Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-12-04
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At the Ofice he FOUND TWO report;
awaiting him. One was from the men
he had sent along the docks-they had
| found Id one who could identity the
photograph Of Thompson. The other
| was from Delaney. the head Of the
Records Intelligence department. AT
9 O'Clock that morning. Just before re-
t,riug, Godfrey had phoned message
to the office:
Delaney-I want all the information OBJ
| tainaole concerning the history Of the
CroyGon family, to which Mrs. Richard
Delroy and Grace Croydon belong.
This was the result:
Gustave Croydon. notary and money
lender, II Rue d'Antin. Paris. removed
with wife and young daughter about 1888
to Beckenham. Just south Of London,
England Why he removed from Franco
not known. Rue d'Antln has been COM
p:e;cly rebuilt within last thirty years.
and only person there now who remeT-
bcrs Croydon is an old notary named
Fcbre. who has an Office at the corner OF
Rue ST. Augustin. He has vague mem
ory that Croydon left France to avoid
criminal prosecution Of some sort
Croydon bought small country place
near Beckenham and lived there quietly In
selai-rctiromcnt. Fortune apparently not
large In 1891 mortgaged estate for G2,o00,
mortgage paid in 1897. Religion, Catholic.
Excellent reputation at Beckenham.
Eldest daughter, Edith, born In France
Aug. Is, 1874. Educated at school there,
but broke down from overstudy and re-
turned to Beckenham, where she became
Interested in social settlement work.
There met Richard Delroy, New York.
who was making investigation Of London
charities. Married him June 6, 1900. and
went Immediately to New York.
Only other child, younger daughter.
Grace, born at Beckenham May Il. 1880.
Educated at home. No unusual incidents
in life so far as known.
Croydon and wife died, typhoid fever,
1901. Delroys came to England and after
selling property and settling estate took
Grace home with them. Estate, left who'll
" to younger sister, paid inheritance tax
on G7.500.
Godfrey read this through slowly,
dwelling upon it point by point.
1.-THE skeleton" lie said to himself.
sis pretty plain-it lies concealed some
where behind Croydon's departure
from France. There must have been
some unusual reason for that-a rea-
son even more serious. perhaps. than
this threatened prosecution-the clip
pings would tell the story.
"But is it worth while trying to dig
it up? 1t wouldn't be difficult thing
to do IL the newspapers handled 1t ut
the time. but don't know" and he
stared ont through the window with
drawn Drows. IF it's buried again, l
believe I'll let 1t rest-fOr the present,
anyway" and he whirled back to his
desk.
He wrote the story Of the days de-
velopments and turned it In.
"We've been lucky" said the city
editor. with gleeful smile as he took
the copy. We've got photographs Of
all the principals"
"Have we:"
"Yes-they cost $500, but they're
worth 1t. No other paper in town will
have 'em."
"That's good" said Godfrey, but 1t
was half hearted comEendation. and
he left the office in q frame Of mind
not wholly amiable. The methods Of
popular newspaper are not always
above reproach.
"Thank heaven" he added to him
self, his face clearing little. there's
nothing in my story to implicate either
Miss Croydon or Mrs. Delroy-there's
no hint of the skeleton! took care OF
that-whicl," he concluded. with q
grim smile. ''is mighty forbearing in a
yellow Journalistic
What further tests there were to be
Of his forbearance not even he sus-
pected!