"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, President 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.
"Yes, Jeff-Jack got still anotheh bill brought in an' paassed. It give the three thousan' to Rosemont entieh, an' authorized the three counties to raise the fifteen hund'ed a year by county tax." The Captain laughed.