The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-11-27
ALEC TILTON'S FIND.
BY EeTnER vANnEvEEa.

oiation.l
Alexander Triton. young American
Of twenty-five with an inherited for
tame estimated at from seven to
twelve millions, after being graduated
at college went abroad for travel One
day while walking alone in the fash
ionable residential portion Of London
he stopped to witness an auction OF
household furniture In one Of the
fashionable houses. During the sale
he espisd lady's writing desk that
struck his fancy. one Of those spindle
shanked affairs that our great-grand-
mothers regarded very pretty and
which ono prizes for their age. Tilton
bid on the desk, and 1t was knocked
down to him
Among those who attended the sale
was young man who evidently took
great interest In the. proceedings.
Whenever bookcase. a cabinet. a Ia
blended, anything with even sim
gle drawer Ia twas put up he ex-
amined II closely, and several articles
Of the kind 10 bid In. When Triton
bought the lady's desk this man was
out Of tbs room. When he found that
it had been sold during his absence be
went to its purchaser and offered him
a fine profit. Tilton didn't like the
mans looks and was suspicious Of his
reason for wanting the article. and
when the would be purchaser offered
him bonus OF El00 for his bargain be
felt sure there was some especial rea-
son WAY the man wanted It. As mon
ey was no object to Tilton be would
listen to no offer whatever. Indeed,
fearing that be might be surrephtious-
IL deprived OF his purchase, be had
the desk packed at once and superin-
tended Its removal TO his hotel.
There be made a thorough examine
ton Of 1t. Every drawer was empty.
He took little hammer and tapped
all over 1t 70 discover IL there was
any compartment that was not appar-
eut. No sound indicated such space
He pulled out every drawer and turned
it upside down on the floor; then ex
Amined the wood against which the
back Of the drawers rested when shut
His next move was TO unscrew tbs
back Of the desk and take 1t of. Out
fell several papers yellow with age.
All but one were love letters. and that
was certificate Of marriage between
Reginald Leighton and Eugenia Booth.
what had impeIled Tilton to pursue
this hunt he could not explain even to
himself. Nor could be now explain
what prompted him to start on anoth-
er hunt In search Of Reginald Leighton
and Eugenia Booth Inquiry told him
that the house containing the desk had
belonged to Sir spafford Leighton, the
father OF Reginald Leighton, and that
Reginald had died In America. Regi-
maids older brother, Sir Arthur Leigh
ton. had recently died childless, and
the title and estate had passed to Dig
By Moore, distant connection of the
Leighton family This Digby Moore
was the man who wished to possess
the desk. Eugenia Booth had been
lady's companion to Reginald and Ar
thur Leighton's mother When Reg
inald went TO America Eugenia had
left the service OF the leighton family.
Reginald being dead, Tilton's search
was for his wife. But as 1t did not
appear that she had ever passed under
the name OF Leighton he concluded |
to hunt for her as Eugenla Booth.
After a long investiga ton be found
that fifteen years before she had gone
to America Triton took the next !
steamer for home One OF the letters
be found In the desk was from Regi-
maid to Eugenia from ranch In Ida
ho. Thither he went and discovered I
that Reginald Leighton had been dead !
fifteen years-that at the time OF his
death d woman appeared who claimed 4
10 be his wife; but, having no evidence
TO prove her marriage with him, her
claims had not been admitted,
After spending much money on a (
STAFF Of assistants he employed to In
vestigate every woman BY the name
Of Leighton living III America Tilton
at last traced the widow to western
city There be found her. broken in
health, supported by a daughter. Bea-
trice. q teacher IN the public schools.