The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-03-03
Mr.. MORRIS, DETECTIVE !.

daughter as they stood the platform Of the depot
Never mind mamma, replied Miss Hauton, 't is but
few hours from Saratoga to New York, and can take
good care of myself until then shall telegraph en- route
to one or persons asking them to meet me at the
Grand Central Depot.
well dear your travelling alone is contrary, am sure
This remark Of Mrs Hauton's was destined not to be
finished. The foregoing conversation was heard with IN
terest bv Young woman Of some hiryve years, whose
most noticeable trait alert pair of light gray eyes
With frank smile the unknown approached the Hautons
and speaking in we-bred, apologize tones, said:
PRAY pardon this intrusion, but inadvertently have
overheard your conversation Ii this young lady nervous
about travelling alone it would give great pleasure
chaperone her to New York, whittier also am bound
This extraordinary Offer which would have been curly
at any rate promptly, declined by woman OF the world
did not strike Mrs Hauton being strange on the con
ary, she accepted it with aacry and profuse thanks
and ended by introducing herself and daughter to the un
known, who in turn stated that she was widow Mrs.
kiSSem, of San Francisco.
Mrs and Miss Hauton were simple and, fear must
acknowledge, somewhat vulgar people. They were not
versed in the ways of polite society, and did not know
much Of the world. They had not always answered to
their present highsoudng surname beng the early re-
mainder Of John Houghton pork packer OF Omaha
The late John Houghton was in many ways eccentric
He had started in life without anything but clear head
and ndomtabe pluck In the early part of his career ne
formulated theory which he acted until his death
His theory that there but two forms OF property
that mperceptiby changed by market changes and
fluctuations gold and diamonds
The latter being less bulky it had been his yearly Gus
tom to invest part of his savings in the gtterng gems
and his death his wife and daughter found themselves
possession of jewels worth somewhere 5000 600 and
real estate and cash to the amount OF about one million
dollars
This was great surprise andamost turned the heads of
the two women who had hitherto lived an extremely COM
Portable but somewhat plain life having idea Of the
amount of Mr.. Houghtons possessions.
Many the castles in the air they built and the plans
formulated The first to be carried out was change
Of name so that Mrs and Miss Hauon that sailed
for Europe accompanied by maid and man.
No shall ot f. al
there unsatisfactory They made the acquaintance OF
lots of men, but these latter when of the right Sort
somewhat difident about making them known to their
woman folk.
After awhile they tired of the joys of Europe and deter
mined to take Saratoga by siege. Worth received carte
blanche and turned Miss EVELYN out in first-rae FORM
Returning to the depot at Saratoga we find Mrs kssem
and Miss HautOn just stepping onto the midday tram
The conductor calls out AL aboard and the train gides
out of the station
The travellers discussed general subjects until luncheon,
when some champagne oOsened their tongues little and
they became somewhat confidential
With mOurnfu air and far away look IN the gray
eyes, Mrs Kissem stated that she alone in the world
except for old uncle in Washington and that she
travelling to kill time and possible eface the memory of
her late beloved Charles.
Miss Hauton was either touched by these sad confden
ces or had preference for cherry conversational topics
anyhow she started off at brisk rate into cherry dis
quitOn the at Saratoga telling OF her conqueStS
and stating that she now paying flying visit to New
York to buy frocks, that she might be sure Of
keeping her captives tied to her chariot wheels,
Becoming confidential Miss Ilauton told her new
acquaintance about the late John Houghon money and
his strange proclvty for diamonds she also described
some of the principal articles of value and regretted that
the setting was rather old-ashioned and out of date
Mrs Kissem argued that this was pity, and having
heard that this fortune in gems was at all times left in
the sole charge of French maid named Anoinette and
an old butler named Johnson, she made practical sug
gestion. Surely, Miss Hauton,' she said, ' would be
wiser to have these Jewels sent to rt-rate eweer and
You could do without hurting their feelings by having
them reset and at the time having French paste
duplicates made keeping the genuine stones in safe
deposit vault and retaining the limitations in your house
for ordinary USE