The evening world., 1911-04-08
PLAYS
PIED PIPER, BUT
RATS ARE WARY
Burton's Music Fails TO Lure
Rodents Who Have Over
run Station.
WAKES UP RESERVES.
They Put In a Vociferous Pro-
test and Flute Player
Quits in Disgust.
A UP RESERVES.

Policeman Burton tried TO charm the
rats out Of the Liberty avenue sta
ton. Brooklyn. with his nu,e this morn
ing. and the results that marked his
ambitious EFFORT convinced him that
the Pied Piper would n little doing
In his special limo should he return to
earth for q visit.
The stable NJ the station 4. being re-
modelled. and scores OF rats, dclv~n
from q retreat they had inhabited for
years. have been ~overrunning the sta
ton for several days. They kept tho
reserves awake by playing tag and
rinEAround-the-rosy In the dormitory.
and II any one laid anything to eat
down Il was the las no saw OF 1t.
Lieut.. Max Neumaier Is particular
about his penholders. and when no
nnds one that suits him he becomes
singularly attached TO II. This Is ng-
urative. for he has been able TO keep
one only . short time for . number Of
days past.
Stole He Penhoiders.
After every policeman IN tho precinct
had bean given an opportunity TO deny
he was responsible for the persistent
elopement OF tho penhokers. Neumaier
decided to explain their DISAPPEARANCE
In some other way.
Finally he found q rat hole back of
the door. and by judicious vigilance
finally detected a gray old Thomas rat
stealing his penholders. In q few hours
a trap yawned near the hole and four
rodents foil victims to Il.
Whether rats nave a secret way of
communication or II was merely a CO.
Incidence. after the slaughter OF the
unwary quartet the vcnseful survivors
became worse than ever. TIL reserves
could scarcely sleep. and one rat sven
a the temerity 10 gnaw n piece out OF
the blottcr. possibly MISLEADING 1t for the
precinct saueai book.
Traps Of Bitter Avail.
Last night Neumaier decided "a
de-imate the ranks Of the pests II It
took all the rat traps In Williamsburg
He came on duty with four OF tho
largest he could ind. Placing them neai
the centre OF the room. he made a trail
OF cheese 70 the rat hole. switched out
some Of the lights and waited for the
determination TO begin.
HIS vigil started at I A, NJ. Two
frisky youngsters took the raj and
were soon where they would trouble no
more. a fiea-bltten. moth-eRten old fell
low cl!mbed 10 the desk. loft a few foot
prints on the blottor and peeked I'M
pwdently over ut the traps and the be-
quilting bait OF cheese. But he didn't
go nearer.
Policeman Burton came In at 3 \. NJ.
and when he learned that the rat popu-
lation had not been noticeably de-
creased. thought a ome and said:
Il remember reading about tho Pied
Piper Of Hameliu playing "A flute and
leading all tho rats away. I'm the
champion flute player In the police
band. II you say the word Well give
II u trial"
Didn't Care for Music.
Neumaier was willing. so Burton Went
10 the dormitory and got his flute.
Returning, ne sat himself IN a cha r
and trilled every tune he knew. But
not a single rat displayed itself except
the same gray veteran that had mussed
up the blotter earlier IN the night. As
an evidence of what he thought OF the
music, he bllnked a time or two and
went back.
Il guess rats amt like they used 10
be in them days" said Burton as he
put his flute bach into the case. There
certainly wasn't anything the matter
with that music"
The ats could not be interviewed on
tie subject. but the sleepy reserves up
...g., ,,, d, ,.n,,ua,. ltg..,,t.,
report.
Ncumsier II thinking OF calling on
MAYOR Gaynor's literary rat-catcher 10
I'D In cleaninR out the aiA,inn-