Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: neighbourhood shall know it to-morrow. goes, to commence.”’ Tom Bedford opened the room door and ealled out loudly— “Mr. Sinclair! Mr. Sinclair !” In a moment the cashier’s voice met the ears of Jack as he sat stifling his laughter in Tom’s room. | 'What’s the matter ?” “Oh! sir, do get up at once. There’s murder or something !”’ | | * 'What—where—what 2?” And bang open went the door of Mr, Sinclair’s bedroom on the second floor.” *“Didn’t you hear the shrieks 2” ““Shrieks! Where ?” ** Next door.” “Next door—which way 2?” “At Miss Frump’s. It was her voice that roused me up. She’s been roaring ‘ Fire— murder—thieves—help !’ for more than half an hour,” cried Tom. ‘God bless my soul!” said Sinclair; “ I think I must have heard something too, but I don’t _ hear any voice now.” ‘“'That’s what makes me so uncomfortable, sir. I’m afraid she’s murdered,” said Tom in a solemn tone. It certainly cost him an effort to appear so much concerned. “Murdered !’’ cried Sinclair. “Yes, sir.” ““ Goodness gracious me !”’ “The sounds got fainter and fainter every moment, and now they have ceased altogether.” “Call the police! Rouse the neighbourhood! Goodness me! what’s to be done? My hand shakes so I can’t get a light. Mrs. Sinclair, my dear, do you hear what Mr. Bedford says?” “Oh! we shall be murdered too, perhaps! - There’s thieves about—where’s your rattle? Open the window and spring it. Don’t go down till the police come ; you might get your throat ent! Did you fasten the front door, Mr. Bed- ford?” added the lady, as she jumped ont of bed to assist her husband in obtaining a light and finding his rattle. “Jack,” said Tom, “ you’re a brick.” “Thank you.” < “You are, upon mysoul! I don’t think any- thing ever made me feel so pleased at the idea of a lark. Now, I’m off to rouse Baker, while Sinclair lets the rattle have good play out of his window. I hope to goodness the old gal won't be able to get out of deaf Duppy’s room.’’ “She can’t; ve made sure of that by locking them in,” said Jack in a low tone. “Ah, but where’s the key ?”’ “In the door.” ‘And the front open ?’ “Yes.” “All right, Good-bye. If you don’t see you'll hear urow soon. Hurral:! there goes the rattle!” Up went Sinclaix’s bedroom window with a bang, and out on the still night air sounded the whirr of a large rattle, which the cashier twirled round at a fearful rate. In another few moments a thundering knock- ing at the doors of the adjoining houses told Jack that the young city clerk was at work. Here er LE Es, THE TERROR OF LONDON. cc mm a ee ee Up went the windows of the adjoining houses, and night-capped heads protruded far out over their sills, while questions innumerable were asked in excited voices by excited people who were scarcely yet awake. “Thieves! fire! murder! Get up every- body !” cried Tom, as he clung to Baker’s knocker and thumped so furiously at the door that it seemed as if he must really split its panels. ‘““ What’s the matter 2” roared Baker, “Oh! get up and come down. Miss Frump’s shrieking for help fearful. Come all and see what it is; I’m afraid to go in by myself.’ ‘““Where’s the police?” roared a night-capped old gentleman from a neighbouring house. ““ Where indeed !” cried Mr. Perkins. ‘* People may be murdered in their beds for all they care.” ‘“They’re never to be found when they are wanted,” shrieked another. “It’s a disgrace and a shame we should have to pay to support a set of fellows in idleness, and then when anything’s wanted have to do their duty ourselves!” cried the first speaker. “Come down! come down!” cried Bedford, ‘“and go in with me to see what itis. Perhaps we can save her!” “Oh! there’s a policeman! there’s a police- man !” exclaimed Mrs. Baker, who, together with her spouse, filled up the window. “Spring the rattle louder—police! police !” And for a few moments the cry of police from a dozen throats rang loudly out over the neigh- bourhood. ‘Hallo! what’s the row 2?” cried a policeman, hurrying to the scene. ‘‘ Have you got Spring- heeled Jack here again ?” “Oh! goin there. and-see what’s the matter,” sald Baker, who had now come down, attired in his breeches and slippers, and armed with the pistol which Jack had taken from him the night before. There was a silence. A. dozen voices also urged the officer to do as Baker requested. ‘“Are you sure you heard cries of murder 2” asked the officer. ‘““ Yes,’ said Tom. neiglbourhood up.” Tom then drew Baker aside and whispered— ‘The old woman's in for it. She won’t be down on you again in a hurry.” “You don’t mean ”’ “Yes, I do,’ interrupted Tom, “but don’t blow the gaff, as the saying is; come on as if you really thought something was wrone instead of a joke.’ Here Perkins joined them, and several other of the mate ancl female inhabitants. Oue or two bore candles in their hands, and their faint glimmer seemed to make the scene look inexpressibly comie. Not one save the policeman but were only half attired, and tie terrified looks and rumpled hair of the startied sleepers would lave raised a peal of lanehter under any other circum- stances. ‘We shall have to break open the door,” said the policeman, “We'll soon do that,” cried Bedford, placing his hands on the panels. ‘* Why, it is open!” “They woke the whole ——_ Gomilchboo <S eel 59 (EO)