Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

A _ _—_ ———— - - -The wretch surely will not return. - - _~ — _——e——"- OO 68 Foaming with rage and shame, he grasped the landle, and flinging the door open, stood upon | attempted to lie down and court the drowsy god the threshold. ‘‘ Whoever you are, you shall suffer for this,” he exclaimed. “Mr. Grasper,” said Jack, “ this is the second time I have saved this poor woman from a ter- rible fate. Beware of the third. Go, villain ! there is pollution in the very air you breathe ; co, and thank heaven you are allowed to escape without a severe punishment.” “‘T will go,” said Grasper. ‘‘ You have kicked the man who never forgets nor forgives. Spring- heeled Jack, we shall nieet again !” ‘“Then beware of our next meeting.” “ The law ’——. ‘““ Begone !"’ Again was Jack’s foot raised. | Grasper darted out into the street, and Jack shut the door behind him, and returned to the room. » Po The poor. woman was now showing signs of recovery, and Jack tore the mask from his face, and hastily turned his cloak: “It would startle her did she wake to con- sciousness,” he said, ‘‘and I would not add a pang to her sufferings. ,Poor thing! ’tis hard _ indeed for her to have to bear the pangs inflicted by her foolish husband’s misconduct * without having them added to by that scoundrel’s base- ness. I can do her no good by remaining here. Well, I have done many bad things, but, thank heaven, I have been instrumental in saving this woman from that villain’s wiles. Such an act atones for past deeds to some extent. The base-hearted villain! Curse him! but I will punish him severely for this. Ah! she revives. I will retire, Better she know not I have been here—better that she remain in ignorance of the fact that a stranger has heard and seen all that has passed.” He stepped softly along the passage, and, silently opening the door, passed into the street. As he drew the door softly to behind him, he was grasped around the body andhis arm pinioned close down to his side, while a voice cried in hia ear— ‘‘ Spring-heeled Jack, you are wanted !” Jack turned his head, and his gaze rested on the shining hat of a policeman and the form of Ralph Grasper. | “Ha! ha! ha!” laughed the merchant. “I told you we would meet again, and so we will to-morrow in a court of justice.” 1 ‘That's a lie!” eried Jack, giving himself a sudden twist out of the officer’s grasp, and deal- ing the merchant a terrific blow in the face, which sent him to the earth as if he had been shot. Then, ere the oflficer could recover from his surprise, he bounded off at terrific speed. CHAPTER XXXVI. IN THE PRISON—JACK AIDS THE FORGER TO ESCAPE—NEARLY CAUGHT, Sort, slow, and measured was the warder’s step as, with feet encased in list slippers; he wandered up and ‘down the corridor upon which the cells opened, and in one of which James Slater sat upon his truckle bed, the very picture of despair. SPRING-HEEL D JACK : THE TERROR OF LONDON. hours’ sleep, that balm of the wearied. SS ee = hh [ > & i { 4 It was twelve o’clock, and yet he had not -—had not sought to bury his sufferings in a few Too much a prey to agonizing thought was his mind. Not for himself did he care so much, as the darling wife who so fondly loved him. He was picturing to himself the grief under whieh she laboured—the agony she endured, and bitterly did he curse the temptation he was not able to battle with. “Oh! heaven,” he groaned as his frame shook with the emotions of his soul, “ why, why was I tempted to sacrifice position, character, happiness, all for a few paltry pounds that never could have brought joy to my heart. -What have I done? Oh! God, that I couid forget or bury in death the recollection of my first and only crime!” — He rose and paced the narrow limits of his cell. “ Would I. had some weapon with which to | probe the heart that was too weak to spare me this shame. Butno, no; there is nothing here— nothing. Ah! the walls! -Why should I then hesitate to dash out'my: brains ? » Yes—but— but shall I slay myself, or, only stunned fora while, add to my sufferings? My sufferings! what are they compared to hers? Nothing— nothing !” : | | He clasped his hands upon his brow and sobbed aloud. \ “TJ have not the courage,” he cried; “Ihave j not the courage. » Oh !.fool as well as coward!” _ For a time he walked up and down the narrow | limits of his prison, then his thoughts again re-- {| verted to his wife. « © | { “ Will she come and see me? Oh! howllong | to gaze upon her, to throw myself at her feet and | ask: her forgiveness. ; Thank God! she is not | made to share my prison. Does she hate me | now, lL wonder? “Canshe feel anything but scorn | for me now?» Better for. her if she do, for then | she may learn to forget as!well as despise the | wretch who made her a felon’s wife.” ‘ | Quick and, hurried were his steps now. 7 ‘Click, and the (little trap in the panel of the — door Wwas' flung. back, and the rays of the warder’s — bull’s-eye streamed in upon him. | James Slater turned his face in the direction of | the, door, permitting, the powerful rays of the | lantern to fall upon cheeks pale and haggard—a face on which years of suffering were depicted. _ ‘But a few days, and what a change ! © | Lhe happy features were pinched, pale, and — wan, and the glossy black hair had tured to an — iron gray.’ ; | | _ Had Grasper seen him as he stood in the glare | of that light, even his hard heart must have been | touched. a The warder, who had observed changes before almost as great as this, felt a touch of pity, despite |} the fact that his office had rendered him some- | what callous to the sufferings of the inhabitants | of that fearful place. a “ Why ain’t you in bed ?” he said in a husky voice, intended to be severe, ‘s ‘“ Bed !” answered Slater, | (© Vag” 4% | “Would I were in the grave, sleeping the last — ‘ ’ 4 % -— ee , ON aa < | (Elo) | niebooks:.