The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-04-13
SELECT STORY.
TIE GREAT DIAMOND ROBBERY.
A STRANGE STORY OF SOCIETY FROM A
DETECTIVES LIPS.


tracted the greatest public int crest and
attention. A success in it would have
established his reputation as detective
forever But he had failed utterly and
ignomjniously.
This is how the matter stood when
he was called in by Sir Henry Heavi-
side to investigate it. On November
Is Sir Henry was away from home.
On that night his wife, Lady Helena,
assisted by her father, the Marquis OF
Doltshire, had given little dinner
which was followed by reception.
Her ladyship had, as usual, been rather
slow in dressing, aud, when the dinner
hour arrived, she was greatly pressed
for time. In her haste, she had ne
glrcted to replace her jewels, which
shr intended to put on after dinner and
previous to the reception in the safe,
and coutented herself with locking the
door of her boudoir and putting the
key into a drawer in her bedroom.
After dinner she found the key where
she had left it and reopened the do"r.
On entering her boudoir she discover
ed, TO her amazement, that the window
was vide open. A moments investiga
ton showed her that all the jewels she
had lett upon her dressing table when
she hurried down to dinner was stolen
Their value was close upon $1,000.
This was, l repeat, how the matter
stood when MIR. Wylie was called in,
and practically it was in the same stat
when, after six weeks laborious lnves.
tlgation, be gave up the inquiry in de
spair. He suspected much, but he had
discovered nothing. 1t was clear tc
him that the robber, whoever he might
be, was perfectly familiar with thu
house and with Lady Helena's careless
ways. 1t was also clear to him that
the window found open-wbich wa
twenty-five feet from the ground, am
which showed no evidence OF havint
been forced-was left open as ruse tt
mlslead the detecti> es. He felt quite
sure that the robber had entered tn,
b"udoir by means of Lady Helena
key, and that, if he left the house a
all, he went out by side door, which
was fastened only by spring lock
He was inclined, however, to believ,
that the thief was one of the house
hold and that the jewels were still il
the house. Acting on this belief b.
searched the house from top to bottom
examined all the servants boxes an,
cupboards, and watched diligently al
their NOV vements; but, after SIX week
thus employed, he had found nothing
to implicate, or even throw suspicion
on anyone in particular. He confesse
himself utterly baffled.
As, one day seated in his sanctun
he was mournfnlly turning over in hi
mind the question of failure, there wa
knock at the door.
"Come in,' he cried out.
| The door opened and the Office bo
put in his head.
"Iady wants to see you, SIR
"Show her in"
The next moment tall, statel,
thickly veiled lady was ushered int
the detectives private Office. Mr.. Wyli
offered her seat, which she sileutl
accepted. As soon as the door We
shut again she raised her veil an
showed handsome, refined face. The
without more ado she introduced he
self.
81 am Lady Noodle" she said, "wii
of the banker of that name"
| The detective bowed.
"And | have come here" her lad
ship continued, ''in very great troubl
, to see if you can assist me-"
"You may rely upon it madam" sa
the detective, in his polite manue
"that | shall use my utmost efforts
do So"
3 II will tell you" Lady Noodle wei
: on without noticing Mr.. Wylie's r
mark, 'the whole story as shortly
possible Owing to my health, hs
. to Winter last year in Florence. N
husbands business and parliamental
duties would not permit him 10 jo
me. While living there by myself
met an Italian gentleman with whom
formed rather an intimate friendshi
You should know" she added hastil
shat there was nothing improper in
though much that was imprudent.'
!, 81 quite believe you," said M
y Wylie.
Lady Noodle seemed rather irritat
than gratified at this assurance.
thinking she continued, after
pause, shat he was an honorable ma
| frequently wrote to him, and some
It my letters-one or two of them, at al
|. rate-would, l am afraid, bear to
Jealous mind a very diff rent meanil
from that intended. When | return
home, he followed me. By my inf
ence he was received in society here
not only so, but ! assisted HIM fro
time to time with money. AT last |
demands became too extortlonate, a.
| refused them. Then the miserat
scoundrel turned upon me, aud thre'
ened that if did not comply with
requests he would give the letters
had written him to my husband.
has mistaken his woman L ,dy MOOD
concluded, passionately, 81 would ralf
die than give a penny TO the mena'
of such coward"
"May know the gent eman's namt
"Count Ulrici."
: M. W,li-, like everybody else, h
]. heard of the Count. He was consid
ed the best looking, best dressed a
best mounted man to b. seen in Rott
Row. He was reputei to be very ri'
TOO, and it was this revelation as to I
means by which he lived that astonii
ed Mr. Wylie.
81 presume" said the detective, af
pause, "you wish me to get poss
sion of these letters in some way
other"
"Precisely," answered Lady Mood
Mr.. Wylie reflected for some n
ments in silence. then he said 81 rea
Y don't see how | can get them withc
committing a burglary"
Couldn't you be Induced to r
,hati" asked Lady Noodle, eagerly
The detective started. Eviden
her ladyship vas not inclined to st
at trifles.
uWell Won see" said Mr.. Wv