“Perhaps not,” said Mr. Van Der Lann. He smiled in a most mysterious sort of way. “What do you mean?” questioned Vevi alertly. “Just you wait!” he advised. “Not a year either.” Now the Brownie Scouts sensed immediately that their friend had something special in mind. They teased him to tell what it was. Mr. Van Der Lann only smiled and shook his head. “I can guess!” laughed Hanny. “Tell us,” pleaded the other Brownies. Hanny grinned and would not answer. “It’s a secret,” she chuckled. “Nurserymen sometimes have magic ways. Just you wait!” _Chapter 19_ AN ANNOUNCEMENT Vevi awoke late the next morning, feeling tired in every bone and muscle. Pulling herself slowly up in bed, she peered out the window. It was raining hard. “Oh, dear,” she thought. “I did so hope for a nice day.” Vevi dressed and went downstairs for a belated breakfast. “Mother,” she said, seating herself at the table by the kitchen window. “Is it really true that Mrs. Gabriel was caught digging up the Brownie Scout flower bed last night? Or did I dream it?” Mrs. McGuire handed her the morning paper. “It was true, Vevi. See, the story of what happened is on the front page. The Brownies are mentioned too.” Vevi read every word of the story for herself. The item told of Mrs. Gabriel’s arrest and confinement in jail. Related also, was the part the Brownies had played in the capture. “Oh, by the way,” Mrs. McGuire said after the little girl had finished her breakfast. “Miss Mohr telephoned a few minutes ago. All the Brownies are to meet at the library directly after lunch. She said something about an extra special surprise.” “But the Brownies had a meeting last night, Mother. Why are we meeting again so soon?” “She didn’t say, dear.” “Maybe it is about our flower bed,” Vevi speculated. “I think that must be it.” The little girl helped her mother with the housework. She dusted the furniture and wiped dishes. Time seemed to pass very slowly. All the while, she kept speculating upon why Miss Mohr would call a special meeting of the Brownie troop. As soon as luncheon was over, Vevi changed into her Brownie uniform. Carrying her red umbrella, she splashed along the sloppy streets toward the library. It was not raining much now, but the gutters ran deep with muddy water. Vevi had not gone many blocks when she had to wait at an intersection for a traffic light. As she stood there, a taxi came up very fast. The light changed and the cab halted with a screech of brakes. It stopped so suddenly beside Vevi, that she felt her legs being splashed with dirty water. She jumped back, very much annoyed at the driver. “Sorry,” apologized the cab man, leaning out of the taxi window. “I shouldn’t have tried to make the light, but my customer is in a big rush to catch a train.” Vevi glanced into the back of the cab and was surprised to see that the passenger was Mr. Piff. “Why, are you leaving Rosedale?” she asked.