. 'Minna Lester? Of course,' she said lamely.

'I saw you briefly yesterday, and again this morning, at my aunts' house.'

'I… I remember seeing you.'

'You're working for my Aunt Minna as a staff member in the restaurant.'

'A hostess,' she corrected him. 'I assist the guests to their seats and help them with their menus. And you – you're in Chicago to chaperon your sister until her wedding?'

'Yes. My father in Kentucky wanted us to stay with his sisters when we came to Chicago, so that's what we're doing. Actually, chaperoning is not the only reason I'm here.'

'Oh, no?'

'I have a very modest stable of three race horses, and I'm here to possibly sell one.'

'I'd like to know more about that some time,' said Karen. 'I'm fascinated by race horses.'

Bruce was entranced. 'That's wonderful,' he said. 'I'd like to tell you more, not some time but now. Have you had lunch?'

'Not yet.'

'Neither have I. Do you mind joining me?'

She met Bruce's gaze. 'I'd enjoy that.'

'On my way to the City Hall, I passed a place called Bill Boyle's Chop House. A sign said the lamb chops were thirty-five cents, so it must be a good place. Do you know it?'

'I do.' She had been there several times. It was a favourite lunch place for Mayor Harrison's aldermen. 'Let's go to Boyle's.' As they left the lobby, she half turned to Bruce. 'Incidentally, what were you doing in City Hall?'

'Sightseeing. This is my first visit to Chicago. What were you doing here?'

She thought quickly. 'I don't have to be at the restaurant until dinner time. So I decided to visit a girl friend who just got a job here as a secretary.'

'I'm glad we were here at the same time,' said Bruce, as he touched Karen's elbow, directing her outside.

It was a short walk to Boyle's Chop House, but for Bruce Lester it was mostly a silent one, he was so overwhelmed by his gorgeous companion.

Once inside, and seated opposite Karen, Bruce tried to find his tongue as he gave the waiter their order. He ordered lamb chops for both of them, and when Karen requested a stein of Pilsner beer, he ordered one for himself too.

After the waiter had gone, he addressed himself to Karen. 'I love my aunts' home, what I've seen of it, but I find the restaurant there rather odd. What's a restaurant doing in a home?'

'From what I know,' said Karen, 'your aunts are two single ladies. They'd find it awkward to invite gentlemen over, so the restaurant makes it easier for them to see friends at home. Also, even though Minna and Aida are wealthy, that's a costly mansion they have to keep up day after day, and the restaurant brings in certain useful income.'

Bruce shook his head. 'I still find it odd, mixing business and pleasure. How did you get a job there?'

'I saw an advertisement for a restaurant hostess. I worried that it might be something – well, not decent -'

'You mean like a cover for white slavery?'

'Nothing quite that terrible. But still – anyway, I applied. When Minna Lester interviewed me, I realized that she was a lady and the desire to hire a hostess was genuine. So I started a few days ago.'

'What do you do on the job?'

'As I told you,' said Karen, 'just smile prettily when diners arrive, take them to a parlour for a drink, then show them to their tables, see to their menus, make suggestions, maybe banter a little to make them feel at home.'

'That's all? Do any of the diners ever get fresh?'

'Not really. Minna would never have them back. She's very strict.'

'But you only work evenings,' said Bruce. 'Which gives you your mornings and afternoons free. I hope you'll take some time to show me Chicago. Or are you new here?'

She smiled. 'I'm old here. I'll be glad to show you around.'

They waited in silence until their beers were served.

After each had a sip, Karen resumed. 'First, you'll have to show me something – the horse you brought along.'

'I'd be pleased to do that,' said Bruce. 'Frontier is as sleek as can be, and fast. You'll adore him. Only, there's a problem. Before leaving Kentucky I entered him in the American Derby. I guess I was trying to get rich quick. But when I took him to Washington Park yesterday to rent a stable, I found out Frontier is too small to get anywhere in the Derby. So I suppose I'll really have to sell him.'

'Don't do that until I've seen him.'

'I won't, I won't. Actually, I'd invite you to Washington Park tomorrow to see him, but I can't because I have another date, an important one, I suppose.'

Karen frowned briefly. 'A date?'

'Not what you think,' he said hastily. 'I'm not interested in any other woman, not now that I've met you.'

'Aren't you the flatterer, though.'

'I mean it, Karen. I've never met a woman like you.'

'Thank you. Tell me about your date.'

'It's at my sister's future in-laws' for lunch. Aunt Minna and Aunt Aida and I are to chaperon my sister Cathleen, and after lunch we'll discuss the wedding. The Armbrusters want to lay out plans for the ceremony – it's in two weeks.'

'Have you met the Armbrusters before?' Karen wanted to know.

'In Kentucky, when they were thinking of going into horseflesh.'

'How do you feel about them?'

Bruce Lester wrinkled his nose. 'Alan is a nice kid. The rest of them, Harold T., the father, Pearl, the mother, and their daughter Judith are awful.'

'I hope you survive the lunch.'

'I have to,' said Bruce simply. 'Because I want to see you again.'

The lamb chops were served, but they ignored their plates.

'Will I?' Bruce added.

'As much as you want to, Bruce.'

'Then we have a date for the day after tomorrow.'

That evening, Minna brought Dr Herman Holmes into the Blue Room of the Everleigh Club.

Already familiar with the youthful collegiate room, Holmes settled into the pillows of a blue leather sofa as Minna drew up a chair closer to him.

Minna had telephoned the physician earlier, insisting he come to the Club to discuss a personal matter.

'I've never seen the Club so deserted,' said Holmes to Minna, who had settled across from him.

'There's a reason,' said Minna, 'and that's why I summoned you tonight, to tell you all about it. I hired you because I was told you were trustworthy. Now I must trust you to the fullest extent.'

'You advised me this was a personal matter, and personal it shall remain.'

'Very well,' said Minna. 'This is what happened. I have a lovely niece, Cathleen, my brother's daughter in Kentucky. She is a complete innocent. She recently met the son of a prominent Chicago meat-packer in Louisville. The young man's name is Alan Armbruster, the only son of Harold T. Armbruster.'

'You mean the millionaire meat-packer?' asked Holmes.

'The very one. Anyway, Alan fell in love with my niece, they became engaged, and they are to be married in two weeks. I knew about the wedding, but it was not made clear to me that my brother expected Cathleen, as well as his son Bruce, to stay with Aida and myself.'

'They're here?' said Holmes, surprised. 'How can you handle that?'

'I can't, and yet I can,' said Minna. 'My brother Charlie has never been in Chicago. He has no idea what Aida and I really do. He believes, as we led him to believe from the start, that Aida and I made a fortune through investments, bought this mansion, and are part of Chicago 's best society. So it seemed reasonable to send his daughter and son to stay with us until the wedding.'