The Ordway new era., 1908-07-31

(John Sweeney. for many years an In
epector-detectiye at Scotland Yard. long
ago won n reputation on both sides OF the
Atlantic. He became connected with the
English police when quite young and
soon earned a transfer TO the Bureau %
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 as an example OF the methods
pursued by English detectives than IS 4
apecImen OF Inspector Swceney's indi-
vidnal skin. The name Of the noblerra =
has been disguised and some permissible
license taken with the construction OF th,,
story, but the main facts. though pr
scented In composite form. are true. and
demonstrate that Sherlock Holmes has
his prototypes In real iife among the pro
fessional police OF Great Br!iAinl
Sir William and Lady Hart had the
reputation OF being the most hospi--
able pair in all OF Great Britaln-aad
that is saying a good deal They ha6
a beautiful country seat Just outside
of London where they entertained or
a palatial scale
On the occasion to which the pres
ent story refers Sir William and LADY
Hart gave n particularly elaborate az
fair. II was a seven-day house parry
concluding with brilliant ball. Their
were some 40 guests in all. and -four
of them at least were related 10 The
royal family.
On the evening OF the final day-!;
must have been n Friday-,he-e vzs
a great ado over the preparations ca-
the ball. No one was more excited
than Lady Hart herself And We
he h.a 10
was to wear for the first time 4 -z1-
nificent creation from Paris -
sides. she was to deck herself au- -
the Hart gems. Anyone who hzs e~--
had the pleasure Of seeing thf-ss ~
old family heirlooms need no, ns r-.+
that they are both unique ant --,=-
My lady had been busily encEr-- g.,
her boudoir with her maid f1- ----
an hour. She was all ready To- q.
ball. Everything was in place Il
cept tho gems-they lay OF the dress
Ing table ready to b. fastened =
Lady Harris cOrsaee. The clock O.
the mantel psaled out seven silve-y
strokes. Lady Hart looked At he-
maid She was a Compassionate Eor,
an. She said:
My child, you look thoroughly e1-
hausted. I'm through with you tor
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 a
final survey OF herself in the long
pier mirror. 1t was satisfactory. Blu.
the feminine desire to get the juds.
ment 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.
tful. II was 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
a modest fortune. Lady Hart hesI
tated for a moment. She wanted to
know what another woman wouii
think of her Parisian gown by Itself
minus the prestige which would be
given It by the famous gems Lady
Sutherland. her special friend. was
near by in room on the other side
Of the corridor. She laid the Jewels
on the dressing-table and tripped out
of the room. She was gone less than
five minutes.
The Hart gems were gone!
As the result of that. John Sweeney.
setective-inspector of Scotland Yard,
appeared on the scene.
Sir William Joined him in the
library ana the two men went over
all of the facts in the case. The
first order of the detective was that
TO one should leave the house that
night-it was then about ten o'clock |
the permission of the host. |
Detective Sweeney then inquired |
about Lady Hart's maid. She seemed
a natural object of suspicion. But 1t |
soon appeared that the young woman |
had q complete alibi. 1t was proven
that she had gone to her room imme-
diately after being dismissed by her |
m.stress and being very tired had
thrown herself on her couch and had
tept soundly amid all the excitement
sscr the stolen jewels.
Finally the servants were brought
. and cruss-Questioned. They ex.