News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-04-05
TIE DIAMOND ROBBERY

Mr.. John Wylie was bitterly disap
pointed. He had been in the privat,
inquiry business for over fifteen years
and never before had he experience,
such a reverse. 1t was an affair tha
had attracted the greatest public interes
and attention. A success in it would
have established his reputation as q de
tective forever. But he had failed ut
terly and ANONYMOUSLY.
This is how the matter stood when he
was called i'll by Sir Henry Heaviside tc
investigate it. On November Is Sin
Henry was away from home. On that
night his wife, Lady Helena, supported
by her father, the Marquis of Doltshire,
had given little dinner, which was fol
lowed by reception. Her .lalyship
had, as usual, been rather slow IN
dressing. and, when the dinner hour ar-
rived, she was greatly pressed for time.
In her haste she had neglected to re-
place her Jewels, which she intended to
put on Hftor dinnNr and previnua to the
reception, in the safe, and contented
herself with locking the door of her
boudOir and putting the key into q
drawer in her bedroom. After dinner
she found the key where she had left it,
Tic NlOOIs VII OIDulDg
her boudoir, she discovered, to her
amazement, that the window was wide
open. A moments investigation showed
her that ali the jewels she had left upon
her dressing table when she hurried
down to dinner were stolen. Their
value was close upon seven thousand
pounds.
This was, 1 repeat, how matters stood
when Mr.. Wylie was called in, and prac-
tically it was in the same state when,
after SIX weeks laboriOus investigation,
he gave up the inquiry in despair. He
suspected much, but he had discovered
nothing. 1t wBs clear to him that the
robber, whoever he might be, was per-
fectly familiar with the house and with
Lady Helena's careless ways. 1t was
also clear to him that the window found
open-which was twenty-five feet from
the ground, and which showed no evil
dence of having been forced-was left
open as a ruse to mislead the detectives.
He felt quite sure that the robber had
entered the boudoir by means of Lady
Helena's $ key, and that, if he left the
house at all, he wentout by side door,
which was fastened only by a spring
lock. He was inclined, however, to be-
lieve that the thief WAS one of the house
hold, and that the Jewels were still i'll
the house. Acting on this belief, he
searched the house from top to bottom,
examined all the servants boxes and
cupboards, and watched diligently all
their movements; but after six weeks
thus employed, be had found nothing
to implicate, OF even throw suspicion on
any one i'll particular. He confessed
himself utterly haffied.
As one day, seated in his sanctum, he
was mOurnfully turning over in his
mind the question: of his failure, there
was Il knock Mt the door.
=" Come in" he cried out
The door opened and the Office boy
put in his head.
Lady wants to see you, SIR"
"ShOw her in.
The next moment tall, stately, thick
ly-veiled lady was ushered in to the detec-
tive's private Office. Mr. Wylie offered
her seat, which she silently accepted.
As soon as the door was shut again, she
rnised her veil and showed handsome,
refined face. Then, without much more
ado, she introduced herself.
81 am Lady Noodle, she said, "wife
Of the banker of that name"
The detective bowed.
And have come here" her ladyship
continued, Gin very great trouble, to
see if You can assist me-
=, you may rely upon it, madam" said
the detective, in his politest manner,
THAT | shall use my utmost efforts to !
do So"
81 will tell you," Lady Noodle went
on, without noticing Mr.. Wylie's re-
mark, the whole story as shortly as
possible. Owing to my health / had to
winter last year in Florence. My hus-
bands business and parliamentary du-
ties would not permit him to Join me,
While living there by myself [ met an
Italian gentleman, with whom formed
rather an intimate friendship. You
should know, she added hastily, chat
there was nothing improper i'll it. though
much that was imprudent
81 quite believe you, said Mr.. WyIie.
Lady Noodle semed rather irritated
than gratitied by this assurance.
Thinking" she continued, after q
pause, "that he was an honorable man.
L frequently wrote to him, and some of
my letters-one or two of them at any
] am afraid, bear to a ieai.
BUS mini Very different meaning from
hat intended. When l returned home
ne followed me. BY my influence he
was received in society herc-not only
10, but L assisted him from time to time
With money. At last his demands be-
;ame too eXtortionate, and | refused
hem. Then the miserable scoundrel
urned upon me, and threatened if I did
lot comply with his requests he would
1--WE the letters had written him to nv
husband. He has mistaken his woman y
lady Noodle concluded, passionn civ.
4 would rather die than give n pennv
o the menaces If such cowardl"
May l know tho gentloman's
iame 20
Count Ulrici."