Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

nee Cle es ~— - } ih gled in the pond, an SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. look to the woman, and I’ll go and send a doc’ tor for form’s sake, and then hurry off to the station to know how further to act. Don’t let anything be touched till the coroner and jury have seen the place andbody! What a fool the fellar must have been. But I can’t help pitying him and his wife too.” And so saying, the man strode from the room on to the landing, followed by his companion, who turned the key in the lock,-and then put it in his pocket. Down stairs they went to the parlour and looked upon the still insensible Jane. “She will be quiet.enough, I dare say, when she comes to,” said the man who had before spoken. “I dare say it will lay her up, such a shock as -she has had. But keep your eye on her, and see she don’t do any mischief to herself. She’s pretty desperate, and women are artful; you can’t always be up to ’em.” “Tll be off and send the doctor, and make my report. Usch! I don’t want to see another such | sight. Once in a life-time is quite enough for a scene like this.” , And leaving his fellow-officer sitting watch- ing by the side of Jane Slater, the man, shudder- ing, left the house to perform his duty. CHAPTER XLI. THE JEW CLOTHIER IN THE HANDS OF THE POLICE. ‘FRIGHTENED and alarmed, Ellen Folder gazed upon the Jew clothier, as the aged rascal strug- d ffoundered about in the stagnant water, calling loudly for help. But when the first shock was over, she turned her gaze appealingly upon Jack’s face, saying— “For heaven’s sake, do not let him perish! @ave him—save him!’’ And to this appeal the Jew added his own for mercy. “Fear not,” said Jack, in a low tone to the young seamstress; ‘‘ the old villain will meet no greater punisitment than a good ducking ; forsee, the water does not reach to hismiddle. Let him get out himself, and perhaps we will have learned him a lesson.” | “So shall you,” said a voice behind our hero, and Jack’s collar was clutched tightly. Ellen and Jack turned to find the latter in the grasp of .a policeman. “ Attempted murder,” said the man. “ You'll get it for this.” ) “Take your hands off! ” cried Jack. “Steady now—steady, or I shall have to steady you with this staff,’ said the officer, drawing the weapon from his pocket, and jerking Jack along some little distance from the pond. “‘Thank you,” said Jack; “but had you not first better help that man out of the water? ” And let you go? Oh, no.” “ You'll have to let me go.” “Shall I?” “Yes. There!’’ And raising his hand quickly he brought it down on the shining top of the policeman’s hat. As that absurd head-dress happened to be somewhat too large for its wearer, it was driven over the man’s face; and as Jack’s hand had proved heavy, the policeman fell to the earth in a sitting position howling for help. Ellen clung to our hero in terror, but Jack drew her gently away, saying— | “Let us hasten. There will be a riot soon, Pve not hurt him, nor did I intend to. Come.” ~ Together they hurried from the spot, while the officer was using every endeavour to force his hat up over his eyes. Meantime the Jew had scrambled out of the pond, and stood the very picture of misery on its bank, trembling with excitement and cold in every limb. Furious the officer sprang to his feet, and nearly overturned the Jew, who, to save him- self, seized the policeman by the arm. Scarce knowing what he did, the officer dealt him a heavy blow on theshoulder with his staff. ‘* Holy Moses!” roared the Jew. ‘I beg your pardon,” said the officer, per- celving his mistake, ‘‘I took you for that rascal Spring-heel’d Jack. Confound the fellow! he has given me the double. He sets the whole force at defiance.” **T will track him for this,” said the Jew. “TI will have an eye fer an eye, and a toofe fora toofe ! ” The« officer looked around him, but the twi- light fast deepening into night, he was uncertain whether or not an individual in the distance was Jack or not. He was inclined to think not, as the figure which met his eye was alone. “Officer, do your duty,” said the clothier. “Pursue the villain—capture him, put him in prison, and I’llbe very generous—very generous. I'll make you a handsome present —a very handsome present. I'll give yer sixpence.” The officer’s eye, which had gradually opened in expectation, suddenly dropped to the ground. “Sixpence,” he said, ‘“‘well, that is handsome!” “Very—very,’ saidthe Jew. “I’mso generous —my good heart will ruinme. I must not be so kind as I have been—peoplish take advantage of my good heart—my kind heart—my generous disposition !” ‘Your reward would be princely indeed !” And the officer turned disgusted away. He felt so amazed at the fellow’s meanness, that he wished the Jew back again in the pond. He had no right to expect any reward for doing his duty ; neither did he ; yet the offer of the Jew caused him considerable annoyance. “Stop!” cried Levy, as the man went on his beat. *¢ What for ?” “That ish not the way the fellow went.” ‘1 know that. ”’ “Then what for you take the wrong way ?” asked the Jew. “ Because it suits me !” “ Does it ?” Saisie “Tt don’t suit me. I will have an eye for an eye, and a toofe fora toofe. That man must go to prishon for attempting to murder me,” cried the Jew, gesticulating fiercely. DIMIlLGDOC 117 <SEG