"You will never leave me," sobbed the poor woman, straining him to her breast.
"Never—never!"
The words were scarcely pronounced, when the door was violently thrown open, and two men appeared at it. They were Jonathan Wild and Quilt Arnold.
"Ah!" exclaimed Jack, starting to his feet.
"Just in time," said the thief-taker. "You are my prisoner, Jack."
"You shall take my life first," rejoined Sheppard.
And, as he was about to put himself into a posture of defence, his mother clasped him in her arms.
"They shall not harm you, my love!" she exclaimed.
The movement was fatal to her son. Taking advantage of his embarrassed position, Jonathan and his assistant rushed upon him, and disarmed him.
"Thank you, Mrs. Sheppard," cried the thief-taker, as he slipped a pair of handcuffs over Jack's wrists, "for the help you have given us in capturing your son. Without you, we might have had some trouble."