So things went on and he became the most talked of man in the town.  When any difficulty arose he was the first to be consulted.  The town found it necessary to come to him for information on every local scheme that had its birth in the local cerebrum, for no one else was capable of handling any emergency and carrying it through to a successful conclusion.

Just about this time the sewerage epidemic took possession of the town, and became an insane contagion.  Meetings were held at various places to discuss the matter, and at last the government agent allowed the court house to be used gratis for that purpose.  Of course our hero and two other victims were appointed commissioners to investigate.  His salary was the same as he received from his various secretaryships.

It was proposed to mortgage the town for forty years to the provincial government for its endorsement to local bonds, and the commissioners were empowered to have the alleys and necessary places surveyed with a view to ascertaining the magnitude of the undertaking, and the amount of the collateral which it would be necessary to raise in England, upon the endorsed bonds, to push the work through to a successful conclusion.  The victims set to work with full knowledge of the stupendous responsibility which had been slung, yoke-like, across their shoulders.  Surveyors were engaged, and an expert calculator was summoned to give an estimate of the cost of such an undertaking.  The estimate was placed at $75,000.00.  This enlightenment gave the community a volcanic eruption; an epidemic of “cold feet” took possession of them, and they retired to warm these extremities at their respective air-tight heaters.  In the meantime the commissioners had guaranteed payment to the experts whom they had engaged, and their personal notes were urgently requested.  The expenses which they had incurred amounted to about five hundred dollars.  When the vouchers were hawked about town for endorsements they received the “high ball,” and the victims found it necessary to “make good” from their personal rainy day deposits.  The unpopular man took a sly glance back at the ancient happy hunting-grounds antedating his booby prize days.

It was just about this time that an agent of the Independent Trust Company drifted into town “incidentally,” and became acquainted with the boys.  He made it known in a sort of casual way that he was disposing of shares in the said company, which were valued at more than they were worth—­that is, were worth more than their valuation.  To keep up the “bluff” the unpopular man bought a thousand “plunks” worth of shares.

“Now,” said the shark, “since you have shown so much confidence in my company by purchasing shares, you can prove your patriotism more fully by placing a substantial deposit with the Independent Trust.  This will help maintain the company on solid footing, and ensure you higher dividends on your stock.  I will give you my personal guarantee that your money will be safer, and more productive than it would be in the Bank.”