my keys. The door was open---wide open. I--I went in, and--"

Here, for the first time, Mrs. Johns's composure forsook her. She
turned white, and her maid passed up to her a silver smelling-salts
bottle.

"What happened when you went in?"

"It was dark. I stood just inside. Then something rushed past me
and out of the door, a something--I don't know what--a woman, I
thought at first, in white."

"If the room was dark, how could you tell it was white?"

"There was a faint light--enough to see that. There was no noise
--just a sort of swishing sound."

"What did you do then?"

"I waited a moment, and hurried back to the after house."

"Was the axe gone then?"

"I do not know."

"Did you see the axe at that time?"

"No."

"Did you touch it?"