A man stood at the door, apparently tampering with the padlock. His back was toward the barn, so the children could not immediately see who he was.
As they watched, he moved slightly. Then they obtained a plain view of his face.
“Why, it is that same man in gray who attended the flower show at Mrs. Langley’s!” Vevi exclaimed. “What is he doing here? Why is he trying to break into the little house?”
Chapter 13
A BAG OF TULIPS
AS the two girls watched, the man in gray merely shook the padlock, but did not try to smash it open.
Hanny and Vevi hurried over to the little house.
“Why are you trying to break in?” Hanny demanded severely of the stranger.
“Just checking,” he replied. He smiled at her in a friendly way, not acting in the least as if he had been caught trying to steal or do anything dishonest. “Is your uncle at home, Hanny?”
“No, he isn’t,” Hanny answered. She was astonished that the man knew her first name.