The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-06-20
Doctor O'Keefe"
Specialist
By KATE EDMONDS.

Three months before his narrsaxe
Charles Bsnnon began TO put I'm over.
time This Is q phenomenon by Nc
means rare among prospective hus
bands, and Is usually viewed indul-
gently by their employers, even though
II means double salary at the end
or the month But Bannon,s SAVINGS
were scanty and the furniture had to
be paid for.
Charles, you must positively stop"
declared his fiancee, Marian James.
when a months oyerw0rk and lack OF
exercise had showed itself In the
young maR's pale and trembling hands.
I'm not going to have you kin your
self. dear, for that horrid cid furni-
ture. How is that insomnia you were
telling me about7''
Pretty bad. Marian" admitted her
lover Il think / shall 60 to q doctor
about #"
Go to Dr.. O'Keefe," 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 neurasthenia.
That was how Bsnnon came to visit
the great specialist. He entered the
comfortable waiting room in trepida-
ton.
Suddenly the doctor appeared ut 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
BIS cory Office
You say your head aches eftenY
the doctor asked.
Yes, right here" answered the Wis
tier.
OKeefe wrote out q prescription,
and suddenly tore IL ND. You are
not marrfedT he asked
Not yet" said Bannon, blushinE.
Il hope to be In March"
DR.. oKeefe arose again and placed
a fatheriy hand upon the young mans
shoulder. Go home" he said. .and
write to her that you have changed
your mind, and do not want to see
her again"
"Whyr said Bannon, feeling his
heart leap and then fiuttsr wildly.
Because you can't live three
weeks" answered the specialist. That
pain Is Gurlick's convoiution. There
Is no hope-I may as well be frank
with you You viii live not less than
IL days, and not more than q"
Bannon got up and faced the spe-
cialist- He was breathing heavily.
You've got IL figured out accurately,
doctorT" ne said.
yes. Banta and Gurlick compiled
table Of mortality from this rare dis
ease. No, there is no possib lily of n
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 et
night.
Dearest, what did the doctor sayr
she asked And he put her on with
some tfvfality. 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
stin lived. He resolved TO have his
Jest with the doctor On the evening
Of the twenty-third day he went 20
his house. This time the sitting reom
was filed. But, hearing voices In the
hall, he peered cut, and saw O,Keefe
talking with a 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 net
less than IL days to live. and not
more than q, and the time limit ex-
pired this afternoon. You'd better
make another diagnosis"
The younger man turned round
II have never. to my knowledge. had
any business with you, sir" he said
"Oh, yes, doctor" answered Ban
non. 'Twenty-three days and five
hours ago you set a time limit upon
my life. and here am alive all the
same" w.
The bearded man was smiling now
"a cynical, mocking, yet human
smile. 81 think that begin TO under
stand" he said 'Good-by Philip.
You're certainly cured now" he
turned to Bannon. wont you come
In, sirE' he asked ceurteoussy. Il
am Doctor O'Keefe"
Your stammered Bannsn- why.
that gentleman Is Doctor OKeefe.
he examined me three weeks ago and
told me / had a case Of Guriick's con
volution-"
The other ciapped him On the back
and laughed noisily. Poor fellow