How A Twin Gets Revenge on His Troublesome Brother

Trusting his brother, Randolph headed west. Letters were exchnged back and forth between Richmond and the little Colorado town where Randolph got his mining supplies while he worked the claim he'd registered in both their names.Time passed with Luther still in Richmond. Every time Randolph wrote inquiring when his brother would join him in Colorado, Luther made an excuse.First his leg was slow to heal then Jessie became ill, though she recovered fast after Randolph wrote, inquiring whether he should come home. Then there was a problem with the roof and so on.Since other men were finding gold on stakes around his, Randolph hated to give up. He envisioned Jessie's beaming face when he found gold. Then he'd be able to give her all she wanted, even a diamond necklace like her sister's banker husband gave her.Randolph kept working while the months then a couple of years passed. And all he earned for his trouble was a sore back and a lot of worthless rocks. Needless to say, he missed his young bride terribly.Finally he gave up on his claim and took the train back to Richmond. Before boarding his train, he thought of sending a telegram to let Jessie and Luther know when he'd arrive in Richmond. He decided to surprise them.Randolph walked in on his wife and brother while they were having dinner. From their open mouths and the way Jessie dropped her fork on the floor when he walked into the room, Randolph could tell they were in a state of shock.As soon as Jessie could speak, she greeted Randolph warmly. Even so, Luther and Jessie kept exchanging glances and Randolph got the impression things weren't as they should be. From the way her gaze kept straying to the door leading to the back of the house, something was bothering her.Jessie had the good grace to look embarrassed when a neighbor entered the room leading a small child.The little boy was blond and blue-eyed and looked like Randolph and his brother as children. He made a beeline for Randolph's wife. In a clear, sweet voice he held out his arms to be picked up, all the while addressing Jessie as 'Mama.'Since his wife and he had just been married a month when he left for Colorado and she hadn't notified him that she was having his child, Randolph had no doubt in his mind as to what had happened. For a few short moments he was so angry he was speechless himself.At that point Luther took Randolph outside. "Brother, I hate to tell you this. Jessie and I slipped from Grace." Luther explained sadly.Tears streaming down their faces, Luther and Jessie proceeded to kneel and beg Randolph to forgive them.Randolph was deeply touched. Lovng his wife, he of course forgave her. His brother he pretended to forgive. Privately he took a secret vow. One day if he lived long enough and ever had the chance, Randolph vowed he would get even with his sibling For a few weeks Randolph, Jessie, Luther and the youngster lived under the same roof. The day Randolph Junior started calling both men 'Daddy,' Jessie became upset. "This won't do," she cried. "But for the child...." She broke into tears and sent Luther a sorrowful glance. Though no more waas said, all three of them understood what she meant. An hour later Randolph and Jessie stood in the hall watching Luther drag his heavy trunk downstairs. Randolph and Jessie said goodbye to his brother. The two men shook hands on Randolph's front porch before a driver took Luther to the station. Randolph couldn't embrace the man he now despised. That would have been too much to ask.***Though Randolph pretended to have forgotten the past now that they were reunited in Galveston, he still burned for revenge. He knew if he fell for Luther's latest scheme, he'd be sorry.Luther told his brother that he'd come to Galveston on business pertaining to the trip to Brazil. He also informed Randolph that of the few people he'd met in town, no one knew he had a sibling,much less an identical twin.During a lull in the conversation, Randolph realized it was time. His brother was wearing a gun so he must take him by surprise.Screwing up his courage, Randolph pulled out the small pistol he'd brought with him from home. He'd never fired a gun and only kept the pistol to defend his home in case of intruders.His hand shook as he pointed the weapon at his brother.Luther broke out in laugher. He continued roaring even when Randolph didn't respond.His bursts of laughter continued for a minute or two. Then Luther clutched his chest and fell over on the carpet.At first Randolph assumed his twin was play-acting so he sat still. Waiting was one area in which he had always excelled. As a boy he could sit still and wait longer than the impatient, restless Luther. For that reason Randolph always excelled in games like 'Hide-and-Seek.'Minutes passed and Luther didn't move.At last Randolph leaned over. "Okay, that's enough." He put out his hand to help his twin to his feet.Luther did not respond. He just lay there.At last Randolph realized his brother was dead. Part of him began to grieve. Another more practical part told him to check to be sure.. He knelt, took Luther's wrist and felt for a pulse. There was none.His first reaction was to call for help until he realized what that might mean. He was a stranger in the city visiting a brother who had not been there long himself.Would the locdal authorities believe him if he told the truth. His brother laughed himself to death? Also, the fact that they were identical twins might confuse some people.There might even be a suspicious police officer who would think Randolph was one twin posing as the other for some undisclosed criminal purpose. He could end up in jail.And there was the gun. He wiped it off and put it in the trunk his brother had been packing.What to do? He could just leave, walk out and shut the door behind him. That didn't seem right. Even a weasel like Luther deserved better.An idea came to mind and Randolph sat on the sofa and thought for a few minutes.End of Part II.Part III (Conclusion) Coming Soon!