Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

142 SPRING-HEEL’D JACK : He turned, as if to depart, when Marth* seized his arm. “ Sir—sir! tell me who you are! You called yourself Spring-heeled Jack!” - Tr am the individual who ‘has earned that name.” | she terror of London.” “ The same.’ ) “ But that is not your right name. Sir, tell it me, that I may treasureit upinmy memory. But heaven forbid that I might use it to injure you !”’ Jack hesitated a moment, then bent his head down till his face almost touched hers, and whispered in her ear. The woman started back in claiming— 4 ‘¢ The mar ” “ Hush!” interrupted Jack, quickly ; ‘‘ though to you I have revealed my name, never mention it. oP] “ Forgive me.’ * Say - no more, ape hurry home. The hour is getting late, and Pm fearful of your - being molested by some midnight brawler. Good night, and farewell.”’ * Heaven’s blessings on you, sir!’ said the woman, shakine the hand of our hero fervently. “* My prayers shall ever rise to heaven for your safety. God bless you, I say, and farewell.” A sob choked her further utterance, and surprise, ex- Martha Scrivener turned and walked slowly Pp away towards the bridge. Jack followed her with his eyes for some moments, and then, drawing the folds of his cloak close around his form, te walked off in the] opposite direction, muttering to himself— ‘‘ There is certainly something gratifying in the feeling that a man can do a good action. The knowledge of the happiness I have given to that poor creature has made my heart as light as a feather, and I can almost forgive myself some of the pranks I have played. ‘Well! well! I hope she will use the means she will now obtain fru- gally but generously. There are few in this world so poor that they cannot help a distressed brother or sister, and I do not think but she, when she has the power, will doso; but—hallo !”’ » He paused short, and turned quickly, as the form of a man brushed by him ata rapid speed, the momentary glance which Jack had at his face leading him to believe that he had seen the individual before. As he gazed after the man, he endeavoured to refresh his memory, but was unable to recollect. ‘““T suppose I must be mistaken,” he muttered, ‘for tis seldom I forget a person I’ve had deal- ings with. Perhaps it was a face I saw in the crowd to-night, and if so, it is quite as well the recognition was not mutual. Now, whither shall I bend my steps in search of adventure ?” He stood thoughtfully for a few moments, ‘when he fancied that he heard a faint ery in the direction of the bridge. But so faint was the sound that it might have been caused even by the passing winds, so he strained every nerve to listen. For a few moments all was still, save a heavy footfall on the pavement in the distance. “Tm full of fancies to-night,” he muttered ; and if I stand longer within the shadow of this THE TERROR OF LONDON. | | tones ! and from the direction in which that poor : ~ ——— old ville I shall be growing superstitions, ite Ac O believe. Ha! there again. There was no mis | take this time. But it may only be the voice of some drunken brawler, staggering home from a debauch. Eh? by heaven, that was a woman’s creature has gone. Ha! can anyone have dared | to molest her? By heaven! Irecollect-that face | now. Yes, it was the features of the rascal who — locked me in the passage when fleeing with the document I have just given her. And the shadow, too, of a man which I saw glide past us a short time since. I do not like the thoughts 5: that. crowd upon my mind, I will follow her. | There is something Wrong I feel, and that cry, ¥. S| fear, was hers.” He hurried now, with terrific bounds, towards _ the bridge, which was then but dimly lighted | by the round-bottomed, old-fashioned lamps, | reared on the alcoves over the seats. ‘| As he sped along he again heard the ery ina female tone. ' “Tt must be her,” he cata “T’'m sure it 4 must be her voice, and that scoundrel has some-— Z| thing to do with it ; i He reached the first seat, but those on either 4 side were empty, and he darted on pag the | second. | He heard no further cries now, and on (fin dia | | the second alcove as deserted as the first, he mi aused. i “ Surely, I could riot be mistaken each time,” ‘} he said. Then he added, in a quick, hissing — tone, ‘‘Good God! the water.” Le ae || He looked over the balustrade into the black — 4 depths beneath him, shading as eyes with his | hands as he did so. || But nothing met his view. i. Still he was not satisfied, and he scanned the dark stream more narrowly. , , a While thus engaged, the roll of wheels broke 4 upon his ear, He turned his craze quickly from the sidan to the road, and perceived a small tcwolwinealea ial vehicle pull up suddenly at the Abbey end of — the bridge. ‘ There was nothing particular in this cireum- q stance, and he again turned his glance to the | stream. d | But with the same success. a He stood debating in his mind a few <r whether to proceed over the bridge, and en- — deavour to assure himself that Martha was safe and unmolested, or retrace his steps, when a smothered shriek caused him to start and lool 5 anxiously towards the vehicle. An exclama ion broke from his lips as he did so, for by the dim — | light of the lamp near which it had paused he | | saw the forms of two men and one woman, The former evidently were endeavouring to | force the latter into the cart, as she was str . 4 gling violently. _ One clance showed Jack this, and in avmo- | ment his,mind was made up how to proceed. Hastily putting on his mask, he bounded t 4 wards the spot. sh vs ws Short as was the distance and swift his passage, he did not succeed in reaching the sid ae he | | vehicle before the two men had force the . | woman into it and got in themselves. an | | . a | | comic books.co