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diff --git a/26890-h/26890-h.htm b/26890-h/26890-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d92c20b --- /dev/null +++ b/26890-h/26890-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1943 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Rat Racket, by David H. Keller + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: left; clear: both;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; clear: both; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .center,.p1,.figc {text-align: center;} + .figc {margin: 1em auto; width: 591px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: 0.25em; font-size: .8em;} + a:link,a:visited {text-decoration: none;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: justify;} + img {border: none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .bk1 {width: 25em; margin: 2em 0 2em 4em;} + .p1 {margin-top: 2em;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rat Racket, by David Henry Keller + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Rat Racket + +Author: David Henry Keller + +Illustrator: Kotzky + +Release Date: October 12, 2008 [EBook #26890] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RAT RACKET *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1><big>THE<br /> +RAT<br /> +RACKET</big></h1> + +<h2>By DAVID H. KELLER, M.D.</h2> + +<div class="bk1"><p><i>With Dr. Keller's genius for +hitting at vital spots every time, +he now gives us a brand new +idea and an ingenious solution. +We hope no racketeers read +this story. They might, as a +result, cause the police some +trouble. Fortunately, however, +the racket has a flaw.</i></p></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Richard Moyer</span>, senior +partner of the firm of Moyer +& Perkins, read that letter over +twice before he called in the man +who had helped him make the +importing of high grade groceries +from England a most profitable +business for over twenty +years.</p> + +<p>He simply handed the letter +over to Paul Perkins without a +word of explanation. The latter +read it through and handed it +back in equal silence, but the +hand that held the letter trembled.</p> + +<p>"Just another racket," exclaimed +Moyer, finally.</p> + +<p>"Looks like it. I suppose we +were foolish to start in paying +for protection. First our trucks +were threatened; then the new +building; after that our best +customers were bombed, and we +had to pay to protect them. Your +son was kidnapped—and the +police! They even went so far as +to advise that we keep on paying—and +now this letter! We might +as well close out the business. All +our profits go toward supporting +a gang of criminals who have +muscled into every type of +American industry."</p> + +<div class="figc"> +<img src="images/001.png" width="591" height="550" alt="" title="" /> +<small><b>They were running out through the picture. A crazed man tore it from the wall.</b></small></div> + +<p>"On the face of it the letter +looks innocent enough," sighed +Perkins, as he picked it up and +gave it another reading. "Simply +says that the rat menace is increasing, +cites several business +houses where the rodents have +done a great deal of damage, and +offers to give our warehouses +complete protection for five thousand +a week. You could show +that letter to a hundred police +officials and they would laugh at +your fears. But I am not laughing. +Because that letter was +written on the same damaged +typewriter that the other letters +were written on and those gangsters +have not failed to make any +of their threats good."</p> + +<p>"Suppose we pretend that they +are honest, and answer their letter +and send them a check for +the first week's protection?"</p> + +<p>"They will laugh at you and +send back the check."</p> + +<p>"They may, at that. Then we +will give them the cash. In either +case, it will give us time to +think. I feel that they are only +experimenting with us. They are +after larger game than five thousand +a week. We shall see and +hear more of this rat business in +a while. Write to them and tell +them that we will pay the cash, +and put the entire matter in the +hands of the Chamber of Commerce. +If it does not act soon, +the entire city will be in the +hands of the gangsters."</p> + +<p>The complaint of Moyer & +Perkins was only one of a dozen +similar ones which reached the +Chamber of Commerce that day. +In a secluded room of the Manufacturers' +Club a dozen wealthy +men met day after day, hearing +and weighing evidence against a +hundred forms of racketeering +which was rapidly becoming a +terrible and powerful enemy to +the varied industries of the Metropolis. +Practically every business +had been threatened and +more than one captain of industry +blustered openly, but paid +his weekly tribute silently in order +to protect his business, family, +and home.</p> + +<p>Up to this time the usual +weapon had been the strong arm +man and the bomb. While these +were bad enough, they were at +least understood. When it came +to rats, it was different. Of +course, everybody knew something +about rats—that they were +supposed to be numerous around +the river fronts and warehouses—but +on the other hand, rats +were seldom seen in daylight, +and there were many New Yorkers +who never saw one.</p> + +<p>Not one of the dozen men had +been raised on a farm and none +had served in the trenches during +the World War. They did not +understand rats, so, they hesitated, +and finally simply advised +the merchants who had received +the rat letters to use their own +judgement. As a result, some +paid tribute and some did not. +There is no evidence to show that +those who paid were one hundred +per cent free from rats in their +warehouses, but within a week +there was ample proof that at +least three wholesale groceries +and one laundry had been invaded +overnight by rats in sufficient +quantity to cause thousands +of dollars' worth of damages. +Moyer & Perkins heard the +news and decided to pay another +five thousand.</p> + +<p>The Defense Committee of the +Chamber of Commerce was +called to an extra meeting at the +El Dorado Hotel. The owner of +the hotel was one of the Committee, +a man who, so far, had taken +a very inactive part in its transactions. +He did not waste time +in giving the reason for the special +meeting.</p> + +<p>"I was called on the telephone +this morning," he explained. +"The person at the other end +wanted to protect my hotel from +rats for the small compensation +of twenty-five thousand dollars a +week. He referred casually to the +three warehouses and one laundry +that had been wrecked last +week. Right at the present time +I have, on an average, twelve +hundred guests a night. They +are here to be entertained, not +to be frightened by rats. But +here is the point. If I yield, +every other hotel in the city will +be placed in a similar position. +Three hundred thousand strangers +are in the city every day. +Suppose that ten hotels were +overrun with rats in one week +and the fact was circulated in the +press? What would that cost the +city?"</p> + +<p>"Better pay it," growled one of +the men. He happened to own a +hotel. He knew how temperamental +was the pleasure-seeking +stranger. Singularly, that advice +was the only brand given by the +rest of the Committee. They +seemed strangely unable to offer +any remedy except to keep on +paying and in every way possible +bar unpleasant news from the +newspapers.</p> + +<p>Inside of next month, fifty-five +hotels were paying a weekly tax +to the rat racketeers. One small +hotel refused, and was at once +deluged with an army of rats +which drove out guests and employees, +killed one old scrub woman +and severely injured twenty +of the cooks, waiters and porters +who received the brunt of the +rodent onslaught.</p> + +<p>Moyer & Perkins were still +paying the five thousand a week +when, to their surprise, a visitor +dropped into their office and +casually suggested that they sell +him their business.</p> + +<p>"It used to be a good business," +explained Moyer.</p> + +<p>"It still is," interrupted Perkins. +"What my partner means +is this. We have our share of +trade, but the overhead has become +so heavy that we have not +been able to make any money +lately."</p> + +<p>"That is what I understand," +commented the stranger. "In +fact, I was sent here by the +Chamber of Commerce. They told +me you had been paying money +for rat protection. That is about +the only reason I want to buy +your business. Your business is +supposed to be worth about two +hundred thousand and your real +estate as much more. Suppose I +give you half a million and advise +you to keep quiet about the +sale?"</p> + +<p>"You mean carry on the business +under the old name?" asked +Moyer, looking at the prospective +buyer earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Something like that."</p> + +<p>The Englishman shook his +head.</p> + +<p>"Not and remain in this country! +They kidnapped my son. No +telling what they will do next, +if the policies of the firm are +changed. Anything that is done +we shall be blamed for, no matter +who really owns the business."</p> + +<p>"Then, you and your partner +take a vacation in Europe. You +can afford it. All I am asking for +is an exact account of your +transactions with these racketeers, +so I can have something to +work on."</p> + +<p>"May I ask what you want to +do with the business?" interrogated +the Junior Partner, Perkins.</p> + +<p>"Certainly. I intend to use it +as one of my experimental laboratories +for the study of a +mammal, known as the <i>Mus Norvegicus</i>, +called, in common English, +the brown rat. He is supposed +to have originated from +the <i>Mus Humiliatus</i> of Central +Asia. Now will you gentlemen +take the half million?"</p> + +<p>"We will!" exclaimed Perkins. +"Then may I ask your name?"</p> + +<p>"Winifred Willowby."</p> + +<p>"Not the one who is reputed +to own more United States bonds +than any other man in America?" +gasped Richard Moyer.</p> + +<p>"I won't admit that I do, but I +am the man you are thinking +about."</p> + +<p>"Then I simply cannot understand +why you want to mix up +in this rat business."</p> + +<p>"Simple enough. I am a hundred +per cent American. For five +generations my people have been +born and buried in this city. I +own over two hundred million +dollars worth of land here. When +the dregs of Europe come over +to my city and use the rats of +Asia to bleed that city white, +then I personally protest. I am +going to start something. I am +not sure what, but when I finish, +this city will be practically rat +empty and gangster free."</p> + +<p>"A large programme, Mr. Willowby," +whispered Perkins.</p> + +<p>"But I am a large man. Now, +suppose I write you gentlemen +a check?"</p> + +<p>Five minutes later the two +partners were alone. Moyer +looked at the check, then put it +in his pocket, and his hat on his +head.</p> + +<p>"Suppose we get it cashed?" +he said to Perkins. "You can do +as you please with your half, but +I am going to take my family +and go back to England. That +man Willowby is only half pint +size, but his blue eyes look cold +to me, and I bet he plays a stiff +game of bridge. If he starts +fighting those gangsters, I do +not want to be caught on the battlefield."</p> + +<p>"How about starting a business +over in England?" asked +Perkins.</p> + +<p>"Not a bad idea. I came over +here and together we made half +a million selling English groceries +to Americans. Perhaps we +can make a million more selling +American groceries to Englishmen."</p> + +<p>Winifred Willowby not only +bought the grocery business of +Mover & Perkins; he bought a +laundry, a small hotel, an apartment +house and a theatre. He +kept all the old employees, put +in a manager, instructed that the +weekly tribute should be paid as +usual, and then disappeared from +New York City.</p> + +<p>Ten days later, in Paradise +Valley, in the broken country below +the Poconos of Pennsylvania, +he entertained several men, +each an authority in his special +line of art or science. They kept +the appointment, not being at +all sure what it was for, but unable +to refuse the invitation +which was accompanied in each +case with a substantial check. +They had all heard of Willowby, +but none had ever seen him. No +doubt all were rather disappointed +at his apparent lack of color +and personality. They quickly +changed their mind when he +started to talk, for there was a +man who, when he had something +to say, was able to say it +briefly and to the point.</p> + +<p>"You men are all interested in +rats," he began, "and so am I. +You have worked with rats in +one way or another for a good +many years. Perhaps I ought to +introduce you to each other. Mr. +William Rastell has written the +best biological study of rats in +the English language. He has +done for rats what Beebe did for +the pheasant. Now the gentleman +next to Mr. Rastell is Mr. +Carol Crawford. I doubt if he +ever actually saw or willingly +handled a rat in all his life, but +I am told he knows more about +the folklore and traditions of the +rat than any other living person. +The third of my guests is Professor +Wilson. He is the psychologist +who has tried to breed +different strains of rats, some of +superior intelligence and others +of the imbecile type. What I +want you gentlemen to tell me +is why these rats congregate at +times in certain buildings of +New York City, in such large +numbers that they are a serious +menace to property and even +human life, and, then, as suddenly +disappear as they appeared."</p> + +<p>"Are they actually doing +that?" asked Professor Wilson, +who had suddenly become vitally +interested in the conversation.</p> + +<p>"Suppose they are?" queried +Carol Crawford, answering the +question for Willowby. "That is +nothing more than they have +done for centuries."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean migratory +movements?" asked the biologist, +Rastell. "Rats have always migrated."</p> + +<p>"I mean nothing of the kind," +protested Crawford. "I mean +their sudden appearance in a +town or a building, their remaining +there for a short time and +then their sudden disappearance. +The folklore and fairy tales are +full of that sort of thing."</p> + +<p>"That is why I asked you to +come to this conference, Mr. +Crawford," explained Willowby. +"There is something peculiar +happening in New York at the +present time, and it has to do +with rats and their actions. In +some way rats of New York +seem to be under the control of +a set of racketeers who are able +to force them to enter any building +they select. The rats come +and go suddenly. It is all over +in a little while, but when they +are in the building, they do a lot +of damage."</p> + +<p>Mr. Crawford interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"I doubt if you use the right +word, when you say the rats +were forced to enter the building. +Perhaps you mean that the +rats were by some means placed +in such a psychic condition that +they wanted to enter the building."</p> + +<p>"That brings the matter into +my field of research," insisted +Professor Wilson. "I doubt the +fact that they were forced, but +if they wanted to, why that +brings up all kinds of interesting +questions."</p> + +<p>"That is what I am after, +gentlemen. I simply want to present +the problem to you and have +you solve it. I personally am +satisfied with one thing. These +rats are no different than the +rats of five thousand years ago. +They are just like the rats of +classic Greece and imperial +Rome. Maybe Mr. Crawford +will tell us how they acted."</p> + +<p>The antiquarian fairly beamed +as he started to ride his favorite +hobby-horse.</p> + +<p>"Of course, the story everyone +thinks of is the one concerning +the Piper of Hamelin. It was +in the year 1284. The rats were +thick, and the Piper agreed to +lead them out of the town for a +certain sum. He played a pipe, no +doubt some kind of flute, and the +rats followed him. When the +people refused to pay, he returned +on the 26th of June, the +feast of Saints John and Paul, +and again played on the pipe. +This time the children, one hundred +and thirty in number, followed +him into a cave and were +lost. The date is well documented. +A number of historians believe +that it actually occurred, +and on the gate of the town is +the statement.</p> + +<p class="center">"'<i>CENTUM TER DENOS CUM<br /> +MAGUS AB URBE PUELLOS<br /> +DUXERAT ANTE ANNOS<br /> +CCLXXII CONDITA<br /> +PORTA FUIT.</i>'<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> When the magician (the Piper) had led +the one hundred and thirty children out of +the city, two hundred and seventy-two years +before the gate was built.</p></div> + +<p>"The same story is found, with +variations, in all parts of the +world. There is, for example, the +story of the wicked Hatto, abbot +of Fulda. He was visited by a +swarm of rats who killed him. I +can give you a dozen variations +of that story, but in each of them +the rats came and went, suddenly, +as Mr. Willowby says +they have been doing in New +York."</p> + +<p>"I should like to see a few +examples of this mass movement +of rats. I saw a lemming migration +in Norway, but that was different," +explained Rastell. "It +seems to me that if we actually +saw one of these nocturnal attacks, +we might learn why they +wanted to do it."</p> + +<p>"He is deadly right," agreed +Professor Wilson. "A few actual +facts are worth a hundred theories."</p> + +<p>"That is why I have asked you +to help me," explained the richest +man in New York. "I have +prepared some experimental stations +for your use. I can put you +in a grocery warehouse and +guarantee that inside of a week +you will see more rats than you +ever dreamed of. I have a laundry +and a small hotel. We can +work out the details right now. +All I am asking of you is to find +out, when the rats come, <i>why +they come</i> and, once we know +that, we can do something to +solve this problem."</p> + +<p>"The game looks interesting," +declared the Professor of rat +psychology. "What I am interested +in is why the rats do it. I +am sure that it is because they +want to do it, but are they forced +to want to do it? It is a problem +that will take a lot of research +to solve, but Rastell and I can +solve it. With all respects to our +friend, Mr. Crawford, I think +that he had better stay away and +just keep on reading about his +little pets. A few thousand vicious +rats would be hard for him +to deal with."</p> + +<p>"I guess you are right," +laughed Winifred Willowby. +"Crawford and I will stay here +and read about it while you two +do the actual scientific work. By +the way, Crawford, in that story +of the Piper, what was given the +credit for drawing the rats out +of the town?"</p> + +<p>"The tune that he played on +the pipes!"</p> + +<p>"Check and double check. Now +I would advise you gentlemen to +locate some musical instrument +in that warehouse, and if you +find one, experiment with it. Of +course, you will have to be +rather clever to find it. In the +first place, the people putting it +there will have it under cover +and just as soon as the mischief +is done they will remove it."</p> + +<p>"It is nothing like that," +laughed Professor Wilson, almost +in scorn. "These are New +York rats. It will take more than +a little music to lead them from +their usual haunts. But Rastell +and I will start in at once. Give +us the address of the buildings +and the authority to use them. +How shall we know when the rats +are going to come?"</p> + +<p>"They will appear within +seven days after you stop the +racket money. Suppose we adjourn +the meeting? I want a few +words in private with Mr. Crawford. +You other gentlemen can +get all the rest of the details +from my secretary. He will arrange +your salary and expense +account. Good night."</p> + +<p>He took Mr. Crawford into his +bedroom.</p> + +<p>"Do you really believe that +story, Crawford?"</p> + +<p>"I positively do. And the people +believe it. The Piper walked +down the Bungen-Strasse and to +this day no music is ever played +in that street. They even date +time in that town from the day +the children disappeared."</p> + +<p>"Then, there must be something +in it. Suppose we go over +to Europe and find out something +about that tune, the tune +that drew the rats out of +Hamelin?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Rastell and Wilson followed +out their programme. They went +to the grocery warehouse and +made a rat survey. There were a +few rodents there but not many. +Then they issued orders that the +weekly payment of five thousand +dollars be stopped. After that +they spent their nights in the +warehouse. On the fifth night the +rats came by the thousands. +They appeared to be hunting for +something, but in the meantime, +they ate and soiled whatever +came their way. The local cats +fought heroically, but were soon +killed and eaten. The rats came +up from the cellar through the +elevator shafts, up the steps, +through the cracks in the floor, +up and up till they started to run +around the roof. Then, at four in +the morning, they started to +leave, running down the steps in +close formation, seemingly panic-stricken +at their own temerity +and anxious only to return to +their safe, dark haunts. The two +scientists, in their wire observation +cage, closed their note book, +opened the door of the cage, and +started to make a careful search +of the building. It revealed nothing +but the bones of cats and +much spoiled food.</p> + +<p>For the next two days they +worked carefully through every +part of the building, hunting +for something to explain the conduct +of the rats. They found +nothing. All that they were sure +of was the fact that the rats had +been there, and that they had +not come back.</p> + +<p>The following week they repeated +the experiment in the +laundry. The course of events +was the same. The payment was +refused, then the rats came, devoured +and destroyed, stayed a +night and left. Nothing was +found. They decided to go and +have a conference with Winifred +Willowby, but he could not be +located. The two scientists were +left to their own resources. Having +no other plausible plan of +action, they selected the small +hotel for their next experiment. +This time they set a hundred +wire traps and caught several +hundred living rats. These they +subjected to every known experiment, +and at the end were +forced to acknowledge that all +they had learned left them in +ignorance as to why the rats +came just for one night in such +enormous numbers.</p> + +<p>Two months later their employer +sent for them. It appeared +that he had just returned from +Europe. He listened to their +story, smiled kindly at their perplexity, +suggested that they take +a vacation and forget about rats +for a while, paid all their bills, +and discharged them. He even +went so far as to say that he +was uninterested in rats, that it +had just been a passing hobby +and that just at present he was +working on other matters. So, he +asked them to pass out of his +life. But he and Carol Crawford +went into the wilds of Pike +County and did some experimenting +on his own account.</p> + +<p>Meantime, things were going +from bad to worse in New York +City. The rat racketeers were becoming +bolder, and started to +reach after larger game. There +were rumors that the Pennsylvania +Railroad was paying to +protect its terminal and that the +Interurban was being bled white +to keep the rats out of the subway. +Of course, much of this was +rumor and none of it reached +the newspapers, but there is no +doubt about the fact that eight +million people were becoming +rat-conscious and rat-afraid. It +was growing into a worth-while +racket, and those behind it were +rapidly acquiring more than +riches; they were growing so +powerful that they felt able to +control the city government.</p> + +<p>More than one business tried +to resist and more than one business +awoke to find that it owned +nothing but ruins. Rat protection +was worthless when the +enemy came by the hundred +thousand and even million. The +only worth-while defense against +the multitudinous enemy was the +payment of the weekly tribute, +small enough each week, but in +the course of the year taking the +profits from most of the firms +compelled to pay. Within a year +the average business in the city +was working for the gangsters +and content to, at least, be permitted +to stay in business.</p> + +<p>Then the racket was transferred +to other cities, slowly and +on a small scale at first; then +more boldly. Chicago, Philadelphia +and Washington began to +feel the pressure. The profits +were divided, but always the +main share went to New York. +For that was where the Big Boys +were. And ruling the Big Boys +was the Old Man, who was so +little known and so seldom seen +that his very existence was questioned +by some of the smaller +gangsters. No one knew how he +had obtained his power, but no +one was brave enough to deny +it. The fact remained that he +simply ruled; reigned like a +Caesar; dictated like a Napoleon. +From back-stage he pulled the +wires to make his puppets dance.</p> + +<p>It was this man who aroused +the interest of Winifred Willowby. +In other times, in former +generations, in far-passed centuries, +they might have ruled +Rome together, or split it in two +ways over their dying bodies. +But in 1935 the short sword had +been replaced by the ballot box +and civil war by the primary +election. Neither man had much +that the other craved for, yet +both prevented the other from +the full enjoyment of life. But +it was the blue-blooded patrician +who at last gave in and secretly +asked for an interview.</p> + +<p>The conference was held on a +fallen log on the shore of Porter's +Pond in Pike County, Pa. +Someone said that if Mark Hopkins +sat on one end of a log and +a student on the other end, it +was a University; but, with Willowby +on one end of the log and +the Old Man on the other, it +became nothing more than a +conspiracy against the existence and +the very life of the nation.</p> + +<p>It was a strange sight, those +two opposites on the log. The +rich man, a little over five feet, +barely a hundred pounds, with +the body of a boy and the face of +an angel. At the other end a +large man, with the torso of an +ape, and the face of a Titan, a +man who had conquered by +crushing, ruthlessly and +devastatingly, all who had dared to +oppose him. The two were great +men, but they were equally lonely. +Their very positions as leaders +of their respective societies +prevented any fraternizing with +their followers.</p> + +<p>"I do not want to waste your +time, Mr. Consuelo," began Willowby. +"We ought to be able to +understand each other. You +would do nicely if the Federal +Government would leave you +alone, but it has the peculiar +ability of annoying you and +interfering with your plans. Am I +right?"</p> + +<p>"Absolutely! Of course, it does +not make any real difference—"</p> + +<p>"But it does annoy you—investigations +of your income tax +and deporting your men now and +then?"</p> + +<p>"Well, what of it?"</p> + +<p>"Simply this. After some +years of effort, I am at last able +to say that I control the Government."</p> + +<p>"That is the silly brag of a +child," sneered the Old Man.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," and as he said +that, Willowby reached down +and picked up a handful of pebbles. +"See these stones? In the +same way I hold in my hand a +majority of the Supreme Court, +over two-thirds of the Senators +and most of the Representatives. +I can swing the votes of enough +of the states to pass any kind of +legislation I wish. Now here is +my proposition. You handle the +cities. I will turn over the country +to you. Together we will run +the nation, and all I want is just +one thing—just one little favor +from you."</p> + +<p>"I bet I can guess what that +is," laughed the Old Man.</p> + +<p>"No doubt, but let me tell you. +I want to be the next President."</p> + +<p>"I thought so."</p> + +<p>"I think we ought to be together +on this thing. Perhaps I +could be elected without your +help, even in spite of your opposition. +But if I am, I will, naturally, +try to destroy you. We +might end up like the Kilkenny +cats. But if we are allies, I have +eight years of power and you +have eight years of liberty in +which to plunder the richest nation +in the world. How about +it?"</p> + +<p>The Old Man drew a deep +breath.</p> + +<p>"Is this on the level?"</p> + +<p>"It has to be. I have a reputation, +and it is respectable. I am +placing myself in your hands. +What is there to prevent you +from giving the press an interview +tomorrow?"</p> + +<p>"You would deny it!"</p> + +<p>"But no one would listen to +me."</p> + +<p>"I suppose not. What do you +want me to do?"</p> + +<p>"I want you to give the order +to your leaders. There are a hundred +of them, perhaps a few +more. No doubt my list is not +absolutely accurate. Call them in, +from Chicago, St. Louis, New +Orleans, Boston and Philadelphia. +Have them all in one room. +You introduce me. Let me talk +to them. I will open the war +chest, fifty million to start with, +and more to come. You promise +them anything you want, and I +will make the promise good."</p> + +<p>"And you will be there? Right +in the room with me?"</p> + +<p>"I will be there."</p> + +<p>"I won't do it!" growled the +Old Man. "I never have and I +never will. I don't do things that +way. A whisper to one or two, +and the business is done, but not +a hundred at one time. Some of +these boys have never seen me."</p> + +<p>"Then you want to turn me +down?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly, but I am opposed +to that meeting."</p> + +<p>"Then we are through talking. +I will take you to the five-ten +train, or, if you want to, I will +have my chauffeur drive you to +the city."</p> + +<p>"Let's talk it over."</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"How about having six of the +Big Boys there?"</p> + +<p>"No! All on my list or none."</p> + +<p>"Your list?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly! I am not sure that +it is absolutely correct, but it +satisfies me."</p> + +<p>"Let me see it."</p> + +<p>"No reason why you should +not."</p> + +<p>The Old Man took the paper +that was handed to him. It was +no casual glance, he gave the +names. At last he handed it back +to the little man with the casual +comment:</p> + +<p>"I suppose that is not all you +know about my organization?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose not. Why not be +sensible about this, Mr. Consuelo? +If we fight, we will simply +kill each other, but if we become +allies who can stop us? But I +must be sure of you, and the only +way I can be sure is to have you +talk to your men, and then let +me talk to them. We can have the +meeting at night in my offices, +you know where, top floor of the +Empire Trust. No one need be +any the wiser. Half an hour, and +all the men can go back with the +money in their pockets and the +orders in their brains."</p> + +<p>"O.K. When shall we meet?"</p> + +<p>"A month from today at ten +P.M."</p> + +<p>"Good. I'll give the orders, but +I want the money, the fifty million. +It is not much, but part of +it will help keep the Big Boys +in line. Some of them won't like +the idea very much."</p> + +<p>"A little cash will influence +them. Now, how about taking +you back to the city?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Winifred Willowby made preparations +for entertaining his one +hundred guests. His largest office +was transformed into an assembly +room. Its inch-thick carpets, +overstuffed chairs and mahogany +trimmings gave it an air of luxuriant +comfort. There were +special chairs for the Big Boys +and two very special chairs for +the Old Man and the Host of the +evening. A large picture frame, +hanging on one wall, and carefully +covered, gave a hint as to +part of the evening's ceremony.</p> + +<p>The Empire Trust belonged to +Willowby. He had built it so that +he could have a private office on +the top floor, the sixty-third +from the ground. The elevator +reached this floor, but there were +no steps. Many buildings surpassed +it in height, but none in +the view that it gave of the city. +The guests who arrived first +commented on the view and expanded +their chests when they +realized that they carried that +city in their vest pockets.</p> + +<p>At last every chair was +occupied. It was a peculiar gathering. +It included judges, politicians, +pseudo-business men, +several lawyers and even the +Mayor of one of the largest cities +in the Mississippi Valley. Facing +them, sat the Old Man and +Willowby.</p> + +<p>Of the hundred men in the +audience not one was at his ease. +Most had come because they +were afraid to stay away. Many +hoped that they would not be +recognized. The majority doubted +the wisdom of such a meeting +and felt that the Old Man was +slipping mentally. It was the +first time that many of them had +even seen him. He was almost as +much of an unknown to them as +the little man sitting next to +him. A peculiar silence hung over +the assembly. More than one man +fondled the handle of his automatic. +No one seemed to be sure +of what was going to happen +next. It was a fortunate thing +that the meeting was held at +night; with the audience composed +of such men. A daylight +gathering would have been impossible.</p> + +<p>The Old Man and Willowby +held a short whispered conference, +and then the leader of +American Racketeers stood up. +What had been silence before, +now became the hush of death. +The Old Man was going to talk, +and everyone wanted to hear +what he had to say. It did not +take him long to start.</p> + +<p>"You Big Boys have been running +the cities before," he +growled, "but from tonight on +we are going to run the country. +Congress and the Supreme Court +are going to dance to our music +and like it. Our new friend here +has promised to deliver the +goods, and he does not want +much in return. I have told him +that we will trade, and what I +say goes. Now, you boys listen to +Willowby, and remember that I +am back of him."</p> + +<p>Then he sat down. As far as +the records are concerned, that +was the longest speech the Old +Man made in his life. The Boys +hardly knew what to do; they +felt they should applaud, but not +being certain remained quiet. +Then Willowby stood up.</p> + +<p>"I do not want very much, +gentlemen," he remarked. "I only +want to be the next President of +the United States, and I can be, +with your help. Let me show you +a picture."</p> + +<p>He walked over to the covered +picture, pulled a cord and unveiled +it and there, life size, were +the Old Man and Willowby shaking +hands. Anyone could tell who +they were and what they were +doing. That brought the house +down. Everybody felt that it was +time for a little noise. Some of +them, who knew the Big Boy +well enough, went up and congratulated +him on the new political +alliance. In the confusion, +Winifred Willowby slipped out +of the room and no one noticed +his absence.</p> + +<p>But some one did notice the +sideboard and started to sample +the bottles. Soon everyone was +drinking a little. But the Old +Man did not drink. He just sat +there, moodily chewing his cigar +and wondering how much of the +fifty million he could keep for +his share.</p> + +<p>Nobody saw the first rat. It +dropped from behind the picture +and ran under a chair. The next +rat did the same. Perhaps fifty +rats were in the room before +their presence was noticed. By +that time they were coming +faster, by the dozen, by the hundred. +That was different. One rat +in a large room meant nothing. +A hundred, five hundred in the +same room could mean almost +anything.</p> + +<p>And now they were literally +pouring out from back of the +picture. A cursing man pulled it +to the floor and there was a large +hole in the wall, two feet in diameter, +and out of that hole the +rats were pouring, big brown, +hungry rats, dropping to the +floor and starting to hunt for +food. The puzzled men jumped +up on top the chairs; the rats +stood on their hind legs and +looked at the large chunks of +food with black beady, binoculars. +The Old Man just sat there, +chewing his cigar and cursing. +He knew what it all meant seconds +before anyone else.</p> + +<p>A number of the most fearful +men made a dash for the elevator. +They were driven back by a +torrent of rats climbing up the +elevator shaft. Then <i>fear came—and +panic</i>. With gun and heel, +and broken chairs for clubs, they +started in to kill rats, and for +every one they killed, a hundred +fastened to them with chisel +teeth. To make it worse, the +lights went out, and they were +there in the dark, with mutilation +as a beginning and death as +an ending, and still the rats +poured into the room, up the +elevator shaft and out of the hole +in the wall.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The Old Man walked across +the room, kicking the struggling +bodies of his followers out of his +pathway. Rats ran up his legs +and tried to bite his hands, his +face; he swept them off him as +a tiger would wipe ants off his +fur; at last he came to the window. +There was the city of New +York in front of him, the city of +a million twinkling lights, the +tomb of a billion dead hopes; the +Morgue of a Nation, covered by +laughing, painted faces. He +raised the sash and sat on the +sill.</p> + +<p>"Damn Willowby!" he said. +"What a fool I was. But I am going +to die clean. No rat is going +to send me to Hell!"</p> + +<p>And then he dropped.</p> + +<p>In the room the struggle kept +on—for an hour and then two. +At last the screaming ceased, +and the only sound was the +gnawing of the rats, the crunching +of their teeth and their +satisfied, little squeaks of pleasure.</p> + +<p>The next morning Winifred +Willowby called on the Chief of +the Secret Service of New York. +With him were several men from +Washington.</p> + +<p>"I want to tell you something," +he said. "A large group +of men borrowed my office to +have a meeting last night. They +wanted privacy and secrecy and +they had heard of my place in +the Empire Trust Building. So +I loaned them the entire floor +for the night. But my janitors +tell me that something terrible +happened. An army of rats invaded +the place, as they have +been doing with other places in +the city, and literally ate every +man there; that is, all except +one, a fellow by the name of Consuelo, +and he preferred to jump +out of a window and die clean on +the pavement."</p> + +<p>"Consuelo?" asked the Chief. +"Not the Old Man? Not <i>that</i> +Consuelo?"</p> + +<p>"I think that is the one. Here +is a list of the men who were +there. I thought you might like +to look it over before you gave +it to the papers."</p> + +<p>The Chief took the list and +read it, puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean these men were +there last night?"</p> + +<p>"I understand so."</p> + +<p>"And now they are dead?"</p> + +<p>"I think so. Of course, that is +for the coroner to say."</p> + +<p>"Do you know who these men +were?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose they were business +associates of Consuelo. At least, +that is what he told me."</p> + +<p>"They were the hundred biggest +gangsters in America. They +were the brains of everything +vicious in American society. +There is not a man there whom +we have not been after for years, +but we just couldn't pin anything +on them. Their death in +one night gives the decent people +in our country a new lease on +life. We can go ahead now and +get the little fellows. But, tell +me, Mr. Willowby, how did it +happen?"</p> + +<p>"I told you. They had a meeting +and the rats came. You know +there was a rat racket which no +one thoroughly understood. Anyway, +the rats came—and killed +them. No one can tell exactly +what did happen, because everyone +who was there was killed. +That is all. I am sorry that it +happened in my office—but I +thought I was doing the man a +favor to loan him the place for +the meeting."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>That night Crawford and Willowby +were talking things over. +In rushed Rastell and Wilson, +brushing the indignant butler +aside.</p> + +<p>"We have heard a thousand +rumors," began Rastell, "and +read as many foolish statements +in the papers about the rat +tragedy, and we just couldn't +wait a minute longer. You just +have to tell us what happened. +We are not going to leave you +till you do."</p> + +<p>"You tell them, Crawford," +whispered Willowby. "Whenever +I talk about it, my voice becomes +squeaky."</p> + +<p>"It happened this way," explained +Crawford. "After you +started to work, Mr. Willowby +decided to go over and study the +story of the Piper right in the +town of Hamelin. We went there +and there was no doubt that the +town people really believed that +it really happened. They told us +all about it, and the more we +listened and paid them, the more +they told. They gave us the very +tune the Piper played to make +the rats follow him. It was a +simple little thing, and we made +some phonograph records of it. +It seems that when the rats hear +that tune, they want to get as +close as they can to the source of +the music. Then one old man—he +gave us some additional bars +which he claimed drove the rats +frantic for blood, and we made +a record of that also.</p> + +<p>"Afterwards we came back to +America and went up into Pike +County. Not so many rats there +but enough to experiment with. +We tried the short tune and the +long tune and they worked on +the American rats just like they +did on the Hamelin ones. We put +two and two together and decided +that the rat racketeers in New +York were using this method of +attracting rats. Just put a repeating +phonograph in a building +and start it playing, and +then the rats would come and +eat everything to pieces. Of +course, we did not know the psychology +of it, but I suppose it +has something to do with the effect +of musical vibrations on the +rat's nervous system.</p> + +<p>"Then Mr. Willowby thought +that it would be a good idea to +make a great rat trap and attract +all the rats in the city to it. +He had a good deal of work done +in the Empire Trust, and rigged +up a phonograph with a lot of +loud speakers in different parts +of the basement. He ran a lot of +ropes down a ventilating shaft +for the rats to climb on. I think +it was his original idea to have +them come up to his office by the +millions and then use some kind +of gas on them. At least, he +wanted to get rid of the rats. +Someone must have turned on the +phonograph with the entire record. +Mr. Willowby left the room, +went down the elevator and being +somewhat absent-minded, +told the elevator boy that he +could go for the night. Of course, +he was surprised to hear all +about it the next morning. All he +wanted to do was to get rid of +the rats."</p> + +<p>"Exactly!" purred Mr. Winifred +Willowby.</p> + +<p>And he lit another cigarette.</p> + +<p class="p1"><b>THE END</b></p> + +<div class="trn"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> +This etext was produced from <i>Amazing Stories</i> April 1956 and was +first published in <i>Amazing Stories</i> November 1931. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and +typographical errors have been corrected without note.</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rat Racket, by David Henry Keller + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RAT RACKET *** + +***** This file should be named 26890-h.htm or 26890-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/8/9/26890/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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