Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 105: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

; SPRING-HEEL'D JACK :.THE.TERROR OF LONDON. | 99 Tf rf: Beware fe i ,No, not a penny. Ive brought her up for | nothing, and this ruined me—quite ruined me— and me an old man.” | “ Hard-hearted, unfeeling wretch,” said Jack, ‘can you lay there and lie thus, in the hopes of | retaining a few pounds that you can’t take with you to the grave?” | ,, “Tm not going, to die yet—not yet,” gasped Serivener. ** How do you know?” That's your style of business; only instead .of soods and chattels, I take body and soul.”’ ““Oh—h—h!” oroaned the miser, every limb trembling till the bed fairly shook under him. Still he clung to his darling gold, the only god he worshipped—the only thing till now he be- lieved to possess the greatest power. “Quick ! “decide!” said Jack; ‘‘for I have no time to lose. The midnight hour will soon pass, and I must then begone.” — ..“ Perhaps you are nearer “T dow’t think [ am.” 7 death than you A look of joy passed quickly over the miser’s white face. Hope sprang into his breast. | think,” said Jack, in an insinuating tone. ; Mt Oh, no—oh, no !” _ TI say,-perhaps you are. Would you go to Could he delay till the clock struck one, he could fail this fiend who pressed him so hard. frighten me so that I don’t know what I say on —— a_i A. AEE. i a AL a —<ti Aman in bed. - hard-fisted . dealings. the grave with a lie on your lips, and the un- atoned wrongs of your brother’s child on your conscience? Wretched mortal, I have come to compel, jou to do her justice—and justice yeu shall. do, or. tremble for your obstinacy.” “You’ye come to the wrong man! lve got no niece;!”’ cried the miser. | |“ And but now you said she eat so much that she has ruined you !” said Jack. “Tt was amistake. I didn’t mean it. You whined the miser.. ~ 5 _ “Now hear, what I say, Jerard Scrivener, money-grubber miser, and home-destroyer, you possess some paper or deed by which your niece is entitled to a certain sum, at the expiration of your guardianship.” © Don’t deny it.” _ ft must.” » | ) | , “ Tt will avail you nothing,” said Jack ; “‘ for I know of its existence.” That was false; but Jack believed himself justified inthe falsehood. _ “No, oh,no! I assure you it’s true,” cried Scrivener. _ No more words. Give it me, or I take it,” exclaimed Jack, severely, and he made a motion as if to.dismount from. his position. “No, no!” shrieked the old man, starting up > - . “Then get it.” )“Lean't.” ff Why-not?? .. . iI haven’t got it.” x “ Where is it 2” “TT never had it.” . “Jerard Scrivener !” -“ Yes, oh; yes!” | | “Give me that paper without another word, or I not only take it, but leave you a beggar.” _‘* Would you'rob a poor old man?” cried the miser,.in tremulous tones, | | »“No-; but.I would restore to the poor people you have robbed the ill-gotten gold in your Strong safe,” said Jack. » “Oh, it’s all a mistake!” Is it?” “Yes; I assure you it’s alla’ mistake. You have been misinformed.” “Jerard Scrivener, I don’t require informa- tion—I know all about it—all your | villanous, Come! — quick! the money—-the money, or the money’s worth, a ir i 7 “Give me what I demand,” said Jack, ‘‘or I tale it.” ‘No, no; wait a bit,’* exclaimed the miser. “Ty can’t wait.” “Just a little while, so that I can collect my thoughts.” ** Not an instant.’ » “Yes, yes; I’m trembling so, 1 cannot move. Let me recover myself, and’ I will do what you. ask.” ‘1 give you one minute,” said Jack. ‘‘ No, no ; say an hour—only an hour,” pleaded the miser. “So that you may defeat me,” said Jack. “ No, Jerard Scrivener, you cannot do that. If the fortune left'to your niécé; or the deeds to obtain it, are not placed in my hands by the time the 77 ‘| clock strikes one, I bear you away from’ your gold to the dark and silent grave.” » There was something so hollow in the tones of Jack, that the miser’s heart almost ceased to beat, and the blood ran cold.through his veins, while a strange sensation crept over his head as his scant grey hairs stiffened out im horror. ) ‘““Spare me!” hecried. - . “T have said,” replied Jack. “Come, the hour is near. Your niece possesses her just rights, or she inherits the whole of your hoarded gold! Quick, time’s just up. The gold or the srave. Decide, or you are lost !” Jack sprung up, his tall form reaching up almost to the ceiling, as he flung open his cloak and extended his arms. “You shall have the deed—you shall have it,” shouted the miser, rising quickly in the bed. ‘‘T’m poor, very poor; but you shall have it. Yes, yes; only spare me. Spare the poor old man !” The miser sprang from the bed to the floor, trembling in every limb, and Jack leaped to his side, to be sure that he made no attempt to escape from the room. | Quick!” he said, in a hollow, hissing whis- per, and laying his hand on his shoulder. With a desperate effort, the miser opened an iron-bouna box at the head of his bed, and took forth a paper, looked at Jack appealingly, and then made a movement as if to thrust it back again, Jack tore it from his grasp, however, opened, it, and permitted the light to fall upon it. A. quick glance assured him that it was what he soucht. So, thrusting the old man aside with his elbow, he blew out the rushlight, flung up the =—=EOMIicbooks=