In any event, George had  pretty much "milked" his enterprise here, and moreover, was aware of competition arising in many quarters.  Competition  whose methods of operation were far more suspect than those of George W. Rhine, bordering he said on more than one occasion, on "white slavery" - a discarded notion in this Age of Bi-Sexual unions and S&M, but back when, a designation to make the blood of true-grit 'Muricans  run cold. 

     So, George began to cultivate in earnest his buddies with the FDA.  Lunches, wining and dining, the works (did they partake of the delights of the business at hand?).  Of this, gentle reader, I have no information... 

     But certain it is, that with persistence, and picking up the tab as it were, George was eventually able to capture the attention of these folks about a Great Big Problem right here in River City. Did they know, for instance, that there was a thriving "Lonely Hearts" business going on right here in Washington?  Furthermore, were they aware that this traffic actually was interstate traffic, and was moreover a traffic in "goods"  (here defined at some length), which said goods were not subject to proper inspection as to matters of health and dimensions and other such tedious details. Though prurient interest in such subject matter might have been aroused  even among these cold-blooded bureaucrats by these revelations, the clincher that  got to their bureaucratic hearts was the allegation  of "sloppy bookkeeping" resulting in a "failure to pay taxes" and other derelictions. 

     Would you believe that with such depictions and details that old rascal was able in time to finally convince his associates to launch a full-scale investigation into the Lonely Hearts business? 

     Well, he did!

     And then he put into operation Phase Two of his plan.  He began to solicit all his onetime competitors (he had long since, of course, discontinued his Simon pure operations).  His pitch was this:  he, George W. Rhine, through his special contacts in higher administrative circles in Washington, and his hob-nobbing with Western Senators and whatall, and most particularly his inside track at the FDA, had learned recently of an impending secret investigation about to be launched into their very business of matchmaking and Lonely Hearts contacts... 

     This got their attention!  Then he added that this was very serious matter indeed - possible fines, jail, who knew?  As he afterwards often noted when relating this tale, he had them in the palm of his hand: hoodwinking rascals is easier than hoodwinking the innocent.  Cons must ever be on the alert for "the con", for they are usually running scared to begin with, and so psychologically vulnerable for setup.  But not to worry!  There was a way... 

     For he, George W. Rhine, would be glad to "represent" them in said upcoming investigation (for an upfront fee, of course), and he had, indeed, already been so-retained by several of their esteemed fellows in just this very matter. 

     It worked!  Retainers were speedily forthcoming, and soon George was the self-appointed Industry Representative for the putative trials and tribulations about to burst upon their heads.

     Phase Three was now enjoined.  With their fees cleared - and safely deposited - George was once again back on the lunch circuit with his FDA pals.  Now they were as eager to pursue this matter as they had been reluctant in the beginning.  But let us not underestimate George's oratorical prowess.  He began low-key and gradually built up at lunch after leisurely lunch, putting the brakes upon all that he had raised the alarm about before.  Surely, he asked, they were not seriously thinking of dragging the prestigious FDA (whatever) into anything so sordid as an investigation - of all things! - into the sleazy Lonely Hearts bureaus?  Why think of it!  Their very names, their family's names - would be besmirched!  The press would have a field day with such an undertaking...  And so on and on.  Suffice to say that eventually he talked them down off the wall, dampened their ardor for this enterprise and finally extinguished it altogether.  All had a great laugh, drinks all 'round... and the Lonely Hearts affair was retired for good.