The Devil in the White City: Part 1, Chapter 7 Summary & Analysis

Holmes plans to turn his new building into a cheap hotel for World’s Fair visitors. When the fair is finished, he will burn the hotel and collect an insurance policy. He knows that he will have to dispose of the incriminating materials in the building, and that even a small piece of evidence left behind could get him the death penalty.

Holmes modifies his building for his new plans, hiring workers for short periods so that none of them get a sense for the overall layout. He invites police officers for food and cigars. Though his debts are increasing, he is able to persuade creditors to look for H.S. Campbell, and in the meantime he simply borrows money from others. He also begins selling fake drugs to cure baldness and alcoholism.

Myrta’s great uncle, Jonathan Belknap, who has money, visits her in Illinois. Holmes begins to visit Myrta more frequently, charming the family. Belknap doesn’t trust Holmes, but finds him acceptable, and when Holmes asks him for 2,500 dollars for a new house for himself and Myrta, Belknap gives him the money. Holmes then forges Belknap’s signature and writes a second banknote for the name amount. He also invites Belknap to Chicago for a tour of his new hotel. Belknap is initially reluctant to go, since he finds Holmes disturbing, but he eventually agrees.

In Chicago, Belknap is disgusted by the smells of the city, but Holmes seems not to mind them. Holmes shows him around his new hotel, which he finds strange and gloomy, and introduces him to Patrick Quinlan, the caretaker. Holmes suggests that Belknap see the view from the roof, but Belknap lies and says that he is too old to climb so high. Holmes suggests that Belknap spend the night, and though Belknap initially refuses, he eventually gives in. That night, Belknap hears Quinlan trying to enter his room, but he refuses to let him in. He later discovers that Holmes has forged his signature on a banknote, though Holmes apologizes so emotionally that Belknap doesn’t pursue the matter further. Belknap later realizes that Holmes wanted to kill him in Chicago by pushing him off the roof.

Holmes tries to buy a kiln for the basement of his hotel. He claims to be the founder of a glass company, and purchases a kiln that, he’s disappointed to find, cannot reach temperatures high enough for his purposes, or get rid of odors. Holmes talks to a man from the furnace company, who asks to see the furnace; Holmes refuses at first, then agrees. The furnace is large, and to the man from the furnace company, seems unsuitable for bending glass. He also notes that it looks more like a crematory for corpses. Nevertheless, he installs a new heating facility that can create temperatures of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit; Holmes is satisfied.

Holmes spends more and more time away from Myrta and his daughter, though he sends them money. He insures his daughter’s life, since children can die so unexpectedly. His store is doing well, though the task of building the hotel proceeds slowly. He hires desperate workers who are willing to take any job. Meanwhile, two new women have entered his life. One is married, with a child, which Holmes thinks makes the situation more interesting; the other is her sister-in-law. Both are beautiful.