Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-06-20

Don't be so doubtful on that point, Mason. Have you no children9"
 Something in the police officers eyes gave the man clew. His swarthy face flushed and his hands clinched.
 "Yes," he said huskily, T left two boys. Their mother died. They were lost. I have looked for them every where"
 Inspector Bradley pointed to a door.
 ''Go into that room, he said quietly, s'and you will find them. They are waiting there for you.'
 E Mason crossed the sanded floor like one walking in his sleep. He experI- enced no emotion. He was a man stunned for the nonce.
 He opened the door of the waiting room and entered cautiously. He might have expected a hoax, jest, from his attitude.
 Two stalwart young men were stand ing there talking. Their chat ceased as he appeared. For an appreciable time father and sons looked at each other with the curiosity of strangers.
 He knew them first. He saw himself, no less than their unfortunate and suf- fering mother, in their erect figures, the contour of their pleasant faces.
 To them he was unknown. The cid est boy was ten years old, the younger eight, when they last met. But they read message in the mans hungering eyes, and they were the first to break the suspense. r..-'
 "Fatherv' cried John.
 The other boy sprang to him without a word.
 He took them in his arms. He was choked. From some buried font came long forgotten tears. He murmured their names, but not a coherent sen tence could he utter.
 They were splendid fellows, he thought so tall and well knit, so nice hammered, so thoroughly overjoyed to meet him.
 That was the best of it. They had sought him voluntarily. They knew his record and were not ashamed to own him. During the long days and nights of ceaseless inquiry he was ever tor mented by the dread lest his children, if living, should look on him as ac- cursed a blot on their existence.
 He half hoped that he might discover them in some vile slum, where crime was hallowed and convicts were he roes. He never pictured them as hon est, well meaning youths, sons of whom any father might be proud, for in that possibility lurked the gnawing terror of shame and repudiation.
 Mason's heart was full. He could not thank God for his mercy. That re- source of poor humanity was denied him, and, to his credit be 1t said, he was no hypocrite.
 His scared soul awoke to softer feel ings, as his eyes, his ears, his very heart, drank in fuller knowledge of them, but he was tormented in his joy by an agonized pang of remorse. Oh, that he could have met them with hands free from further crime.
 In some vague way he felt that his punishment for Philip Anson's death would be meted out by sterner jus tice than the law of the land. He was too hard man to yield instantly. He crushed back the rising flood of horror that threatened to overwhelm him in this moment of happiness. He forced himself again to answer their anxious inquiries, to note their little airs of manllness and self reliance, to see with growing wonder that they were we'll dressed and wore spotless linen.
 A police station was no place for con- fidences. Indeed both boys were awed by their surroundings.
 They passed into the outer office, and Mason went to thank Inspector Brad ley.
 Don't forget your ticket" whispered the pleased officer.
 The reminder jared, but it was un- avoidable. Mason got his ticket in- dorsed, the lads looking on shyly the while, and the three regained the free dom of the street.
 'Let us find some place to sit down and have drink" suggested Mason.
 ''No, father" said John, with frank smile. Neither of us takes drink. Come home with us. We have room ready for you"
 ssI have lo1pinoS',
 "You can go there tomorrow and get your belongings"
 'Yes. Jump into this cab" urged Willie. We live fin Westminster. It is not very far"
 Mason was fascinated by the boys pleasant assumption of authority. They spoke like young gentlemen. with the accent that betokens a good education. He yielded without a protest.
 They sat three abreast In a hanson. and the vehicle scurried of toward the | Westminster bridge road.
 Mason was in the center. His giant | form leaned over the closed doors of i the cab. but he turned his head with i interested eagerness as one or other of l his sons addressed him.
 q suppose, father. you are wonder ing how we came to meet in such a place" said John. Tt might puzzle me if I found time to think" fl