Gilpin observer., 1916-10-05
ALT NUREMBERG
By ELLIS BROWNE.

Professor Feldman brought his
chummy car to standstill before the
door of the inn. Alt Nuremberg, with
its concrete block towers and spiked
iron-bound oaken gates, announced
Hospitality on a board outside that 1t
served food and soft drinks. Another
placard pictured an amber brown mug
covered with generous frOth that
appealed more strongly to his dusty
palate. and, descending with haste, he
was soon inside the garden waiting
to be served at little white-clothed
iron table near vine-covered wall.
A deep, steady roar told of the prox-
unity Of the ocean, and the professor
waited impatiently. as he wished to
finish his journey and have cooling
dip in the surf before time to dress
for dinner.
The thought Of dinner and evening
brought flush of happiness, for he
had kept his car seaward for four hun
dred miles because Betty Pershing was
at Ocean Point. with her family. And
an invitation from Mrs. Pershing one
day when summer outings were being
discussed was not to be overlooked.
"You must come to Ocean Point
when we are there, professor" she had
insisted. 'The golf course there is per-
feet and the sailing Is fine"
"Yes, indeed, Feldman," agreed Tom
Pershing, heartily, slapping the other
jovially on the back.
L ~ Ac<
ciatively. "You certainly offer induce
ments. And you, Miss Betty? Have
your approval?"
Certainly, professor. I was just
wondering how we could get along
through the summer without you'll"
Betty answered brightly.
''The die is cast. CO." he an
nounced gratefully. II assure you 1
shall do my best to be useful. l shall
stock up on fresh new jokes for rainy
days, and make proteges of all the old
ladies and" he stopped. He had
caught Betty eye and hers dropped
in pretty confusion, for his eyes were
saying only too plainly that she was
the cause of his gratitude.
So the Pershings had gone and the
professor, had followed.
The professor changed his mind and
ordered orangeade. After all, Alt Nu-
remberg wasn't Heidelberg and he
was no longer German student.
Those were good old days. though.
That was where he had met Tom Per-
shin1 twenty years ago. Now he was
nearly forty. Heidelberg! How far
away-how long ago it seemed! And
pretty little Elsa, flaxen-haired and
demure! That had been quite an af-
fair. When he came to America he
told her he would make his fortune
and return when he was rich.
He finished his sandwich and got up
tc' go. More people had come in and a
little orchestra had come from some
where and started to play.
The curtain at the rear Of the little
stage parted and four singers came out
dressed in native costume and picked
up the air OF the players. The profess
sor started to his feet, for the fiaxen-
haired soprano in her velvet bodice
wac none other than the girl he had
been thinking about-Elsa
He sat staring, confused, his
thoughts chaos. The song ended
and the singers sat down listlessly.
The professor made his way to the
platform and Elsa lowered her eyes
from the top OF the wall. Emmett
Du Emmett" she cried.
'Yes Elsa. It's Emmet! Can you
come down?"
"Yes." she answered, giving him her
hand and jumping to the ground.
They sat down and he scanned her
face closely. ITS odd to find you here.
How long have you been in Ameri-
car"
Sixteen years."
Heavens And I not to know It.
Neutrality-suspicious. did you come
fOrr He dreaded her answer.
She laughed. II had to. My hus-
band came"
$50 you are married." with relief.
"Sure l am. Fritz and I are doing
fine. We have a cafe in Jersey City
and come here in summer. This Is a
good money-maker. But tell me about
yourself. You're a fne-looking man,
Emmett. No one would think you were
a day over thirty. Are you married,
ana are you making plenty Of money!"
She leaned over the table and
scanned him closely for earmarks Of
prosperity. There was no diamond in
hir tie and none on his hands. She
shook her head. "You must do better
and get rich. Come and talk to my
Fritz. Maybe he can put you In the
way of something!"
Elsa. with her dreamy blue eyes
and cheeks OF roses and cream, had
no soul above the silver quarters that
fell into Fritz's money box! He un-
derstood now why he had not gone
back to her He thought Of sensitive
high-strung Betty, her dark under.