Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-11-18
NIT me to partake of meat and drink
10 gain strength to endure the ordeal"

towering MS Ak to the floor and sup
porting himself by the handle rs he
had done so often on the stage while
waiting for her to speak her lines.
The tragedienne tried 10 resume her
meal. but could not force herself to
swallow the food. She drained glass
Of wine and poured out another This
she did 10 give her strength to with.
stand the man who was bent on be-
heading her.
John she said by way OF keeping
her mind employed. how did you
rome up here?"
by means of lattice"
could you go back the same way?"
II could"
"I'lI not be convinced unless I see
you do it."
THAT your majesty will never see.
Before l go from here I'll 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 time. then tried another
plan.
when my neck Is on the block.
John. I wish you to strike with true
aim. Let there be no bungling. TO
steady your arm drink glass of
wine"
She filled goblet with the beverage
and held 1t up to him with pleading
look. He refused It
vv,u L.. 49, ~ ~ IL
''the head that directs 1t must be
steady. Would you have me put an
enemy into my head to steal away my
brainsY'
Another ruse had failed. The ira
gedienne sat trying to force herself to
eat. while the mailman stood resting
on the handle of his ak waiting for her
to finish.
"John." she said, would you not go
to my cousin Elizabeth and make
last appeal for meT'
II go 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 ask. Besides, so
long as there is a 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,
whereas am but headsman. Come;
l am ordered to strike the blow that
leaves Scotland without a queen.
Hank! The bell is tolling. The hour
has arrived"
Though she could not see his fea-
lures for the mask, she knew that his
eye was wild with Insanity. He lifted
his ak, and she feared that he might
swerve It against her.
THE blocki" she cried. Where is the
block? Blindfoded. cannot see it."
Extending his hand. he grasped hers.
She arose from the table and took
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 bell. but
she had not dominated him. and they
moved rather toward the window.
Stopping before 1t. she said:
is your Ak sharp? Can you finish
the work with one blowY'
"It will serve its purpose"
Let me feel of its edge"
Gently taking the ak from him. she
ran her thumb over its blade and was
somewhat relieved to find that 1t came
from the property room Of the theater.
was the one he had so long used in
the performance and was made OF
wood. There was consolation In this.
but the weapon. II not sharp enough
to cut Off her head. was sufficiently
formidable to beat out her brains.
WHAT she cried. DO you pro-
pose to sever my head from my body
with that blnnt instrument? I'll sub
NIT to death. but not to mangling
She tossed the ak out of the window
The actor. who thought himself a
veritable executioner. was disconnected
at his loss. He went out on the bal
cony. bent over the stone balustrade
gedienne. quick as a fash. closed the
glass doors and turned the latch. Since
they were not to be opened from the
outside the lunatic could re-enter the
room only by smashing the glass. But
the tragedienne did not wait for him
to do this She ran to the door of the
room. down the stairs and on reach
ing the night clerk fell fainting on the
floor before him.
When she had revived and told her
story the clerk called an officer. and
together they went to the scene of what
had nearly been tragedy. All was
quiet there. The policeman opened the
window. The balcony was deserted
Evidently John Coyne had descended
by the way he came. A search was
made for him. and he was found on
the street muttering to himself inco-
herently. He was taken to his lodging
and the next day removed to an asy