The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 388: what you’re looking at

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

THE SUBTERRANEAN ayy This intimation was followed by the click of one pistol, then by that of the other, yet no answer was returned. 7 “What will the Burker do?” thought Bab to her- self, and quick as lightning she revolved in her mind how she could possibly second any endeavour that he might perchance make for the frustration of the officers’ designs. At the selfsame instant there was another wild rush of the frenzied black cat. This time it was in the passage on the eround floor, but the sounds reached the ears of those in the scullery. The door at the head of the staircase, having doubtless been disturbed by the animal, closed with violence, and the tall detective demanded, ‘‘ What the deuce is that, ‘Benny, 77 | “Only that cursed animal again,’’ was the response, for all was now suddenly still once more. Mrs. Smedley, having her nerves by this time completely strung for any abrupt or startling occurrence, quickly re- gained her own self-possession, and pushing the door at the bottom of the staircase, she said, ‘‘ At all events we won’t have the brute come rushing down here again.” The door closed and latched itself by the impulse thus given to it, and the officer who answered to the abbreviated Christian name of Tom, exclaimed sternly, ‘‘ You keep quiet, ma’am. Stand away from van door, and none of your nonsense.’ “She can’t escape, Tom,” ies Ie his superior; ‘‘ the passage up-stairs is guarded.” All that followed was now the work of a few instants. Scarcely had the tall detective given utterance to those last words which we have recorded, when there was a rush beneath, a blow was dealt, and he disappeared as if engulfed in the dark depth from the view of his companion who was holding the light. Quick as thought, Bab Smedley threw: herself with the fury of a tiger-cat upon the subordinate Tom, and precipitated him headlong down the steps. The sounds of several severely dealt blows coming up from the abyss reached her ears, but she could see nothing; the light had fallen into the pit,— she was enveloped in total darkness. Not for an instant did she lose her presence of mind; she knew where on a shelf there were the means of obtaining another light; a lucifer was struck, and at the very moment GOMINIGIOOKS (CO)