"Is that a disguise?" asked Billy, pointing to the boy detective's hair and beard.
"It is, and a perfect one. Who would ever guess that Snawksnaw, the famous boy detecative, and this bearded ruffian were one and the same person? This is my favorite transform."
"But why did you get a blue beard?"
"Ah-ha! that is the completest part of the disguise; for though they might guess that I would raise a black beard or a yellow one or a red one, who would think that I could raise a blue one?" Then scowling terribly, he hissed, "Are you one of them?"
"One of whom?" asked Billy.
"One of the party of desperate men that inhabit yon fair but foul factory?"
"Of course not; I've just arrived."
"Ah-h, then perhaps you, too, are a detecative on the same trail; but I warn you Snawksnaw will have no partner to share the glory of this capture. I have run them to earth, and mean to take them single handed."
"What have they done?" asked Billy.
"I know not. That I will find out when I have bound and gagged them."