xe were easily enough accounted for. It
would have been possible, also, to account for the white figure that
had so alarmed the men, on the same hypothesis. Cross-examination of
Tom by Mr. Goldstein, Singleton's attorney, brought out one curious
fact. He had made no dark soup or broth for the after house. Turner
had taken nothing during his illness but clam bouillon, made with milk,
and the meals served to the four women had been very light. "They
lived on toast and tea, mostly," he said.

That completed the taking of evidence for the day. In spite of the
struggles of the clever young Jew, the weight of testimony was against
Singleton. But there were curious discrepancies.

Turner went on the stand the next morning.

CHAPTER XXII

TURNER'S STORY

"Your name?"

"Marshall Benedict Turner."

"Your residence?"

"West 106th Street, New York City."

"Your occupation?"

"Member of the firm of L. Turner's Sons, shipowners. In the coast
trade."

"Do you own the yacht Ella?"

"Yes."

"Do you recognize this chart?"

"Yes. It is the chart of the after house of the Ella."

"Will you show where your room is on the drawing?"

"Here."

"And Mr. Vail's?"

"Next, connecting through a bath-room."

"Where was Mr. Vail's bed on the chart?"

"Here, against the storeroom wall."

"With your knowledge of the ship and its partitions, do you think that
a crime could be committed, a crime of the violent nature of this one,
without making a great deal of noise and being heard in the storeroom?"

Violent opposition developing to this question, it was changed in form
and broken up. Eventually, Turner answered that the partitions were
heavy and he thought it possible.

"Were the connecting doors between your room and Mr. Vail's generally
locked at night?"

"Yes. Not always."

"Were they locked on this particular night?"

"I don't remember."

"When did you see Mr. Vail last?"

"At midnight, or about that. I--I was not well. He went with me to my
room."

"What were your relations with Mr. Vail?"

"We were old friends."

"Did you hear any sound in Mr. Vail's cabin that night?"

"None. But, as I say, I was--ill. I might not have noticed."

"Did you leave your cabin that night of August 11 or early morning of
the 12th?"

"Not that I remember."

"The steersman has testified to seeing you, without your coat, in the
chart-room, at two o'clock. Were you there?"

"I may have been--I thi