Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-17
THE BIG DIAMOND ROBBERY.

y
ed. He had been in the private inquiry
business for over fifteen years, and never
before had he experienced such reverse.
It was an affair that attracted the great
est public interest and attention. A sue
cess Ill it would have established his repu-
tation as a detective forever. But he had
failed utterly and ANONYMOUSLY.
This is how the matter stood when he
was called in by SIR Henry Heaviside to
investigate it. On November Is, Sir Hen
~ was away from home. On that night
his wife, Lady Helena, supported by her
father, the marquis of DoltE hire, had Civ
en- little dinner, which was followed by
reception. Her ladyship had, as usual,
been rather slow in dressing, and, when
the dinner hour arrived, she was greatly
pressed for time. In her haste she had
neglected TO replace her jewels, which she
intended to put on after dinner and pre-
vious to the reception in the safe, and
contented herself with locking the door Of
her boudoir and putting the key into
drawer in her bedroom. After dinner she
found the key whers she had left it, and
reopened the door. On opening her bou-
DOR, she discovered, 80 her amazsment.
that the window was wide open. A mo-
ment's investigation showed her that all
the Jewels that she had left upon her
dressing table when she hurried down to
9Inner were stolen. Their value was close
upon seven thousand pounds.
This was, / repeat, how the matter stood
when Mr.. Wylie was called in, and practi-
caly it was in the same state when, after
six weeks laborIOus investigation, he gave
up rhe inquiry in despair. He suspected
much but ne discovered nothing. 1t was
clear to him that the robber, whoever he
might be, was perfectly familiar with the
house aud Lady Helena's careless ways.
Ii was also clear to him that the window
found Open-whiuh was twenty five feet
from the ground, and which showed no
evidence of having been forced-was left
open as q 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, be went out by side door, which
was fastened only by spring lock. He
was inclined, however, to believe that the
thief was one of the household, and that
the Jewels were still in the house. Acting
on this belief, he searched the house from
top to bottom, examined all the servants
boxes and CupbUards, and watched dill
gently all their movements; but after six
weeks thus employed, he had found moth
ing to implioate, or even throw suspicion
on any one in particular. He confessed
himself utterly baffled.
As, one day seated in his sanctum, he
was mournfully turning over in his mind
the question of his failure, there was
knock at 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 momept a tall, stately, thickly
yelled lady was ushered into the detect
ives private Office. Mr.. Wylie offered
her seat, which she silently accepted.
As soon as the door was shut again, she
raised her veil and showed a 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, lin 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.. WyIie's remark,
''the whole story as short as possible.
Owing to my health [ had to winter last
year in Florence. My husbands business
and parliamentary duties would not per-
nit him to join me. While living there
myself | made rather an intimate friend
ship. You should know" she added hasti-
", "that there was nothing improper in
it, though much that was imprudent."
81 quite believe YOU" said Mr.. Wylie.
Lady Noodle seemed rather irritated
than gratited by this assurance.
'Thiuking," she continued after
pause, shat he was an honorable man, l
frequently wrote to him, and some of
my Ietters-one or two OF them at any
rate-would, am afraid, bear to jeal-
Gus mind very different meaning from
that intended. When [ returned home,
he followed me. By my influence he was
received in society here-not only so,
but assisted him from time to time
with money. At last his demands be-
came too exjOrtionate, and l refused
them. Then the miserable scoundrel
turned upon me, and threatened that if l
did not comply with his requests he
would give the letters l had written him
to ny husband. He has mistaken his
woman" Lady Noodle concluded, pas
sionately: Il would rather die than give
q penny to the menaces of such cow
ard"
May know the gentleman's name?"
s'Cnunt Ul,ici."
"Whew! The male professional beau.
"
MIR. Wylie, like everybody else, had
heard of the count. He was considered
tie best LOOKING, best dressed and best
mounted man, to be seen in Rotten Row.
he was reputed to be very rich, too, and
1t was this revelation as to the means by
which he lived that astoDished Mr.. Wylie
4 presume" said the detective, after a
pause, you wish me to get possession OF
these letters in some way or other?"
"Precisely," answered Lady Noodle.
Mr.. Wylie reflected for some moments
n silence, then he said: Il really don't
see how / can get them without commit
ing q burglary"
"Couldn't you be induced to risk that?'
asked Lady Noodle, eagerly.
The detective started. Evidently her
ladyship was not inclined to stick al
trifes
sWeu, you see," said Mr.. Wylie, very
deliberately, "burglarly is rather a large
order"
I'm willing to pay anything to baull
the coward" replied Lady Moody fierce
~.
That's all right" answered Mr.. Wylie
doggedly; "out moneys of little use Il
man who's doing ten years" At hi
words Lady Noodles face became down
cast. She was evidently disappointed
Mr.. Wylie noticed this.
Eyes, Sir Charles and leave for Dark
lingbourne-that's our place in Doltshir,