The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-03
True
Detective Stories
THE DEVONSHIRE.
DIAMONDS

bOudoir to secure her sisters opinion
upon the effect Of her latest Partisan
creation It Is quite possible that In
spector John Sweeney Of Scotland
Yard would not have had the oppor-
tunity Of proving his detective genius
In peculiarly striking manner.
| Lady Alberta was absent from her
room for less than ten minutes; but
| during that time occurred an event
| which, for several hours, threatened
TO disrupt several OF the highest social
circles in England. 4
| 1t was the night Of the Devon bali,
held In the big oId-fashiOned house In
the center Of the Devon estate. As
was only TO be expected, the list OF
/ guestz read Ike a section from Burke's
Peernge-a fact which made Inspector
Sweeney's work distinctly more diff
/ cult when the loss Of the famous neck
Lace Of Deyonshire was reported to
Scotland Yard.
| Early in the evening Lady Alberta
I had dismissed her maid with the state
ment that she would complete her toll
lette herself, but, just as she was about
| to put on her necklace-an heirloom
/ which had greatly increased In value
because CT It's historic connections
she thought it would be well to 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 to
| discover that it had vanished
Positive that she had had il In her
1 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 dc" de-
/ ciared his Iordship, after verifying his
| Effe's statement that the jewels were
missing, "and that is to notify the po-
| lice.
Inspector Sweeney reached the Devon
house shortly after midnight, while the
| ball was still 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 roOmT' Sweeney asked
tNo one at all"
How long has your maid been with
your .
Less than two months-but she
came well recommended
Finally, in spite OF protests, the 0p-
eratiye from Scotland Yard gaye or.
ders that no one was TO leave the
grounds OF the Devon estate without
his permission. and. as the ball formed
part Of weeks festivities, it was pos
SibIe 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 TO Lady Devon'S b0udOIl
to commence active investigations
His knowledge OF London society
Jras sufficient to inform him that al
least three Of the guests, despite theil
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 out OF the
wasn't summoned by any message anC
it would therefore appear that some
one was hiding in the hope THAT an oP
| portunity would present Itself. Tina
would seem to eliminate the guests
but not the servants"
Working along this line, Sweeney
made a careful examination Of tbs
toilet articles on the dressing tablt
where the Diamonds had been placed
After g thorough scrutiny Of the per
fume bottles, pieces Of silver and othel
articles which were highly polished
the detective made his way dOwnstair'
and sent word to Lady Devon that h
would like TO speak to her for mo
ment-
Your ladyship,% he said. will yoV
kindly press the tips OF your finger
lightly on this" and he held out one O
the hand mirrors from the bOudOir
NO. he added, I'm not SuSpectina
you OF making away with your owl
diamonds merely wish TO discoyel
which finger-priRts are yours"
Then, a moment later, Thank you
i thought as much"
~Now," he continued, 4 want you L
Instruct your butier-whon I under
, stand has been with you for numhe
of years-to secure the prints of al
the servants under your roof. Tell hin
10 make any excuse for il that n
wants to, but must secure eOmplet'
| collection. Kindly have them sent Il
! my room the first thing in the morning
Meanwhile, don't worry. If my in
structiouS are rigidly carried out, you
ueclzlace should be discovered befOr
nine O'Clock"
But Sweeney underestimate b.
some two hours. 1t was eleven O'clocl
on the following morning before he re
ceived the complete set of finger
} prints, and ten minutes later pair o