Kidnappers are rarely interested in animals, but they recently took
considerable interest in Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay's cat. Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay, a
very wealthy old lady, has shared a flat with her cat, Rastus, for a great
many years. Rastus leads an orderly life. He usually takes a short walk in the
evenings and is always home by seven o'clock. One evening, however, he failed
to arrive. Mrs. Ramsay got very worried. She looked everywhere for him but
could not find him.#
There days after Rastus' disappearance, Mrs. Ramsay received an anonymous
letter. The writer stated that Rastus was in safe hands and would be returned
immediately if Mrs. Ramsay paid a ransom of $1,000. Mrs. Ramsay was instructed
to place the money in a cardboard box and to leave it outside her door. At
first she decided to go to the police, but fearing that she would never see
Rastus again - the letter had made that quite clear - she changed her mind.
She withdrew $1,000 from her bank and followed the kidnapper's instructions.
The next morning, the box had disappeared but Mrs. Ramsay was sure that the
kidnapper would keep his word. Sure enough, Rastus arrived punctually at seven
o'clock that evening. He looked very well, though he was rather thirsty, for
he drank half a bottle of milk. The police were astounded when Mrs. Ramsay
told them what she had done. She explained that Rastus was very dear to her.
Considering the amount she paid, he was dear in more ways than one!&