The Last Honest Seamstress Read Online Free PDF

the dim moral character of the business conducted within, in Fayth's opinion. Nude statues of women sat on pedestals in prominent view wherever space allowed. Photographs of naked women in provocative poses covered the walls. The whole decor was, in a word, lewd.
    Rusty, Lou's bouncer, showed Fayth straight to the back of the house, past the parlor reserved exclusively for the male guests, past the bar where men could pass the time with the libation of their choice, to the small, plain dining room off the kitchen. The lady boarders , in the delicate vernacular, many of whom had just risen, were in various stages of eating their first meal of the day, an exhaustive affair of eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, hotcakes, juice. and milk that many a lumberjack would be grateful to finish.  
    As Coral had explained, hers was a strenuous job. It required lithe grace, strength, and a great deal of physical endurance to keep pace with a full night of men. Fayth had halted her partway through her explanation, not wanting to hear more. However, she couldn't help noticing Coral ate more than any woman she had ever known. What must she endure night after night?
    Coral sat at the far end of the long dining-room table, wearing a robe that fell open carelessly and revealed an elaborate negligee. She spotted Fayth and called out a warm greeting as she set down her fork and pulled her robe together . The rest of the prostitutes ignored her and continued eating. They were used to her, and as long as she left them alone, willing to tolerate her presence.
    "Fayth!" Coral's eyes lit up. "What brings you here today?"  
    Her pleasure made Fayth's discomfort almost tolerable. She rounded the table and pulled up an empty chair next to Coral. "I came to ask a favor. And to see you, of course."
    "Name it. Need a fitting? My opinion of your latest design?" Coral had an eye for fashion. In a town where most women were occupied with the ordinary and taxing affairs of day-to-day living, Coral's interest was refreshing.
    "Neither. I haven't been designing lately." If only she were. "I've come for information."
    "What kind of information?" Coral's tone became suddenly cautious. Because of the clientele the girls kept and the intimate nature of their profession, they knew many secrets and as much about the politics and comings and goings around town as anybody. The girls had a code of confidentiality to which they strictly adhered. Indiscretion would cost them their livelihood in the privileged parlor house and force them to ply their trade in the despised cribs.
    Fayth smiled to reassure her. "Nothing that violates your code of ethics, I assure you." She paused, choosing her words with care. "I'd like to know whether a certain man patronizes Lou's. Or, to your knowledge, any of the ladies in the Tenderloin."
    Coral cocked her head and studied her as if examining her motives. "Why do you want to know? You aren't spying for a suspicious wife, are you? We aren't allowed to kiss and tell."
    Fayth shook her head. "No, of course not. I'd never dream of asking you to betray a confidence. I want the information for myself only." She took a deep breath and plunged on. "I'm thinking of taking a husband."  
    Coral's eyebrows shot up. She laughed and clapped, delighted. "Oh, Fayth! You've met someone? That's wonderful. It's about time you settled down."
    Sweet, romantic Coral would believe Fayth had finally met a man to her liking.  
    Lila, a brash henna-enhanced brunette seated on Coral's right, spoke out. "Hear that, girls? Miss Sheridan is going to take a man and doesn't want to share!"  
    Several of the women laughed with Lila.  
    "How will a prude like her satisfy a man's appetite? He'll end up here with us." Lila winked and pretended to stroke a man. "And when he does, I'll be the first to show him a real woman's technique!"
    "Shut up, Lila." Coral glared at her.  
    Fayth ignored Lila. What did she care what Lila thought?
    The vile creature laughed and went back