Webb requested Stinson to record his dissent from the vote in the minutes, but was informed that the meeting was closed, and nothing could be added to its proceedings. He then demurred to signing, but Belmore, heated up to the point of speaking out in meeting for once, declared that he must, or he should not have his dollars--that himself and Podevin earned them by signing their names, and Webb must do likewise.
"The dollars may slide!" cried Joe, growing indignant, and tossing on his hat.
"But, Mr. Webb," said Stinson, speaking most respectfully, "will you sign the minutes to show that I have done my duty, and they are correct. You have been present, and the law says so;" and poor Joe Webb, unable to bear up against a city man's polite address, though he would have maintained his point against all the blustering farmers in his township, yielded, and placed himself under the same moral condemnation with the rest, as sanctioning for stock-jobbing purposes a fraudulent dividend to be paid out of capital.
FOOTNOTE:
[Footnote 1]: A one-seated sleigh, intended to carry two persons.