The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-12-08


puzzled lawyers, judges and Iaymen fc
Where were his eyes7 OF course sh
did leave the carr asked Mr.. Dyer.
untrimmed derby. with a mask-like brown
She changed her dress. She had on an
Nell ana she wore long ulster: now.
under that garment she doubtless was
dissynd as man. A confederate prob
ably distracted the detectives attention,
while the Phantom took of the veil and
folded her ulster like an Overcoat. and
with IL on her arm walked OF the train
at some way station. Simple and adroit,
was II not ?'
"WelI. TN be 5iggeredi Certainly that
must nave been so. I viii surely 20 to
eour. tomorrow, hoping to see this Pnan-
Would that she might be. once for
aiil, said Mr. Budlong.
Mrs. Austin" was the victim Of harm
less dementia"-a doubtful disease. with
All due Difference to wise specialists-and
made herself a favorite by generous gifts
20 the house, its attendants and her fell
K low patients. She disbursed money as one
who valued cash for favors that II would
buy Though a resident nervous freak,
her liberality Of independent action and
freedom TO go and come as she chose
seems 70 have been unquesti0ned
Returning from one OF her frequent
outings Yesterday she chose 70 walk from
me railway station out to DR.. Solymun s,
instead Of driving home In a cab as
usual Early in the evening two patients
sentlmentalizing by moonlight saw =
and were shocked at discovering that it
was their fellow sufferer. dead
Her hands were full OF ferns, and one
snoe heel was caught in loop OF the
brush braid on her skirts edge. The few
stitches missing had been fatal.
Legal papers in her handbag and 9TH
ers IN desk In her room, revealed that
her trip yesterday was taken ia response
TO letter from her attorney. informing
her that she could no longer fight behind
mask. that skulking must end The
demanded "A n
at least, If she continued her game
Ihis case was the riddle Of the year,
'Ditnar against Budlong."
This woman who had posed at the sanf-
torium as Mrs. John Jacob Austin was
the infamous Miss Ditmar the phantom
Plaintin In the celebrated case so sim
gularly conducted against Jane Paton's
rightful heirs. The cause of this strange
persecution was clearly revealed in a
bundle of older letters found hidden in a
box behind her desk
They betrayed the fact that Freelove
Payne and her niece. Miss Ditmar, be-
longed by instinct and sedulous cultiva-
ton, 70 that class Of lost women who
live by following wherever men are max
Ing fortunes easily. and theref, se can be
lessly.
When Freelove Payne failed to coerce
Horatio iudlong into a MARI age with
herself, er sister, Mrs Jane Patton, the
leader OF society in the Diamond district.
easily closed all respectable doors against
the no longer doubtful aunt end niece.
Hence the intense hatred toward even
the most distant descendant Of the name
OF Budlong or Patton.
Later on this precious pair quarreIed
after the manner of their kind and Aunt
FreelOve took a sweet revenge by be-
queathing all her fortune to a board OF
crank trustees, to found home for in
digent CATS
Miss Ditmar was frantic with helpless
anger at this blow she appealed and lost;
the aged and destitute felines entered
into possession Of her Aunt FreelOves
as ii were. warped still further her ali
ready crooked brain. and she nursed and
fostered her last treasure, her hatred OF
the Budlongs. until it grew to insane
proportions.
Whence came Miss Ditmars ample
means? It is said their source was dark
and African. Like her aunt, having lost
hopes Of securing a husband OF present.
able color, and losing her aunts riches,
upset "a brain born unhinged though she
remained sharp and sneakily tricky. after
the manner Of Gegenerates. In this sim
/ gular mental condition, she conceived
and carried out this diabolcal plot 70
/ injure the heirs of the man and woman
/ whom she considered the common ene-
/ mics Of her aunt and herself
First she would accuse them OF
crime. in the placing of their aunt q re-
straint Second, she could poster If sha
could not rob. the hated descendants.
How she hated Jane Paton's next Of kin,
though absolute strangers to her.
The whole reading world will join US in
Offering congratulations to Mrs Patton s
heirs upon this sudden but appropriate
1 demise OF the Phantom Plaintiff, who mas
haunted their days and nights so stead
/ lily and SO long.
courts and lawyers upon their astute-
\ ness ?-Keziah Shelton, in Springfield Re-
I publican.