“Will we have to walk?” Rosemary asked, rather dismayed. “I didn’t bring my umbrella or a raincoat.”
Miss Mohr assured the girls that the nurseryman would come for them in his truck. He was expected at any moment.
“He’s here now,” reported Connie a moment later. She had been watching from the window. “He’s driving up in front.”
“Come girls,” urged Miss Gordon. “We mustn’t keep him waiting.”
The Brownies put on their coats and went outside.
“Why, it’s stopped raining!” cried Jane, holding up her hand to see if she could catch any drops. “The sun is trying to peek through a cloud.”
“We’ll have a fine day yet!” exclaimed Sunny. “Hurrah for Windmill Farm!”
Mr. Van Der Lann helped the children into the truck. Miss Mohr and the Brownie leader rode up front.
During the ride to the farm, the nurseryman was in very high spirits. He declared that everything had gone extremely well for him and for Hanny.
“Now that I have won first prize for the Golden Beauty tulip, nearly everyone wants to buy my stock of bulbs,” he said. “I have arranged to sell them all to one eastern dealer at a very high price.”
“I will get to stay in America,” added Hanny happily.
Mr. Van Der Lann had arranged a pleasant afternoon for the Brownies at Windmill Farm. He told the girls they might pick all the tulips they liked, ride in the dog cart and even in the boat.
“Not the boat,” laughed Vevi. “It leaks.”
“Oh, I repaired it yesterday,” the nurseryman assured her. “Mr. and Mrs. Mattox will not annoy you either, should you drift past their place. The sheriff took them to jail today for questioning.”
“Then it has been established that they aided Mrs. Gabriel?” questioned Miss Gordon.
“Yes, they worked with her in smuggling gems into this country from Holland. I long suspected it, but could prove nothing and so remained quiet.”
“I guess the Brownies were pretty smart to catch Mrs. Gabriel digging up the tulips!” Vevi chuckled.
At Windmill Farm, the Brownies found Hanny and the housekeeper busy in the spic and span kitchen. The room was fragrant with the smell of baking. Little cakes had been taken from the oven and now were being beautifully frosted.
“Why, we must be having a party!” laughed Connie.
Now the Brownies could not imagine why everyone seemed so happy at Windmill Farm. Nor could they understand the reason Mr. Van Der Lann had gone to so much trouble just for them.