Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-24
THE CURIOUS QUEST
of MR.. ERNEST BLISS
bv E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM
Copyright The Frank a. Munsey Co.


None at ALL" the patient assented
81 seem to have lost all taste for or
binary food To keep myself going al
all l have to hunt around for some
thing outrageous My breakfast yes
terday was caviar and brandy and
soda. l dined off bacon and eggs at
the Ritz and had kippered herring
for supper at the Savoy"
The physician leaned little further
back in his chair and regarded his Wis
itor thoughtfully
The young mans appearance was
not altogether unprepossessing. He
was short-if anything, below medium
height, and inclined to be thin. His
fashionable clothes concealed his
shoulders. if he had any. His carriage
was Indifferent and although his head
was not ill-shaped. his feature were
marred by certain vagueness of out
line and expression.
His complexion was gray and un.
wholesome; the hand which rested up.
on the table was trembling slightly.
His eyes, however. were good and
there was some suggestion of undevel.
oped humor about the lines of his
mouth.
you are suffering" the physician
pronounced quietly from dyspepsia.
nervous indigestion and from what my
fashionable friend in the next street
would call neurasthenia. You are suf-
fering in the same way, from an entire
ly different cause, as the man who
comes to me broken down with work.
OF the two, yours is the more difficult
case to deal with. So much for the
medical side"
Just So" the young man murmur-
ed. Now for the common sense.
What am I to do?"
"Your cure" Sir James said, "is in
your own hands No one else can help
you. II you wish to enjoy good health
you must completely change your man.
ner Of living for time and wear the
sack cloth and ashes Of the sanitary
penitent You have had unlimited OPP
portunities Of gratifying every whim In
life, and you have used-or rather.
misused-them. Now you have got to
pay"
Mr.. Ernest Bliss sat a little more
erect in his chair. Something in his
companions tone. perfectly controlled
though 1t was, seemed to have reused
him.
There is nothing really the matter
with me, then? have told you what
l feel like-nervous. siddy, absolutely
faint sometimes in the morning. Seem.
ed to me my heart must be dicky."
There's nothing whatever the mat.
ter with your heart" the doctor assur.
ed him you have fair constitution
which you are doing your best to ruin
at the present moment You are sound
enough You will have good health or
not for the rest Of your life accord.
ing to how you treat yourself. 60 on
living in your present manner and you
will be poor sort Of creature in ten
years time. Strike out new lire.
drink beer instead of champagne. and
water instead Of beer occasionally;
take real exercise, do some honest
work, and you will soon lose those
symptoms you were speaking Of"
as that all the advice you can give
me?"
II can give you a prescription, but
the medicine won't do you any good"
the physician replied. Drugs are no
good to people in your condition except
to drag them down a little sooner"
TITS all very we'll" Bliss remarked
discontentedly, but I hoped you might
be able to give me more definite adj
vice. There's no work ! can do and
beer disagrees with me horribly.
might ride in the mornings. hut I'm not
keen on the idea. You can't imagine
Sir James, how bored really am with
life. Not soul | care about, not
thing ! could take any interest In do
ing. When wake in the morning
feel as though I'd just AS soon be going
to bed. Rotten, isn't it,"
Very" Sir James replied dryly
you want more definite advice, did
you say"
That's what am here for" Bliss
admitted.
"You shall have it them Sir James
continued "You say there is not a
single thing in your present life which
you find attractive. I gather that you
have no real friends. that there is no
one with whom you care to spend your
time. Break away from it, then. Dis
appear. Lel IL De kuOWH HiHouS youl
acquaintances that you have gone
abroad for time. Get into the city or
some country town and earn your liv-
ing. Earn a pound week. If you can
find any one who thinks you worth as
much, and live on it. A very interest
ing experiment and one which would
certainly better your physical condi-
ton"
Mr.. Ernest Bliss rose slowly to his
feet.
80 this is your common sense, is 1t,
DOCTOR" he remarked.
ut is the soundest common sense
you ever heard in your life" the ply
stefan answered briskly. "Of course
you won't appreciate II, You are the
fourth or fifth young man who has
been to see me during the last few
days. practically in your condition.
Bliss held out his hand.
Not at all sure" he remarked Ian.
guidly. that won't take your advice
some day Good morning"
Sir James was in rather irritable
mood and he had conceived most
dislike for his patient.
1t was seldom he gave way to his pre-
L T. r. L.