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Occasionally a girl of intelligence and spirit would insist on the fulfilment of the terms of her indentures； and sometimes the parents would protest。 If this were persisted in those girls got on better： but even these were turned to good account by the wily Sweater； who induced the best of them to remain after their time was up by paying them what appeared … by contrast with the others girls' money … good wages； sometimes even seven or eight shillings a week！ and liberal promises of future advancement。 These girls then became a sort of reserve who could be called up to crush any manifestation of discontent on the part of the leading hands。
The greater number of the girls； however； submitted tamely to the conditions imposed upon them。 They were too young to realize the wrong that was being done them。 As for their parents； it never occurred to them to doubt the sincerity of so good a man as Mr Sweater； who was always prominent in every good and charitable work。
At the expiration of the girl's apprenticeship； if the parents complained of her want of proficiency； the pious Sweater would attribute it to idleness or incapacity； and as the people were generally poor he seldom or never had any trouble with them。 This was how he fulfilled the unctuous promise made to the confiding parents at the time the girl was handed over to his tender mercy … that he would ‘make a woman of her'。
This method of obtaining labour by false pretences and without payment； which enabled him to produce costly articles for a mere fraction of the price for which they were eventually sold； was adopted in other departments of his business。 He procured shop assistants of both sexes on the same terms。 A youth was indentured； usually for five years； to be ‘Made a Man of and ‘Turned out fit to take a Position in any House'。 If possible； a premium； five； ten； or twenty pounds … according to their circumstances … would be extracted from the parents。 For the first three years； no wages： after that； perhaps two or three shillings a week。
At the end of the five years the work of ‘Making a Man of him' would be completed。 Mr Sweater would then congratulate him and assure him that he was qualified to assume a ‘position' in any House but regret that there was no longer any room for him in his。 Business was so bad。 Still； if the Man wished he might stay on until he secured a better ‘position' and； as a matter of generosity； although he did not really need the Man's services； he would pay him ten shillings per week！
Provided he was not addicted to drinking； smoking； gambling or the Stock Exchange； or going to theatres； the young man's future was thus assured。 Even if he were unsuccessful in his efforts to obtain another position he could save a portion of his salary and eventually commence business on his own account。
However； the branch of Mr Sweater's business to which it is desired to especially direct the reader's attention was the Homeworkers Department。 He employed a large number of women making ladies' blouses； fancy aprons and children's pinafores。 Most of these articles were disposed of wholesale in London and elsewhere； but some were retailed at ‘Sweaters' Emporium' in Mugsborough and at the firm's other retail establishments throughout the county。 Many of the women workers were widows with children； who were glad to obtain any employment that did not take hem away from their homes and families。
The blouses were paid for at tie rate of from two shillings to five shillings a dozen； the women having to provide their own machine and cotton； besides calling for and delivering the work。 These poor women were able to clear from six to eight shillings a week： and to earn even that they had to work almost incessantly for fourteen or sixteen hours a day。 There was no time for cooling and very little to cook； for they lived principally on bread and margarine and tea。 Their homes were squalid； their children half…starved and raggedly clothed in grotesque garments hastily fashioned out of the cast…off clothes of charitable neighbours。
But it was not in vain that these women toiled every weary day until exhaustion compelled them to case。 It was not in vain that they passed their cheerless lives bending with aching shoulders over the thankless work that barely brought them bread。 It was not in vain that they and their children went famished and in rags； for after all； the principal object of their labour was accomplished： the Good Cause was advanced。 Mr Sweater waxed rich and increased in goods and respectability。
Of course； none of those women were COMPELLED to engage in that glorious cause。 No one is compelled to accept any particular set of conditions in a free country like this。 Mr Trafaim … the manager of Sweater's Homework Department … always put the matter before them in the plainest； fairest possible way。 There was the work： that was the figure！ And those who didn't like it could leave it。 There was no compulsion。
Sometimes some perverse creature belonging to that numerous class who are too lazy to work DID leave it！ But as the manager said； there were plenty of others who were only too glad to take it。 In fact； such was the enthusiasm amongst these women … especially such of them as had little children to provide for … and such was their zeal for the Cause； that some of them have been known to positively beg to be allowed to work！
By these and similar means Adam Sweater had contrived to lay up for himself a large amount of treasure upon earth； besides attaining undoubted respectability； for that he was respectable no one questioned。 He went to chapel twice every Sunday； his obese figure arrayed in costly apparel； consisting … with other things … of grey trousers； a long garment called a frock…coat； a tall silk hat； a quantity of jewellery and a morocco…bound gilt…edged Bible。 He was an official of some sort of the Shining Light Chapel。 His name appeared in nearly every published list of charitable subscriptions。 No starving wretch had ever appealed to him in vain for a penny soup ticket。
Small wonder that when this good and public…spirited man offered his services to the town … free of charge … the intelligent working men of Mugsborough accepted his offer with enthusiastic applause。 The fact that he had made money in business was a proof of his intellectual capacity。 His much…advertised benevolence was a guarantee that his abilities would be used to further not his own private interests； but the interests of every section of the community； especially those of the working classes； of whom the majority of his constituents was composed。
As for the shopkeepers； they were all so absorbed in their own business … so busily engaged chasing their employees； adding up their accounts； and dressing themselves up in feeble imitation of the ‘Haristocracy' … that they were incapable of taking a really intelligent interest in anything else。 They thought of the Town Council as a kind of Paradise reserved exclusively for jerry…builders and successful tradesmen。 Possibly； some day； if they succeeded in making money； they might become town councillors themselves！ but in the meantime public affairs were no particular concern of theirs。 So some of them voted for Adam Sweater because he was a Liberal and some of them voted against him for the same ‘reason'。
Now and then； when details of some unusually scandalous proceeding of the Council's leaked out； the townspeople … roused for a brief space from their customary indifference … would discuss the matter in a casual； half…indignant； half…amused； helpless sort of way； but always as if it were something that did not directly concern them。 It was during some such nine days' wonder that the title of ‘The Forty Thieves' was bestowed on the members of the Council by their semi…imbecile constituents； who； not possessing sufficient intelligence to devise means of punishing the culprits； affected to regard the manoeuvres of the Brigands as a huge joke。
There was only one member of the Council who did not belong to the Band … Councillor Weakling； a retired physician； but unfortunately he also was a respectable man。 When he saw something going forwards that he did not think was right； he protested and voted against it and then … he collapsed！ There was nothing of the low agitator about HIM。 As for the Brigands； they laughed at his protests and his vote did not matter。
With this one exception； the other members of the band were very similar in character to Sweater； Rushton； Didlum and Grinder。 They had all joined the Band with the same objects； self…glorification and the advancement of their private interests。 These were the real reasons why they besought the ratepayers to elect them to the Council； but of course none of them ever admitted that such was the case。 No！ When these noble…minded altruists offered their services to the town they asked the people to believe that they were actuated by a desire to give their time and abilities for the purpose of furthering the interests of Others； which was much the same as asking them to believe that it is possible for the leopard to change his spots。
Owing to the extraordinary apathy of the other inhabitants； the Brigands