Connecticut western news., 1921-02-17

possessed of a vision and you made him see it, too, a mirage of those l lifted places that are the altar of the mind before love. Just mirage, an illusion of perfect happiness, which cold reason tells us we can't ever turn into reinforced concrete and plant In the yard, but which we must either I forever hold as a vision or admit that love is sordid and wingless thing" Miss Van Tellier's eyes fell from his frank gaze. Something seemed to crumple within her; she put her arms around MT. Randolph's neck, clung ! to him, dropped her face against his shoulder and sobbed, not noisily, but as one who weeps to rest. s.'.~ He held her close to him and went on, his face set, as though to a duty. ''Then what did you do2 Because he hesttated, merely hesitated at the high door of adoratiOn, you promptly slammed 1t and dropped plumb straight down like that traitor arch angel Johnny out of heaven into the arms of he'll"
 "Bobby" cried Miss Van T., throw ing back her head and struggling to release herself. "How dare you say thing like that? How dare you be here, anyway? I hate you. I don't know how I ever could have thought I loved you. I fell, but 1t was into Beacher's arms, and I wish I was there right now.' More sobs, convulsive ones, that shook the slim body in Mir. Randolph's embrace from twitching shoulder to tired feet. t.
 Lest the reader be startled by what's cenning next t will do, well to remind him that this poignant scene was staged at three o'clock in the morning on the high stoop of the Van Tellier residence in East Ninth street and never left the perimeter of the door mat which in itself presented an al- most feminine contradiction, in that 1t bore, done in red on its face, the word "Welcome," but was neverthe- less padlocked and chained to the iron railing.
 Even as Miss Van Teller was sob- ping her heart out and MT. Randolph was standing in the bewilderment of one who knows he has not only taken the wrong turning but placed both his feet in beartrap, a thick, heavy, unsympathetic voice arose from the foot of the steps.
 Here! Youse! Break away an come along of me-"
 Memories of a mischievous boyhood swarmed to MT. Randolph's mind, rec ollections of those days when, as chief of the Madison Square gang, his ears had tingled to the cry of "Cheese it, de cop! We'se pinched, fellers!" A cold sweat came out upon his brow; he slowly relaxed his grip on Miss Van IT'S person and whispered tremu- lously to her to keep her nerve but hand him her latchkey.
 Over his shoulder he said with forced calm, "On what charge, off cerT
 Same old dope" replied the police man phlegmatically; drunken, disor- derly. Come along, now, CT dyer
 
 cn all roll down together?"
 ow coming up the steps. "that I'll owe it to you, Bobby. I'll owe it to you. D'yOu understand"
 Sure" lied MT. Randolph as he pushed her firmly through the door, then caught its knob, slammed it shut and turned to meet Nemesis. Hello, \ Flahaharty
 The huge policeman 7, stopped his ponderous but sure progression and stared long and suspiciously into MT. Randolph's face. Finally he gave 9
 During that speech MT. Randolph made a, lucky shot at the keyhole. stealthily turned the lock and opened the door. 'The ways clear, Bo4ge," he whispered. Beat it." ...
 "Oh, Is it, Bobby, you. dear," rattled Ms +Tg=== 2. ++ stage whisper that could be heard across the street. q didn't, mean it, reallS, what I said about hating you. But I do love Beacher, Bobby, and Pll-Pll--" For heavens sake, Madge," groaned Mr. Randolph, hearing sounds ss of bear starting to swarm a tree, keep all that till New Years"
 "I was just going to say" continued Miss Van T. breathlessly but with Id eve fZrd on the crlmbrous shad-