The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

THE BURKER’S ADVENTURES 113 low, was full of a deep, savage, concentrated rage, “‘ did you think as how you could play your cursed pranks upon me? ”’ Jack Smedley was as ghastly as a ghost, while, as he sat up in bed, his hair was literally standing on end and his whole frame was quivering. He endeavoured to speak, but could not; he was a prey to all the terrific and horrifying dread which the appearance of so desperate a man as the Burker was under such circumstances but too well calcu- lated to inspire. © _“ Now mark me, Jack Smedley,” resumed the terrible Barney, “if I don’t find every coin of my money safe among your traps, I’ll have your life though I swing for it to-morrow morning.’’ | “Tt is all there,’”’ gasped forth the miserable gold-beater, whose cowardice was only equalled by the wickedness of his disposition. ‘‘ But pray don’t hurt me — pray don’t! ”’ “Hurt you?” echoed Barney, and he ground his teeth with ferocious rage. ‘‘ I did swear to myself just now that I would have your life, but if so be I get back my blunt, I'll leave you forthe hangman. There never was such a dirty, sneaking, paltry scoundrel as you are in this blessed world. Why, your wife Bab was always ashamed of you — always — and I’m blowed if I think Jack Ketch himself would like to have to do with such a fellow.” Smedley began to whimper and snivel, while the Burker, deliberately drawing forth his dreadful-looking clasp- knife, proceeded to cut the cords of the box which was in the attic. He opened it; he found all his money safe, and his eyes glistened with a savage joy as he resumed pos- session of his gold. He continued to ransack all the contents of the box, but he found therein nothing else worth taking. ‘““Where’s your own money? ”’ he demanded of Smedley. “ Here, I suppose,”’ and he caught up the pantaloons which the gold-beater had been wearing, and which were lying over a chair. There were six or seven sovereigns and a quantity of silver in the pocket, but Jack Smedley, now having the horrors of utter destitution before his eyes, began to moan so piteously that the Burker thought to himself, ‘‘ He will do something desperate if I leave him penniless, and maybe he will blow the whole thing, turn around and peach, CORNICLOO© SS (CO)