The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-08-25
Doctor O'Keefe"
Specialist
%, 1874, western Newspaper Union.)
By KATE EDMoNDS.

means rare among prospective nus
bands, and is usually viewed indul-
gently by their employers, even though
it means a double salary at the end
of the month. But Bannon's savings
were scanty and the furniture had to
be paid for.
Charles, you must positively stop
declared his tancee, Marian James,
when months overwOrk and lack of
exercise had showed itself in the
young mans pale and trembling hands.
"Pm not going to have you kill your
self dear, for that hOrrid old furni-
ture How is that insomnia you were
telling me about?"
pretty bad, Marian" admitted her
lover. 81 think l shall go to a doctor
about It,"
go to DR.. OKeefe," answered Ma
rian promptly. "He is the greatest
nerve and brain specialist in the city.
Esther Carter was telling me how he
cured her brother of neurasthenla.
That was how Bannon came to visit
the great specialist. He entered the
comfortable waiting room in trepida-
ton.
Suddenly the doctor appeared at the
door.
He was quite a young man-much
younger than Bannon had expected.
Come right in, sir" he said cheer
fully and Bannon followed him into
his cozy office
you say your head aches often?"
the doctor asked.
Yes right here" answered the Wis
itor.
O'Keefe wrote out a prescription,
and suddenly tore it up. You are
not maried| he asked.
mot yet" said Bannon, bIushlng,
Il hope to be in March,
DR., O'Keefe arose again and placed
fatherly hand upon the young mans
shoulder. go home he said, land
write to her that you have changed
your mind, and DO not want to see
her again."
"Why?" said Bannon, feeling his
heart leap and then futter wildly.
Because you can't live three
weeks" answered the specialist. "That
pain is Gurlick's convolution. There
is no hope-I may as well be frank
with you. You will live not less than
II days, and not more than %"
Bannon got up and faced the spe-
cialist. He was breathing heavily.
you've got it figured out accurately
dOctorY he said.
Eyes. Banta, and Gurlick compiled
table of mortality from this rare dis
ease. No, there is no possibility Of
mistake. Ten dollars, please-and my
dear fellow, go home and write that
letter."
Bannon did not write that letter.
He said nothing, and went on work
ing overtime.
So the days crept on; the week
went round, the second began, and
ran to its close. He had now from
three to nine days to live. The thought
of Marian bereft turned him sick at
night.
Dearest, what did the doctor say?"
she asked And he put her off with
some triviality. But he could not en-
tirely hide his fears from her, and
she watched him with increasing con
Germ.
The time limit was gone, and he
still lived. He resolved to have his
jest with the doctor. On the evening
of the twenty-third day he went to
his house. This time the sitting room
was filed. But, hearing voices in the
hall, he peered out, and saw O'Keefe
talking with middle-aged, beSpeC-
tacled, bearded patient, and, sudden
ly forgetful Of the others who should
have preceded him, he ran into the
hall.
"Well, doctor. you're wrong" he
cried to O'Keefe. "You gave me not
less than II days to live, and not
more than %, and the time limit ex-
pired this afternoon, You'd better
make another diagnosis"
The younger man turned round,
81 have never, to my knowledge, had
any business with you, sir" he said.
ooh, yes, doctor" answered Ban
non. "Twenty-three days and five
hours ago you set a time limit upon
my life, and here l am alive all the
same"
The bearded man was smiling now
"a cynical, hooking, yet human
smile 81 think that | begin to under
stand" he said. "Good-by Philip,
You're certainly cured now" He
turned to Bannon won't you come
in, STRIP he asked courteously. 81
am Doctor O'Keefe."
Your stammered Bannon. "Why,
that gentleman is Doctor OKeefe.
He examined me three weeks ago and
told me / had a case Of Gurllek's CON
yolution."
The other clapped him on the back
and laughed noislly. Poor fellow
poor feloww he said. THAT'S Mr..
Carter, patient Of mine He has
been little irrational and l suppose
he got into my office ana played my
part. Gurllck's convolution2 Oh,
yes, he must just have been reading
of that in the Medical Record but
II is disease that only affects sheep
in the tropics, | wonder he con
tinued thoughtfully, chow many other
people Philip has scared Did he
charge you anythingY