The Elbert County tribune., 1918-07-05
Feathering
His Nest
By WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE
OF Ihs V1g10nseS

year or so ago and left two million
dollars. He left half his fortune to his
nephew. another young man Of the
name of Latimer Cobb, and the other
half he left to his other nephew. Hard
shell Hopper. Hardshell is called that
because he's got that kind of a shell,
or so 1t would seem. The testator had
this money all nicely invested in good
paying five and six per cent securities.
For about a year the young man
clipped their coupons and collected
their dividends. The war was in their
midst, and young Latimer Cobb sub
scribed to everything in sight, and got
his name in the papers and kept it
there. He must have given up as
much as fifty thousand dollars out of
his million, to the Liberty loan, the
Red Cross, the Red Triangle and other
things that came along.
But what really want to do" said
Latimer Cobb, sis to double or treble
my money-then I'll give twenty-five
per cent of all 1 make to furthering
our interests in the war"
He looked about him. He picked out
a good likely looking munitions stock.
II money had to be made out of the
war by munitions concerns he might
as well make some of 1t, then, as he
said, he would turn around and give
a lot of it to the war, and get his
name in the papers and keep 1t there,
right along. He was a patriot, he
knew he was patriot, and he kept
saying so. He was proud of it. in
fact. 80 :
But Hardshell Hopper wasn't-he
admitted that he wasn't. A friend of
Hardshelrs who was going around sell
ing Liberty bonds went to see Hard
shell about buying some of the bonds.
Now. that's pity" groaned Hard
shell Hopper, "but fact is, Steve, just
this morning 1 invested my whole pile
in first-class, gilt-edged securities. !
amt got dollar left. Now, if you'd
been around here yesterday"
Next night Steve, his friend, came
around again. Steve shook him earn
estly by the hand. "Why, Hardshell,"
he cried, you're the biggest patriot in
this town. You've invested all your
money-a million or more in the Lib
erty loan. You're the biggest man
we've gothic foremost of our pa
triots.'
Hardshell Hopper shook his head.
''Don't get off your trolley. Steve" he
said, II amt patriot. My cousin,
Latimer Cobb--he's patrlot-every-
body says so. But i amt. Why, bless
you, man, I've only been feathering my
nest"
you've put one million dollars into
this war;" said Steve.
1--WE tucked one million away
where its safe and sound" drawled
Hardshell Hopper, "where don't have
to worry about it. i got security
that won't be taxed, and that's as gilt
edged as they make 'em, backed by
about three hundred billion dollars
worth of assets-and that's enough
for me. But don't you go calling me
names I don't deserve. 1 amt no pa
triot. I'm only feathering my nest.
II you want patriot you go to my
cousin, Latimer. He's the boy for
you"
Steve went around to see Hardshell's
cousin, Latimer.
"At any rate" he said to Latimer, II
can sell some bonds to you."
Latimer glowed with patriotism.
"Steve," he said, 'I promise you you'll
be the boy I'll buy 'em of. And I'm
going to buy lot. But just now /
haven't got dollar to my name. I've
plunged on some munitions stock
there's been flurry-it's gone down
on me, and I can't get out without a
most tremendous loss. All can do is
to hang on like grim death. But the
minute that 1 make handsome profit,
Steve, I'm yours. There's no man for
five hundred miles around that's got
n warmer feeling for the old flag than
Latimer Cobb. 1 can tell you those"
But Latimer didn't make hand
some profit-he didn't make any profit.
Instead, one fine morning his shares of
stock turned worthless on his hands.
The concern whose stock he'd bought
was as worthless as the stock.
AS in a flash, one day. he found
himself penniless. He had to turn to
and earn his living. Hardshell Hopper
gave him a job that kept body and
soul together. But one day something
happened. 1t must be remembered
that Latimer Cobb, like his cousin.
Hardshell Hopper. had received for
one year at least, the income on those
five per cent securities that their dead
uncle had invested in. So Latimer
Cobb had had an income-and he had
filed an income tax return. His In
come had been about fifty thousand
for the year-and the present income
tux on fifty thousand dollars is consid-
cradle. But Latimer Cobb, the young
patriot, whose intentions had been so
good, and who was going to do so well
by the government, found himself with