The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-11-23
Alfred's Twin
Brother
By r. RAY BAKER.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
q 1891. BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
When at home In a big Ohio city
ke0rns & Kearns dealt In hardware
In the northern resort where they
were spending the summer, however
they suddenly found themselves deal
ing In love.
Nice looking young men were Al.
fred and Charley Kearns, but never
had they been sufficiently lured by
feminine charms to plunge into the
sea Of matrimony. They were con.
firmed bachelors, they thought, with
minds for nothing but business.
When ut home Kearns & Kearns
took pains to dress decidedly different
because they were twins who looked
almost exactly alike. even when side
BY side, and they were anxious to
avoid complications in their dealings
with patrons.
BY some stroke Of good fortune a
man came to work for the firm who
was exceptionally reliable and pro.
gressive, and the twins decided they
would 60 on frOllc and leave him in
charge. During their five years of
business not one vacation had they
attempted, and they thought it was
high time they tasted of little recre-
alton. So they went together to the
northern resort.
Out for a lark. they saw opportmi-
ties for fun in their looking alike, so
they dressed exactly the same In sum-
mer buds.
The trouble all started one afternoon
while Alfred was walking along the
lake shore in quest of oddities in beach
stones. young woman engaged in
the same pastime almost bumped into
him, because both their heads we're
down as they searched the shore line.
and they struck up an acquaintance
ship. She was a pretty girl, who was
summering with an aunt In lake
shore cottage, and she had some fas-
cinating ways about her. Alfred es-
cOrted her home and learned her name
was May Winters. He arranged to see
her again n few nights hence.
The very next afternoon Nav re-
sumed her hunt for beach stones, and
1t so happened that Charles Kearns
was out for stroll in the same local.
ity. She called to him, and naturally
he responded and hurried to her side,
although he wondered at her action,
The ensuing conversation served as
an explanation, and Charles did not
say he was not Alfred. The brothers
were out for lark, so why miss this
opportunity.
Charles told Alfred of the incident
and they agreed to continue the de-
ception for short time. 1t was not
quite right, of course, but no doubt
May Winters was summer flirt and
1t would do no harm to teach her q
Lesson.
but, alas for the success of the
lark Kearns & Kearns fell in love,
and the trouble began. Alternately
they called upon her and took her
canoeing and to dances, and by agree
ment the one who was not so engaged
kept to his room In order to avoid
complications.
Now. while Alfred and Charles were
alike In appearance, they were diff
terent In dispositions. Charles was
conceited. while his brother was ill.,
clined to modesty and backwardness.
Charles prided himself as being the
more progressive and admitted the
success Of the hardware business was
due to his efforts. Alfred was more
Of hgurehead. according to Charles
ideas.
Being the more progressive In busl-
ness. Charles felt that he should have
the right of way In love. So one eve
ming he summoned Alfred to q consul.
tation.
This thing has got to stop" said
Charles firmly, as they sat on the
edge Of their bed. "Fm in love with
Miss Winters and have decided to
marry her. You must stay away from
her and leave a clear track for me-"
'sThat would be all right" admit
ted Alfred, with tinge Of sarcasm,
'Only 1t happens I'm just about as much
in love with Miss Winters as you are
In fact, probably more so. I've de-
cided to make her Mrs. Alfred Kearns."
Their further discussion resulted in
the exchange Of some rather angry
words, and things went on as before.
Three days later Charles, In des-
peration, convened another conference.
'"There's only one way to settle it."
he declared. land that's to fight q
duel. However. l have no desire to
kill or be killed. SO l suggest we bowl
to see which Of us drops out Of the
race. The winner will be given clear
track"
At first Alfred demurred. 1t was
not right, he argued. to play a game
for lady's affections. On the other
hand. Charles pointed out that 1t was
hardly the correct thing to continue
the deception.
We've got to settle 1t some way"
he said. "We'll bowl, and the winner
will propose to Miss Winters the next
time he sees her. or course IL she re-
jects him the loser can camp on her