Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

Grasper slunk behind the man who had struck him. A considerable distance was soon left between Jack and his would-be captors. Jack could fairly have laughed outright at the ficures they cut in the strange, dim light. “© Why don’t you take me ?” he said, at length. ‘¢ Ts not the reward offered for my capture sufii- cient? Ifnot, I have no doubt that, to gratify his revenge, yonder cringing rascal will double it out of the sums of money he has wrung from those who have had dealings with him.” “T’]l treble it,’ cried Grasper, ‘though it ruined me. I'll treble it.’’ ‘Kind of you,” said Jack. ‘“‘ But hark you, Ralph Grasper ; on the first attempt of either man to endeavour to avail himself of your offer, T’ll send a bullet through your brain.” | “Don’t attempt it, then, my good men—don’t attempt it,’ said the merchant, quickly, as one man made a step forward. ‘ But he shall pay dearly for this night’s work, and so shall she. I put her husband in jail, and there she shall go too. He broke it only to cut his throat, and there lies in his suicide’s grave.’’ *< Oh, unfeeling monster !” cried Jane. *¢ You shall find meso. You have robbed me. I have proof of it—proof from the police, and you shall suffer—bitterly suffer for it.’’ “ Heed him not,”’ said Jack; “‘he is powerless to harm you, other than by his cruel words.” “Think so—think so,” he cried, joyfully. “But your hopes shall soon be annihilated.”’ “Look you, you scoundrel,’ said Jack, “it will be the worst day’s work you have done yet —and you have done many—if you, by word or deed, cause this poor woman another pang. See that your villainy rests where it is, or it would be better for you we never met.” Then turning to Jane, he saia— “Go now, and fear not. This scene is pain- ful in more ways than one. Let me beg of you to go home.” “ Home ?”’ SaWes.n “ What is home to me now? ”’ *‘ A place where, at least, you will be free from the sight of that man’s face and the sound of his voice.”’ ** IT fear lest he will follow me and again urge his hated proposals,’’ said Jane. “* He dare not.” ‘“ Ah! but he is bad enough to do so,” she replied. True; but not while I am néar you,” said Jack. “‘ Besides, he is suffering too much from the treatment he has received to prevent you reaching home unmolested.’’ Then I will go; but oh! be careful of your- self. Your kindness to me has made you many enemies.’ * I fear them not.” “‘ They are many—you are one.” “No matter. This weapon is a match for them ; and if not, they could never overtake me,” said Jack. “ God bless you, then. I shall never forget your kindness to me and him who has gone.’’ ce Who ? ” &€ My husband.” SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. ** Your husband ?” “Yes. Mrs. Baintree told me that aman ina mask aided him to escape, and I know it must have been you,” said Jane, in a whisper. ‘“Hush! Who is Mrs. Baintree?” ‘‘ The woman who has been set as a watch over me.” | “Her from whom I got the pocket-book, and gave such a fright?” asked Jack. | ““T know not; for till now I knew not you had it.” “Do not mention that you know who aided vour husband to escape, though I wish to heaven now I had never done so,” said Jack. "gi, “TI will not.” ole While speaking, Jack kept his eyes fixed upon | Grasper and the men, and observed that they | were gradually drawing nearer to him. “ They intend to make another attempt,” he | _— said, quickly. ‘‘ Away with you, and doubtless \ we shall meet again ere long.” a an The woman cast one more look towards her husband’s grave, then turned and left the spot. Jack also shifted his position a few paces back, » and either from accident or design, the torch went out, leavine the place as dark as pitch. Thinking it to have been designedly extin- cuished, so as to enable the men the better to effect his capture, Jack bounded away some dis- | — tance further, and shaded his eyes with his | hands, and looked towards the grave near which | — the men stood. | | His eyes quickly becoming accustomed to the sudden darkness into which he had been plunged, | he could perceive two of the men coming to- | wards him. aa | ‘‘ All right,” thought Jack. “They are bent upon earning the reward, and placing me in | limbo. They deserve something to recollect me by, and they shall have it.” o He flung himself down upon his hands and knees, and waited for the men to come up. He had only to wait a few seconds when they - were close upon him. al Then up he bounded quickly, striking out his. clenched fist as he did so. The blew fell fair between the eyes of the foremost man, and sent him down as if shot. is The other made a grasp at our hero, but Jack | cleared him, and alighted some seven or eight | feet beyond him. | Turning quickly ere the man could recover from his surprise, he dealt the fellow a heavy kick in the back, which sent him sprawling over his companion. “ Have you got the villain?” cried Grasper, tottering up to near where Jack stood. “ Here | “'To be sure they have,” said Jack. he is.” ‘The devil!” cried the merchant, retreating — upon perceiving that Jack stood before him. ‘No, sir; but what you are not—a man,” | answered Jack, thrusting him aside. ‘I’m off | now. But mark me, do not further molest that | woman, or our next meeting may be fatal to you.” | So saying, he darted off in the direction where f Jane Slater had gone. . He had not prnceeded far, however, before he heard the sound of a horse’s hoofs coming along — the road at a quick gallop. Se ee cbool com