Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 315: 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. 317 SO SS —e A 1 8 feeling that she would now be upon her guard, os he had not the least suspicion of his mis- ake. | Day after day he hung about the vicinity of Holly Cottage, occasionally catching a glimpse - of his intended victim ; and on the evening in which we have seen Jack and Tom Bedford together, he had fully made up his mind to wait no longer the consummation of his desires, and bear her off to his own home. “I will trust none but myself,’ he muttered, as he alighted from the box of the same vehicle which he had used to carry off Ellen. ‘The woman has not been at all scared, it seems, by her late abduction ; for every evening she has sauntered out, and doubtless she will do so again to-nisht. No Bill Jacksons and no Miss Frumps shall be called into requisition now. I will my- self be both her gaoler and lover ; and if I let her escape me this time, may I never live to see her again.” ) 7 . Scarce had he given utterance to these words when Jane Slater emerged through the gateway out into the dimly lighted street, on her way to the police-station, to see if she could learn any, ‘‘ Well, Jack,” said Tom, addressing the man news of her absent friend, which she had done| who had followed Grasper, ‘‘ was it the old every night before retiring to rest ; but she had| scoundrel ?” not got twenty yards before a couple of arms| “ Yes, it was him. Now, Richard Clavering, were thrown roughly around her, and Grasper’s| I intend to know what induced him to bear off voice sounded in her ears. your sister, andto punishhim forthe unmanly act. The tones of that man instantly paralysed her, Let that be my task,” said the young map. and before she could recover strength to cry out,| ‘Poor girl! She may yet die through his a handkerchief was stuffed into her mouth and! conduct. I could scarce believe her the same I tied behind her head, and she was thrust rudely | left so long ago, when I went forth to seek for into the darkened coach, her hands were secured} work and bread.” behind her back, the doors of the vehicle closed} ‘*‘The shock has done her much harm; but and locked, and she felt herself being carried| she is gradually recovering,’ said Tom. away at a great speed. “Thanks to you, my friend,” said Richard. © She did not faint, for her terror was too great ;} ‘‘ I shall ever owe you a debt of gratitude. But but she sank down upon her knees and sobbed! I am the most injured of us three ; therefore, be aloud. it me to chastise the villain, and avenge my Furiously, Grasper whipped the horse, and as| sister’s wrongs.” | : the animal galloped away, the merchant mut-| ‘‘ Not so; you remain here with Tom, and if tered through his clenched teeth — I require your aid, I will whistle. Besides, you ‘“To-nicht I will crush her proud spirit or} cannot get at him as [ can.” perish. No chloroform to plunge her into} | And as Jack finished speaking, he leaped on to insensibility, and delay my long-wished-for| the top of the wall which bounded the fore- upon the sofa, and retiring from the room locked the door behind him, leaving her in the dark, , and took home the vehicle from whence he had borrowed it. Having settled the demands of its owner, Grasper hurried on his way back in a state of great excitement, and dreaming of his revenge, which now it seemed must be consummated, he observed not a tall, cloaked figure steal out of a front garden a short distance from his residence, and follow, with noiseless footsteps, in his track. He reacted the villa, unlocked the door, and strode into the dark passage ; and as he crossed the threshold a cold shudder pervaded his frame, for which he was unable to account, but he paid little heed to the circumstanee, and closing the door behind him, hurried to the room where he had left Jane Slater. = As the bang of the door echoed through the house, the cloaked figure gave utterance toa low whistle, and two forms stole out of a neigh- bouripg garden and approached him. They were Tom Bedford and Richard Clavering ! success. Once more she is in my power, and not one moment willI listen to her pleadings. I will not delay my triumph an hour lest accursed fate baulk me of my prey. To night— ay, to-night! and nought but death shall save her from me now!” : In an incredible short space of time the vehicle was brought to a standstill before his residence, which, strange to say, was in complete darkness, for not a light gleamed from any one of the windows. _. The inmates had nof all retired to rest, as the darkened place would have suggested, but had gone to the theatre—a circumstance which coming to the knowledge of Grasper, had decided him upon making the attempt that night to ‘again get Jane into his power. Dismounting from the box, the merchant hurried to the door, unlocked it with his latch key, then returned to the vehicle, and lifting Jane out, bore her into the house and up the stairs to his own apartments. Without uttering one word, he set her down - EE ALLL LAL GL ELE ALE LIAL LLL LLL LA - —— ae tl aaa, LE A EL CN LL LLL ALLL LL LLALLL LLL LEAL LL ELL LAR court, from ‘thence on to the balcony of the first-Hloor, hesitated a moment, and then took a leap which placed his hands within reach of the coping-stone, to which he clung as we saw him-in the early part of this story. Hanging thus for a moment, he managed to place his feet on the sill of the second-floor window, and then grasping the water-pipe, which ran close beside it, he gradually lowered himself, and paused for breath. While thus engaged, a light flashed from the window, the curtains of which were looped back, and Jack saw the form and face of Grasper as he placed a lamp upon the table. But the next moment he almost lost his balance, as a female form rose up from a couch and confronted the merchant ; for, despite the kerchief which was fastened over her mouth, Jack recocnised the features of Jane Slater. For a few moments, surprise held him powerless, and caused a dizziness to float through his brain; but the voice of Grasper roused him, and he was himself again. (GLO) OOKS.GOM