Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-07-31

(John Sweeney. for many years an In
spector-detectivc at Scotland Yard. long
ago won "A reputation on both sides OF the
Atlantic. He became connected with the
English police when quite young and
soon earned transfer to the Bureau OF
Criminal Investigation which is better
known to the American public as Scot
land Yard" The case of the Hart gems
to which he was assigned Is given here.
with more an example of the methods
pursued by English detectives than as a
specimen of Inspector Sweeney's indi'
vidual skill. The name OF the noblemar
has been disguised and some permissible
license taken with the construction Of the
story. but the main facts. though pre-
scented In composite form. are true. and
demonstrate that Sherlock Holmes has
his prototypes In real life among the pro-
fessionai police of Great Britain)
Sir William and Lady Hart had the
reputation Of being the most hospit
able pair in all Of Great Britain-and
that is saying a good deal. They had
n beautiful country seat Just outside
of London where they entertained on
a palatiai scale.
On the occasion to which the pres
ent story refers Sir William and Lady
Hart gave a particularly elaborate af'
fair. II was n seven.day house party
concluding with n brilliant ball. There
were some 40 guests In all. and -four
of them at least were related to the
royal family.
On the evening OF the final day-ii
must have been a Friday-there was
q great ado over the preparations for
the ball. No one was more excited
than Lady Hart herself. And well
mil Gh hn fnr hat AZ he
was TO wear for the first time a mag
nlticent creation from Paris. Be
sides. she was to deck herself out In
the Hart gems. Anyone who has ever
had the pleasure OF seeing these rare
old family heirlooms need not be told
that they are both unique and costly
My lady had been buslly engaged In
her boudoir with her maid for over
an hour. She was all ready for the
ball. Everything was In place ex
ccpt tho gcms-they lay on the dress
Ing table ready to be fastened In
Lady Hart's corsage. The clock on
the mantel pealed out seven silvery
strokes. Lady Hart looked at her
maid. She was a compassionate WON
an. She said:
MY CHilu. you iDOh tUOTOuBnlN eN
hausted. I'm through with you for
the present. | can attach the Jewels
to my dress without your aid. Go to
your room and rest and report to me
again at midnight.
The girl thanked her mistress and
left the room. Lady Hart gave n
final survey of herself in the long
pier mirror. II was satisfactory. Bu;
the feminine desire to get the judg
Inent OF some one else took posses
sion OF her mind. She picked up the
Jewels and was about TO put them on
The large one was magnifcently beau
iiful. II was a great ruby sur
mounted with a glittering framework
of the purest diamonds. Two others
in the forms OF crescents. were pure
pearls. Altogether they represented
n modest fortune. Lady Hart hesl
tatrd FOR 4 moment. She wanted &c
know what another woman woulI
think OF her Partisan gown by Itself
minus the prestige which would be
given 1t by the famous gems. Lady
Sutherland. her special friend. was
near by in q room on the other side
of the corridor. She laid the jewels
on the dressing-table and tripped ou
of the room. She was gone less thai
five minutes.
The Hart gems were gone,
As the result OF that. John Sweeney
.dctcctiveinsPeCtor Of Scotland Yard
appC Cared on the scene.
Sir William joined him in tn,
library ana the two men went owe
all of the facts in the case. Thi
first order of the detective was tha
no one should leave the house tina
night-it was then about ten o'clocl
without the permission of the host
Detective Sweeney then inquired
about Lady Hart's maid. She SCENE,
n natural object of suspicion. But |
soon appeared that the young womai
had complete alibi. 1t was proyei
that she had gone to her room imme
diately after being dismissed by he
mistress and being very tired ha,
thrown herself on her couch and ha'
sept soundIy amid all the excitemen
Irvcr the stolen Jewels.
Finally the servants were brough
IN and cross-questioued. They eA