Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 298: what you’re looking at

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

ee we ee mr ee ee ES = ee — = il 300 SPRING-HEEL'D JACK: him at the ‘time. He was quite satished with himself. | Off the smooth roads en to the London stones rolled the covered carriage, and rattled along at a speed that caused more 5 than one pedestrian to look wp in surprise, mutter a curse at his furious driving, but Grasper heeded neither the one nor the other. He was too anxious to arrive with his captive at their destination—the house of the old maid, Miss Frump. And there, in the course of time, he did arrive safely, pulling up before the door of the shabby- senteel house as the clock struck ten. He had little fear of exciting much curiosity there, for it was a quiet neighbour hood, where the inhabitants generally retired early to rest, being principally composed of that portion of the com- munity who have to toil hard and keep them- selves respectable on very low salaries, and whose means would not permit them to keep late hours or enjoy much company. The moment: the vehicle stopped before the door of Miss Frump’s residence, it was opened by that lady herself, who had been waiting eagerly its arrival, and making her way through the little fore- court, stood before the horse. “‘ Is that you, Mr. “ Hush!” said Grasper. ‘f All right! ” ‘‘ Inside 2?” asked Miss Frump, pointing to the carriage and noecin ee her head towards it at the same time. ‘* Yes.” | “ Then Dll get a hight.” She was about to go back into the house for that purpose, when Grasper, leaping to the ground, caught her arm. } “We don’t want a light, woman,” claimed, in a whisper. anyone to see her ?” Thus rebuked, Miss Frump pursed up her lips, and waited his orders how to act. Grasper looked up and down the road and listened, then turned his gaze to the windows of the neighbouring houses. Having satisfied his scr utiny, he proceeded to unlock the door of the vehicle. ‘Oh! you locked her in,” ‘“ that was wise.’’ ‘‘ There was no necessity,’ ‘ None 2.” ‘‘ No; for she could not escape,” said reper with a erin. ‘ Not while the carriage was going along ?” “Norwhileit was still. [took soodeare of that.”’ ‘* How 7.” ‘‘ Gave her chloroform.” ‘“ Chloroform ?”’ ‘* Yes.” ‘Lor’! é¢ No,” “Tt might kill her.’ “Too much might, te I took care of that,”’ said, Grasper. ‘‘ Now, get in, and I'll carry her into the house.” Miss Frump obeyed, and Grasper proceeded to lift the insensible form of the female from the carriage. Her dead weight was sufficient to tell him that she had by no means recovered from the effects of the drug she had inhaled. ————— - — he ex- ‘* Do you think I want said Miss Frump : Ain’t you frightened ?” ——e + = —rRn see oe Se Ey ee ———— EE TT THE TERROR OF LONDON. es a ee SE eee Drawing her from the vehicle, he lifted her in his arms, “and followed Miss Frump into the passage. “Now, woman, shut the door!” he exclaimed the moment he had er ossed the threshold. ‘* But, Mr. Grasper ’ “ What?” ‘We are in the dark,” “What of that ?” ~ “Oh, nothing.”’ § Then, shut the door, sat you can bring a light. Can’t you ?” “Yes,” “‘ Be quick, then, for she is heavy.” ‘““ Heavy ! and she was s0 delicate,” said Miss Frump, closing the door, “There, sir. Now, if you'll wait aes e, Vl get a light. But hadn’t you better take her upstairs to her room 2” ‘To be sure, IL had.’’ “You don’t think she will remain insensible long, do you, sir?’ ‘© No.” | “Tm glad of that, because ’—— “ What?” growled Grasper. ‘‘I should be so frightened. such a dangerous thing.” “That’s ‘nothing, Now, then, the light, or tell me which room to take her to, and I'll find it in the dark,” said Grasper. “It’s the first floor back; but I’ll get a light in a moment.”’ Grasper did not wait for the light, but walked along the passage, and half up the first flight of stairs, ere the old. lady returned to the passage with a lamp in her hand. “ The first floor back, Mr. Grasper,’’ she called out, as she followed him up the stairs. “All right, ma’am, I have not forgotten,” Grasper. ‘ Oh, I see, the door is open.’ OV es) sir, and everything got ready for the poor, mad lady.” Miss 'rump’s tone was rather sarcastic, ) Grasper observed it, but made no remark, except to himself, which was— “Sane or mad, ‘I care not—now I have her.” He entered the room, which was certainly neatly and cleanly furnished ; and, making his way to the bedside, placed his captive upon it, then, turning to Miss Frump, he said— cN ow, ma’am, I'll leave her in your charge, and take home the carriage ; she is still imsen- sible, but you will know the ‘best means to bring her to, I dare say. When she recovers, you will take sood care that she does not escape. It would be better that she wholly recovered ere she sees me. So I will not return till to- morrow.’ “ At what time, sir?” “That I can't say. I always make a point, Miss Frump, of coming and going among those 1 employ at all hours. No stated time for me; for then J am prepared for—”’ ‘‘ Are you alraid to trust me, Mr. Gasper .” said the lady, a little nettled. “T make a point of trusting no one, ma’ am,” said Grasper. “Oh, indeed!” said Miss Frump;_ “then I wonder you brought her here.’’ Tats tut,” said Grasper. “I daresay you will Chloroform 1s said COMIEDOOKS:cOM |