One early bright, a real hep cat strutted into town. He wasn't no Clyde, he was togged to the bricks! His threads were brighter than anything they'd ever seen back then. But, he seemed tapped, nothin' but a case for his horn.

      "This place is sadder than a map!" the piper exclaimed at the sight of all the bum faces in town. "What's the line on this place?"

      "Rats man." the townsfolk answered, "We can't nix 'em."

      "That's a bring down." The piper answered and dug in his case for his horn.

      "We'd dish out the bread to any cat who could get the rats to cut out."

      "I hear you," the piper said "It's a real drag having rats around. But I can get rid of 'em for you."

      "Come again?" they asked.

      "I can nix these rats for good." the piper held up his axe and played a few notes. Man that cat could play some serious armstrongs! The townsfolk flipped!

      "This cat's a real gasser!" they pounded their mits with glee. The piper bowed.

      "But how's a cool beat like that gonna rid us of these dirty rats?" The townsfolk asked.

      "You got your boots on," the piper said "I'm melted out, what's it worth to you if I can do it?"

      The townsfolk agreed that if he could do it they'd boot him all their bread.

      "Dig?" the townsfolk asked.

      "Dig." The piper agreed and began to wail. Man that boy was a hummer! He really beat it out! And one by one the rats began to come out, straight to the piper. His notes were in the groove and he didn't cut out.

      He began movin' down to the river still playing a smooth jam. It was the most! The rats followed him into the water and they all drowned. All the rats were nixed out, just like the piper said.

      "Man, I am beat to my socks!" the piper said as he came out of the water. The townsfolk flipped! Their rat problem was gone and all was copasetic.

      "I'm gonna catch some cups, but I'll be back at six chimes and you'll mash me all your dough. Dig?" the piper asked.

      "Dig." the townsfolk replied.

      Well folks, when the piper cut out, some clyde in the crowd began to cop an attitude.

      "Why should we dish out all our dough to this square?" he asked "Why should he get all the gravy? The rats are dead, he can't bring 'em back. Lets just mash him a fin and call it done." The townsfolk beat their chops about it and agreed, man it wasn't like he could bring the rats back anyways.

      At six chimes, the piper returned. The townsfolk handed him a fin.

      "This ain't coming to tab." the piper said.

      "All our dough is too much man." the townsfolk answered.

      "Don't play me cut rate, Jack. Boot me all your dough like you said, or you'll be sorry. Dig?" The piper hissed.

      "Cool it," the townsfolk said to the piper,"We're all in fews and twos, we ain't givin' you all our bread."

      "I'm hep," the piper said "You all have your glasses on and you'll pay the price. I can't collar this jive." The piper put his horn back in its case and began to trilly out of town. As the townsfolk watched him go, he turned and said: "So help me, I'll be back in a set seven brights and you'll pay my price." and with that, the piper cut out.

      The townsfolk sounded off about the piper, but soon went back to their pads to catch some z's.

      Just like he said, in seven brights the piper returned while the townsfolk slept. This time he looked like a real yarddog. He took out his axe and began to wail a real gut-bucket of a riff. One by one, all the townsfolk's little ones came out, still in their pj's. In a few ticks, all the little ones were following the piper out of town, dancing and laughing.

      When the townsfolk woke and saw that all their little cats were gone, they flipped out. They were all beat up, they didn't know what happened. Until one little cat returned.

"I came back for my coat," the little guy wailed "but now I can't find them. What a drag!"

      The townsfolk asked the little cat what happened and he beefed them the action about the piper leading away all the kids. And they never came back. That piper was as sharp as a tack and he had made the townsfolk pay.

      That my cool cats and chicks is the end of my tale. Now, if you know what's good for you, don't be a square and pay the piper what the piper's due. Dig?