The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-09-24

mad done so often on the stage while |
waiting for her TO speak her lines
The tragedienne tried to resume her
meal. but could not force herself ia
swallow the food. She drained IL glass
of wine and poured out another. This
she did to give her strength 10 with
stand the man who was bent OH be-
heading her.
her mind employed. how did you
come up here:"
"By means OF lattice"
"Could you go back the same way?"
81 could"
"I'll not be convinced unless see
you 90 it,
"That your majesty will never see.
Before i go from here Ill sever that
fair neck"
He said this with such determine
ton that she saw her ruse had failed.
She did not dare urge him. She was
silent for q time, then tried another
plan.
"When my neck is on the block.
John. 1 wish you to strike with true
aim. Let there be no bungiing. 10
steady your arm drink glass of
wine"
She filed goblet with the beverage
and held 1t up to him with pleading
look. He refused it.
"Ir my arm is to be steady" ne snid.
"the hend that directs it must be
steady. Would you have me put IN
enemy into my head to steal away my
brainsT"
Another rtise mad failed. The ira
gedlenne sat trying to force herself TO
eat, while the madman stood resting
on the handle OF his ak waiting for her
to.finish.
"John," she said. would you not go
70 my cousin Elizabeth and make a
last appeal for me?"
81 60 to the queen OF England to ask
for mercy for your majesty. A heads
man would not be admitted to audi
ence. to say nothing of being granted
the boon he would nsk. Resides. sc
long as there is u queen OF Scotland
there is barrier to queen OF Eng
land
"Do you suppose that my cousin will.
at my death. proclaim herself queen
OF the Scots?"
"You ask me questions of state.
wherens l I'm but a headsmnn. Come:
I am ordered to strike the blow that
leaves Scotland without queen
Hark! The bell is tolling. The hour
hns arrived"
Though she could not see his fen
lures for the mask. she knew thnt his
eye was Wild with insanity. He lifted
his ny, and she feared that he might
swerve 1t against her.
1.-THE block", she cried. Where Is the
block? Rllndfolded. / cannot see It"
Extending his hand. lie grlsped hers
She arose from the table and tnnl: g
few steps under his guidance. Then
1t occurred to her to direct by will
power the way they should go. She
tried to lead him to the electric but
ton that she might ring the hell. but
she had not dominated him. and they
moved rather toward the window.
Stopping before It, she suid:
as your nx sharp? Can you finish /
the work with one blow?"
"It will serve its purpose"
"I.et me feel cf it's edge"
Gently taking the nx from him. she
ran her thumb over Its blade and was
somewhat relieved to find ..sa" ir ,ahp
from the property room Of the theater.
was the one he had SO long used In
the performance and vas made OF
woUd. There was consolation in this
hnt the weapon if not sbnrp enough
TO cut of her head. was sufficiently
formidable to beat out her brains.
"Whatr she cried. DO you pro!
pose TO sever my head from my body
with TINT blunt instrument? III sub
NIT to death. but nnt mangiing"
- She tossed the AK out of the window
The actor, who thonght himself a l
veritabie executioner. was disconnected
Ss his loss. he wen out on the. bai-I
eony. bent over the tone balustrade
and looked down fc, his ak. The ira
gedienne. quick as 1 fash. closed the
glass doors and tn ed the latch. Since
they Were not tc opened from the
outside the lunr could re-enter the
room only by ST hing the glass. But
the sfagsdieun. ii not wait Tor him
TO do this. 81 IN SC the doDF of the
room. down { stairs and on reach
ing thaLn Lnisht .rk foil f,Ain.t-e. an.
door before IL -.
When she M revived and told her
story the eek called nm oliicer. and
together th. went 10 the seene OF what
had nearl. been n tragedy. All was
quiet there. The policeman opened the
window. The balcony was deserted
Evidently John Coyne had descended
By the way be came. "A search wus
made for MIN. snd he was found on
the street muttering to himself ineoa
hereptiy. He wns taken to his lodging
aud the next day removed to an asy.
.iunn.
Thn evclfng on which this j,:cjflent