Stockholders of a certain type--the average--are extremely nervous, sensitive, fearsome.

They are like that peculiar bivalve, the clam, which at the slightest sense of untoward pressure withdraws into its shell and ceases all activity.

The city tax department began by instituting proceedings against the West Division company, compelling them to disgorge various unpaid street-car taxes which had hitherto been conveniently neglected.

The city highway department was constantly jumping on them for neglect of street repairs.

The city water department, by some hocus-pocus, made it its business to discover that they had been stealing water.