The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-09-08

paper printed a clever story regarding
the close companionship of Mrs. Phip?s
and her cousin. \. II. Mckee one Of
the leaders in Pittsburg society. Seem
inply all was quiet. Then the eXplo-
SION.
On June 3. the Phipps children,
Dorothy and Helen. disappeared FROM
the Holland house in New York. where
they had been staying with their
mother and the servants. They were
driven away in cab with their father.
Mrs. Phipps pursued In the Pennsyl-
wanna station in Jersey City she over
She demanded her husbands arrest
The police called it family difficult"
and gIinned. The train moved. Mrs.
Phpps fell in a swo0n.
Then statements We're issued. 1t
was declared that Mr. Phipps had
caused detectives to enter the hotel,
that they had bound and gagged Mr..
Phpps and had then stolen the chill
dren. Bribery of the servants was
charged. Court proceedings were then
threatened: they were not begun. Mr..
Phipps and his children whirled on
over the tracks. lost.
Two days later fathe and daughters
reached Denver. Many servants were
with them. Lawyers and still more
servants together with private detec-
tives. met them. Everyone was mys
teriously silent Mr.. Phipps made a
formal statement of 80 words, saying
that he had taken the children, but
not by force. That is all he has said
publicly about the case.
Then happy days there were again,
for the children. For their father
well, he had them. but something was
lacking A likeness there was, life
size. 1t never was removed from it,
position in the great entrance hall.
The reality was gone; such guests as
called were welcomed by the same
eXpuisitely beautiful countenance, but
only a painting.
Thermometer crash. On June Z
it was announced that Mr.. Phipps
suit for divorce had been filed in the
silent hours of the preceding night, by
special arrangement with the clerk of
the district court But that was all.
No entry was made and by order of the
court the complaint was sealed aud
placed in the safe. For several weeks
no record appeared on the court books
though several motions and similar de-
tails were attended to. Only within
the last few days has there been any
thing publicly known. and that because
the practice demanded pleadngs. Then
only the most formal actions were
taken.
A week or ten days ago an elderly
man. one not so old, and beautiful
woman, reached Colorado Springs. The
younger man was accompanied by two
beautiful children. the woman by sew
eral servants. All registered under the
most ordinary names. Then they met.
The elderly man was the father of
Mrs. Phipps. the other her husband,
the woman herself. What was said
when they met none will tell but
those having some knowledge say it
was conciliatory. Perhaps.
Mrs. Phipps returned to the east,
to the great Pittsburg mansion that
she Is allowed to occupy because title
to the Denver home was tied up by
Mr. Phipps. There in the east, there
were more consultations with lawyers,
more kilograms. more negotiations.
But with the case still pending in the
courts there has not been settlement.
Detectives employed by Mr.. Phipps
were told to search for evidence
against her, and, in the same breath.
given an intimation to not find what
they had been told probably existed.
The man who had loved the beautiful
woman in terrible earnest could not
stife that love. Every stab at her
meant a greater wound to him.