Irving Wallace - The Golden Room

'Thanks, Minna.'

She picked up the telephone. 'Now I'd better get back to calling hotels. They're all completely full. I've found a small single room for my nephew Bruce. But I can't find a double room for my niece Cathleen and her friend Karen. I'll just keep-'

Dr Holmes was on his feet, about to leave, when he halted and turned around.

'Minna, if you need a place for Cathleen, I'd be glad to provide one in my house. I have several spare bedrooms. Cathleen can come with me for as long as she needs a place to lay her head, and Karen Grant can come with her as her chaperon. How's that?'

Minna jumped up, delighted. 'That's wonderful, Dr Holmes, and I'm grateful for your offer. You need only have them there a few days, until Cathleen goes back to Kentucky. I don't know how to thank you enough.'

'I'm happy to have them,' said Dr Holmes with a smile. 'If they're here, I'll collect them right now and take them to dinner. Then I can move them in with me tonight.'

By six-fifteen the following morning, the official reception committee appointed by Mayor Carter Harrison had crowded on to the platform at Union Station to greet the arrival of Prince Henry of Prussia from New York.

At the forefront of the twelve distinguished citizens gathered to receive the prince was Mayor Carter Harrison, flanked on either side by Ex-Mayor C. P. Walbridge, President of the Business Men's League, and Potter Palmer, head of The Palmer House, Chicago 's leading hotel. Immediately behind the mayor and waiting nervously stood Harold T. Arm-bruster. Off to one side were a dozen newspapermen and photographers, the most eager among them young Chet Foley of the Chicago Tribune. This was his biggest assignment yet.

It was fifteen minutes before the prince's arrival, and Foley decided to take advantage of the time by getting the best story of the day. Breaking the confines of the press section, Foley stepped brashly out of line and approached Mayor Harrison.

'Your Honour,' Foley said, 'I'm Chet Foley of the Tribune, assigned to cover the arrival of Prince Henry. I want to do a full-length feature story, and I was hoping you could spare a few minutes to fill me in on some details.'

Mayor Harrison made it a point never to be too obvious about seeking publicity, but he did relish having it, especially on such a momentous occasion as this. In an agreeable mood, the mayor said, 'I don't know if I can be of much help, Mr Foley, but I'll be glad to cooperate.'

'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!'

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.