Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

150 You cannot wrest it from me,” he said ; “nor shall any one else !” : | As he spoke, the door of the room softly opened about half a foot, a cirenmstance which was not observed by the officer, his back being towards it, and an arm, with a hand more like the claw of some wild animal than aught else, was thrust through the crevice; and as the words left the officer’s lips, the paper was torn from his hold, and the door again closed ere he could turn. Jane sank back on the sofa, and covered her face with her hands. She had recognized the mask of Spring-heeled Jack. CHAPTER LIT. THE ORUEL GUARDIAN—THE POCKET-BOOK. WHEN Simpson turned and found his gaze only rested on the closed door of the room, his asto- . nishment was even sreater than at the sudden loss of the cheque. ; For several moments he stood looking upon the painted panels—a circumstance which was favourable to our hero, for when at length he grasped the handle of the door in his hand and flung it open, the passage was deserted. At first he only looked cautiously out into the passage, but seeing no one, he strode out of the room. Are The instant he had gone, Jane drew the pocket- book from her bosom, and lifting up the swab of tlie sofa, thrust it under. Scaree had she done so, when Simpson returned to the room. The young oflicer’s face was pale, and there was a nervous twitching about the muscles of the mouth which betokened that he had received a shock to his feelings. Silently closing the door behind him, he looked beneath the table, and then, permitting the cover he had lifted to fall fom his hand, he muttered— ‘““ Strange—very strange. J cannot under stand it.” _ 2? He fixed his eyes penetratingly upon the face of Jane Slater, as if he would there read a solu- tion to the mysterious disappearance of the cheque. | But Jane kept her face partially concealed in her hands, and the officer sat down and turned his eyes to the door. For several moments he made no remark either to himself or his companion, but it was evident that his thoughts were busy. At length he spoke. | His tones were harsh and quick. “ Mrs. Slater,” he said, “who stole that cheque from my hand ?”’ : Jane hesitated ere she replied, then said— ‘* No one.” He echoed her words. ** By somo sleight-of-hand trick you have con- signed it your pocket.’’ * 'What'?” he said. She repeated the words, 7 The officer looked more puzzled thai before. “Indeed, nothing of the kind. But the affair is a mystery which must be fathomed, for I am the more certain that you have no right with the SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. the arrival of Baintree and his wife. Me ‘and bustled about the room. Jane, shortly. almost fiercely. . . — paper, and that some accomplice, though:heayen - knows by what means, has possessed him or her- — self of it.” 2 7 “There is no one here but ourselves and my | poor dead husband,” said Jane, tears starting | afresh at the mention of him who lay so cold and - =i rigid above. “You say you have it not, and of | course I shall not take the trouble to contradict | you. If you will not restore it, I have no mote | to say than that I shall be glad when your pre- | ° sence is no longer needed here. I have enough | to make me wretched without your insinuations,” | She turned her gaze from him, and kept her | face averted, till a knock at the door announced : ¢ % A young woman, tall of stature, and not very intelligent in looks, was Mrs. Baintree. =e There was something servant-gallish in her | appearance, and Jane thought, the moment she | entered, that she would be a personage of a very | officious nature. - i Consequently, the poor woman took a dislike to her at once. | : Te 1 Of course, now she had arrived, there was no | further excuse for Simpson to remain, and he — took up his hat to depart, beckoning Baintree to — follow him. ‘ - “1 In the passage, however, the twoemen paused | to converse in whispers, and Mrs. Baintree was beckoned out of the room by her husband. ie What the officer said to her, Jane could not hear, though she strove hard to catch the words, | but she had no doubt it was to hear instructions to keep a sharp look-out on the actions.of the | suicide’s wife. | . She was not absent long, for in less than a minute she returned to the room, and the street door closed behind the officers, whose heavy tread Jane heard with pleasure pass the house. ih The woman flung off her bonnet and shawl, | “Bless my soul!” she said, “how can you sit here by candle-light when its broad daylight ?” ““T have other things to think of,” said Jane. The woman flung open the shutters, blew out | the candle, suffering the long wick to smoulder and fill the room with an intolerable stench. hy “There! Now I shall make myself quite at | home,” said the woman. ‘*‘ Where’s the wood | to light the fire?” - P 1 ‘““In the coal cupboard, if you need it,” said — “* Need it, indeed! Ishould say I didjanda | good cup of tea to warm me. Tve been dragged | out of my warm bed at a moment’s notice, and I | should think I did want a cup of tea. Some {| people have no thought only for themselves.” | Jane sighed, but made no remark in return. | “You drink tea, I suppose?” said the woman, | after a pause. Joke _“ T care for nothing now, but to be alone with my own sad thoughts,” replied Jane, one 1 ‘Ah! it’s no use grieving for what can’t be | helped. You can’t bring your husband back to | life, if you cry your.eyes out. Catch me grieving about a man who could do as he’s done—not I.” | ‘ Unfeeling woman,” said Jane, half aloud. | Mrs. Baintree caught the words, and turned | Sb , ‘ > ‘ ‘T’ve got as much feeling as most people, ; | TV ~ choo com oe —s