He saw nothing real, and heard nothing, not even the excited person who, hidden behind the bayberry bush, hailed him as he passed.

It was not until this person rushed forth and seized him by the arm that he came back to the unimportant affairs of this material earth.
"Why! Why, Mr.Pepper!" he gasped.

"Are you here?
What do you want ?" "Am I here ?" panted Kyan.

"Ain't I been here for the last twenty minutes waitin' to get a chance at you?
Ain't I been chasin' you from Dan to Beersheby all this dummed--excuse me--afternoon?
Oh, my godfreys mighty!" "Why, what's the matter ?" "Matter?
Matter enough! It's all your fault.

You got me into the mess, now you git me out of it." Usually, when Abishai addressed his clergyman, it was in a tone of humble respect far different from his present frantic assault.