The After House Part 25

"What happened after that?"

"The captain came down and ordered the mate on deck. Mr. Vail and the captain got Mr. Turner to his room."

"How do you know that?"

"I opened my door."

"What then?"

"Karen came down at 12.30. We went to bed. At ten minutes to three the bell rang for Karen. She got up and put on a wrapper and slippers.

She was grumbling and I told her to put out the light and let me sleep.

As she opened the door she screamed and fell back on the floor.

Something struck me on the shoulder, and I fainted. I learned later it was the axe."

"Did you hear any sound outside, before you opened the door?"

"A curious chopping sound. I spoke of it to her. It came from the chart-room."

"When the girl fell back into the room, did you see any one beyond her?"

"I saw something--I couldn't say just what."

"Was what you saw a figure?"

"I--I am not certain. It was light--almost white." "Can you not describe it?"

"I am afraid not--except that it seemed white."

"How tall was it?"

"I couldn't say."

"As tall as the girl?"

"Just about, perhaps."

"Think of something that it resembled. This is important, Mrs. Sloane.

You must make an effort."

"I think it looked most like a fountain."

Even the jury laughed at this, and yet, after all, Mrs. Sloane was right--or nearly so!

"That is curious. How did it resemble a fountain?"

"Perhaps I should have said a fountain in moonlight white, and misty, and--and flowing."

"And yet, this curious-shaped object threw the axe at you, didn't it?"

There was an objection to the form of this question, but the court overruled it.

"I did not say it threw the axe. I did not see it thrown. I felt it."

"Did you know the first mate, Singleton, before you met on the Ella?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where?"

"We were on the same vessel two years ago, the American, for Bermuda."

"Were you friends?"

"Yes"--very low.

"Were you engaged to marry him at one time?"

"Yes."

"Why did you break it off?"

"We differed about a good many things."

After a long battle, the prosecuting attorney was allowed to show that, following the breaking off of her relations with Singleton, she had been a witness against him in an a.s.sault-and-battery case, and had testified to his violence of temper. The dispute took so long that there was only time for her cross-examination. The effect of the evidence, so far, was distinctly bad for Singleton.

His attorney, a young and intelligent Jew, cross-examined Mrs. Sloane.

Attorney for the defense: "Did you ever write a letter to the defendant, Mrs. Sloane, threatening him if he did not marry you?"

"I do not recall such a letter."

"Is this letter in your writing?"

"I think so. Yes."

"Mrs. Sloane, you testify that you opened your door and saw Mr. Vail and the captain taking Mr. Turner to his room. Is this correct?"

"Yes."

"Why did they take him? I mean, was he not able, apparently, to walk alone?"

"He was able to walk. They walked beside him."

"In your testimony, taken at the time and entered in the s.h.i.+p's log, you say you 'judged by the sounds.' Here you say you 'opened the door and saw them.' Which is correct?"

"I saw them."

"You say that Mr. Singleton said he wished to 'get at' the captain. Are those his exact words?"