The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-10-17

room to get it. More than that, he
must have hunted for ii 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.
mo, 1 didn't think 1t would help
matters any; besides, I didn't want to
put Miss Croydon on her guard"
of course-though all this doesn't
actually implicate her"
mo; but it shows she knows more
than she's told u.s." said Simmonds
~doggedly. Il don't think she's been
square with US"
Godfrey did not permit any trace Of
his inward perturbation to appear on
his countenance; nevertheless he was
seriously disturbed He had hoped that
nc one but himself o suspect Miss
| Croydon's lack of frankness, He felt
a certain irritation against her-she
should have been more careful; she
should have foTeseen that the clippings
would be traced to her. She vas rely
ing too much on his forebearance. He
must do his best to control Simmonds.
well perhaps she hasn't" he said
slowly, after a moment; but maybe
| Sne = not muCn 10 Dl0Tne TOT JndI, aIleT
all. Anyway, we's got to work at the
case from the other end. We've got to
identify Thompson first"
Yes" agreed ~Simmonds; that's our
best hold. You'll let me know IL you
find out anything"
'of. course" said Godfrey, rising, and
with a curt nod he went out n down
the steps to the street.
At the Office he found two reports
awaiting him One was from the men
he had SEN along the docks-they had
found no n who could identify the
photograph of Thompson. The other
was from Delaney, the head of the Rec
ord's 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 h 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 ana 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 n only person there now
who remembers Croydon Is an old no.
tary named Fabre, who has an Office at
the corner of Tue st. Augustin. He
has vague that Croydon left
Franco to avoid criminal prosecution Of
some sort.
Croydon bought small, country place
near Beckenham and lived there cuiet-
ly 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 Beckenham.
Eldest daughter, Edith, born In
school there, but broke down from over
study and returned to B~eckenham,
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 June 6, 1900, and went imme-
diately 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 es-
tate o Grace home with them. Es-
tate, left wholly to younger sister, paid
inheritance tax on G7,500."
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 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 IL the newspapers handled it at
the time; but l don't know" and he
stared out through his window with
drawn brows. IF it's buried again. I
believe I'll let it 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 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 it. No other paper in town will
have 'em."
That's good" said Godfrey, but It
was a half hearted commentator,
and he left the ONCE in a frame of
mind not wholly amiable. The meth
DDS of a popular newspaper are not al
ways above r~eproach.
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