Smyrna times., 1888-07-04

Something fell on my shoulder, and
casting my eyes round, l saw some one
had been skillful enough to thrust in q
bit Of folded paper. l cautiously bided
my time, and when my companions back
was turned, read: ''When YOU reach the
lowest floor turn on the brake. You will
find it on the elevator floor next the cable.
It's your only salvation" Icrumpled the
paper in my hand just in time, for the
maniac wheeled round as did.
The next time his back was turned l
looked for the brake. There it was. down
by the operating cable, but it seemed that
it might just as well have been in the
Desert Of Sahara, so far as the possibility
Of my reaching it was concerned. We
went up and down three times before nv
mind was made up as to how l should
work that brake. There was nothing to
be done in the line of reasoning OF arguing
or trying to divert his attentiOn-he was
in too highly excited state. He was too
powerful for me to march up boldly and
turn it before his eyes. must resort to
strategy.
l kept saying, ''What if you fail?-what
| if you fail2" But that did not increase nv
courage. And at last nerving myself to
the highest pitch of fOrtitude, lust before
reaching the bottom l rose from nv place.
which was exactly opposite the precious
brake, and, throwing up my hands and
uttering a loud cry, as if in distress, l fell
| heavily to the floor Never did fall have
| to be so well calculated. I was Just tall
enough to reach the brake with my out
| stretched hand; but if, in my excitement,
l went either to the one side or the other
all would be lost But God was pitiful,
and fell just so that my outstretched
! finger turned the bit of iron that was con-
nected with the machinery in such u man
ner as to make any movement impossible.
My cry and fall startled the maniac
and if had remained perfectly still until
the door was pried open all would have
been we'll AS it was, l remained ON the
| floor what seemed to me an eternity, and,
feeling sure my rescuers would be within
in an instant, l got up. But this was a
very false move, for the eXasperation of
not being able to work the car had reused
the madman to such a state of frenzy that
he turned on me, and, fairly gnashing his
teeth, he seized me by the shoulder and
cried: "What have you done, you misera-
bic woman2 Shooting is too good for you,
but it's the only punishment | can in
tict.' So saying, he drew his srevolveI
and took aim at my throat.
l remember | was very cool, even at
that most trying time. I moved the re-
volver, saying, "Wen, don't muss my
fresh crepe lisse ruiIle." The cold steel
pressed my right temple. and that sensa.
tion, with the crash Of the opening eleva.
tor door, was the last conscious moment ]
had for three weeks.
l was carried homo with a stony gaze on
my face that frightened my servants al
most out of their wits. A doctor was
summoned, and owing to a sound consti-
tuition l pulled through brain fever that
would have carried off a less robust wo-
man.
l shall never forget the first time
took hand glass to gaze at the altera
tiOns my illness had brought in my coun.
tenance. The sight Of the white lock OF
hair made me feel again the cold stee
against my temple, and the madman's
fierce breath against my cheek. l think
went over the entire scene before my hus
band could walk across the room and take
the glass out Of my hand. That little ex
citement delayed my recovery for months
Do you wonder it was a year after wa.
well before ! could speak with composurC
of my mad ride Paul Capen in Demo
rests Monthly.