Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1934-06-29

The spot was ideal; the location per-
feet the old and musty surroundings
especially inducive.
Moreover, there wasn't another
store or lunch room In town so nat
urally and adequately equipped for the
purpose.
We discussed the idea at length.
And the more we talked the brighter
became the look in Zekes eyes.
His enthusiasm and eagerness, re-
sembllng that Of child, brought a
lump to my throat.
fell in with Zeke's plans quite
intellectually. And when frown
suddenly appeared on his face at some
abrupt thought, l actually became
alarmed.
The establishment of beer garden
would, he remembered, entail the ex.
penditure of sum Of money. And
zeke at the moment was absolutely
penniless.
OF course, agreed to provide the
necessary funds. an act which, be-
lieve, has given me more pleasure than
any equal expenditure prior to or
after that day
There was no need, | told myself,
to let Zeke know that the money |
invested was the extent of my entire
savings; that. should the beer garden
experiment go to seed, | would be as
pennlless as he.
And so. in the utmost secrecy, we
went ahead with our plans.
None of the dozens Of folks who
passed daily to und fro In the street
before Zeles store so much as sus-
pected that in the plot beyond the rear
door a real and enchanting beer gar
den was being constructed. It was to
be surprise.
Zeke, despite his decrepitness.
worked like Trojan.
Tables were conveniently placed in
a great, sweeping circle, with bright
ly coiored umbrella above each. A
trench was dug and water plped to
fountain skillfully fashioned of cement
and rocks in the center of the plot by
Zeke's own hands.
The shade trees were trimmed up,
shrubbery thinned to a respectable
density, flowers and hedges planted
where their effect would be most
beneficial.
The finished product was something
to admire
And during its construction the beer
and light wine bill had been rushed
through congress and was passed.
The day that it was signed rushed
down to Zeke's store in high state Of
excitement; state which was short
lived.
For Zeke greeted me at the door and
the expression on his face betrayed
guinness and disappointment within
Its the license" he told me when I
questioned him. 1--WE got to have
license to sell beer and the DANCED
thing cost 200 bucks!"
stared at him blankly.
1t was true We had expended our
last penny on equipment. holding out
only enough funds to pay for our first
shipment of beer, already ordered.
1t seemed like little thing, yet In
that moment | knew 1t meant the DIFF
ference between being able to open on
time-or ever for that natter.
There wasn't a soul we could go to
for funds.
Zelse's creditors were pressing. NJ.
own resources were exhausted.
1t looked pretty bad.
And then when it seemed we would
have to abandon the entire project,
Zeke came through with an idea.
1t was brilliant idea, quite char
acteristic of the Zeke whose brilliant
ideas had helped one man or another
over rough spots In the days when
things were booming in Dexter and
man didn't have to sneak in some
body's back door to get his drink Of
beer.
AT first was skeptical, but the more
Zeke talked of his idea the more con-
WINGED was that Il would work.
Had the situation been less serious
would have laughed nightly at this
plan Of his and wagered with anyone
who wanted to wager that 1t would
not work.
Anyway we put the idea into execu-
ton.
On the day that beer was legalized
we hung out the sign which Zeke had
painted and flung wide the door.
At first folks came out of sheer curl
oslty. Grinning, they poked their
noses inside and looked around.
It was sight of that coy little gar
den in back that brought them all the
way in.
It was uncanny.
We actually had to hire outside help
to take care of all the customers.
zeke's old cash register kept ringing
all day and far into the night. 1t was
Incredible that beer and cheese and
pretzels could hold such an appeal to
so many people at once.
The next day the rush was greater,
and the day following, Sunday, we
were forced to hire three extra
walters.
We were off to a running start, and
It looked as If we were going to keep
running.
Things were moving smoothly week
later when quite Unexpectedly gov