Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

148 ' be -_ deed. Our life is not ourownto take. Be more composed, and to-morrow you will thank heaven you were prevented from carrying out your in- tention, Where are your friends to be found ?” “ Friends ?”’ cried Jane. cc Ay.” ‘“¢T have no friends.” “No friends ?” “¢ None.’’. = “Think—think. You must have some one who respects! you—some who can counsel and sympathize with you in this trying hour. Come, give me their address, and I will send for them.” “T have none who would come to the forger's wife,” said Jane, bitterly. “The sins of your husband are not your own,” said the inspector, ‘“‘and it would be cruel to|- blame you for them. None could be so-unfeeling as to refuse to come to you at such a time as this.” “T would not ask them.”’ “Why not? But there, I have no right to ask the question. You are not in a fit state of mind +o be left alone. JI will send for your friends if you like, but if you will not have it so, J must send some one myself.” “ T need no one.” “Indeed you do. Your attempt upon your own life will not allow me to let you remain alone.’ ‘““ As you please,” said Jane, “ I must submit, I suppose.” ‘“‘ Baintree,”’ said the inspector, turning to one of his men, “‘ you are amarried man, I believe? ”’ “ Yes, sir,’”’ was the answer. “ Would you object to your wife coming to this poor woman till the violence of her grief has abated, and she can with better safety be left alone? ” ‘“¢ Not in the least, sir.” AST ‘ Fetch her, then.” : The man turned, and left the room. When he had gone the inspector took the poor woman’s hand in his own, and in a kind and fatherly tone said— “Mrs. Slater, do not think me actuated by any desire to wound your already lacerated heart. I have a duty to perform, and must per- form it. You cannot under any circumstances ermitted to enter the room where your husband lies till after the jury have viewed the body to-morrow. So if there is anything you he. desirefrom that apartment, it shall be brought |. ou.” “Nothing,” she said. added quickly, “ Yes, yes. pocket-book.”’ ‘‘ Where is it, in the drawers?” asked the inspector. ‘“No, no; it lies on the floor by the door. Yes, it was there I dropped it when that fearful sight met my gaze.” “It shall be fetched,” he said, and waved his hand to one of the men. The man departed, and in a few moments re- turned with the pocket-book of Grasper. Jane stretched out her hand to take it, but the inspector seized it, and moved her back. , , “Il must be sure,” he said, “that there is Then suddenly she I want a book—a SPRING-HEEL D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. ‘nothing within it which you could use -to tempt the destruction of. your own life.” “ Oh! no—no!, there is not—there is not!” cried Jane, making an attempt. to tear-1t from his hold. ~ asthe Her tone and manner caused the inspector to fancy that there was, and he opened the clasp. As he did so, a paper fell at his feet. The officer stooped to pick it up, but Jane, uttering a cry, flung herself before him. “ You shall not touch it!” she eried. mine.” “ Let her have it, Simpson,” said the inspector. “It is ‘‘ We have no wish to pry into any letter or such © i) There is nothing here but a few papers, | like. and therefore she can have the book.” | Jane had secured the paper, and crumbled it up in her hand tightly, as if fearful it would be wrested from her, and when the book was offered her, she hastily thrust it into her bosom. i ‘““ Now, is there anything else you desire?” said the inspector. | ‘“ Nothing.” ; ye. “ Then, gentlemen,” he added, turning to the doctors, ‘* I believe there is nothing to keep us longer.” . “ No,’ said one. ‘‘I willsend this poor woman ~ a composing draught as soon as I get home.” The medical men turned upon their heels, and left the room. a # “ Simpson, you will remain till Mrs, Baintree arrives, and then report yourself at the station.” The man saluted his officer, and seated him- self in a chair opposite to Jane. | 7" ‘““Again I ask you, ere I- leave, if Icansend ~ for your friends, or be of any service to you?” ‘* No, sir—no.” | Pa id "ae ‘d basil Sal “le - ‘ i ' ~ on eee ’ 4 il va ~ = aM i -S . Fal _ s — . p és q => tc. be et Swot EE a ag | fe ‘‘'Then seek to compose yourself, and ask aid — Me of heaven in your fearful trials. Anything that you wish for that can be done, shall not be . denied you.” _ He turned from her with a sigh, and, beckon- | ing to his men, strode from the room. The door closed behind them, and Jane and the officer, Simpson, were left alone. _ For some time neither spoke to the other. Jane was too much absorbed with her own grief, and the officer with watching her pale face and trembling form. mt But the silence became painful at last to the young officer, and he remarked, not knowing what else to say— y *‘ You was very anxious about that paper and pocket-book, ma’am. So anxious, that I did not think the inspector would have let you had it.” Jane made no remark in reply; she only ~ tightened her fingers more tenaciously over the crumpled evidence ef her husband’s guilt, and sobbed aloud. , ‘“¢ Here—here,” she muttered, inwardly, “is that which would have saved him. But too late—too late ! me for.consenting at last to purchase his liberty. Why did I go—why leave my home, when, I remained, he would still have lived ? ported him. Oh! but for that fatal let a | 900 comic Oh! is it not a judgment upon Oh! | how cruelly have my hopes been broken—hopes | — that leaped to my bosom as my trembling hands touched that book. It contained the expected paper—contained that which could have aa Oe ter 1 - | 4 . * F L | |