Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 276: what you’re looking at

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

278 7. SPRING-HEEL’D JACK ; THE TERROR OF LONDON. Jack soon entered into a league with the officers, and after partaking of refreshments set out in their company for The Hollies, and having. surrounded the farm, our hero soon found a means of making himself acquainted with all that was transpiring within. An entrance was gained, and Jack, leaving the officers outside, entered the room at the moment the pseudo Sir Timothy was claiming to be the winner of the heavy stakes. It was the intention of that worthy and his companions to have got the cheque for the amount from Bacon, and then, during the night, to have taken their departure for London, and great was the surprise and terror of the confederates when Jack entered the room and announced the off- cers whom he had been instrumental in Lringing there. The surprise of Timothy soon gave place to fear, which, in its turn, was usurped by despera- tion, and the swindler struggled hard to free himself from Jack’s grasp. But our hero held him asif ina vice ; and two officers entering at his summons, the mock uobleman found his wrists encircled by a pair of handcuffs before he could utter the least remonsvrance. Be companions, after the first shock, turned to ily. : They did not succeed, however, in making their escape out of the room. Met by other of the officers, they were imme- diately made prisoners. Old Bacon stood glaring upon one and the other in bewilderment. : The words which Jack had uttered had com- pletely destroyed the power of the drug which had been administered to him, and he was sober on the instant. Still he was confused by the events. He could not speak, but his eyes questioned for an explanation. Seeing which, Jack immediately gave it, ‘*And I have been in the hands of sharpers ?”’ he said, at length. ‘“ Oh, how I have been de- ceived !”’ “You had deceived yourself in the first in- stance,” said Jack. “ How ?” “ By imagining that a young lady of good birth and position would ally herself to a man of your age. Your brain has been turned by your foolish passion, and you have been made the dupe of designing men. You may con- sratulate yourself, sir, that you have got off so easily ; for, had we not arrived as we did, the rascals would have been off with your ten thou- sand pounds.” : ‘And they are not gentlemen ?” cried Bacon. “T knows ’em,’ said one of the officers, who had been scrutinizing them closely. ‘This is Tim Brown, as used to do the thimble-rig-and garter fakement. ‘his is Jack Snooks, the kite- flyer, begoing-letter dodger—you know. And this chap is Jem Baker, the pickpocket. Why, I’ve had ’em all in the jug, and can swear to’em !’ ‘‘ Tt’s false!” cried Timothy. ‘‘ Tl have you punished for this vile assertion, you base scoun- drel !”’ “Stow yer chaff!” said the man. “We | want you for nammusing with the things from the hotel at Brighton.” * Timothy pulled a long face. “The game’s up!” said the fellow who had passed’ as Lord Dunfred. “But if we’d had another hour, we’d have done you.” “ Daresay you would,” said the officer. “ But we've done you now, and you'll have to do a little harder work for a time.” “T’ll do all that on my head,” said the fellow. “ But look out when my time’s up.” What for ?” “ T'll pay you.” , Will you?” . “Yes. Oh! oh!” | The officer had twisted «his hand into the fellow’s coat collar, and, as he gave utterance to the threat, dug his knuckles into his neck with such force as to draw forth the exclamation. “Don’t say that again,” said the officer. The fellow thought he had better not, and re- mained silent and crest-fallen. ‘Now for the woman !”’ said Jack. “The woman ?” replied Bacon. | “Ves. Your bride that was to be, but this gentleman’s wife that is,—the fair Florentine and her companion. Why, old gentleman, if you had married her you would have made a strange alliance, for these gentlemen inform me that she is a shoplifter.”’ co A : Bacon could say no more. He held up his hands in astonishment and horror, and sank into a seat. “Sold !” he gasped at last. ‘You have bought commonsense dearly,” said Jack. ‘‘ Now let me give you a word of advice.” What is it?” ‘Marry your cook, and settle down comfort- ably for the rest of your life. Avoid gambling, and let this teach you a lesson,—teach you that old men with one foot in the grave need a nurse, rather than a young girl fora wife. Ob! here they come.” : | Two of the officers, who had left the room, now returned with the two females, who looked any- thing but happy. ‘“Oh, Florentine!” said Bacon, as the young. woman was pushed somewhat rudely into the room, by her captors. ‘‘Oh, Florentine!” ‘Flora Brown, you mean,” said the officer. ‘Oh! how could you deceive me thus?” cried Bacon, in tender tones. | ‘“‘ Because I saw you were an old fool,” said the woman, savagely. ‘A fool!” “Yes, a stupid old fool.” i ‘‘ Tll be careful for the future,”’ said Bacon. ‘And marry your grandmother,” said Flora. ‘Cheer up, Em, don’t ery, we shan’t get above a year, and we can laugh at that.” Jack shrugged his shoulders, and turned away in disgust. ‘We'll first know what you’ve got about you, before we go,” said the officer. ‘Turn out your pockets.” They knew resistance was useless, and the women took various articles from their dresses, which belonged to Bacon, and showed imme-