Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-02-04
True
Detective Stories
THE DEVONSHIRE
DIAMONDS

TAD Lady Alberta Devon not Yield
ed to Temptation al the last no
ment and stepped OUT OF her
b0udoir 10 secure her sisters opinion
upon the effect Of her latest Partisan
creation II IS quite possible that IN
sTecIor John Sweeney Of Scotland
Yard would not have had the eppor-
t1LitF Of proving his detective genius
IL peculiarly striking manner.
Lady Alberta was absent from her
room for less than ten minutes: bur
during that time occurred an event
which, for several hours. threatened
10 disrupt several Of the highest social
circles in England.
Il was the night Of the Devon BAH.
held in the big old-fashioned house In
the center Of the Devon estate. As
was only to be expected. the list Of
guests read Ike a section from Burke's
Peerage-a fact which made Inspector
Sweeney's work distinctly more diff
cult when the loss OF the famous neck
lace Of sDeyonshire was reported 10
Scotland Yard
Early In the evening Lady Alberta
had dismissed her maid with the state
me1t that she would complete her toi-
lette herself. but, Just as she was al@ut
to put Oh her necklace-an heirloom
which had greatly increased in value
because Of its historic connections
she thought It would se we'll 10 secure
an unbiased opinion as to the effect
Of her gown. which had just arrived
from Paris. When she returned from
her sisters room few minutes later
she reached for the necklace. only 10
discover that 1t had vanished.
Positive that she had had it in her
hands less than ten minutes before. she
searched the room and then summoned
her husband. whom she told Of the
mysterious loss.
There IS only one thing to do" de-
clared his lordship, after verifying his
wife's statement thar the Jewels were
missing, and that is to notify the po-
lice.
Inspector Sweeney reached the Devon
house shortly after midnight, while the
bali was stu in progress, and secured
the meager details Of the case directly
from her ladyship.
did you notice any one in the hall
as you passed through on the way TO
your sisters roomf" Sweeney asked.
NO one at ALL"
How long has your maid been with
you9'
Less than two mouths-but she
came well recommended
Finally, in spite OF protests. the OPP
eratye from Scotland Yard gave or
ders that no one was TO leave the
grounds Of the Devon estate without
his permission, and. as the bah formed
part Of 3 weeks festivities, it was pos
sihie to arrange this without mention
ing the reason for the request TO the
guests. Armed with a list Of those
present, with their servants, Sweeney
then repaired 70 Lady Devon's boudoir
to commence art.yt Investigations.
His knowledge London society
was sufficient to inform him that at
least three Of the guests. despite their
titles, might easily have been guilty OF
lifting the necklace if the opportunity
had presented itself.
The question Is" unused Sweeney,
who could have known that Lady
Devon would have been cut Of the
room for just those few moments7 She
wasn't summoned by any message and
It would therefore appear that some
one vas hiding In the hope that an OPP
portunity would present Itself. That
would seem to eliminate the guests
out aOt ne servants"
Working along this line, Sweeney
made q careful examination Of the
toilet articles on the dressing table
where the diamonds had been placed.
after a thorough scrutiny Of the per
fume bottles, pieces Of silver and other
articles which were highly polished
the detective made his way downstairs
and sent word 10 Lady Devon that lie
would ike To speak to her for mo-
ment.
Your ladyship, he said, 'wiIl you
kindly press the tips Of your fingers
lightly on this and he held out one Of
the hand mirrors from the boudoir.
NO" he added. I'm not suspecting
You Of making away with your own
diamonds merely wish to discover
which fn-er-prints are yours
Then. a moment later, Thank you.
] thought lis much"
"Sow," he continued, Il want You 70
instruct your hurier-wb0n j under
stand has been with yen for number
of years-to secure the prints " ali
the servants under your roof. TCll him
81 make ans excuse for it that he
wants a.. but 7 must secure a complete
collection kindly have Jhem sent to
MS roou. The first thing in the morning.
Meanwhile, don't worry If my in
struct.ol1s are riSi3ly carried cat your
necklace should be discovered before
alBe o'clock
Bur Sweeney underestimated By
some two hours. Il was eleven O'Clock
Oh the following morning before he re
celved the complete set az finger
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