第129章

The Brigands hold a Council of War It being now what is usually called the festive season - possibly because at this period of the year a greater number of people are suffering from hunger and cold than at any other time - the reader will not be surprised at being invited to another little party which took place on the day after the one we have just left.The scene was Mr Sweater's office.Mr Sweater was seated at his desk, but with his chair swung round to enable him to face his guests - Messrs Rushton, Didlum, and Grinder, who were also seated.

`Something will 'ave to be done, and that very soon,' Grinder was saying.`We can't go on much longer as we're doing at present.For my part, I think the best thing to do is to chuck up the sponge at once; the company is practically bankrupt now, and the longer we waits the worser it will be.'

`That's just my opinion,' said Didlum dejectedly.`If we could supply the electric light at the same price as gas, or a little cheaper, we might have some chance; but we can't do it.The fact is that the machinery we've got is no dam good; it's too small and it's wore out, consequently the light we supply is inferior to gas and costs more.'

`Yes, I think we're fairly beaten this time,' said Rushton.`Why, even if the Gas Coy hadn't moved their works beyond the borough boundary, still we shouldn't 'ave been hable to compete with 'em.'

`Of course not,' said Grinder.`The truth of the matter is just wot Didlum says.Our machinery is too small, it's worn hout, and good for nothing but to be throwed on the scrap-heap.So there's only one thing left to do and that is - go into liquidation.'

`I don't see it,' remarked Sweater.

`Well, what do you propose, then?' demanded Grinder.`Reconstruct the company? Ask the shareholders for more money? Pull down the works and build fresh, and buy some new machinery? And then most likely not make a do of it after all? Not for me, old chap! I've 'ad enough.

You won't catch me chuckin' good money after bad in that way.'

`Nor me neither,' said Rushton.

`Dead orf!' remarked Didlum, very decidedly.

Sweater laughed quietly.`I'm not such a fool as to suggest anything of that sort,' he said.`You seem to forget that I am one of the largest shareholders myself.No.What I propose is that we Sell Out.'

`Sell out!' replied Grinder with a contemptuous laugh in which the others joined.`Who's going to buy the shares of a concern that's practically bankrupt and never paid a dividend?'

`I've tried to sell my little lot several times already,' said Didlum with a sickly smile, `but nobody won't buy 'em.'

`Who's to buy?' repeated Sweater, replying to Grinder.`The municipality of course! The ratepayers.Why shouldn't Mugsborough go in for Socialism as well as other towns?'

Rushton, Didlum and Grinder fairly gasped for breath: the audacity of the chief's proposal nearly paralysed them.

`I'm afraid we should never git away with it,' ejaculated Didlum, as soon as he could speak.`When the people tumbled to it, there'd be no hend of a row.'

`PEOPLE! ROW!' replied Sweater, scornfully.`The majority of the people will never know anything about it! Listen to me -'

`Are you quite sure as we can't be over'eard?' interrupted Rushton, glancing nervously at the door and round the office.

`It's all right,' answered Sweater, who nevertheless lowered his voice almost to a whisper, and the others drew their chairs closer and bent forward to listen.

`You know we still have a little money in hand: well, what I propose is this: At the annual meeting, which, as you know, comes off next week, we'll arrange for the Secretary to read a highly satisfactory report, and we'll declare a dividend of 15 per cent - we can arrange it somehow between us.Of course, we'll have to cook the accounts a little, but I'll see that it's done properly.The other shareholders are not going to ask any awkward questions, and we all understand each other.'

Sweater paused, and regarded the other three brigands intently.`Do you follow me?' he asked.

`Yes, yes,' said Didlum eagerly.`Go on with it.' And Rushton and Grinder nodded assent.

`Afterwards,' resumed Sweater, `I'll arrange for a good report of the meeting to appear in the Weekly Ananias.I'll instruct the Editor to write it himself, and I'll tell him just what to say.I'll also get him to write a leading article about it, saying that electricity is sure to supersede gas for lighting purposes in the very 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.