Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-26

you do it," ses
That your majesty will nevs.
Before l go from here III sever s &c.
fair neck" mat
He said this with such ae,..,
fion that she saw her ruse had faaa 's-
She did not dare urge him. sha sl
silent for a time, then tried ano.h.s
plan. es
when my neck is on tho H.,
John. wish you to strike WITH -
aim. Let there be no bungi;n,v
steady your arm drink a glss.
wine"
She filed a goblet with the bev.-,.
and held IT up to him with a pIass;ss
look. He refused it.
III my arm Is to be steady" he ..,.
"the head that directs il mn.t !.
steady. Would you have me nm, =
enemy into my head to steal awav
brains"
Another ruse had failed. The -,
gedienne sat trying to force hersel, ).
eat, while the mailman stood rss,,s.
on the bandle of his az waiting for H..
to finish
John" she said, would you not .,
TO my cousin Elizabeth and MAKE :
last appeal for me?"
II go to the queen Of England to ask
for mercy for your majesty, heads.
man would not be admitted to ANA.
ence, to say nothing of being granted
the boon he would ask. Besides "a
long as there is a queen Of Scotland
there is barrier to a 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 stste
whereas am but headsman. Come,
I am ordered to strike the blow that
leaves Scotland without queen
Hark! The bell is tolling. The hour
has arrived"
Though she could not see his fea.
lures for the mask, she knew that bis
eye was wild with insanity He lifted
his ak, and she feared that he might
swerve it against her.
1.-The block" she cried Where is the
block? Blindfolded, 1 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 viii
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 it, she said:
as your ak sharp? Can you finish
the work with one blow?'
at 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 it 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. if not sharp enough
to cut off her head. was sufficiently
formidable to beat out her brains.
"Whatr' she cried. do you pro
pose to sever my head from my bod!
with that blunt instrument? I'll sub
NIT to death. but not to mangling.'
She tossed the ak out of the window
The actor, who thought himself
veritable executioner, was disconnected
at his loss. He went out on the bal
cony. bent over the stone balustrade
and looked down for his AK The ira
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 tne
room, down the stairs and on reach
Ing the night clerk fell fainting on the
floor before him.
When she had revived and told hei
story the clerk called an officer, ana
together they went to the scene OF what
had nearly been a tragedy. All was
quiet there. The policeman opened tne
window. The balcony was desertea
John Coyne had desceroeo
by the way he came. A search wa
made for him. and he was found Oh
the street muttering to himself inco
nerently. He was taken to his lodging
md the next day removed TO an asy-
um.
The evening on which this incident
occurred was the last on which the
played Queen Mary. ne.
who was loath TO lose ana
nave her lose the profit that would az
rue from her marvellous impersona'
ion. used all his persuasive powers
induce her to continue. but wltnou.
wall. She said she had driven one MAJ
mad under the strain and declared thS1
she continued to play the part SIZE
would in time follow him TO oediam.
This ended the argument. and the heAs
Hay In which she appeared anorue'
Ter a more cheerful part.
She also made a change in her napn
4 eating her supper after the nisn
Since her escape from ~
ctor headsnan with wooden az sa
Invariably has some friend TO sup WIZ
Ter. II she fails to secure such eon>
anion she goes TO bed without sup
er