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?"

"You mean carry on the business under the old name?" asked Moyer,
looking at the prospective buyer earnestly.

"Something like that."

The Englishman shook his head.

"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."

"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."

"May I ask what you want to do with the business?" interrogated the
Junior Partner, Perkins.

"Certainly. I intend to use it as one of my experimental laboratories
for the study of a mammal, known as the _Mus Norvegicus_, called, in
common English, the brown rat. He is supposed to have originated from
the _Mus Humiliatus_ of Central Asia. Now will you gentlemen take the
half million?"

"We will!" exclaimed Perkins. "Then may I ask your name?"

"Winifred Willowby."

"Not the one who is reputed to own more United States bonds than any
other man in America?" gasped Richard Moyer.

"I won't admit that I do, but I am the man you are thinking about."

"Then I simply cannot understand why you want to mix up in this rat
business."

"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."

"A large programme, Mr. Willowby," whispered Perkins.

"But I am a large man. Now, suppose I write you gentlemen a check?"

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.

"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 pl