Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

SPRING-HEEL D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. ; 4 al 176 ¥ ° F me and the officers have been able to accom-|I will strive to earn that twenty, for well I | plish.”’ ‘‘ Where is the entrance to your cellars?” asked Jack. “Come this way, sir, and I will show them to you,” said Mr. Larkin. Jack followed him from the apartment down a flight of stairs, thence down a step-ladder into the vaults, into which a gloomy light just protruded. “Do you see that bin yonder, sir?” Jack strained his eyes through the darkness, and replied— ““ Yes, I do.” “ Well, sir, would you believe it ? that out of thirty dozen of old port, over half have been emptied, and the bottles returned to the bin; and, I assure you, when I made this discovery, I didn’t know how I felt.”’ ‘Doubtless you were very much annoyed,” said Jack ; “but, for the life of me, I can’t see how it is possible for anyone to enter these vaults without being detected, if a watch is kept from above.” “It puzzles me, it does, sir; and, upon my word, I have sometimes been fool enough myself to think that the devil himself must do it.” Jack laughed. “1 think the devil has other occupations,’’ he said. ‘‘ Depend upon it, the culprit isin your establishment and your pay; and for the sake of those who labour honestly for their livelihood, I would leave no stone unturned to find him or her out.” “Td give twenty pounce to anybody who would find it out,” said Mr. Larkin ; ‘‘for I am well assured that I should save that sum in a month.” Jack looked about the cellar, his eye becoming more and more accustomed to the gloom, and made himself acquainted with every corner of the place. “Well, sir,’ he said, after a pause, “I sin- cerely regret your misfortune, and as sincerely hope you will soon be enabled to put a stop to such wholesale robbery.” And he turned to ascend the ladder. ““Ah! I must give it up for a bad job, I sup- pose,” said Mr. Larkin ; “I’ve tried all I can think. But, sir, I’m keeping you ina very dirty, gloomy place.” And motioning our hero to ascend, Mr. Larkin mounted the ladder after him, and together they returned to the apartment, where the decanter of wine was waiting them. Accepting the invitation to join him, Mr. Larkin sat down with our hero, and an hour passed pleasantly away in conversation on various topics, when Jack rose to take his departure, and was bowed politely to the door by the obliging, but much ill-used, proprietor of the hotel. “Twenty pounds,” muttered Jack, as he strode away; “and I believe Larkin would not hesitate to give that sum to anyone who would expose the rascal who thus systematically robs him. Now, thank heaven, I have no need of twenty. Providence has been bountiful to me, though [ill appreciate its blessings ; still, though I don’t want it, there are thousands who do. No man should be too proud to labour, and ‘ IZA know I can find many whom that sum would save from starvation or ruin. Well, I'll go to the club now, and, when the hour is later, return to the hotel. I have taken a good view of the place, and know the position of every object in it. there. Doubtless, I shall find the way into the cellars without being seen.” So saying, he went on his way, pausing ever and anon to drop a coin into the hand of a street beggar ; for, with all his faults, among them could not be reckoned greed or unfeeling ; he was generous to a degree, and few asked in vain for assistance at his hands. This redeeming qua lity often brought a blessing from the lips of those who at other times cursed him. It was about eleven o’clock at night when Jack once more entered the hotel. He had watched from the opposite side of the way for the moment when the hall was empty, and he ~ | could pass through it without being seen. Making his way noiselessly to the staircase, down which himself and Mr. Larkin had gone some hours before, he descended this, and felt for the step ladder which led to the vaults. This he soon found. | When he had reached the bottom, he wasin Stygian darkness ; not a single ray of light pene- trated the place ; but, holding his arms extended before him, Jack made his way across the cellar to where he had noticed several casks, and then taking a phosphorus match from hi; pocket, he struck a light. | The faint glimmer which this threw over the place was sufficient for our hero, and he per- ceived an empty cask standing on its end close to him, and dropping the match into it, he saw that it was quite dry, a circumstance which evi- dently gave him satisfaction. Bt The place was again in utter darkness; but Jack drew his cloak around him, and seizing the top of the cask, drew himself up, and dropped his legs into it. | “ The top of the cask came up. to about his middle, ande Jack gradually lowered his body till he found the rim of the cask would come above his head. ae “ This will do,” he said to himself, as he rose again from his uncomfortable position. “I may — have my trouble for nothing, but I somehow seem to think I shallnot. At the first footfall or glimmer of light, I can crouch down into this vessel, and, all unsuspected, discover the culprit.” He took his mask from his pocket and adjusted it to his face, set the collar of his coat up, and drew on his claw gloves. “The fellow, whoever he is, shall have a shock if I meet him,” he muttered. ‘So now toawait his coming.” He sat upon the edge of the cask, with his legs dangling inside the vessel, and waited for the least sound or glimmer of light which might make its way into the vault. He had not to wait long. A heavy footfall sounded overhead, and a glimmer of light shone down the steps. ‘“That’s no thief,’’ muttered Jack ; ‘ or if it is he is a bold one to come thus noisely. I’ draw back and watch,” : Cf Yes, I'll go; but none must know I’m | ) - a li iii: -~ LS ete GOomIGbDoOokKs.co m