The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-07-25
Featherine
His Nest
A
~ WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE
OF The VigLonfes

light. Old lIezekiah Hopper died q
year or so ago and left two million
dollars. lie 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 n shell,
or so 1t would seem. The testator had
this money all nicely invested in good
paying five aHd six per rent securities.
For about n year the young man
clipped their coupons and collected
their dividends. The war was In their
midst, and young Latimer Cobb sub
scrlbcd TO everything In sight, and got
his name in the papers and kept II
there. He must have given up us
much aS fifty thousand dollars out of
his million, to the Liberty loan, the
Red Cross, the Red Triangle and other
things hat came along.
"But what / really want 10 do said
Latlincr Cobb, us to double or treble
my moncy-then I'll give twenty-five
per cent Of I'LL | make to furthering
our lHl'TtSlS III the war.
lie looked about him. He picked out
a good likely looking munitions stock.
IF money had TO be made out of the
war by munitions concerns he might
as well make some of II, then, as he
said, he would turn around and give
n lot Of II to the war, aud get his
name In the papers and keep II there,
right along. lie was n patriot, he
knew he was n patriot. and he kept
saying so. He was proud Of It. In
fnct.
But IIardshell Hopper wnsn't-he
admitted that he wasn't. A friend of
ll%ardshclls who was going around sell
ing Liberty bonds went to see Hard
shell about buying some of the bonds.
Nov. that's Il pity" gronncd Hard
shell Hopper, "but fact Is, Steve, just
this morning ! invested my whole pile
amt got Il dollar left. Now. IL you'd
beer 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! millon 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, u amt a patriot. My cousin.
Latimer Cobb-he's n patriot-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.
i've tucked one million away
where Its safe and sound" drawled
Hardshell Hopper, 'whcre I don't have
to worry about II. l got n security
that won't be taxed, and that's as gilt
edged Us they make 'em, backed by
about three hundred billion dollars
worth of assets-and that's enough
for me. But don't you so calling me
names I don't deserve. / amt no pa.
trlOt. Tn only feathering my nest,
II you want n patriot you go to my
cousin. Latimer. He's the boy for
you"
Steve went around to see Hnrdshell's
cousin, Latimer.
at any rate" he said to Latimer, 81
can sell some bonds to you"
Latimer glowed with patriotism
"Stcvc." he said, II promise you you'll
be the boy I'll buy 'em of. And I'm
going to buy n lot. But just o
haven't got a dollar TO my name. I've
plunged on some munitions stock
there's been a flurry-it's gene dowr
on me. and I can't get u without
most tremendous loss. All I can do Il
To hang on like grim death. But the
minute that l make a handsome profit
Save, I'm yours. There's no man fol
five hundred miles around that's goI
n warmer feeling for the old flag thar
LatImer Cobb. I can tell you those"
But Latimer didn't make a 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 fash, one day. he fount
himself pennlless. He had to turn e
and earn his living. Hardshell Hopper
CAV him a job that kept body ant
soul together. But n day something
happened. 1t must be remembered
that Latlmer Cobb, like his cousin
Hardshell Hopper. had received foI
one year at least, the income on thos'
five per cent securities that their deaf
uncle had invested In. SO Latino
Cobb had had an income-and he ha,
flied an income tax return. His In
come had been about fifty thousan,
for the year-and the present incom,
tax on fifty thousand dollars is consid
cradle. But Latimer Cobb, the younl
patriot, whose intentions had been 81
good, and who was going to do so wei
by the government, found himself with
out money to pay this tax. He was
patriot, and he had had a large In
come-but he couldn't pay his incom
tax. The government Jailed him
very proper thing to do. Hardshel
Hopper raised some money on hi