The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-10-17
THE MARATHON MYSTERY
A STORY OF MANHATTAN.
BY BURTON E. STEVENSON
Author of Tho Holiday Case" Cadets OF Gasconv" Etc
A o OF

room to get it. More than that. he
must have hunted for it or known 1T
was there. because 1t was in the shadow
behind the radiator. 1t couldn't be
seen unless one. looked for tive tried
it"
Godfrey paused to consider.
Did you give these points to Gold
berg?" he asked.
No, I didn't think 1t would help
matters any; besides, 1 didn't want to
put Miss Croydon on her guard"
"Of course-though all this doesn't
actually implicate her"
No; but It shows she knows more
than she's told u.s." said Simmonds
doggedly. Il don't think she's been
square with u.s."
Godfrey did not permit any trace of
his inward perturbation to appear on
his countenance; nevertheless he was
seriously disturbed. He had hoped that
no one but himself would suspect Miss
C%roydon's lack of frankness. He felt
a certain irritation against her-she
should have been more careful. she
should have foreseen hat the clippings
would be traced to her. She was rely
ing too much on his forebearance. He
must do his best to control Simmonds.
We'll. perhaps she hasn't he said
slowly. after a moment: but maybe
she's not much to blame for that, after
all. Anyway, ives got to work at the
case from the other end. We've got to
identify Thompson first"
Yes" agreed Simmouds; that's our
best hold. You'll let me know If you
find out anything"
"Of course said Godfrey, rising, and
with n 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
hr L~-1 1865 ~
found no one who could identify the
photograph of Thompson. The other
was from Delaney. the head of the Rec
ords intelligence department. At 2
o'clock that morning, just before retir-
Ing, Godfrey had 'phoned a message to
the office:
"Delaney-I want all the information
obtainable concerning the history of the
Croydon family. to which Mrs. Richard
Delroy and Grace Croydon belong"
This was the result:
"Gustave Croydon, notary and money
lender. No. II Rue d'Antin, Paris, re-
moved with his wife and young daugh-
ter about 1878 to ~Beckenham. just south
of London England. Why he removed
from France not known. Rue d'Antin
has been completely rebuilt within last
thirty years and only person there now
who remembers Croydon is an old no.
tary named Fabre. who has an office at
Nilc GitlcI VI 1Sue 81. AuSuStll. he
a memory that Croydon left
France to avoid criminal prosecution of
some sort.
Croydon bought small country place
near Beckenham and lived there quiet
~ in semi-retirement Fortune appar-
emily not large. In 1891, mortgaged es-
tate for $4,000; mortgage paid in 1897.
Religion, Catholic. Excellent reputation
at B~eckenham.
Eldest daughter. Edith, born in
France. August 26, 1874. Educated at
school there, but broke down from over
study and returned to Beckenham.
where she became interested in social
settlement work. There met Richard
Delroy. New York, who was making in
vestigation Of London charities. Mar
ried him juno 6, 1900, and went imme-
diately to New York.
only other child. younger daughter
Grace. born at Beckenham. May II,
1880. Educated at home. No unusual
incidents in life. so far as known.
Croydon n wife died, typhoid fever.
1901. Delroys came to England, and,
after selling property and settling es-
tate o Grace home with them. Els
tate, left wholly to younger sister, paid
inheritance tax or e.
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 reason more
serious, perhaps. than this threatened
prosecution-the clippings would tell
the story.
But Is it worth while trying to dig
1t up? 1t wouldn't be a difficult thing
to do If the newspapers handled it at
the time; but I don't know" and he
stared out through his window with
drawn brows. IF it's buried again. I
believe III let it rest-for the present.
anyway" n he whirled back to his
desk.
He wrote the story of the days de-
veloprnents 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 we?"
"Yes-they cost $500. but they're
worth 1t. No other paper in town will
have EN-"
That's good said Godfrey, but it
was a ha~lf-hearted COMMUNICATION.
M he left the office in q frame az
mind not wholly amiable. The meth
DDS OF a popular newspaper are not al
ways above reproach.
"Thank heaven" he added to him
self, his face clearing a 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-which," he concluded, with a