The Meeker herald., 1922-01-21
True
Detective Stories
TRIANGULAR FLAW

HEINZ Was A. little doubt that
Lord Herbert Laurence Sheffield
belonged to the nobility us there
was about his acknowledgement that
was apparent fmn ediately from his
mouocle and his spats. Every shop
keeper along the Via Shiaia In Naples
knew his lordship. and every one Of
them admitted that 4 more repre-.
sentative member Of the British arts.
tocracy had never visited Italy.
Lord Herbert was not only lavish
with his money. but 1t was whispered
around the Grand Hotel ti NapolI that
his daughter. Sylvia. soon WINS 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 dla-
mond necklaces, there was an immedi.
ate scurry to walt upon him. Finally
the proprietor himself requested Lord
Herbert. to come Into his private of.
nee while he took from the safe "A
necklace valued at 10000 francs. the
property of q client who was In Gn,ui-
ciaI straits.
Il would like to purchase something
to give my daughter for a wedding
present." explained the EngIIshm,ln,
and the jeweler nodded. for the rumors
Of the engagement had already reached
his ears. I'm afraid. though" con-
tinued his lordship. "that this neck
lace IL little more expensive than
can afford at the moment. don't
doubt Its value. but I'll have to have
little time to think 1t over"
Certainly" agreed the jeweler. ~
will be pleased to hold 1t as long Us
you wish and, should you desire to
zee and examine it again. will be
very glad to bring 1t to. the hotel ut
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 4 surprise to her"
A few days later. in response to
Lord Shefiields request. the jeweler
took the necklace to the Grand hotel
and found the Englishman alone In
the room. After 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 In the corridor. just outside the
door.
my daughterw 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 Shefiield came in
and announced that her fathers tailor
had arrived and wished to see him nj
once. Excusing himself with the state
ment that he would be back very
shortly. Lord Herbert left the room
and his daughter followed him inme.
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. 10 1t 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
the reply. "They had received a cable
gram from England"
Sensing that he had been robbed. the
jeweler tugged at the drawer of the
desk only to find that 1t was locked.
but a 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 q plot to
lift the necklace and make quick
getaway.
Lvigi Bonf1. one of the shrewdest
in Naples, was Immediately
placed In charge Of the case and tele-
graphed to Rome to have the pair ar.
rested. Sheffield, anticipating such
move, had planted two confederates In
the capital, and by the time that the
police had found that their alibi was
lronclad the real criminals were well
on their way northward. Then fol-
lowed one of the longest chases in
detective history.
Finally, after more than eight
he located them In London.
only to be met by the downright denial
Of the Englishman that he had ever
used the name Of Sheffield or had ever
been In Naples. He accounted for his
of number Of unset dia-
by the statement that he had
bought them in the Argentine and ex-
hibited a bill Of sale covering the
gems.