Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

—— ee 48 SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. “Very good. I will believe you. Tell your extinguished in its fall, commenced to beat a UL. mistress whatever may happen to insist upon the hasty retreat towards the house, leaving James —_—_———— ne ananassae ee ae ee - eo a mT TT LL ta and the housemaid to look after themselves. performance of a certain compact ; not to allow When they turned the angle of the building, | fear or threats of violence to prevent justice being Jack darted from his hiding-place just as the; done; and, above all, not to leave the house till frightened James succeeded in raising the house-| that compact is signed and sealed. maid to her feet, and stretching forth his hand he clutched at the skirt of her dress. The girl uttered a loud cry. James turned, stood for a moment as if para- lyzed, then dashed madly away after his com- panions, leaving the servant girl half fainting in the hands of Jack. ‘““Mer—mer—mercy, Mr. Robber!” she gasped ‘Ves, I will tell her.’’ “Alone?” . ‘“ Ves, sir ; alone.” “ Enough.” “May I go now?” “Yes; but take with you the reward of your labours. I never expect a service without pay- ment.’’ out, at the same time falling on her knees. As he spoke he forced a silk network purse “Fear not. I will not harm you,” whispered | into the girl’s hand. y | Jack, hurriedly. She held it a moment, then dropped it at her d ‘* Mur— ”——- feet. “ Hush !” Jack stooped, picked it up, and offered it to | “Oh! it’s—it’s”’ her. | : She had got a good sight of the hideous mask| But the girl drew back. now as she looked imploringly up in Jack’s face, and the words she was about to utter died away on her tongue, which became paralyzed with terror. “It’s only a man,” said Jack, quickly lifting her to her feet. ‘‘ Fear me not, I say.” ‘Good Mr. Beelze— ” “* Peace, girl!” “Good Mr. Beelzebub, I ”-—— “’ Girl, be silent, and listen to me,” said Jack. ‘Will you not take it?” ‘‘T cannot. You are the devil, and want me to sell my soul to you,” she sobbed. “O my! Omy! Do let me go—oh! do let me go!” “Girl, are you mad?” said Jack, removing hismask. ‘‘ Now are you satisfied lam aman?” The girl started, stared hard into his face, then dropped her eyes to the ground. ““The—the mar—”’ “Hush!” cried Jack, catching at her arm “T have no intention of harming you. Listen, I| quickly. ‘‘ You recognise meas a friend of your say.” master’s. Enough. He must not know I have ‘* Yes, yes.” spoken to you, nor must any one else. DoasI You love that footman, James ?” “Oh! Mr. Dev—” “Foolish girl, lam not the personage you take me for,” said Jack, ‘*but one who will make it worth your while to serve me.” “Serve you?” “Yes.” ‘Where? Down—down there?” asked the girl, shuddering in horror, as she pointed with her trembling finger to the earth. ** No, you silly girl, up here,” said Jack, unable to suppress a grin at the girl’s question. ‘‘ Now, listen to me ere your silly companions return,” ‘* Yes, yes.” ‘“* Don’t throw yourself away upon that paltry coward of a James. ‘The fellow is unworthy the love of such a pretty girl as yourself, if he can run away and leave you in this manner, But enough of that. Will you serve me }” ‘* How ?—how ?”’ ‘* By informing your mistress that the gentle- man who had an interview with Mr. Richard Clavering to-night will be at her side if ever she should need his services.” “Yes, sir; yes, sir,’ cried the girl, attempting to hurry away. But Jack detained her gently. “Tell her this,” he continued, in a hurried whisper ; “ but say not a word to your master or your fellow-servants,”’ have told you. Take this gold ; and when, one day, you find a husband who will protect instead of desert you, I will see if I cannot find a little dowry for you. Nowgo; but besilent. Hark! the men servants are coming back again. ‘There are no thieves about the grounds, and they may spare themselves the trouble. But I must be off. Remember your promise, and I will not forget mine.” ) Jack glided quickly away from the girl’s side, _ as shouts of— | “There she is! There she is!”’ broke from the lips of the approaching servants, who, with lights in their hands, made their way towards her, James being one of the foremost. “Oh! my dear Lizzie, he cried, ‘I’m so glad you are safe.” ~ “Don’t touch me, you cowardly fellow,” said the girl. ‘‘ Don’t speak to me. I won’t have nothing more to do with you. To run away and leave me as youdid! There, go away, now, or else Pll slap your face.” As the girl suited the action to the word, and repulsed her lover with a ringing slap on the cheek, Jack vaulted up on to the top of the garden wall at the further end of the grounds. As he reached the top of the brickwork, a shout from the road broke upon his ears, and, as a looked down, he perceived two officers below im. “T won't.” ‘Here he is! Here he is!” exclaimed one. ‘* Promise me faithfully.” “Now, you sir, come down, or we'll fetch you.” TT do.” Jack fixed his mask quickly on his face, cast a ‘‘T shall be sure to learn if you speak of this interview to any but herself.” “1 will not, upon my word.” > : ——— ee ee ee ee et ee, il $34 FA67- = COMINMEDOOKS.€O hurried glance behind into the garden and th n along the road, where he could hear the sound of coming wheels. | LL ¥ |