Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

another person snoring in unison with the old lady. | The sou-td came from the back parlour, where deaf Mr. Duppy was said to sleep. . “ Now,” muttered Jack, ‘how shall I pro- ceed? Shall I frighten the old gentleman up into her room, or the.virtuous maiden down into his? The latter I think will be the best course to pursue.’ He turned his cloak, made sure that his mask was properly adjusted, then placing his chest across the rail of the banisters, lifted his feet from the stairs, and permitted his body to slide down the balustrades till he reached the passage. | The back parlour door was left open about an inch, and Jack turned instantly to the front room door, and, turning the handle, discovered it was fast. — | | The key, however, had been left in the lock, and this Jack instantly removed and_ placed under the mat before the door. Then he went to the street door, softly drew - back the bolts, and ‘slipped the lock, leaving it so that the slightest push would send it open, Having done this, he again listened. The breathing of the sleepers was as reoular as before, and Jack grasped the handrail, and commenced silently to ascend the stairs, and once more stood before the dvor of Miss Frump’s bedroom. ee For the first time he perceived a faint light through the keyhole, and he stooped and peered through the little crevice into the room. A small night-light was burning on a tdilet- table under the window, and he‘ could see the foot. of the four-post bedstead. on which Miss Frump reclined, also a chair on: which that lady’s garments lay, surmounted by something ‘that looked, like 'a curly-haired’ dog, of a brown black colour. borletslean ©) “ Confoundit !’ssaid/Jack ; ‘f Iwish Bedford had told me she had a dog in the house.', The animal willb'spoilballi ,The moment I open the door, he will’commence barking.,. What—ay— a dog—no, it’sawig;?) ~~) | avyon And Jack could bearcely keep back the laughter which was about to burst from his lips. oT ~~“ So the old lady wears a-wig. Hurrah! so much the better,’ She will look a prettier object without it. By my faith, but she will never let Baker have so much of her tongue again, I warrant,” , io He opened the door softly. The faint light played upon his white long cloak, and gave him the appearance of ‘a spectre with a horrible face. ‘The snoring ceased as the door opened. The old lady turned upon her pillow. | Jack darted quickly behind the lon= curtains. . But Miss Frump did not awake ; the move- ment of the door had been, just suflicient to ah her snoring, but not to thoroughly arouse ler. In another moment the naval organ of \ the old lady was again in full tune, and Jack tip- toed across thé room, taking in every object in the apartment as he did so. He raised the night-light from the table, and held it before him so as to Jight up his hideous SPRING-HEEL'D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. “Jack placed -his hand on the: coverlet, and it them a’ rapid.jerk,. and flung them on ,to the , floor, leaving the old woman, attired only in her bed-gown and large; filled night-cap, drawn up into a heap in the centre of the bed. | |. to his gaze the bald pate of Miss Frump, 24 JA BT features and strangely attired form. Thenina | deep hollow voice, he exclaimed— > 4 “Miss Frump; awake !?’.[, «1: Ss) ce. aad? And Miss Frump did awake instantly, half starting up in the bed as she did so, with mouth and eyes open to their utmost width, and her shoulders drawn up to her ears, and completely buried in the frill of her largenight-cap. ) A picture of such comical horror did she seem, that Jack could-with difficulty prevent shrieking with laughter. . ‘er “ook sett ot of taorale “Miss Frump!” he again spoke in a. hollow tone, “‘ I have come to fetch you.” 5 He dropped the little night wick to, the f oor, and placing his foot upon it, extinguished ‘the light, extending his arms as he didso,and bending . over the bed. reese ae With a short, gasping half-shriek, half-sob, Miss Frump’s head and shoulders sank back, and disappeared under the bedclothes. , © “Come,” said Jack. wot te The coverlet of the bed.commenced to shake, and even in the gloom of that apartment Jack | could see that. the, old lady was ; trembling violently with terror. | «eon | “Woman, I can’t wait! Come!” «= . . | ; | | 7. s > ‘a =a. 2 ee rested on Miss Frump’s shoulder. . . » _| _A-shriek, which, had_it not: been smothered, by the old lady being so low down, under: the bed- clothes, must have aroused. the, whole neighbour- hood, was the answer..." . na ry 8 “ Miss Frump, you are mine !? ss | 9 . : J : sy 34 s* * =a pe L ‘© G-o-0-d h-e-a-ven,..s-a-ve me!” cried Miss © Frump, wriggling her bedy down. lower and ; + lower in the bed, till her feet and ankles pro- truded beyond the covering at the foot...» ‘Old woman, I can wait no ;longer!’” said Jack, catching hold of one of her feet. ° + - With another cry the old Jady drew. her legs back, till the position of her:-body in the. ceutre of the bed seemed like that ofa ball. oo. . Jack waited a moment, for the old dady was now muttering a prayer. Then grasping at the a ee bedelothes,. J ack gave | - ; ' jas “Oh! for mercy’s sake!” she began, Jack caught hold of the frill of har night-eap, D and. by a sudden-pull: broke. its string, revealing “ You don’t require any garnients where Tam going to take you to,” he said. Wpiet ia < The old lady gave a terrific bound, and sprang from the bed to the opposite side of the reom from where Jack stood, shrieking in terror as she did so. — 4 wb Then she paused, as if net knowing how to "Tis useless, you can never escape me,’ said Jack, still keeping up the-hollow tone. — The old woman stammexed something, but ib ‘by. her : ) Z ‘ <= . was rendered ,unintelligible to ~ Jack . terror, | foer ech bunt Jack again extended his arms, and said—. “ Come !” | pros 1) 4 *? “Go! go !—oh!. go away,’’ she gasped. cé . ? <— . j ~ With you—yes; without you—no,” said —_—--_ | ICO “Ss; €O G ecom