Kernel Cob And Little Miss Sweetclover Part 6

His face was browned as if by the sun, earrings were in his ears, a black hat on his head, and a deep and very ugly scowl was painted on his forehead.

The other was good looking and resembled the hero in a story. He had pink cheeks and a pretty smile.

Now, when Sweetclover heard the villainous puppet speak, she moved away from him but Kernel Cob, who always welcomed a new adventure and saw in this fellow a possible enemy, spoke up:

"Who and what are you?"

"A friend," answered the Villain.

"You don't look it," said Sweetclover, "you look more like a villain."

"And so I am," said he. "At least that's what I'm painted to be, but I have a kind heart just the same."

"What are you doing out here in this boat?" asked Kernel Cob.

"The man who is rowing and who picked you up is a puppet showman," he explained.

"I don't like him a bit," said Sweetclover.

"You'll like him less and less as you get to know him," said the Villain. "He's very brutal. That's why we are in the boat, for yesterday during the puppet show, he broke the Hero in a rage and he had to go across the harbor to a toy-shop to buy another. That's the new Hero alongside of me."

"He's very handsome," said Sweetclover.

"Sure," said the Villain. "He's got to be. Heroes are all handsome."

"But why are you so ugly?" asked Kernel Cob.

"Ha, ha," laughed the Villain, "why bless your heart, I'm not a real villain, I only play the part of a villain in the play. My real self is something very different. But what, may I ask, are you doing out here in the harbor of Valparaiso?"

"Is that where we are?" asked Sweetclover.

"Sure," said Kernel Cob, for he didn't want the Villain to think he wasn't smart. "Didn't you know we were in Italy?"

"Ha, ha," sneered the Hero, and from that moment Kernel Cob disliked him.

"But you haven't told me how you got into the water," persisted the Villain.

"We came on a sea-horse from Cuba," said Sweetclover.

"That must have been an exciting adventure," said the Villain. "Tell me all of it."

And Kernel Cob told him how they had been to the Moon on a parasol and all that. When he had finished, he asked the Villain to tell them some of his adventures.

But the Villain was a modest sort of fellow and would say nothing but that he was very unhappy, leading a wicked life. What annoyed him most, he said, was that nearly everybody thought he was bad.

"It only goes to show," he said, "that you can never go by anybody's looks."

"You're right," said Kernel Cob, and gave a sharp glance at the Hero.

"Many a kind heart beats beneath an ugly face."

And then the row-boat landed at the dock, and the showman, taking the Villain and the Hero under one arm and Kernel Cob and Sweetclover under the other, got out and walked away.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHAPTER VIII

Through the town they went and everywhere children ran after them, and wondered at the strange puppets. And after a while they came to a little theatre and were thrown down among a lot of other puppets.

"I don't intend to stay here," said Kernel Cob. "I'm going to run away. I've got to find Jackie and Peggs' motheranfather."

"I don't think you'll be able to get away," said the Villain.

"Well, at least I'll try," answered Kernel Cob. "Wouldn't you like to come with us?"

"You bet," said the Villain, for he had taken a great fancy to Kernel Cob and especially to Sweetclover, whose gentle manners appealed very strongly to him. "But how are you going to do it?"

"Let me think," said Kernel Cob and they were very quiet for a long while.

"I tell you what," said the Villain, "When I am going to play I'll run off the stage and as soon as you see the Showman run after me, you must be ready to run and before he catches me, you'll be safe away."

"But you won't be able to come with us, then," said Sweetclover, "and you'll be beaten."

"Well, as long as you and Kernel Cob get away, it won't matter what happens to me," said the Villain.

"That's very n.o.ble of you, I'm sure," said Kernel Cob, "and I see that you are a very friendly Villain, but I think I can find a better plan than that."

While they were talking, the Showman came and tied some strings on Kernel Cob and Sweetclover.

"What's that for?" asked Kernel Cob.

"I guess you are going to play in the show," explained the Villain.

"That's the way he works us."

"Now we will never be able to get away," sighed Sweetclover.

"Won't we though," said Kernel Cob, "leave it to me," for he was very brave of heart and nothing daunted him, because he was a soldier, you see, and was brave by nature.

And the Showman took them into the theatre, and the performance began.

When the play was over, quick as a flash, Kernel Cob cut the strings from Sweetclover and himself.

"Now is our time!" shouted he to Sweetclover and the Villain, who were standing close by, and the Villain, catching Sweetclover by the hand, ran away with her.

Holding the Showman at a distance, Kernel Cob backed his way off the stage, joined the Villain and Sweetclover and all three ran out into the street at the top of their speed, but the Showman was much faster and was close on their heels when they came to a corner.