The Brownie Scouts needed no further urging. With the librarian and their leader, they followed Vevi into the darkened room overlooking the lawn. “See, down there!” the little girl declared, pointing out the window. The Brownies jostled each other in their eagerness to learn what was going on in the yard. A shadowy figure could be seen on hands and knees, industriously digging up the tulip bulbs. Already many of them were scattered helter-skelter over the grass. “Well, of all the nerve!” cried Vevi indignantly. “It looks like Mrs. Gabriel,” declared Connie. “At least she has a tall feather on her hat, just like one Mrs. Gabriel has.” “Let’s stop her!” exclaimed Vevi, starting for the door. Miss Gordon grasped her hand, holding her back. “Wait, Vevi.” “Wait? But Miss Gordon, our tulip bed is nearly ruined now! She’s wrecking everything!” “And we worked so hard planting those bulbs,” Jane wailed. “It’s the meanest trick yet.” Miss Gordon spoke quietly. “Mrs. Gabriel, I think, is after something more vital than tulip bulbs.” “I think so too,” agreed Miss Mohr quickly. “Peter has told me of his suspicions that a ring may be operating--” Now the Brownies were quite bewildered by the talk, not understanding what the two young women meant. “Must we let that dreadful Mrs. Gabriel ruin our flower bed?” demanded Jane. “No, indeed,” replied Miss Mohr. “I intend to call Peter Van Der Lann and the police.” “The police?” gasped Vevi. She had not thought of having Mrs. Gabriel arrested. “We must hurry,” urged Miss Gordon, peering out the window again. While the teacher and the Brownie Scouts kept watch, Miss Mohr telephoned the police station. Then she called Hanny’s uncle at Windmill Farm. “Peter is coming as quickly as he can drive here!” the librarian told the group tensely. “He says we must hold Mrs. Gabriel whatever happens. He is certain--” “Mrs. Gabriel has her flashlight turned on now!” Connie reported from the window. “She’s examining something she has dug up!” “It’s not a tulip bulb either,” added Rosemary. “Let’s go down there right now!” Vevi urged, again starting for the door. “No, Vevi!” Miss Gordon checked her once more. “It would only frighten her away. We must wait for the police.” “They’ll never come,” complained Sunny. “It’s been ages now.” “Only a minute or two,” corrected Miss Mohr. “Patience.” “The police will come,” added the Brownie Scout leader. She was right too. In less than ten minutes, the girls heard the high pitched, whining whistle of a siren. “There they come!” cried Vevi. “I’m going down there now!” Without even stopping to put on her cap or jacket she darted out the door. The other Brownies followed after her, in their excitement stumbling on the stairs. Just as the group reached the street, the police car halted at the curb. Mrs. Gabriel straightened up and then started hastily away. But the police did not let her escape. Quickly they overtook her, grasping her firmly by the arm.