The Evil Twin, Part Iii

III. It was the next day the sheriff rode out, three bodies had been found in a dry gulch. The sheriff saw Paul meet him at the door, heard raves from the back, where his brother sulked. The sheriff frowned. “I’m not here for Harmon, we found the rustlers, shot with a big Sharps gun. The kind I haven’t seen in a while, you’re the only man in town who owns one.” Paul looked at him, and seemed rather detached, then said, “I’m sorry, but I could not hold back. They raped my woman, you must understand that no husband can turn his back to that.” The sheriff nodded sadly where he stood, and said,“You know I must arrest you now.” Paul just nodded, and held out his wrists, “I won’t cause trouble, won’t resist anyhow.” Harmon, it seems, couldn’t make the trail, he lay it a stupor at Paul’s ranch house, folks whispered the drink had ruined his mind, it was a ‘fitting end’ for such a lout. The trial was quick, and done in two weeks, the judge was stern, and said the law was clear, people could not take the law into their hands, such things could no longer pass around here. The jury hated it, but did what they must, “Revenge was no defense,”the twelve men said. For three counts of murder they declared Paul would have to hang from the neck until dead. It was a week later, the gallows were built, and Paul was led solemnly from the jail. He seemed strangely content, as he walked the steps, but at the top saw something that made him pale. It wasn’t the noose that bothered him so, but a man nearing the back of the crowd, a man who looked identical to him, so he cleared his throat, and said, rather loud: “Is it not customer for a condemned man to get a chance to speak his final words?” The sheriff besides him granted his request, said,“You can go ahead and make yourself heard.” Paul turned, but cared not for the people there, he found his brother, and spoke straight at him, said, “Harmon, I know, folks thing ill of you, they say you’re drunk, and your future is grim. “But someone will have to help out Ella, she cannot survive alone in this life. She is in pain, and may be for a spell, but in the end, she could be a fine wife. “I know this sounds strange, hearing this right now, but she needs a decent man at her side. I know there’s part of you that can be redeemed, defeat your demons, and run our ranch with pride!” CONCLUDES IN PART IV.