Read Online The Fall Of White City (Gilded Age Mysteries Book 1) by N. S. Wikarski - Free Book Online

blowing his whistle and trying to redirect traffic around a streetcar that had stalled right in the middle of the intersection.
    Evangeline called up to Jack, “Let us out here. We’ll walk the rest of the way. Meet us at the back entrance to Campion’s at two o’clock sharp.”
    “Yes, miss,” the coachman answered wryly. “Though with this mess, it could take me just that long to make the corner of Wabash and Washington .”
    “I rely on your resourcefulness.” Evangeline smiled encouragingly as he helped the two alight.
    Jack tipped his hat in a gesture that was half respectful and half playful before climbing back up to his seat.
    It was only an additional block to the imposing edifice that was the Campion and Leiter Department Store, known as Campion’s for short. The store took up a full city block and reached a height of six stories. Evangeline frequently shopped at the emporium, since it contained everything from a meat market to a beauty parlor with all manner of merchandise in-between. While the store had originally catered to the well-to-do, Messrs. Campion and Leiter had wisely established a wholesale market so that the store could lure customers from every class to buy its wares. With the additional attraction of the World’s Fair to spur business, Campion’s had become a landmark that foreign visitors had to see before they could consider their tour of Chicago complete.
    Evangeline and Patsy finally arrived at their destination, though Evangeline had to keep a close watch over her young charge to be sure they weren’t separated by the press of the crowd gawking at the display windows. With Patsy in tow, Evangeline opened the door to Campion’s main floor and entered the palace of mercantile delights. Patsy stood dumbly at her side. The effect of so much splendor had rendered her speechless. Evangeline took her by the arm to steer her down to the lower level where the restaurant was located.
    Patsy followed along, but her head was turned over her shoulder to absorb the endless aisles of ladies’ dresses and hats and jewelry on display.
    “Mind the stairs,” Evangeline cautioned, fearful that in the girl’s rapture she might tumble headlong down to the basement.
    Patsy focused her attention on the feat of navigation before her. When they had descended without mishap, she exclaimed, “My heavens, Miss Engie , I didn’t think there were so many fine things in all the world, much less all collected in one store!”
    “I think you’ll find, Patsy, that this is just a small sample of what the stores in this city have to offer. Multiply that by the stores of all the cities in this country and in the world, and the quantity becomes more immense that the imagination can fully encompass.”
    “ Ohhhh !” was Patsy’s awestruck reply.
    The two proceeded into the store dining room. They were offered menus by a solicitous waiter dressed in black with a napkin slung over his arm. “And what would the ladies have?”
    Evangeline was scanning the menu when she looked up and noticed Patsy blushing furiously. The girl stammered, “Miss... Miss Engie ...”
    Evangeline said to the waiter, “Give us a few more minutes, please.”
    “Certainly, madame .” He bowed and scurried off to wait on another table.
    “What is it, Patsy?”
    The girl refused to look up. “I’m sorry, but I can’t read.” Her voice was filled with embarrassment.
    “Ah, I see. It’s no great matter. Reading is a skill that can easily be acquired, and for the present moment... ,” she reached across the table to tilt the girl’s chin upward so their eyes met, “I’ll order for you.”
    Patsy smiled shyly, apparently trying to overcome her discomfort.
    When the waiter returned, Evangeline took command of the situation. “I’ll have the chicken pot pie. The young lady will have a roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy. Isn’t that what you wanted, Patsy?”
    “Roast beef... ,” the girl exhaled the words