“I hope it won’t be that way here,” remarked Rosemary anxiously. “My father says that many nurserymen have invested heavily in tulips this year.” “People always will buy tulip bulbs,” said Hanny. “But they will not pay high prices any more except for very special bulbs.” “Can’t your uncle raise a special bulb?” Vevi questioned. “One that’s better than any other tulip in the world?” Hanny smiled and said she did not think the Brownies knew how difficult it was to develop a fine, new tulip. “Uncle Peter has one though,” she admitted. “If it should catch the fancy of the public, he might yet make his fortune. Then I could stay in America!” “Does this new tulip have a name?” inquired Connie. “I gave it one myself,” Hanny said proudly. The Brownies pleaded with her to tell the name, but she would not. “It’s a secret,” she insisted. “At least until after the prize is announced.” “Prize?” Vevi asked alertly. “What prize?” “Mrs. Langley has offered a blue ribbon for the best tulip entered in the show.” “Only a ribbon?” asked Rosemary. “Not a cash prize?” “The winner of the blue ribbon will earn much money selling the prize bulbs. If the tulip catches the public fancy, the winning grower will receive large orders from all over the country.” “I wish you’d show us the tulip to be entered in the contest,” Vevi said. “It is a secret. No one knows except my Uncle Peter, Bruno and me!” “Bruno is a dog!” scoffed Vevi. “How can he know?” “Bruno knows many things,” laughed Hanny. “He is a very smart dog. He hauls the milk and at night he keeps people from climbing the fence and stealing our flowers.” “What color is that special tulip?” Vevi demanded. “Is it red?” “I don’t dare tell,” laughed Hanny. “Wouldn’t the Mattoxes like to know, though!” “The couple on the next farm?” questioned Connie, recalling mention of the name. “_Ja_,” laughed Hanny, lapsing into a Dutch word. “They are what you call snoops! But they will never learn Uncle Peter’s secret!” To keep the Brownies from asking too many questions about the tulip, the little Dutch girl took them through the old mill. It was exciting indeed to look at all the pulleys and machinery. Hanny showed the girls a mechanism which acted as a brake. It was used to prevent the mill from pumping too much water into the irrigation ditches. “It is my job to watch the windmill,” Hanny told her friends. “Whenever the wind is too strong, I lock the mechanism.” After the tour had ended, the girls all sat down on the grass to talk. Connie invited Hanny to attend the next Brownie meeting at the Public Library. “It will be Wednesday right after school,” she said. “Can you come?” “I think so, but I am not sure,” Hanny replied. “It will depend upon my stand.” “A flower stand?” asked Jane. “Yes, my uncle is letting me have one at the roadside. I will sell bouquets of tulips mostly.” “I’d like to do that myself,” Jane declared. “Maybe the Brownies will have a stand at Mrs. Langley’s garden show.”