Show ZEKES BEER GARDEN by R K WILKINSON C bell syndicate S I 1 HAVE known zeke taylor for or a score of years lie ile Is an old man ann now one of deeters Dex oldest ue lie should at his age be retired front from active business should be spending declining years as most old men of dexter spend them spinning yarns with elmer stone and sam cook on the eranda of the suncook sunsook hotel or seated comfortably before the open fire of his own home with glowing pipe and pleasant dreams how bow it should be for it Is these simple things from which dexter dester folk derive their greatest pleasure cut but zeke cannot retire and 11 to on his sail savings for no savings have been set aside for or this purpose some say he lacked in thrift and foresight during the days when his little grocery store with its lunch counter stretched across one side aide of 0 it 14 knew a lively business some say he was shiftless and lazy put fut those of us who have been closely associated with zeke know that none of these accusations are founded on truth or fact zele zeke might not have been attentive to business but he was never shiftless or lazy ills his life has been one filled aith ith little deeds of kindness and from them he derived his bis keenest enjoyment zeke taylor has been friend to every nan inan who iho crossed his path quite forgetful of his own future tie lie has helped this one in distress counseled that one in matters of grave importance lent moral and financial support to countless charitable movements and unselfishly denied himself when some stricken brother was sorely in need of aid the little things of life have meant much to zeke and others have benefited by this peculiarity of his makeup but now that zeke Is aged these things are forgotten folks are wondering what will become of the old man fearful that sooner or later he will be on the town and because of their forgetfulness forgett ulness they are hard and condemning not long ago I 1 dropped into zekes aekes store for a chat and found him sunk into the depths of gloom ne ile was he told me contemplating bankruptcy nis ills creditors were press pressing ing business was going across the street to the new modern lunch room recently opened the old man was sorely hurt inwardly wincing at thoughts of failure and being on the town his pride was hurt though his words held no note of bitterness or complaint it was about this time that the taxpayers of the united states were in a manner of speaking quite steamed up over the beer and lightwine light wine issue it seemed almost inevitable that three point two would be legalized I 1 mentioned this to zeke slid and he brightened considerably one thing led to another and it long before zekes aekes ordinarily lively imagination took on a new lease of life and began to function I 1 followed him through the rear door of the place and into the space beyond there was a green lawn here and a shade tree or two almost instantly I 1 sensed what hat was in the old mans mind A beer gardent garden I 1 A real old fashioned beer garden 1 the spot was ideal the location perfect the old and musty surroundings especially moreover there another store or lunch room in town so naturally and adequately equipped tor for the purpose we discussed the idea at length and the more we talked the brighter became the look in zekes aekes eyes ills enthusiasm and eagerness resembling tem sem bling that of a child brought baroug bt a lump to my throat I 1 fell in with zekes aekes plans quite wholeheartedly whole heartedly and when a frown suddenly appeared on his face at some abrupt thought I 1 actually became alarmed the establishment of a beer garden would he remembered entail the expenditure pend iture of a sum of money and zeke at the moment was absolutely penniless of course I 1 agreed to provide the necessary funds an act which I 1 believe has given me more pleasure than any equal expenditure prior to or after that day there was vas no need I 1 told myself to let zeke know that tile the money I 1 invested was the extent of my entire savings that should the beer garden experiment go to seed I 1 would be ba as penniless as he be and so in the utmost secrecy we went ahead with our plans none of the dozens of folks who passed dally daily to and fro in the street before zekes aekes store so much as suspected that in the plot beyond the rear door a real and enchanting beer garden was being constructed it was to be a surprise zeke despite his worked like a trojan tables were conveniently placed in a great sweeping g circle with a bright ly IY colored umbrella above each A trench was dug and water piped to a fountain skillfully fashioned of cement and rocks in the center of the plot by zekes aekes own hands the shade trees were trimmed up shrubbery thinned to a respectable density lowers 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 lay that it was signed I 1 rushed down to zekes aekes store in a high state of 0 excitement a state which was clort lived VOT for zel zeko ie greeted me at the door and the expression on his face betrayed glumness Clum ness and disappointment within its tile license he told we me when I 1 questioned him we got to have a license to sell beer and the danged clanged thing cost bucl bucks sl I 1 I 1 stared at him blankly it was true we ve had expended our last penny on equipment holding out only enough funds to pay for our first shipment of beer already alread ordered it seemed like a little thing yet in ln that moment I 1 knew it meant the difference beti between Neen being able to open on time or ever tor for that matter there a soul we could go to for funds zekes aekes creditors were pressing sly own resources were exhausted it looked pretty bad and then when it seemed we would have to abandon the entire project zeke came through with an idea it nas a brilliant idea quite characteristic act of the zeke whose brilliant ideas had bad helped one man or another over rough spots in the days when things were ivere booming in dexter and a man have to sneak in some blodys back door to get his drink of beer at first I 1 was skeptical but the more zeke tallied talked of his idea the more convinced I 1 was that it would work had the situation been less serious I 1 would ifould have laughed mightily at this plan of his and wagered with anyone who wanted to wager that it would not worl work anyway we put the idea into execution on the day that beer was legalized we hung out the sign which zeke had painted and lung flung wide the door at first folks came out of sheer curiosity grinning they poked their noses inside and looked around it was sight of that cozy little garden I 1 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 zekes aekes old cash register kept rid ringing ing all day and far into the night it wits 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 waiters we were off to a running start and it looked as if we were going to keep running things were moving smoothly a week later when quite unexpectedly a government agent came in and asked to see our license zeke winked broadly in my direction and produced the requested document 0 a the agent ran hawk like ilke eyes ever the written words and looked at zeke sharply this license was issued two days ago youve been selling beer more than a week sure said zeke while I 1 held my breath right we waited till wem wed taken in enough money to buy us a license and we bought one admit it ell eh well get your coat mister joure coming with me walt wait a minute says zeke that there license Is for 32 up till two days ago I 1 aint sold a mug of 0 32 11 the agent stared youre nuts you got a sign out there says beer and folks have been coming here for a week sure zeke agreed they been coming here but they aint been drinking 32 2 they been drinking near beer I 1 advertised beer for sale but I 1 stipulate what kind of beer and these dumb bunnies who have been yapping for beer and light wines know the difference it was true these customers who ho constituted our first rush had been drinking near beer and never knew it and A iad the agent was good enough sport to keep ills mouth shut zeke serves real beer now or rather J the man to whom lie he leased his garden does zeke himself spends his days on the veranda of the suncook sunsook hotel yarning with elmer stone and sam coos about the days when beer was beer an and d lie he never had a worry in the world |