The Englishman frowned perplexedly and Proudfit put in-- "That is, three thousand a year from our three counties' share of the scrip on public lands granted Dixie by the Federal Government." "Expressly for the support of public schools," said General Halliday, and March listened closer than the foreigner, for these facts were newest to John. "Still," said March, "the State furnishes the main support of public education." "No," responded Shotwell, "you're wrong there, John; we changed that. The main suppote o' the schools is left to the counties an' townships." "That's stupid, all round," promptly spoke the Briton. "I thought," exclaimed John, resentfully, "we'd changed our State constitution so's to forbid the levy of any school tax by a county or township except on special permission of the legislature." "So you have," laughed the General. "The devil!" exclaimed the Englishman. "O, we had to do that," interposed Proudfit again, and Gamble testified, "You see, it's the property-holder's only protection." "Then Heaven help his children's children," observed the traveler. John showed open disgust, but the General touched him and said, "Go on, Shotwell." "Well, seh, we didn't like the missiona'y's proposition. We consid'ed it fah betteh to transfeh oveh that three thousan' a year to Rosemont, entire; which we did so. Pub--? No, seh, Rosemont's not public, but it really rep'esents ow people, which, o' co'se, the otheh don't." "Public funds to a private concern," quietly commented the Englishman--"that's a steal." John March's blood began to boil. "O," cried Shot well--"ow people--who pay the taxes--infinitely rather Rosemont should have it." "I see," responded the Briton, in such a tone that John itched to kick him. "Well, seh," persisted the narrator, "you should 'a' heard Leggett howl faw a divvy!" All smiled. "Worst of it was--what? Wha'd you say, Gen'l?" "He had the constitution of the State to back him." "He hasn't now! Well, seh, the bill faw this ve'y raailroad was in the house. Leggett swo' it shouldn't even so much as go to the gove'neh to sign _aw_ to veto till that fund--seh? annual, yes, seh--was divided at least evm, betwix Rosemont an' the Suez high school." "Hear, hear!" "Well, seh"--the Captain became blithe--"Jeff-Jack sent faw him--you remembeh that night, Presi_dent_ Gamble--this was the second bill--ayfteh the first hed been vetoed--an' said, s'e, 'Leggett, if I give you my own word that you'll get yo' fifteen hund'ed a year as soon as this new bill passes, will you vote faw it?'--'Yass, seh,' says Leggett--an' he did!" Proudfit laughed with manly glee, and offered no other interruption. "Well, seh, then it come Jeff-Jack's turn to keep his word the best he could." "Which he's done," said Gamble.