The Golden Room

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,' a

NINE

Since the moment of Prince Henry's stu

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 Mi

'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.

'Chief, this is the mayor,' Harrison said. 'There's something urgent I want you to do at once.'

'Whatever you say,' replied O'Neill.

'I want Mi

'We just locked them up! Now you want them free?'

'Instantly,' said the mayor. 'The entire operation was a mistake. I want to rectify it this minute. I'll explain to you later.' He paused. 'By the way, what kind of mood are they in after a night in jail?'

'Not too happy,' said the chief. 'Uh, to put it mildly.'

'I thought not,' said the mayor. 'Armbruster and I will be right over.'

Hanging up, the mayor went to retrieve his hat.

'What are we going to say to them?' Armbruster wanted to know.

'We're going to say we're sorry,' said the mayor. 'We're going to apologize abjectly. Then we're going to bargain with them.'

Armbruster joined the mayor. 'I don't think we'll have to bargain much. After all, they'll have their Club open again. That should please them.'

The mayor led Armbruster to the door. Opening the door, he stared at the meat-packer. 'I think it'll take more than that to please them. Much more. You'll see.'

When Mayor Harrison and Armbruster were received by Chief O'Neill as they entered his office, they could see Mi

Losing no time, Mayor Harrison stepped forward and stood before Mi

'Miss Everleigh,' said Mayor Harrison, 'first I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for the inconvenience I've caused you and your sister. I made a mistake, and I'm here to say I'm sorry.'

Mi

'I know it isn't.'

'Now you're saying we're free…'

'Personally,' said the mayor, 'and free to open your Club once again.'

Mi

Mayor Harrison tried to collect himself. At last, before speaking, he cleared his throat. 'I am going to level with you, Miss Everleigh. No evasions. No subterfuge. Only the truth, whatever it avails me.' He cleared his throat again. 'This concerns Prince Henry of Prussia – you've heard of him, haven't you?'

'I'm no dummy,' Mi

'He's already here,' the mayor corrected her. 'He arrived this morning. Mr Armbruster and I were among those who officially greeted him. We reviewed the programme of events we'd pla

'He what?' said Mi

'The only site he agrees to visit in Chicago is your Everleigh Club.'

'My God!' Mi

Mayor Harrison gulped. 'I know it is fu

Mi