Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 306: what you’re looking at

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

‘ ee fh sss i accra ' ' ’ ~ 308 SPRING-HEEL D JACK: sion of his just rights. To leave the metropolis now, would be to leave them both to ruin; once they were happy—then Jack drops the mask and takes a spring out of the noise, the smoke, and dirt of London. But this girl—this Ellen, where can I look for her. Her brother is br oken- hearted, and not even the prospect before him can make him forget the sister he has scarcely known. To restore happiness to, him and to her is all L seek now, and I will not rest until I have accomplished my wish.’ He rose, and flung his cloak around him, hesitated a moment, “then threw it back on to the chair. “TI will not encumber myself with it,” he mut- tered, ‘“‘ the evening is warm enough, and I will order a servant to take it to my room ; my belt, too, may keep it company,’ he added, taking off the broad leathern band he was wont to wear at his waist. ‘‘ There, now I feel comfortable ; so here goes to seek Ellen.” Without any decided course in view, Jacl left the hotel, and sauntered quietly through the hehted streets till he arrived at Charing ‘Cross ; then, hailing a coach, bade the driver take him to the east end. ‘“‘T’ll try this fellow once more,” he said to himself, as he reclined back in the vehicle. ‘‘ He is acruel and cunning rascal, but gold will open his mouth, if he really does know anything re- specting IJillen. Stay! it would be better to endeavour to see his wife. I may learn from her what her blackguard husband would not tell. Yes, that will be the best plan of action.” Arriving at Whitechapel, Jack dismissed the coachman, and proceeded along the Whitechapel- road at a good pace till he neared the street in which was the residence of Bill Jackson and his wretched spouse. It was about a quarter to eleven when he turned into the dark thoroughfare ; and, making his way to the Pigeon Flyers, he boldly walked into the beer-house, and ordered a pint of ale . at. the bar. The Pigeon Flyers was full of customers, and burly forms shifted on their seats, and bleared eyes looked up and winked knowingly at each other, as they looked, in surprise, at the gentle- manly attired man who had ordered the pint of ale. Bill Jackson, with a short pipe in his mouth, sat leaning his elbows on the edge of A barrel before him, on which stood a pot. of beer, puthing a perfect cloud from his lips, and speak- ing to his companions in a tone of voice that alr ready showed he had dr ank a goodly quaninty that day. ‘“Who’s that bloke, I wonder ?”’ said the man who sat next him, nodding his head towards Jack, who sipped at his ale, and pretended to be taking no notice of anyone. ‘A shoful, a slop, or a” “Shut up,’ said another, giving the man a dig in the ribs with his elbows, and putting al immediate stop to his sentence. ‘‘ He don’t look like neither. IJ1e’s a no-fly cove as ever dropped in here fora drink. Ue don’t look a bad sort neither. Wonder if he’ll sport a tanner for a ticket for Slogger’s lead ?’’ “ Ask him,” said Bill. 4) © Tell him the bloke’s Pon | ‘ - = : (™ THE TERROR OF LONDON. in trouble, and, perhaps, hell come down with the aust.” The man took his pipe from his mouth, Tose, hesitated, sat down, and rose again, 4 Go on, you fool, ? said Bill. “ You ain’t half & COVE.’ Thus urged, the man sidled up to Jack, and laying on the counter a dir ty piece of cardboard, said, in a husky voice, without once looking up in Jack’s face— “TI say, governor, you see there’s a chap as uses this house has got into trouble, and, in course, as we used to have a pint together, and knowed me for a long time, we are going to raffle a silk handkerchief for the benefit of his gal. Perhaps you wouldn’t mind taking a ticket, seeing as he’s a deserving bloke as would do the same for you? It’s only a tanner, and that won’t break you, I know.’’ Jack read the card as it laid before him, and, turning bis head, so as not to inhale the breath of the man, which smelt strongly of beer, PEED, cheese, and onions, he replied— “T do not want your card, but I have no | objection to give you a shilling towards assist- ing a fellow creature. But what's his trouble ?” “ Why, you see, we have a little rattine here now and then, and ?— “ Hold your jaw, will you, you fool ?”’ Bill jumping up.’ ““ What for,” said the man, turning quickly. “ Just you mind your own business, while I’m talking to a gentleman, as is going to sive a bob to Slogger and stand a pint to me.” “ J shall interfere if you go jawing about what you oughtn’t, now then.” ‘‘ Then [ shall give you a top aside the head as’ll shut you up,” retorted the other. “ You will!” cried Bill, staggering to his feet, and flinging his pipe on to the top of the barrel among “the wet rings of beer, with which it was marked all over, and doubling his large fists threateningly. ‘' You give mea top aside the head?*”” “< Yes, me.” * Do it.” “ So L will, if you ve cheeky.” “Tam cheeky, ” said Bill, staggering round the barrel, “ and if you think you can take the cheek out of me, do it. Pll fight you or any man in the Vlyers for five bob now, and stake the money.’ “T ain’t got five bob, you know that, or I’d jolly soon stake it.” ‘“ T will stake it for you,” said Jack. “You will?” said the man. “ T will; there it is,” Jack laid the sum on the bar. | “ Cover it, Bill,” cried two or three in a breath, and every man rose to his feet. ‘* 'There’s my five bob,” said Bill. ‘‘ Now, come into the skittle cround, and see how soon I'll polish him off.” ‘“ Wasier said than done,” retorted the other. 4 Come on, governor, and see who’s the best man.’ , ‘* T will follow you directly,” said Jack. The whole party of ruffianly-looking fellows, most of them more or less inebriated, now left the bar, and hurried towards the skittle- roared +) <s.- com