“They haven’t!” cried Connie. “Just look at the color of the ribbon, you dopes!”
Hanny and Vevi laughed aloud, so great was their relief. True, the judges had pinned a ribbon on the Mattox’ table. But it was not a blue ribbon. Instead, it was red and bore printing which said “Second Prize.”
“The first prize hasn’t been awarded yet,” Hanny said, breathing naturally again. “Uncle Peter still has a chance.”
Again the judges paused, this time beside the table on which stood the Golden Beauty. They whispered together. Then one of the men pinned the blue ribbon on Peter Van Der Lann’s choice flower.
“He’s won first prize!” shouted Vevi. “Hurrah!”
Hanny couldn’t say a word. Tears streamed down her cheeks. This time, however, they were tears of happiness.
Everyone crowded about the nurseryman, offering congratulations. At once, flower lovers began asking him how they could obtain bulbs of the Golden Beauty for fall planting.
Mr. Piff pushed through the throng to shake Peter’s hand.
“Congratulations!” he boomed. “Mr. Van Der Lann, you and I will have to make a deal. I understand you have a good stock of bulbs on hand. Now that you’ve won first prize, I can arrange to sell them for you at a fancy price. My commission will be very small—”
“You will receive no commission from me,” the nurseryman broke in. He made it plain that he wanted nothing whatsoever to do with the promoter. “I have already arranged to sell my entire stock to a large seed house in the East. Now that I have won the blue ribbon, the bulbs will command a good price.”