The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-10-10

into the 0re. E. .... ..... o..
II do appreciate her." he said slow
~, Through and through. I'm APP
palled at the wonder Of it, sometimes,
that she should really care for a fellow
like me. I'm not worthy
Godfrey vas walking n~ervously about
the room.
mo, you're not" he broke in abrupt
ly. Mighty few men would be-. Luck
lily, women don't stop to look at that
side of 1t. Besides, she'll help you, If
you really try to live up to her
II intend to-" said Drysdale humbly.
Godfrey started to say something
more, then shook himself impatiently.
Her appearance will help her." he
added in another tone, when she's
called before the coroner-sheu inn
press the jury in just the right way"
Drysdale got up quickly.
She'll have to appear before the
coroner" Q
"Of course-she's practically the only
witness. Your place is with her-more
especially since you say Delroy him
seG is out of town."
Thank you" and Drysdale took up
mis- hat. You've helped me a lot" and
with another warm hand-clasp he was
gone.
Godfrey turned back into the room
and sat down again before the fire.
Drysdale's story had, indeed, furnished
him with new food for thought. So 1t
was a family secret that Grace Croy-
don vas guarding. She had spoken
the truth-she had scorned to lie. A
secret that affected the family honor.
That was conceivable-it furnished the
only possible solution of the mystery.
He felt that he could reconstruct the
1rama with some degree of plausibility.
He smiled grimly as he drew a pad
If paper toward him and got out his
pencil. Like all good tragedies, 1t
should be in Ave acts.
ACT 1.
The Croydon family possesses a skel-
eton, and one Thompson holds the key
20 the closet in the shape OF certain
papers. He threatens to use them, to
display the skeleton to the world. He
writes to Miss Croydon, or perhaps to
Mrs. Delroy, demanding Il price for his
papers. Mrs. Delroy is for letting him
10 his worst; Miss Croydon, less SEN
Eble (also perhaps more sensitive), Is
,or trying to buy him off. She over
'ides her sister, makes an appointment
with Thompson. disregarding the risk
she runs of compromising herself. (The
skeleton. then, must be a particularly
Srisly one!)
Miss Croydon goes to the appoint
nen alone, but with the precaution' Of
aking a pistol with her. (Query-Was
The accustomed to using a pistol?) She
10 admitted by Thompson, who has
barely awakened from a drunken sleep.
A en-minute parley follows, during
which he states his demands. She, per-
aaps, finds them excessive, impossible
70 comply with, and tells him so. He
grows angry, abusive, perhaps attempts
tome violence. She produces her pis-
iol, and at that moment a man steals
behind him from the inner room and
strikes him down. Then, standing over
aim, he deliberately shoots him through
he heart. Miss Croydon, perCeiving
his intention, instinctively raises her
'wn pistol and fires at him. The shots
ire simultaneous, which explains the
Jingle lou report heard by the ~janitor.
The murderer calmly opens the door
md escapes.
ACT III.
Mrs. Delroy is at her library window,
Lnxiously awaiting her sisters return.
She has been absent much longer han
The expected to be, n Mrs. Delroy is
growing alarmed. Enter Jack Drys-
1ale, the sisters affianced. Mrs. Del
10Y tries desperately to get rid of him,
wen lies to do so, in the effort to pre-
Yent the discovery Of her sisters alb
Ience. AS he is about to go, Miss
Croydon returns, sees her sister, and
bNAAo "a ina III A1NS lev" has lSu W
rhompson's death. Mrs. Delroy jumps
10 the conclusion that her sister Ia
herself committed the crime and col
apses. Miss Croydon then, for the first
lime, seeing Drysdale, warns him that
The is compromised. Exit. Drysdale
PUSHES off in search of an explanation.
THAT Mrs. Delroy should for an in
Jtant believe her sister guilty Of such
! crime argues that the skeleton is so
io-ridly repulsive that only Thompson's
aeath could bury 1t effectually-which,
pf course, is plausible, since he doubt
less knew the contents Of the papers.)
There" said Godfrey, laying down
ais pencil, after the recognized fash
Ion, three acts are devoted to deepen
ng the complications; W. must now
be devoted to clearing them away.
That's the work for the future. Let us
see what we have to do"
He o up the pencil again and
turned to a new sheet.
/. To establish the identity of the
murdered a This may be done by
/ more careful examination of his be-
longings. The callosities on his hands,
ais weather-beaten face, the cut of his
clothes all indicate that he was a sailor.
=: should say that he had seen better
days, but had been brought down in
the world by drink. (Note-In the
morning, send a man along the water
TolI Win MS photography
2. To disinter the skeleton. This, of
course, will render necessary an exam
nation Of the history of the
Croydons, and should not be difficult.
(Note-ask Delaney to look up the
family.)
3. To discover the murderer.
This last" continued Godfrey, gaz-
Ing contemplatively at his paper, lis,
Of course, the most important; indeed,
II is the object of the other two. Now,
let us see what we know about this
mysterious individual" and he turned
another page.
I. He must have been in apartment
fourteen before Miss Croydon's ar
rival, otherwise he could not have
gained access to the bedroom unseen.
(This shuts out Jimmy the Dude.)
2. Therefore he was q friend or at
least an acquaintance OF Thompson's,
since 1t is impossible that he could
have been there without Thompson's
knowledge.
8. But If Thompson consented to his
overhearing the interview, he must
have expected some help from him.
4. Yet he was not in the apartment
at 7 o'clock when Higgins put Tbomp-
son to bed.