“Very well,” he said. “Arm yourselves with brooms and scrub pails. We’ll see to it that you give the tree house a thorough cleaning. If you do a good job I may consider letting you off.”
Relieved that they were to have another chance, the boys accompanied Mr. Karwhite to the oak tree. While the Brownies sat on the ground watching from below, they cleaned every inch of the little house.
The park superintendent made them put up the curtain they had torn down. He also ordered them to wash and polish the window, even though they had not dirtied it.
When the playhouse was in perfect order, Mr. Karwhite told the boys they were free to go.
“But never come here again,” he warned them. “Remember, I have your names and addresses. If ever I set eyes on you in the park, I’ll turn you over to the police.”
The boys were very glad to be let off so easily. Promising Mr. Karwhite that they would stay away, they darted off.
“They’ll not be back,” the superintendent told Miss Gordon confidently. “This time I really threw a scare into them they won’t forget.”
So much time had been consumed, that it was too late for the Brownies to build a fire in their little stove.
Regretfully, they gathered together their wraps and notebooks and prepared to leave the park area.
“From now on, you should not be annoyed here,” Mr. Karwhite assured them. “The playhouse will be all yours until the snow flies.”