“You’re not going away?” Connie asked quickly. “No, no, certainly not.” Mr. Piff laughed, but in a hollow sort of way. Following the girls into the auditorium, he voiced a steady stream of complaints. “This show would have been a success if it hadn’t been for Peter Van Der Lann. That stubborn Dutchman hung the sign on me by refusing to cooperate. Then some of the other growers wouldn’t come into the scheme. Mrs. Langley put in some money, quite a nice chunk, but a few days ago, she clamped down the lid. Wouldn’t give me another penny. What was worse, her garden show drew all the customers away from this one.” The Brownies listened to Mr. Piff without saying much in return. They went over to the fountain to watch the goldfish swim in the basin. “Some of the fish are dead,” Vevi said, noticing the ones that floated on top of the water. “Your flowers are wilting too,” declared Jane. “It is too warm for them in here.” As the girls wandered about, looking at the potted tulips, lilies and other flowers, Mr. Piff talked to workmen. Connie heard the men ask him about their pay. “Don’t worry, you’ll get it when the show ends,” he told them. “Not before.” Refrigerators, stoves and dish washers were being demonstrated in the hall. The Brownies thought that having such items on sale ruined the garden effect. After awhile, as they were watching a television set, Mr. Piff rejoined the girls. “As I was saying,” he remarked, “this show would have been a success if it hadn’t been for Peter Van Der Lann. That tightwad didn’t put a cent into the affair, and he’s profited more than any grower in Rosedale.” “You mean because his tulip won the blue ribbon?” Vevi questioned. She did not like the way Mr. Piff was talking about Hanny’s uncle. “Sure,” the promoter replied. “He won the ribbon, and now folks don’t want to buy any of the bulbs on sale here. They only want stock from Van Der Lann. He’ll make a fortune--that is, if he has any bulbs to sell.” “Oh, he has!” cried Vevi. “Hanny showed them to me. He has a little room with a padlock on the door. All his Golden Beauty bulbs are kept there.” “Oh, yes, I noticed that little house when I was out at Windmill Farm,” Mr. Piff said thoughtfully. “So that’s where he keeps his choice bulbs? I know a grower who would pay plenty to get them. Mr. Van Der Lann, though, won’t do business with me.” The promoter asked the girls a few more questions about Mr. Van Der Lann’s bulbs. Then, as he started to turn away, he said to Vevi: “By the way, did Mrs. Gabriel see you?” “Not today,” answered Vevi. “I have been looking for her too.” “She was here not an hour ago. For that matter, she came especially to find you.” Vevi asked Mr. Piff if he knew why the woman wanted to see her. “I’ve no idea,” the promoter replied. “She was very angry though. Her exact words were these: that little imp had better return my property at once, or there will be trouble!” _Chapter 15_ THE BROWNIE GARDEN