You're going to spend more the $11.50 on just the components to build a USB converter. Although Nigel mentioned USB->RS232 converters are commonplace, not the way you want to go, which is backwards. Usually people want to use RS232 devices on there new systems that don't have DB9 connectors.
USB to anything is not as simple as just rerouting some wires to different connectors, it requires special converter chips, or components. It's very complicated. Even if you managed to do it, like Nigel said, the interface itself is also very complicated. Don't expect to just use a snooper program and figure out the protocols by reverse engineering.
Your only real option, already mentioned above, is to find a parallel port card reader that works with Windows95, like this:
**broken link removed**
I just did a quick search. I'm sure you could find one cheaper somewhere, maybe used on E-Bay.ca.