"See here," said he, "these names is all correct, I guess. I don't know the writin'; but how do I know they ar' all genooine?"
Sharp, in his way, "satisfied" Flat on that head.
"But," said Flat, "has all these fellurs paid up their 'cessments?"
Sharp assured him they had.
"Wa'al, how do I know? I don't see no proof on't here," said Flat, pointing to the subscription stock-book.
Sharp explained; but Flat was thick-headed, and would not understand or believe anything till Sharp should have entered against each man's name the amount of the assessment he had paid, and 'then he would take his pick of 'em, he said, and go and ax 'em right to thar heads,' and ef he found all right, he'd subscribe, and 'go in his full length.'
Sharp saw nothing not flat and silly in this, and he agreed to it of course, for well he knew that all the stockholders would be glad to get more money into the treasury to develop the mine with. They would, of course, all tell Flat that they had paid up, and so confirm Sharp's word. Flat quietly visited two or three of the heaviest stock holders, and informed them how they were cheated, and they became as anxious as his employer to have the scamp caught; and after two days, Flat called again upon Sharp, taking a couple of modest friends along with him, of whom he could manage to make witnesses in an emergency. Sharp was all ready, greeted him cordially, pointed out to him carefully, and with much apparent pride, the names of the stockholders who had paid up their assessments, and explained to him that certain checks he had put against their names meant that they had paid, and showed how much each had paid.
Flat was a little thick-headed, but saw "straight" at last. "I declare," said Flat, "that are's famous," taking hold of the book; "neow do tell me what your expenses is in runnin' this here company? What d'they charge you for this here nice book, to begin with?" (The book was gotten up with considerable care as to appearances.)
Sharp thought it a stupid question, but humored Flat, and told him that it was worth twenty-five dollars; but that he had an eye to economy for the company, and "jewed" down the price to eighteen dollars.
"Wa'al," said Flat, "that's cheaper an' I can git one anywheres else; guess I'll take it; talk of gittin' up a company myself;" and he appropriated the book, to Sharp's amazement.