Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

52 attention to the pretty barmaid than to his class of ale. It was the same individual who had annoyed the maiden lady by his remarks on the night before, while gazing from their different windows at the comical figure which poor Baker cut in his shirt at the door of his own house. ‘On! it’s you, you jackanapes, is it?” she cried ; “‘ you nasty little insulting puppy!” . “ What's the matter, old dame?” questioned the young man. ‘“ Are you wild that Mr. Baker ain’t so fascinating to-night as he waslast? Or did the sight of him then turn your aged brain? Wouldn’t wonder, ..Rare sights are always pleas- ‘ing you know, and dwell so much longer in the recollection. I say, Baker, can’t you oblige the old lady again, eh ?” , “Such goings on may suit his own wife, but they don’t me!” exclaimed the lady. ‘“ They please such blackguards as you, but not decent and respectable people. He ought to be indicted, and prosecuted, and imprisoned, for standing before a respectable lone woman's house, with nothing on but his shirt! It’s shocking — shocking!” , ie © There, go home,’’ said the young man. “ You know you could cut your head off because he wasn’t there without any shirt at all, or else because his old woman pulled him indoors before you got a good look at him,” _ I “Tl have him put in prison for it.”’ “ And go up against him?” — © Yes ; and so would any other woman who ’’— ~ “Fad got as little shame in her as you have. Oh! Miss Frump, what a pity it is you are too old to get married.” “ Me married ? Never !” “You are only vexed you are not.” ' “Me vexed ?” Sh ae : “No, sir; but I should be disgusted to think that a drunken, dissipated husband would dis- erace me by carrying out such discusting tricks, und compel every respectable family in the neighbourhood to keep their blinds down,” “Do you keep yours ?” “To be sure I do.” | “Shall I tell you what for, Miss Frump ?” said the young man, with a wink at Baker. © What, pray ?”” - “Why, because you can peep out of the cor- ner without being seen from the street.” ‘“ Me peep t”’, “Yes, you.’’’ : “Oh, you wicked, lying raseal?”’ “Why, I've been watching you. Now I tell you what it is, old Mother Frump, don't come the modest too much, or perhaps I shall tell every- body about” “ What?” shrieked the old lady. | “Oh! Never mind, Ll know, so do you,” said the young man, with another sly wink. ‘You, nor nobody else, can say anything against my character. No, never could, and never will be able todo, There, you insulting young raseal, [ defy you—I defy you.” “You do?” opi ie fa ‘Very well; you will see. You've had agood fling at Baker, and now it shall be his turn,” “PRING UEEL’D JACK: TIE TERROR OF LONDON. “And [ll help him to it,” muttered Jack, a the old woman bounced indignantly away towards turned into the public-house. . - * f i (ti | . i we - iti - . 3 i? CHAPTER XX. t 30 SPRING-HEELED JACK MAKES A COMPACT WITH TWO OF HIS VICTIMS AND REVEALS HIMSELF, SPRING-HEELED JAcK waited till the old lady had got some distance on her way heme, and the roar of laughter called forth by the indignant manner in which she had bounced off had becom somewhat moderated, and then he stole out from the shadow of the house where he had stood concealed, and pressing his hat low down over his forehead strolled into the public-house bar humming a merry tune. : a: He had little fear of being recognised -b either Baker or Perkins, who he had Sent aie a trick in reward for his attempted capture, as by wearing his mask on the night before it was absolutely impossible they could identify him as the person who had committed the outrage upon them, and caused them both ill-treatment and indignities at the hands of the constables, So he strolled up alongside of Baker, and politely wishing him good evening, a very com- mon custom with strangers out of the great thoroughfares of the city, ealled for a glass of — wine, and stood apparently engaged in thought, drumming his fingers on the bar. xy ““T should like to serve that prudish old maid out,’’ said the young man; “ I should indeed.” ‘She deserves it,” said Baker ; ‘‘ but perhaps ae better course to adopt is to take no notice of er.” | nee oar ‘J should say she had been crossed in loye,” remarked Perkins, “and so finds a pleasure in villifying all our sex.” . ‘* Lor! how she did go on last night,” said the young man; ‘ [ wish Spring-heeled Jack had got hold of her instead of you. I'd give a pound to hear he had frightened the life out of her; I would, or my name’s not Tom Bedford. I don’t think she’d have much to say about decency if he sent the old gal to her own door attired only in her shift, eh, Baker ?” 7+. “ Lor’! it would be a lark. I’d let her hear my voice out of window, if I knew she was there. ‘Tit for tat—lI'd give her tit for tat!” ‘ Revenge is sweet,’ murmared Perkins. “Yes ; but you were precious lucky in getting out of sight of the old girl. Confound her! Now 1 wonder if she will endeavour to bring up the affair in a police court }?” <ind Baker positively paled at the idea, “ Not she!” said Bedford. , ‘I don’t know so much about that,” remarked Perkins. “These very extraordinary modest females will often do what those whose profes- sions are not near so great would feel ashamed to enter upon.” “That’s true!” said Baker. “ Confusion ! But she would make me, if not the despised, at least the ridicule, of all who know me!” — rg “No doubt drive you out of the neighhbour- hood,” said Perkins. ) , her home, and the three men, laughing loudly, — comichooksscom