Miss Gordon then pinned a Brownie Scout pin on the right-hand side of her collar. She saluted Hanny and shook her hand, using the special grasp known only to troop members. “Am I a real Brownie now?” Hanny asked happily. “As real as they come,” declared Miss Mohr, giving her an affectionate hug. “The best part of all is that I am going to stay in Rosedale,” Hanny told the other girls. “Now that my uncle has won the blue ribbon, he will make a great deal of money. Already he has had many fine offers for the Golden Beauty tulip bulbs.” All the girls were delighted that Hanny would be able to remain in Rosedale, and told her so. By this time it was five minutes after eight o’clock. “Time for the meeting to end,” said Miss Gordon noticing the clock. “School tomorrow as usual, you know. Little Brownies should be in bed early.” The girls began to put on their jackets and coats. Vevi had left hers in another room. She went for it but did not immediately return. Impatiently, the other Brownies waited. “That Vevi!” Jane exclaimed. “She always keeps us waiting!” “What do you suppose she’s doing now?” Sunny speculated. The room where Vevi had left her jacket was dark. What, the Brownies wondered, could she be doing so long without a light? “Hurry up Vevi!” Jane called. There was no answer from the darkened cloak room. “She’s holding us up on purpose!” Jane fumed. “Let’s leave without her. It would serve her right for being such a slow poke.” Miss Gordon, however, would not allow the Brownies to depart without Vevi. “I’ll see what is keeping her,” she offered. However, before the Brownie Scout leader could enter the darkened room, Vevi appeared in the doorway. “Why, you don’t have your jacket even now!” Jane exclaimed. “Vevi McGuire! You’re the limit!” “We’ve waited an age,” added Rosemary. Vevi had a strange expression on her face. “What’s wrong?” Connie asked her quickly. “Have you lost something? Your pocketbook?” Vevi shook her head. “I want to show you something--” “Oh, Vevi, we’re in a hurry!” Jane exclaimed indignantly. “You’re always holding us up.” “This is important. Someone is digging in the Brownie tulip bed.” “WHAT?” cried the Brownies almost as one person. “Come and see for yourselves,” invited Vevi. “You can watch from the window. All the tulip bulbs are being scattered on the ground!” _Chapter 18_ MAGIC WAYS Now Miss Mohr and Miss Gordon had not known that tulip bulbs were planted in the Brownie Scout flower bed. Vevi, Connie and Jane had been so busy with the show that they had neglected to mention the planting. Therefore, everyone was surprised to hear that the bulbs were being dug up. “What do you mean?” demanded Jane in great excitement. “Who is wrecking our flower bed?” “A woman,” Vevi informed the group. “I can’t see her too plainly from the window. Come quick!”