Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

62 inexpressible desire to Jock up or move on the subjects of his annoyance. But the Misses Snookers were law-abiding per- sons, and Johnuy Bristles was far too wise a man to commit a breach of the peace himself, although his hand would rest upon the handle of his staff, and a muttered curse escape his lips as he caught sight of one or other of the ladies, Tn fact, the model policeman would have grown thin but for the circumstance of meeting Peggy one evening just as he came upon his beat. She was returning home after enjoying her holiday, and very pretty she looked, decked out in her veil and cuffs, which she had put on after she left the house, and would have to remove ere she again entered it. Johnny stopped short in his measured walk right before her, and his large goggle eyes started almost from their sockets with admiration. ‘“ What, Peggy ! my own dear, darling, duck of a Pegoy!” he cried in overjoyed tones. “Oh! my Johnny,” was the reply, as Miss Peggy flung back her veil, and held forward her hand. Bristles grasped it in his own, and then, look- ing up and down the road, and finding nobody near, he drew her closer to him, while his head bent low till it touched the veil of the young sirl. ~ Then there was a loud smack, something like the sound of a carter’s horse-whip, and a little half-frightened exclamation of— “Oh ! don’t do it again.” “A thousand times, my charmer,” said Bristles, again looking anxiously up and down the street. The coast was clear. The face of Bristles again rested near the serving girl’s veil, and a continu- ation of smacks, swift as file-firing, came from between the two heads so close together. Oh! don’t, don’t, there’s a dear,” cried Peggy, blushing scarlet, and adjusting her bonnet, which had slipped over the back of her head. ‘Oh! what if missus was to see you.” ‘* Damn missus!” exclaimed Bristles wrath- fully, his whole manner changing in an instant. ‘““Oh! for shame,” said Pegpy. ‘They ain’t worth calling a missus, they ain’t,”’ said Johnny. “I should like to scrag ’em, I should.” “What for, Johnny dear ?” “FW hat for !” “Yes, Johnny.” “For their meanness and ’spiciousness to be sure, the old cats!” cried Johnny. ‘Oh, don’t call ’em cats.” ‘“ I'd like to serve ’em like cats, I would,” said the policeman, drawing his staff from his pocket and flourishing it about. ‘ V’dlike to top’em on the head with this and chuck ’em into the river,” “Oh, lor’! you is wicious,” ‘\ No, 1 ain't.” ‘Yes, you is,’ | “Well, and ain’t it enough to turn the heart of a stone into a lump of iron to know as how they would rather chuck a bit of cold grub into the dust-hole than see anybody else have it 2” “Oh ! they were so angry with me for it. Not that they knowea it for certain, but only sus- pected. I told ’em it was the cat as thieved it, aud they said they would keepa watch, so ’tain’t —_!--- Se a ee wuureemerns o> > « COMICboee SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON my fault you don’t get some nice bits for supper now, Jobnny dear. You know Id give ’em you, but then they should see me and I would lose my ~ lace.” re Blow ’em!” said Johnny, forcing the staff back into his pocket. “ What’s a little bit of cold. scran where there’s plenty. Ah, the avaricious old cats—I wish they’d give mea chance, I do. | I'd avenge the insult offered to the gal I love and my own tender and susceptible feelings—so help me Bob, I would !”’ ‘ “Oh, Mr. Bristles, don’t talk like that, there’s — a dear,” said Peggy. ‘Mister! Oh, don’t Mister me. To you I’m Johnny Bristles; to everybody else [’m Mr. Bristles, the crack policeman of the L division.” Peocy looked admiringly up and down the row of metal buttons which graced the chest of the ex-cobbler, then rested on his face with an admiring smile as she exclaimed— “You is, you is!” “* And who dare say (m” ‘* A confounded ass!” said a voice which seemed to come from the front garden of the house before which they stood. Bristles drew back. So did Peggy. The countenances of both dropped. They stood glaring upon each other as if for an explanation of the strange voice. , At length Bristles was himself again. He drew himself proudly up. His goggle eyes flashed fire. Bristles stroked his metal buttons with one hand, and drew his staff from his pocket with the other. Valiantly he looked around. - Majestically he walked tothe garden gate, and looked over and among the shrubs which grew there so luxuriously. , Nobody was to be seen. Bristles was disappointed. The model policeman, like some knight of old, desired the chance to prove his valour in the eyes of his lady love. . , ‘Come forth,” he cried, ‘‘ whoe’er you be, and to the station you shall go with me.” ‘“ Who is it? Oh, who is it?” eried Pegey, anxiously, paying no heed to what Bristles be- lieved a splendid piece of poetical effusion. ‘I’m licked,” whispered Bristles; “come a little further down the street.”’ : ‘I must goin. It’s past nine, and I promised - to be home then,” said Pegey. ‘Oh, I wish missus would let me stay out longer.” “So do I. Butshe be blowed !” cried Bristles. ‘Shall anyone enslave the girl I love—my dear —my darling duck—my dove! ” “Oh! don’t talk so nice; it makes me feel I don't know how,” said Pegey, looking still more lovingly into his face as they moved alone, "lis a way I’ve got. I ought to have been poet, Peggy. As you see, when a man’s in love he cau say anything his heart prompts him ; and I say this, that you ain’t been so kind to me as you ought have been, Peggy. You lets them old catamarans frighten you trom doing your duty, you does.” “My duty?” : Yes,” .