[Illustration: “Mrs. Gabriel has her flashlight turned on now.” _Brownie Scouts at Windmill Farm_ See Page 178] _The BROWNIE SCOUTS at Windmill Farm_ _by Mildred A. Wirt_ _ILLUSTRATED_ CUPPLES AND LEON COMPANY _Publishers_ _New York_ Copyright, 1953, by CUPPLES AND LEON COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED _The Brownie Scouts at Windmill Farm_ Printed in the United States of America _CONTENTS_ _Chapter_ _Page_ 1. The Dog Cart 1 2. Hanny to the Rescue 14 3. Mr. Piff’s Plan 23 4. The Little Locked House 31 5. Hanny’s Secret 41 6. Wooden Shoes 52 7. A Runaway ‘Boat’ 63 8. The Treasure House 71 9. High Wind 80 10. In the Hayloft 89 11. The Man in Gray 102 12. A Flower Show 116 13. A Bag of Tulips 127 14. Mr. Piff’s Troubles 136 15. The Brownie Garden 148 16. Mrs. Gabriel’s Accusation 156 17. A Library Window 166 18. Magic Ways 176 19. An Announcement 189 20. Surprise! 200 _Chapter 1_ THE DOG CART Five pair of eyes focused with rapt attention upon Miss Paula Mohr, the librarian. Five little girls in pin-checked Brownie Scout uniforms had been listening attentively to a tale about the children of Holland. Now, in the story room of the Rosedale Public Library, they awaited an important announcement. “Girls,” began Miss Mohr. She was young and pretty, and her voice had soft edges. “How would the Brownies like to help this spring with Rosedale’s annual tulip show?” “Oh, fine and dandy!” cried Vevi McGuire. The dark-eyed little girl shouted approval, even without asking what the Brownies would be expected to do. But then, she knew anything planned by Miss Mohr or Miss Jean Gordon, the Brownie troop leader, would be fun. “Will we sell things?” inquired Connie Williams. Connie was the quiet, thoughtful member of the group. Sometimes the other Brownies, Rosemary Fritche, Sunny Davidson and Jane Tuttle, teased her by calling her “the thinker.” “Oh, no,” replied Miss Mohr. “I am not sure of the plans, but we would assist Mrs. Langley.” The Brownie Scouts all knew that Mrs. Langley was president of the Rosedale Garden Club. She lived with her servants on a large estate of many acres at the edge of town. Each spring when bulbs bloomed, her gardens were the most beautiful in Rosedale. “May we help Mrs. Langley?” asked Jane Tuttle, with a toss of her long pigtails. She directed the question at Miss Gordon. “Why, yes,” the troop leader promptly agreed. “I think the project would be a most worthwhile one.”