def _get_verts_and_connect(self, paths):
        """ retrieve vertices and connects from given paths-list
        """
        verts = np.vstack(paths)
        gaps = np.add.accumulate(np.array([len(x) for x in paths])) - 1
        connect = np.ones(gaps[-1], dtype=bool)
        connect[gaps[:-1]] = False
        return verts, connect
retrieve vertices and connects from given paths-list