THE PHAN TOM FUTURE. GREYBEARD t h r ou h a vill a e s crept g g treet , H is a wa s b owe d hi s we ar f t he d , y ee W b ui s a n d to n ere r ed r . A s taff i n hi s i a n b a r g ht h d he re , Th e win d played with h is s ilver hair H is c oa was Wo n t r . On war d as s ou ol n c o n he p ed thr g h g de r , Wea ry With toil from early morn H e cas hi m own t d . A out an d ai n ca a lon y h m de me g , G av s h e b u t Wi noi s s on r e he , th y g L a nt in own e r the t . Wha t s eek y ou i n thi s s unn y field G b a t o W o t us a al rey e rd , h m he h ppe ed, Slow rais ed hi s hea d A Pha nt om Fut ure I purs ue ’ M inks w e s k s a as ou eth ee the me y , ai n s ai Th e m de d . CON TENTS OF V OLUME I. C H AP . P A GE ’ I MYRA s BAR . ’ II S T RA S AD MIRERS . III THE F UTU RE . OLDH EATH IV . G LD SH IPMATES V . O PLAYMA TES VI . ’ II OR ZIER s LIE V . O RES URRECTION PIE VIII . THE A ADEMY F H EERF LN ESS IX . C O C U TH E S CH OOL OF MELAN CH OLY Q U ICKSAN D XII . H OLDSWORTH MOV ES ’ XIII . TH E DOCTOR s MA LAD Y XIV B RN T F IN ERS . U G XV . A C BEATU RE OF IMPULSE XV I . IN TRUD ERS ’ X II V . SYRA s SECRET ANT M FUTURE THE PH O . C H A P T E R I. ’ M YRA s BAR . i d s oo . ES , Mr . Crozier , I think it very g l n Tell me , wi l it make a differe ce in his life The girl who spoke closed the book she had been glancing through , and laid it upon the - marble counter among the sherry decanters , - - black china match boxes , and ash trays . She n was only a barmaid , and the brilliant gas shini g down from a sun - light in the ceiling overhe a d betrayed the fact that her faultless face was not — quite innocent Of artificial aid . Faultless no , not quite faultless . The lower lip was pressed t he upward when in repose , forcing upper V OL . I . 1 TH E PHANTOM FUTURE. Of slightly out place . The expression imparted thus to the daintiest mouth imaginable was n o t w disagreeable , but it was some hat sad , if studied closely, for it seemed to imply that existence was an effort . The m an to whom her innocent question was n addressed did not a swer at once . He took a ' of - - a u long sip whiskey and water, and by t rn of his ton gue shifted his cigar from the left to - w a the right hand corner Of his mouth . He s - m an a heavy shouldered , with a large head and small blue eyes set close together . When he thought deeply his eyes appeared to “ contract and sink deeper beneath the splendid forehead . This expression came over his face now , although his gaze was fixed o n nothing more interesting h than t e linoleum which covered the floo r . ’ w ” I don t kno , he said , thoughtfully ; and being seated on a high stool he swung his right w “ leg backwards and for ards . It is hard to w say what the result ill be . He is such a harum - s ca r u m sort Of fellow that on e never knows what he will do next . Seems to be sick ? ” Of medicine , does he not 2 RA’ M Y S BAR . The girl had risen from her seat behind the bar, displaying a perfect figure , shown to - fit t in full advantage by a tight g black dress . She moved along to the end Of the curving counter and turned the gas that burnt beneath - a huge silver coffee urn slightly higher . “ They will be coming in , in a few minutes , she murmured to herself, glancing upwards at the clock suspended on the wall Opposite . Then ’ she answered Crozier s question carele ssly and d f l in i ferent y , after the manner Of a person who has been talking on u ninteresting topics all d a y d o Yes ; he seems tired of it . I not think that h e ever was very enthusiastic about it though ! Her voice was somewhat deep and sh e spoke i h e r i very neatly , clipp ng words occas onally in a on e manner which suggested that she had , at l time , learnt e ocution . n Sickening professio , grumbled the man . He emitted a cloud Of smoke from his lips w ithout removing the cigar, and looking up d presently, saw that it floate directly into the 3 TH E H P ANTOM FUTURE. ’ girl s face and around her elaborately dressed fair hair. “ I beg your pardon , he said hastily, and with his broad hand he waved the smoke asid e gravely . “ O “ h , never mind , she laughed , I do not i mind smoke . I have been accustomed to t for some years now . There are very Often ten Of y ou smoking in this little room in the ” v n e eni g . She spoke in a quick , heartless way , with a conventional smile upon her lips . ” “ ff h e Yo u Makes no di erence , said gravely. m a y be accustomed to it, but I have been accustomed to look upon m yself as a gentle man for the last fifteen years or so . It may be a mistake— probably it is—but it is a little idiosyncrasy which does no one much ” harm . For a moment an Odd expression fiit t e d ’ or through the girl s ey es , to be more strictly n correct , an expressio came where none had been for w n before , her eyes ere si gularly cold and u lifeless . She was occupied with the d ties 4 M YRA ’S BAR . ‘ Office — appertaining to her polishing decanters , arranging symm etrically invert ed wine - glasses and tumblers upon the marble counter , and seeing that a plentifu l supply Of each brand ’ Of whiskey was ready, for Myra s Bar boasted Of seventeen different distill ations in Scotch whiskeys alone . She glanced towards the heavy - featured man who was t h e sole occupant Of the little room Of which she was the presiding divinity and almost spoke . Her lips were parted for a n instant , and then they closed again with the Odd upward pressure . If any man or woman i n the world had reason to be thankful for Samuel ’ l Crozier s idiosyncrasy, this girl most assured y . was that human being . Of all the frequenters Of this small curtained room at the back Of Myra’ s Bar he was the only man who took her seriously, who gave her credit fo r being somethin g more than a beautifu l machine whose duty it was to smile at doubtful j okes , ignore double meanings , and pass from morning til l night glasses Of a hundred different intoxicating liquors across a marble 5 TH E H N U E P A TOM F TUR . n cou ter into unsteady hands . There were other h gentlemen among these thirsty souls , men wit true and gentle hearts perhaps , with deep hidden hopes and aspirations ; but they r e served the graver sides Of their lives for other ’ moments . They dropped into Myra s on their r n r - t way to thei e g aving shops , af er hospital or - hours , before the stage doors were open ; and t O they came discuss the newest play , the latest or . book , the best picture They never drank y very much , but the talked a g reat deal, and ’ n o lau ghed more . Myra s Bar was place for gravity . Crozier took up the book again, and slowly i u turn ng over the pages , looked at the ill strations . TO critically the letterpress he gave no heed . hi m or Perhaps the poems were familiar to , , f more likely still , he did not care for such stuf , al though there was a well- read look about his face . The drawings were exquisite , soft, deli n cate , and full of subtle meani g . The hand that g u ided the pen cil might almos t have held the - pen . It was a well known collection , but never had such an edition appeared before, never 6 M ’ YBA S BAR . ’ h a d Lon gfellow s thoughts met with s u ch a m sy pathetic exponent . Crozier rarely talked Of himself. That subject was laid aside by his action Of taking up the book . Ye s - , Syra, he said , in a business like tone, there is good work here—better work than ” sawing bones and making pills .