Final answer:
Josephine's ownership of Stagecoach Pass was kept a secret, with only hints and veiled references made. Richards, her husband's friend, knew about it but kept it confidential until he could inform Josephine personally.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the story, it was not known that Josephine was the owner of Stagecoach Pass because she had kept it a secret. The passage describes how her sister Josephine hinted at her ownership, but did not directly reveal it. Additionally, her husband's friend Richards had been the one to receive news of a railroad disaster, and he had kept the information about Josephine's ownership of Stagecoach Pass concealed until he could personally deliver the sad message to her.