Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-09-19

the city OF square that had been set
aside for improvement into a little
park that brought on the war. The
council calmly gave this tract to q
railroad company for use as switch
ing yard. The steal was 80 raw that
the mayor, who hitherto had been on
the fence, vetoed the ordinance. The
council laughed and passed the ordi-
nance over his veto. Obviously there
was only one answer to this: The rail.
road company had come across with
enough money to make the council
defy all public opinion. They bad
been bribed.
It was then that the decent and
prominent citizens Of the town got to-
gether and resolved to clean up the
town.
What Is the best way to go about
it?" asked one Of them.
"Get after tho council" said the old
Judge. grimly. prove them guilty OF
bribery. Send them to prison. Break
them up Throw the fear OF God 80
hard into the city government Of this
town that It will be years before
city official dares to think Of taking q
bribe."
THAT IL right" agreed the retired
capitalist. 1--WE must scare this town
30 1t will not forget"
The flrst process Of connecting this
scare was the sending of Clutter and
Dawson Of the Burns Detective Agency
to take up a temporary residence at
the Imperial hotel-the leading hotel
I'm Springvale. Clutter was a merry.
looking little Englishman who could
make friends with anybody in the
world at ten minutes notice. Dawson
was young. Incorporating fellow
who looked the part Of a high class
salesman, or high class gambler, de-
pending on your point Of view. They
merely registered at the Imperial, and
commenced to spend money judicious.
ly in the bars around the city hall. It
was not long before they began to at
tract attention.
As in every city, the liquor empor-
iums near the city hall were the meet
ing places for certain brand of poll.
ticians-the brand that Clutter and
Dawson we're anxious to meet. Natur-
ally they did not display any of this
anxiety. After two or three days Of
being good fellows around town they
began to make the acquaintance Of
the politicians who were steady GUS
toners of the places where the detec.
tives were spending their time and
<kN
shy about making acquaintances. Lat.
err they began to warm up. and after a
week of careful work the detectives
found themselves part Of the little
ring that made these bar rooms their
headquarters and whose occupations
lay in the city hall. There were two
councilmen with whom they became
especially friendly. Corcoran and
Stein, who were the leaders Of the
city hall clique. When they had cd.
tablished themselves on firm ground
with these two, Cluffer and Dawson
preached their alleged reason for be.
ing in Springvale.
Eve represent the American Wood
Block company" they said, "and we
want to try to sell some blocks in
Springvale We sell the best blocks
in the world"
Here they brought out some excel.
lent samples of wooden paving blocks
and began to expiate on their merits
mot only that, but we can sell
these at prices far below those charg
ed for the ordinary blocks" continued
Clutter. 1--WE are so anxious to put
our blocks into Springvale streets that
we will make the city a price at which
1t can save all kinds of money on its
paving bills. I'll bet you we can save
the city $4,000 year and give It bet.
ter paving material than 1t ever had
before"
well, what of IT." said Stein.
"Well," continued Dawson. I'VE
thought II We could interest you gen
tlemen and could show you where We
could save the city all this money, we
might convince you that 1t would be
in the interests Of the city to intre-
duce wood paving here"
"Yes," said Stein, who was the
spokesman for the councilmen. "What
of it,"
why" said Dawson, you gentle.
men. in order to help the city save
money ought to introduce an ordi.
nance calling for wood paving on
some streets. Then, after we had
shown how much we could save the
city, we might hope to get some big
ger contracts"
Corcoran and Stein laughed as pne
man.
Gee. but you're green" laughed
Stein, "ls that really what you got
us up here to tell us?"
"Why. certainly" said Cluher. all
innocence. We're statesmen for the
wooden block company"
And you've got o couple of wooden
blocks yourself" roared Stein. III
that's all you know about selling stuff
to cities don't see you holding your
Jobs much longer"
"Why?"
because that amt the way its
DONE" said Stein. Anyhow. not In
Springvale. You got to have differ.
ent system than that, Johnnie, to do
business here. Save the city money!
What the devil do you suppose we
care about the city? To hell with the
city! If that's all you know about
getting city contracts. take your little