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y near future。 Then the article will go on to refer to the huge profits made by the Gas Coy and to say how much better it would have been if the town had bought the gasworks years ago； so that those profits might have been used to reduce the rates； the same as has been done in other towns。 Finally； the article will declare that it's a great pity that the Electric Light Supply should be in the hands of a private company； and to suggest that an effort be made to acquire it for the town。
‘In the meantime we can all go about … in a very quiet and judicious way； of course … bragging about what a good thing we've got； and saying we don't mean to sell。 We shall say that we've overcome all the initial expenses and difficulties connected with the installation of the works … that we are only just beginning to reap the reward of our industry and enterprise； and so on。
‘Then；' continued the Chief； ‘we can arrange for it to be proposed in the Council that the Town should purchase the Electric Light Works。'
‘But not by one of us four； you know；' said Grinder with a cunning leer。
‘Certainly not； that would give the show away at once。 There are； as you know … several members of the Band who are not shareholders in the company； we'll get some of them to do most of the talking。 We； being the directors of the company； must pretend to be against selling； and stick out for our own price； and when we do finally consent we must make out that we are sacrificing our private interests for the good of the Town。 We'll get a committee appointed … we'll have an expert engineer down from London … I know a man that will suit our purpose admirably … we'll pay him a trifle and he'll say whatever we tell him to … and we'll rush the whole business through before you can say 〃Jack Robinson〃； and before the rate…payers have time to realize what's being done。 Not that we need worry ourselves much about them。 Most of them take no interest in public affairs； but even if there is something said； it won't matter much to us once we've got the money。 It'll be a nine days' wonder and then we'll hear no more of it。'
As the Chief ceased speaking； the other brigands also remained silent； speechless with admiration of his cleverness。
‘Well； what do you think of it？' he asked。
‘Think of it！' cried Grinder； enthusiastically。 ‘I think it's splendid！ Nothing could be better。 If we can honly git away with it； I reckon it'll be one of the smartest thing we've ever done。'
‘Smart ain't the word for it；' observed Rushton。
‘There's no doubt it's a grand idear！' exclaimed Didlum； ‘and I've just thought of something else that might be done to help it along。 We could arrange to 'ave a lot of letters sent 〃To the Editor of the Obscurer〃 and 〃To the Editor of the Ananias；〃 and 〃To the Editor of the Weekly Chloroform〃 in favour of the scheme。'
‘Yes； that's a very good idea；' said Grinder。 ‘For that matter the editors could write them to themselves and sign them 〃Progress〃； 〃Ratepayer〃； 〃Advance Mugsborough〃； and sich…like。'
‘Yes； that's all right；' said the Chief； thoughtfully； ‘but we must be careful not to overdo it； of course there will have to be a certain amount of publicity； but we don't want to create too much interest in it。' ‘Come to think of it；' observed Rushton arrogantly； ‘why should we trouble ourselves about the opinion of the ratepayers at all？ Why should we trouble to fake the books； or declare a dividend or 'ave the harticles in the papers or anything else？ We've got the game in our own 'ands； we've got a majority in the Council； and； as Mr Sweater ses； very few people even take the trouble to read the reports of the meetings。'
‘Yes； that's right enough；' said Grinder。 ‘But it's just them few wot would make a lot of trouble and talk； THEY'RE the very people we 'as to think about。 If we can only manage to put THEM in a fog we'll be all right； and the way to do it is as Mr Sweater proposes。'
‘Yes； I think so；' said the Chief。 ‘We must be very careful。 I can work it all right in the Ananias and the Chloroform； and of course you'll see that the Obscurer backs us up。'
‘I'll take care of that；' said Grinder； grimly。
The three local papers were run by limited companies。 Sweater held nearly all the shares of the Ananias and of the Weekly Chloroform； and controlled their policy and contents。 Grinder occupied the same position with regard to the Obscurer。 The editors were a sort of marionettes who danced as Sweater and Grinder pulled the strings。
‘I wonder how Dr Weakling will take it？' remarked Rushton。
‘That's the very thing I was just thinkin' about；' cried Didlum。 ‘Don't you think it would be a good plan if we could arrange to 'ave somebody took bad … you know； fall down in a fit or something in the street just outside the Town 'All just before the matter is brought forward in the Council； and then 'ave someone to come and call 'im out to attend to the party wot's ill； and keep 'im out till the business is done。'
‘Yes； that's a capital idear；' said Grinder thoughtfully。 ‘But who could we get to 'ave the fit？ It would 'ave to be someone we could trust； you know。'
‘'Ow about Rushton？ You wouldn't mind doin' it； would yer？' inquired Didlum。
‘I should strongly object；' said Rushton haughtily。 He regarded the suggestion that he should act such an undignified part； as a kind of sacrilege。
‘Then I'll do it meself if necessary；' said Didlum。 ‘I'm not proud when there's money to be made； anything for an honest living。'
‘Well； I think we're all agreed； so far；' remarked Sweater。 The others signified assent。
‘And I think we all deserve a drink；' the Chief continued； producing a decanter and a box of cigars from a cupboard by the side of his desk。 ‘Pass that water bottle from behind you； Didlum。'
‘I suppose nobody won't be comin' in？' said the latter； anxiously。 ‘I'm a teetotaler； you know。'
‘Oh； it's all right；' said Sweater； taking four glasses out of the cupboard and pouring out the whisky。 ‘I've given orders that we're not to be disturbed for anyone。 Say when。'
‘Well； 'ere's success to Socialism；' cried Grinder； raising his glass； and taking a big drink。
‘Amen … 'ear； 'ear； I mean；' said Didlum； hastily correcting himself。
‘Wot I likes about this 'ere business is that we're not only doin' ourselves a bit of good；' continued Grinder with a laugh； ‘we're not only doin' ourselves a bit of good； but we're likewise doin' the Socialists a lot of 'arm。 When the ratepayers 'ave bought the Works； and they begins to kick up a row because they're losin' money over it … we can tell 'em that it's Socialism！ And then they'll say that if that's Socialism they don't want no more of it。'
The other brigands laughed gleefully； and some of Didlum's whisky went down the wrong way and nearly sent him into a fit。
‘You might as well kill a man at once；' he protested as he wiped the tears from his eyes； ‘you might as well kill a man at once as choke 'im to death。'
‘And now I've got a bit of good news for you；' said the Chief as he put his empty glass down。
The others became serious at once。
‘Although we've had a very rough time of it in our contest with the Gasworks Company； and although we'