Harper was in Omaha, and he met Colonel Charles Coffee of Chadron and a number of other old timers. They had stopped for lunch at the Millard cafe, and one of the fellows more bibulous than the others, had lingered long over his chops. The others grew tired of waiting and wandered up town. After a time their absent friend joined them and told them of a wonderful work of art, the portrait of a woman in the cafe of the Millard, which the others had failed to note.

So enthusiastic was his endorsement of the work, that they were finally sufficiently interested to return and look at it. The picture proved to be a commonplace portait of a woman, and none could see the cause for such enthusiasm. The amateur art critic made each one of them stand in front of the picture, then to each side, then in the far corners, and each time look at the woman's eyes. Still they were unmoved and demanded that he point out the particular features of art that appealed to him.

"Why, can't you see?" he said with apparent earnestness, "that wherever in this room you stand, her eyes are fixed upon you. It is wonderful. You over there and me over here, and she is looking squarely at both of us at the same time."

The fellows looked at each other, ami Cof-

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

fee broke the silence. "Come on, boys, I'll buy."

The coming of prohibition will forever end certain of the rough pranks and jollity of men. Much of the good fellowship and humor of the west was where the spirits were enlivened by frequent and sundry libations. Not all of the early men drank, but those who did not, frequented the places where those bent on revelry were inclined to congregate.