The Golden Room

'I've been able to learn very little about Prince Henry,' said Foley, 'except that he is the only brother of Kaiser Wilhelm, and that he is the nominal head of Germany 's powerful navy.'

'Quite true,' said the mayor. 'In fact, I'm told Prince Henry was trained to sail from his earliest youth. His father built him a nautical gymnasium in the Potsdam Palace garden. Masts were planted in sand and rigged with all the ropes of a real ship. As a boy he could go aloft every day, and he learned the feel of being on a ship.'

'Fascinating,' said Foley. 'I understand that Prince Henry sailed the Kronprinz Wilhelm to New York on a naval matter.'

'In a manner of speaking, yes. He came to New York to supervise the dedication of a yacht, the Meteor HI, which his brother the kaiser had ordered built.'

'Was Prince Henry at the dedication?'

'Certainly. After a brief stay in New York, where he attended the Metropolitan Opera House, he went to Washington, D.C., to pay his respects to President Theodore Roosevelt at the White House and assured the President that Germany had no designs on South America. He and the President attended the launching, and the President's daughter Alice officially dedicated the ship.'

'And momentarily he will be in Chicago.'

'We're very honoured to have him here,' said the mayor. 'Of his twelve-day visit to the United States, he is spending only a few of those days outside New York. He is giving us one full day in Chicago, staying overnight, and then returning east to board the Deutschland for his homeland.' The mayor paused, and cocked his head. 'I hear the train coming in now. I'd better get to my place.'

'Thank you, Mayor,' said Foley, retreating into the press circle.

Gradually the train from New York became visible, billowing steam as it loomed towards the platform and slowly grinding to a halt beside it.

Quickly two porters unrolled a red carpet, running it up to the exit of the private Pullman behind the engine. Mayor Harrison stepped on the far end of the carpet and waited.

A conductor unlatched the Pullman door from the inside, and stepped down to a stool in front of it. A half-dozen of the prince's entourage began to emerge, one by one, all in uniform and braids.

The last figure to emerge was the tallest and most imposing, with flat hair parted in the middle, a full moustache, a thick but somewhat pointed beard, bedecked in a cape over a bemedalled and beribboned uniform. This was clearly Prince Henry of Prussia.

Mayor Harrison strode forward to welcome him warmly. After shaking hands, they walked along the red carpet and came to a halt before the members of the press.

Digging into a pocket for his brief speech, Mayor Harrison stated in a loud voice:

'We are proud to welcome His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Prussia to Chicago as our city's esteemed guest. His appearance plainly dissipates all the foolish and malicious assertions of political antagonism between Germany and the United States and of German plans to make inroads in the American sphere of influence, and instead thereof, strengthens and establishes feelings of mutual recognition and equality. We welcome Prince Henry as a prince of peace.'

The prince stated his appreciation and thanks. That done, the mayor drew Prince Henry aside to introduce him to the official reception committee.

Graciously, the prince shook hands with everyone. At the conclusion of the ceremony, before the mayor could introduce the prince to the eager Harold T. Armbruster, the prince fumbled inside his uniform for a sheet of paper.

Unfolding it, Prince Henry said, 'About this schedule you prepared for me, for my stay in Chicago.'

The mayor nodded. 'Yes, I have been awaiting your approval of it.'

The prince cleared his throat. 'If I may suggest a few changes -'

'Of course, of course, Sir,' the mayor said hastily, moving the prince out of earshot of the press. 'Anything can be rearranged to suit your wishes.'

'For one thing, I would like to cancel all the daytime activities. I am exhausted, and I would like to rest for the banquet tonight.'

'Splendid!' exclaimed the mayor. 'I will make excuses to your other hosts. Now, if I may, I'd like to introduce the gentleman who will host the banquet. Your Highness, let me introduce Mr Harold T. Armbruster.'

Shaking the meat-packer's hand, the prince said, 'How kind of you to invite me to your home. Much as I appreciate it, I have another entertainment in mind, and another place I'd like to have the banquet held.'

Armbruster was crestfallen, and the mayor surprised.

'What do you have in mind, Your Highness?' the mayor asked.

'There is only one place I want to see in Chicago,' Prince Henry stated. 'I've heard throughout Europe, throughout the world, about this sight.'

'What is it?' the mayor wanted to know.

'It's the Everleigh Club,' announced Prince Henry. 'That is the one place I must see and enjoy tonight!'

NINE

Since the moment of Prince Henry's stunning announcement on the Union Station platform, Mayor Harrison and Harold Armbruster had not had a chance to discuss the matter.

After escorting the prince to his suite at The Palmer House, the pair had gone on to City Hall, accompanied by several other members of the reception committee. Even in the elevator they had not had privacy.

Now, inside the mayor's office, Harrison and Armbruster were alone at last.

The mayor had instructed his receptionist that he did not wish to be disturbed while he was meeting with Armbruster. He had promptly flopped into an easy chair as Armbruster settled on the sofa.

The two men stared at each other silently.

Armbruster broke the silence. 'What do we do, Mayor?'

'I don't know.'

'The only place he wants to spend the evening is in the Everleigh Club. How can we fete him there when there is no Everleigh Club to take him to?'

The mayor was silent again.

'Maybe we could persuade him to have the banquet at my home after all,' said Armbruster.

'No, that won't work,' said the Mayor. 'You heard how emphatic he was about the Everleigh Club. How can I tell him I closed it down in a hurry because of him?'

Armbruster sighed. 'I don't mind cancelling the banquet at my home. I'd even host it in the Everleigh Club, if that'll keep the prince in a good mood.'

'I wouldn't mind that either,' said Mayor Harrison. 'But how?'

'Well, the Everleigh Club is still there.'

'Sure it is, with a big sign posted saying that it's been closed down by order of the mayor. All the furnishings are probably packed for storage, and let me remind you that the Everleighs themselves are locked up in jail.'

'What do you intend to do, Mayor?'

With deliberation, Mayor Harrison prepared a cigar and lighted it. 'There is only one thing we can do,' the mayor said. He took a few puffs on the cigar, contemplated it, and looked at Armbruster. 'Open it before this evening.'

'The two of us can't do that.'

Mayor Harrison sat up. 'But the two of them can do exactly that.'

'You mean Minna and Aida?'

'Yes, they can do it with the help of their servants. They can return the furnishings to their proper place, bring back the girls and music. And present the banquet in their restaurant.'

Armbruster frowned. 'What if they won't do it? What if they refuse to out of spite?'

'Then it's our job to convince them to open up the Everleigh Club. The first thing we have to do…' He jumped up, went to his desk, and reached for the telephone. '… is get them out of jail.'

'Then what?'

The mayor did not reply. He was giving an operator the number for the main police station. In a few seconds, he had Chief of Police Francis O'Neill on the phone.