Yhank you, Maryrrf - Child's headnote admits most English language versions of Maid Freed [#95] are defective. In most of his versions, it is the judge, rather than the hangman, who is being appealed to — tho this puts the matter back to the sentence, presumably, rather than the actual imminent execution, and so is perhaps less suspenseful & dramatic — tho, predictably, the variants are not always consistent about this: it sometimes appears as if the judge is there to give the hangman the order to get on with it, which scarcely likely, eh?. Altho the generic title given is "The Maid"..., it is sometimes a man. In some of the other European versions, both northern & southern cited by Child over 4½ pages, it is ransom from capture by corsairs &c which is demanded. Sometimes the maid/man is to be executed for having lost a golden key, or ball, which the lover finds at last moment...

But it is the suspense, in whatever version, isn't it? One of those where one feels, never mind why — just let the story work! And, as we agree, doesn't it ever. It is perhaps the one where those two great attributes of balladry, advance of the story by dialogue, and incremental repetition, have the freest rein to work. Along, as you say, with the audience's imaginations.