The Golden Room

Kentucky. Someone sent him to Bruce, since Bruce has knowledge of the best horseflesh available. Bruce even has three horses of his own.'

'They're not much,' Bruce confessed. 'Mr Armbruster wasn't interested, but I was able to guide him to other breeders.'

'I'm sure he was grateful,' interrupted Minna.

'Actually, one of my colts is exceptional – he's a three-year-old named Frontier. I spent much of what I earned as a bank clerk to enter Frontier in the American Derby in Chicago.'

'Why bring Frontier all the way up here for the American Derby?' Minna asked. 'Why not enter him in the Kentucky Derby in your own state?'

'For a good reason,' said Bruce. 'Money. The Kentucky Derby pays the winner under $5,000. The American Derby pays $25,000 – five times as much. Earning a large purse sure would help the family. Since then I've learned that Frontier just doesn't have the size and strength to do well in the American Derby. I had already arranged to have him shipped here. Now I hope to sell him off to raise some money.'

'Let's hope you succeed,' said Minna. She addressed herself to Cathleen. 'What a romantic way to meet the right man.'

'Yes, Aunt Minna. You'll adore him. He's nearly as tall as my brother. Darkly handsome. When we met, it was love at first sight for both of us.'

'You saw each other often in Louisville?' asked Minna.

'Almost every night for a month, but always with his parents,' said Cathleen. 'They liked me enough to allow Alan to propose. When the Armbrusters heard about my wealthy aunts in Chicago, they were highly pleased. The wedding is set for two weeks from now, at their home. Bruce and I just arrived this morning. First we found a stable for his horse, then we came right over.'

'You did the right thing,' said Minna. 'You can have the run of the place, except for a lovely private restaurant we keep open for our friends.'

'May I ask – is that where you made your money?' said Bruce.

'Heavens, no. After we left Kentucky, we inherited a fairly decent sum of cash. We had good advice about investing it, and we doubled and redoubled our money. We bought this house and furnished it. It seemed a good idea to turn part of it into a restaurant, not only to take care of our overhead but as a means of entertaining our business friends. We also had parlours for cocktails and conversation. We even hired six women, singers and dancers we'd known in our stage days. They put on floor shows in return for room and board. Now, to get back to the Armbrusters -'

'Oh, yes,' Cathleen said happily, 'Mr and Mrs Armbruster are eager to meet you and Aunt Aida before the wedding. I hope you have time for that.'

'I do,' said Minna.

'They're hoping we can all have lunch at their home the day after tomorrow.'

'Aida and I will be happy to join you,' said Minna, rising. She gestured for Cathleen and Bruce to remain where they were. 'Just wait a little while until I can make arrangements to get you settled. We'll have a quiet supper in my study later. Right now there are a few things that require my attention.'

Once she had left the Gold Room, Minna stopped a servant in the hall to ask if he had seen Edmund. She was told that Edmund was dusting in the library, and she went to find him.

'Edmund,' she said. 'Do you know where my sister is?'

'Yes, Miss Everleigh -'

'There is to be no more mention of the Everleigh name,' Minna said sharply. 'Not while my relatives are here. We're Aida and Minna Lester for the next two weeks. You know the situation, don't you?'

'Miss Aida told me to post a sign, and then she explained everything.'

'Good. Where is Aida now?'

'In the Japanese Room with all the girls, Miss Lester. She's giving them the same instructions she gave me.'

'Thanks, Edmund. I better get there fast,'

When Minna reached the Japanese Room, she paused to catch her breath, and then quietly opened the door and peered inside. Aida was the one who first met her eyes. Aida was seated on the carved teakwood chair on the dais beneath the yellow silk canopy. In a broad semi-circle were the girls of the Everleigh Club, seated on divans, chairs, and cushions, listening attentively as Aida spoke. The perfume fountain in the centre of the room was shut off.

After nodding a welcome to Minna, Aida resumed speaking. 'Now that you've heard what is going on and how we are to proceed, let me sum it up for you so that there can be no mistakes.'

Minna decided to intervene. She stepped into the Japanese Room and called out, 'Aida, may I break in with a few words?'

'Of course.'

Minna crossed the room and ascended the dais to stand beside Aida. She addressed her older sister. 'Aida, what we arranged so hastily has a few flaws. Now that I've spoken to Cathleen and Bruce, our niece and nephew, I have some afterthoughts, and would like to revise our plan.'

'Whatever you say,' said Aida agreeably.

Minna turned to face the small assemblage.

'I'm sure Aida has told you of our original plan to keep all of you here during this crisis. Well, I don't think that will work. With so many girls here, we and our relatives would be at great risk should one of you suffer a slip of the tongue. It would be hard for Aida and myself to pretend that this is our personal home. Furthermore, it would be difficult to pretend that you are all a floor show, since most of you can't sing or dance at all. I have a compromise in mind.'

She glanced at Aida, whose face registered only her usual gracious, slightly inscrutable expression. Minna turned to the girls once more.

'We will keep the dining-room open. I have told our niece and nephew it is a room reserved for our wealthiest friends, a profitable enterprise that enables us to pay some of our overhead expenses. Cathleen and Bruce understand the dining-room is off limits to them. I wouldn't want them to wander in and hear from some drunken diner that this is actually a brothel.

'As for you girls, I think six of you should remain here to play hostesses in the dining-room. No nonsense beyond that. The others can take vacations in the city. You will receive the full amount of your average weekly earnings. You can take up in hotels – although I instruct you to avoid any sexual activity on your own or in any other brothel – and do whatever else you want. You will return here to work in two weeks. Be sure to let Aida and myself know where you will be staying, so if need be we can locate you. Now, any questions?'

A redhead named Cindy held up her hand. 'Who stays on here, and who are the ones to go on vacation?'

'Very well,' said Minna. 'I'll name the six of you who remain to receive guests in the dining-room. The others will leave as of this evening. Aida and I, with Edmund's help, will find you hotel rooms. The six who'll stay are – you, Cindy, and Margo, Belle, Phyllis, Dagmar, and the new girl I just hired to replace Fanny – you, Karen. The rest of you, have a good time off, and be back here in two weeks to the day. Good luck.'

The following day, since she had the afternoon off, Karen Grant telephoned Mayor Carter Harrison and asked to meet with him.

An hour later, she was seated across from the mayor in his City Hall office.

'Some good news, I hope,' said Harrison.

'Not yet, but soon. There will be a slight delay before I can come up with any concrete evidence for you.'

'What do you mean?'

Karen went ahead. 'I was told to expect a visitor, a male visitor, when there was an unexpected intrusion. Two young relatives of the Everleigh sisters arrived from Kentucky, one of them a niece who is to marry the son of a prominent businessman.'

'Go on.'

'Well, the niece and nephew were sent to stay with their aunts. They were told the Everleigh sisters are highly placed socialites. To keep the niece and nephew from knowing what their aunts really do, all sexual services in the Club have been postponed. For two weeks the Club is to be no more than a legitimate home and restaurant.'