"He's a cowardly ruffian, the tool of Nickel Plate."
"A sort of Nickel Plated tool," said Billy, laughing.
"I suppose so," said Snawksnaw seriously, missing the joke. "And worst of all their fair but false accomplice Glucose, possessing a beautiful face to look upon, but with the crafty, crawling, venomous wiles of the serpent."
"I've heard of Glucose," said Billy; "she is the one they tried to put in Honey Girl's place at the Bee Palace."
"Ah-ha!" cried Snawksnaw, "a case of abduction—but I will foil them—it shall be my greatest shadow. I must perfect my disguise in such a serious case," and taking off his coat he turned it inside out and struggled into it. "Now I defy them."
"You're not going to the factory, are you?" asked Billy.
"I don't know—if I just knew what old Sneuth, the detective, would do under the circumstances I could decide."
"Huh! I shouldn't wait for that," said a voice. Looking up, Billy and Snawksnaw saw Bumbus leaning against a cornstalk, wearing a very self-satisfied but wicked grin.
"So it's my old friend Billy Bounce," continued he.
"Bumbus!" was all Billy could say.