Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-11-10
True
Detective Stories
TRIANGULAR FLAW

keeper along the Via Shiaia in Naples
knew his lordship, and every one Of
them admitted that more repre-
sentative member of the British aris-
tocracy had never visited Italy.
Lord Herbert was not only lavish
with his money, but it was whispered
around the Grand Hotel diNapoli that
his daughter, Sylvia, soon was to be
married to one of the richest men in
England.
Therefore when the English noble
man wandered into the establishment
Of the largest jeweler in Naples some
two months after his arrival in the
city and asked to be shown some dia-
mond necklaces, there was an immedi-
ate scurry to wait upon him. Finally
the proprietor himself requested Lord
Herbert to come into his private of
flee while he took from the safe
necklace valued at 100000 francs, the
property of client who was in finan-
cial straits.
II would like to purchase something
to give my daughter for q wedding
present" explained the EngliShman,
and the jeweIer nodded, for the rumors
of the engagement had already reached
his ears. I'm afraid, though" con-
tinued his lordship, that this neck
lace is little more expensive than l
can afford at the moment. l don't
doubt its value, but I'll have to have
little time to think it over"
"Certainly," agreed the jeweler. u
will be pleased to hold it as long as
you wish and, should you desire to
see and examine it again, | will be
very glad to bring it to the hotel at
your convenience"
THAT would be excellent" assented
the visitor, but l naturally do not
wish my daughter to know anything
about the transaction. The whole mat
ter is to be a surprise to her.
A few days later, in response to
Lord Sheffield's request, the jeweler
took the necklace to the Grand hotel
and found the Englishman alone in
the room. After a very careful eX-
animation of the diamonds terms were
agreed upon and Lord Sheffield had
just produced his letter of credit from
his wallet when girls voice was
heard i'll the corridor, just outside the
door.
My daughter |" exclaimed the Eng
lishman. She mustn't know any
thing about this" and he swept the
necklace and the wallet into the draw
er Of the desk before which he sat. A
moment later Sylvia Sheffield came in
and announced that her fathers tailor
had arrived and wished to see him at
once. EXcusing himself with the state
ment that he would be back very
shortly, Lord Herbert left the room
and his daughter followed him imme-
diately.
When half an hour had passed the
jeWeler began to wonder what was de-
tanning his client, but he didn't worry
in the least because his necklace and
his lOrdShip's wallet were there in the
drawer of the desk, right under his
hand. The transaction involved too
much money to warrant any impa.
thence, so it was not until two hours
had slipped by before the jeweler rang
for the hotel clerk and requested to
know what was OBTAINING Lord Shelf
| field.
His lordship and Miss Sylvia left
| the hotel nearly two hours ago." was
hn gtVNhn,, hn 10
gram from England"
Sensing that he had been robbed, the
| jeWeler tugged at the drawer of the
desk only to find that it was locked
| but moments examination of the
next room sufficed to show that the
wall against which the desk was
| placed had been pierced and that the
whole procedure had been a plot tC
lift the necklace and make a quick
getaway.
Lvigi BOnfi, one of the shrewdest
detectives in Naples, was Immediately
placed in charge of the case and tele
graphed to Rome to have the pair ar
rested. Sheffield, anticipating such 8
| ulohC, hdN pIdllItu lNb NOilLSuCIulcS IL
the capital, and by the time that the
police had found that their alibi was
ironClad the real criminals were wei
on their way nOrthward. Then foi
lowed one of the longest chases il
continental detective history.
Finally, after more than eigh,
months. he located them in London
only to be met by the downright denia
of the Englishman that he had evel
used the name Of Sheffield or had evel
been in Naples. He accounted for his
possession of a number of unset dia
monds by the statement that he ha(
bought them in the Argentine and ex
hibited a bill Of sale covering tn,
gems.
To this Boni made no reply, but
whipped out jewelers. magnifyini
glass and commenced to examine the
diamonds. one by one.
Then, before the Englishman knew
what he was doing, he leaned forward
and snapped a pair of handouts OF
him.
Bills Of sale" said the italian de
tective, "are easy enough to forge, bu
| van pnpit PnrUa n IiamonI--opl nnn M