Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-12-13

been square with u.s."
"Well, perhaps she hasn't" Godfrey
said slowly. Anyway, we've got to
work at the case from the other end.
We've got to identify Thompson first"
"Ycs," agreed Simmonds. you'll
let me know if you find out anything"
"Of course" said Godfrey, rising,
and with q curt nod he went out and
down the steps to the street.
At the Office he found two reports
awaiting him. One was from the men
he had sent along the docks--they had
found no one who could identity the
photograph of Thompson. The other
was from Delaney, the head of the
Records intelligence department. At
o'clock that morning. just before re-
firing, Godfrey had phoned a message
to the Office:
Delancy--I want all the informa ton OBJ
tainablo concerning the history Of tho
Croydon family, to which Mrs. Richard
Delroy and Grace Croydon belong.
This was the result:
Gustave Croydon, notary and money
lender, II Hue dAntin. Paris, removed
with wife and young daughter about 1873
10 Beckenhau, Just south OF London,
England. Why he removed from France
mot known. Rue dAntin has been COM
pletoly rebuilt within last thirty years.
and only person there now who rsmem-
bers Croydon is an old notary named
Fabre, who has an Office at the corner of
Rue ST. Augustin. He has vague mem
DRY that Croydon left France to avoid
criminal prosecution of some sort.
near Beckenham ami lived there quietly in
semi-retirement. Fortune apparently not
large. In 1881 mortsased estate for G20p0,
mortgage paid in 1897. Religion. Catholic.
Excellent reputation at Beckenham.
Eldest daughter, Edith, sborn 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 net Richard Deroy New York.
who was making investigation of London
charities. Married him June G. 1850. and
went Immediately to New York
Only other child, younger daughter.
Grace, born at Beckenham May II, 1880.
Educated at homo. 10 unusual incidents
in life SO far as known.
Croydon and wife Ged, typhoid fever,
1901. Delroys camc to England and after
selling property and settling estate took
Grace home with them. Estate left Who'll
On a7.500.
Godfrey read this through slowly.
dwelling upon it point by point
''The skeleton" he said to himself,
"is 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 If the newspapers handled it at
| the time, but l don't know" and he
stared out through the window with
drawn brows. IF it's buried again. !
believe Iii let it rest-for tho 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 a gleeful smile as he took
the copy. We've got photographs OF
all the principals"
Have wc?"
"Yes-they cost $500, but they're
worth it. No other paper In town will
have EN-"
That's good" said Godfrey. but il
was half hearted commentator, and
he left the Office in frame of mind
not wholly amiable. The methods of
a popular newspaper are not always
above reproach.
Thank heaven" he added to him.
self, his face clearing a little. there's
nothing in my story to in,plicate either
Miss Croydon or Mrs Delroy-there's
no hint of the skeleton l took care OF
that-which." he concluded, with q
grim smile, sis mighty forbearing in Il
yellow Journalistic
What further tests there We're to be
of his forbearance not even he sus
pected!