When Minna came down the stairs to the foyer, she saw the two of them waiting, suitcases beside them. Minna had not seen the pair since they were children, but she knew at once that these grown-ups were her niece and nephew, Cathleen and Bruce Lester.
Approaching them, Minna saw that Cathleen looked as she herself had looked not many years ago. The girl was no taller than herself- meaning Cathleen was small, with blonde hair, luminous eyes, and a button nose set nicely in an innocent, smooth face. She was small-bosomed, slender, composed, not more than nineteen years old. The boy was older, probably twenty-two, with a shock of chestnut hair, brown eyes, pug nose, and a square jaw. He was quite tall, maybe six feet, and trim but obviously muscular.
'Cathleen!' Minna called out.
The girl smiled nervously.
Minna went straight to her and hugged her. 'I'm your Aunt Minna. How wonderful to see you at last and to have you in our home.'
Disengaging herself from Cathleen, Minna moved to her nephew and embraced him too. 'Bruce, you've grown – I don't know how many feet – since I last saw you in Louisville. Welcome to Lester House.'
'It's hospitable of you to have us in,' said Bruce.
'And what a joy for us. Now, you two, come along with me,' said Minna, taking each by a hand. 'Don't worry about your bags. I'll have a servant take them to your rooms, but first we'll have a little talk in the parlour. I want to get better acquainted with both of you.'
Minna led them into the Gold Room, which Minna described as her favourite parlour, and one that she had decorated entirely by herself.
Entering the dazzling room, Cathleen held back for a moment, stunned by the glitter. 'It's – it's magnificent,' she whispered. 'That gold piano. I've never seen another like it.'
'I had it made in Paris some years ago,' said Minna.
Bruce went into the room more easily, less stunned than curious. 'Forgive me, Aunt Minna. Father told me you lived well, but I expected nothing like this.'
'I wish your father could see our place for himself,' said Minna, 'but he's never been to Chicago in all the time we've lived here.'
'You know he's not been ambulatory since his stroke,' said Bruce. 'Besides, he couldn't afford the trip.'
'Well, I intend to rectify that in the near future,' said Minna, leading the pair to a gold sofa. 'Do sit down, and let me sit where I can face both of you.'
After the two were seated, Minna settled easily across from them and resumed talking.
'We've been expecting you,' said Minna, 'because Charles wrote some time ago that Cathleen was coming to Chicago to be married, and that you, Bruce, would chaperon her. I know that your father would like us to look after you and stand beside Cathleen at the wedding. Frankly, I did not know he wanted the two of you to stay with us instead of in a hotel. Aida and I are delighted, of course – but we hadn't been informed.'
'If this is any inconvenience at all…' Cathleen began.
'No, absolutely not,' Minna interrupted.
'Better let me explain,' Bruce intervened, coming forward. 'Since we are family, I can be frank. Father's law practice is almost non-existent. He's been too ill to attend to it properly. Since Mother died and then his stroke, he seems to have lost all his spirit. We still have the old house, but we may have to sell that soon. In truth, Father is almost penniless. I work in a bank to help out. It was all he could do to gather money to
send us up here for the wedding. But Pearl and Harold T. Armbruster don't know that. They set much store by appearances. To reassure them that we're a good family and to impress them, Father wrote you that note asking you to take us in.'
Minna bobbed her head. 'Aida told me about it.'
'Father felt that if we could stay with his sisters, and circulate high up on the social scale – and if we could live under conditions the Armbrusters would find acceptable – it would cause no doubt in their minds that Cathleen was eligible for marriage to their son. Actually, Alan is very much in love with Cathleen. He would have no reservations whatsoever. However, parents can be a different matter. The Armbrusters are impressed by Cathleen's attractiveness and grace. Father had sent her to private schools -'
'Just as I had been educated,' said Minna. 'God knows that good manners count even more than money in the South.'
'But not necessarily poverty,' said Bruce bluntly. 'I'm sorry to say this, but it's important to the Armbrusters that Cathleen be from a good family – meaning a well-to-do family.'
'I understand,' said Minna. A frown flitted across her face as she considered the situation. She began to reconsider how to handle her niece and nephew to make the right impression on the Armbrusters. 'Tell me one thing – how did you happen to meet the Armbrusters?'
Cathleen brightened and briefly lost some of her shyness. 'Mr Armbruster is a very rich man. He's a meat-packer.'
'I've heard,' said Minna.
'He's eager for social standing in Chicago, the kind that Armour and Swift already have. Since a horse-racing stable is one symbol of prestige in Chicago, Mr Armbruster considered establishing his own stable. That's why he came down to Louisville with his wife, Pearl, and his two children, Alan and Judith. He was planning to buy the finest horses in
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.'
'Two weeks! You mean that until then I can have no evidence that the Club is a brothel?'
'None whatsoever, Mayor. Let me explain -'
Carefully, Karen recalled what she had heard from Aida and Minna and tried to repeat what she could remember to the mayor.
'There you have it,' she said, and sat back. 'A hiatus.'
'For the time, a hiatus.'
'Yes, until the day after the wedding. The relatives will leave, and the Everleigh Club will resume as a brothel. So I'll have time on my hands. Do you want me to pick up on some of my secretarial work for you?'
'God, no,' said Harrison quickly. 'I don't want you seen near my office. You are to stay around the Club, work evenings as a restaurant hostess, and keep on the alert. When the time comes, and you get the evidence, inform me at once – I'll shut down the Everleigh Club for ever. Karen, I mean to win this one.'
'You will, I promise you.'
'Don't try to reach me or take any chances. Just wait. Do you mind?'
'Not at all. The Everleigh Club, whatever its shame, is, I have to admit, a fascinating place to be. The gaudiest place you've ever seen in your life. I don't mind taking it easy there. And Minna Everleigh herself is an interesting person. By the way, her real name is Minna Lester. Her niece and nephew are Cathleen and Bruce Lester.' Karen picked up her purse. 'I'll keep an eye on all of them. Next time I see you, I hope I'll be the bearer of good tidings.'
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.'
Holmes was truly astonished. 'But they'll find out in a jiffy what goes on here.'
'I don't intend to let them find out,' said Minna. 'I've practically cleared out the Club. Gave most of the girls vacations and kept six here to serve as dining-room hostesses. I advised everyone, the servants included, of my problem. Now I felt it was necessary to tell you also. There must be no loopholes.'
'You can depend on my silence, Minna. You know that.'
'For the next two weeks, I am Minna Lester and my sister is Aida Lester – our maiden names.'
'Of course.' Holmes squirmed on the sofa. 'What am I to do in the meantime?'
'You are not to set foot in the Everleigh Club until you are summoned. You will still earn your fee by attending my girls who have been put on vacation. I'll give you a list of hotels where they are hiding out. You will continue to examine them. I want to be assured they are not working on the side and contaminating themselves.'
Holmes was pleased. 'Certainly fair enough.'
Minna rose. 'Come along. We'll drink to it in my study.'
The next morning at eleven-thirty, the four Lesters, in Minna's new Ford, drove up North Shore Drive along the quiet waters of Lake Michigan, swung on to Lake Park Avenue, and went through open metal gates. The semicircular driveway ahead of them led to the entrance of the brick mansion that was the home of Harold T. Armbruster.
They had all spent the morning dressing for the critical occasion.
As usual, Minna was the most flamboyantly dressed. She was wearing a diamond dog collar, a stomacher studded with emeralds, a long gown of rich blue silk, with four diamond bracelets rattling on one wrist. Aida was similarly attired, but wore only a pearl necklace that had belonged to their mother. Cathleen, as befitted her age and virginal state, was the most simply dressed, in a pleated white linen blouse and brown skirt. Bruce was neatly attired in a straw hat, celluloid collar, new twenty-five-cent black necktie, and expensive seventy-five-cent checked shirt he had purchased at Mandel Brothers.
They had been squeezed together in the car, since room had to be made for Edmund to chauffeur them. Descending from the Ford, Minna led the way up the marble steps.
Admitted by a butler into the foyer, the guests were received in the garish living-room by Harold T. Armbruster himself. Armbruster was flanked by his top-heavy, dumpy wife, Pearl, and his two offspring. Judith Armbruster looked somewhat like Abe Lincoln, Minna decided – not bad for Lincoln himself, but not as good for an eligible girl in her twenties. Alan, on the other hand, while above medium height and seemingly strong enough, had a faint, ethereal quality, somewhat like Keats. Minna liked him at once.
Cathleen was greeted with handshakes by Armbruster and his wife. Alan greeted her more warmly with a chaste peck on one cheek. Then Cathleen introduced her aunts, Minna and Aida Lester, with whom she and Bruce were staying while in Chicago.
'Well, well,' boomed Armbruster, 'this is a happy group.' Then addressing himself to Minna, he said, 'Cathleen tells us you and your sister are prominent in social circles here. I can't recall ever having met you.'
'We don't circulate much,' replied Minna. 'We devote ourselves to artistic pursuits and charities. It might be accurate to say we are recluses, two widows alone.'
'A pity,' said Armbruster. 'You're both too attractive to remove yourselves from society. To make you feel more at home, perhaps you'd like to have a look about?'
Armbruster plodded ahead of them as he led his party through the main downstairs rooms. There was a ballroom which could be converted into a theatre. There were several parlours. They visited the music room, which featured a rosewood piano – quite grand, Minna thought, but nowhere comparable to her own gold piano at the Club. At last they arrived in the large library, done up with imported ebony reading tables inlaid with gold. There were few books in the library. The walls were mostly covered by Gobelin tapestries, and, incongruously, Minna thought, a huge framed painting of a scene from Armbruster's own stockyards.
Insisting that they all relax on the French Empire sofas in the library, Armbruster rang a bell. A maid and butler appeared immediately, one to serve pate de foie gras, the other to pour Veuve Clicquot.
Sipping his drink, Armbruster said, 'I thought we might have a little get-acquainted talk before we go in to lunch.'
'Where should we begin?' Minna said pertly.
'With your niece's wedding to our son Alan, I should think,' Armbruster answered. 'The ballroom you just saw is where the'wedding will take place. I've already secured the services of a Lutheran minister, if that is suitable to Cathleen.'
'I'm a Baptist,' Cathleen said.
'No matter,' said Armbruster decisively. 'We all pray to the same God, don't we?'
'I guess so,' said Cathleen weakly.
'We'll be entertaining 200 guests, the most important people in Chicago. I assume you have your wedding gown, Cathleen?'
Minna took over. 'Cathleen has a lovely white lace and satin gown that Aida and I have picked out for her at Marshall Field's. It needs only to be fitted.'
'Capital!' Armbruster exclaimed. 'The wedding will be formal, of course, because it will be a special occasion beyond the ceremony itself. Prince Henry of Prussia will be in Chicago on that date, and I'm making every effort to have him attend the wedding as an honoured guest.'
'Has he accepted?' Minna wondered.
'I believe Mayor Harrison has just presented the prince's Chicago schedule to his aides in Washington. I should have confirmation before the prince and his party arrive here by train from New York. I have little doubt that the prince will be delighted to be the honoured guest at the banquet in our home.'
'That would be a feather in your cap,' said Aida, speaking up.
'More than that, far more than that,' agreed Armbruster, rubbing his dry hands together. 'I'll tell you something else
that would be a feather in my cap, indeed, in all our caps.' He turned to address Bruce directly. 'Bruce, my daughter Judith has urged me to bring you into my firm once you're part of the family.'
Bruce blinked at him, taken off guard. 'You… you're very generous, Mr Armbruster,' he stuttered. 'I… I'm not sure what you mean – you mean once my sister marries your son.'
Armbruster laughed. 'More than that, far more,' Armbruster told him. 'I could see, down in Kentucky, that Judith was quite taken by you. Hardly a day has passed since our return to Chicago in which she hasn't mentioned your name.'
Judith blushed, and giggled. 'Oh, Father…'
Armbruster ignored her, continuing to address Bruce. 'I also had an eye on you, Bruce, when you were with Judith, and I observed you were quite attentive to her.'
'He would be,' Minna hastily intervened. 'He's a Southern gentleman.'
'Well, I'm sure you won't have any difficulty making up your own mind, Bruce. For myself, I'd like Prince Henry to enjoy a rare experience, a beautiful double wedding. That accomplished, I feel confident I could take you into the firm. I could make you quite a rich person, young man.'
'In your meat-packing company?' Bruce managed to say.
'As my vice-president.'
'You're most generous, sir,' said Bruce. 'I have only one problem with that.'
'What would that be?' Armbruster wanted to know.
'I'm considering becoming a vegetarian.'
Armbruster was puzzled. 'Vegetarian? I'm not sure…'
'It means abstaining from all animal food,' Minna interjected.
Bruce pressed forward. 'Last night I found Upton Sinclair's The Jungle in Aunt Minna's library. I read it.' Bruce began to recite from the expose of the meat-packing industry. ' "For once started on that journey, the hog never came back;
at the top of the wheel he was shunted off upon a trolley, and went sailing down the room… then dangling by a foot, and kicking in frenzy – and squealing. There were high squeals and low squeals, grunts and wails of agony" as the hog was brutally killed to be converted into pork chops and bacon. That, Mr Armbruster, upset me terribly.'
Armbruster's face had reddened, until he was almost apoplectic. 'Upton Sinclair!' he roared. 'That anarchist trying to destroy the free enterprise system, with his propaganda that some of my workers fell into the sausage machine and came out as sausage links. He's an anarchist, no more.'
Minna tried to soothe him. 'Mr Armbruster, I'd say Upton Sinclair was hardly alone. Vegetarians have ranged from Emanuel Swedenborg to Percy Bysshe Shelley to Count Leo Tolstoi.'
'All anarchists!' Armbruster bellowed. 'I couldn't consider a vegetarian in my company.' He glared at Bruce. 'You can't be serious. Maybe this is an immature eccentricity.'
'Well, maybe,' said Bruce uncertainly.
'I'm sure it is,' insisted Armbruster. 'After dinner, you have a little talk with Judith. She may be able to convince you better than I can. Help you mend the error of your ways. Which reminds me -' Armbruster staggered to his feet. 'Luncheon is served.' He squinted down at Bruce. 'I know that Pearl has prepared a porterhouse steak and a salad. Do you think you can manage that?'
Bruce rose. 'I can say yes to the salad,' he promised. 'I'll decide on the steak when I'm faced with it.'
Rising, Minna told herself that she must restrain her nephew. A vice-presidency in the Armbruster Company was not to be passed up lightly, especially when her brother in Kentucky was facing bankruptcy. Of course, the price for compliance was not only renouncing vegetarianism, but also marrying Judith. Minna decided that she would have to give all of this more thought.
As Armbruster took her arm to lead her into the dining-room, Minna guessed that the entire service would be sterling silver.
In the dining-room, she sighed. Every piece was sterling silver.
That evening in the Everleigh Club, Bruce Lester and Karen Grant sat close together on a sofa.
He had dared to take her hand, and she had not resisted. Bruce continued to recount the adventure at the Arm-brusters'.
'Did you eat the steak?' Karen wanted to know.
'I nibbled at it, so as not to offend him.'
'But bringing up the vegetarianism in the home of a meat-packer,' said Karen. 'Were you serious about that?'
Bruce shrugged. 'I really don't know about becoming a vegetarian, Karen. I do know I wanted to offend Armbruster. He's such a coarse man.'
'How can you resist the offer of a vice-presidency when your father is in such trouble and you need money?'
Bruce scratched his forehead. 'Not easy,' he said. 'On the other hand, I haven't told you the price I was asked to pay to become Armbruster's vice-president.'
'What's that?'
'I'd have to become part of his family. I'd have to marry his daughter Judith.'
Karen studied the man beside her. 'Well, why not do that?'
'For one thing, I don't love her. For another, I care for you. There you have it, Karen. I'm sure of this. I care for you.'
She squeezed his hand tightly. 'And Bruce, I care for you.'
He leaned over and kissed her on the lips. She clung to him, kissing him back.
After they parted briefly, she said, 'That was delicious. But Bruce, you've got to be practical. What are you going to do about money?'
'Tomorrow I'm going to Washington Park to sell Frontier. That should bring enough to keep me afloat.' 'I hope so.' 'Come along with me and we'll see what happens.'