oleson's Story

"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?"