The checks, which had been already prepared by Pearson, were exhibited to me, and I was surprised at the cleverness of the forgery.

It looked easy and safe, and I consented.

The person selected as the victim was a rich farmer by the name of Henery Sharpless, whose accounts were only settled about twice a year, and consequently detection was not likely to follow very soon.
After carefully comparing the forged checks with an old one that was genuine, I no longer hesitated and signified my readiness to try the experiment.
"On the following day, therefore, I went to Johnson's office, and there put on a hickory shirt, a pair of coarse boots and pantaloons, and in a few minutes I was transformed into a veritable countryman.

Johnson colored my face and hands with some preparation which made me appear like a tanned and sunburnt farmer, and thus equipped, I started for the bank.

I was provided with two checks for three hundred dollars each, one of which was to be presented to the Geneva bank, when, if I experienced no trouble, I was to present the other at the Union National Bank, where also Mr.Sharpless kept an account.