d, it won't be so bad when we
get started and can hold onto the chairs. Are you ready? Don't make any
noise, for Gail mustn't hear us."

Slowly, cautiously, they tiptoed across the kitchen floor, let
themselves out, and with wildly beating hearts hurried, as fast as the
bumping chairs tied to their backs would permit, toward the tiny red
cottage where Mrs. Grinnell lived all alone. Owing to their burdens,
they made slow progress, and both conspirators expected any moment to
hear Gail in pursuit. But it chanced that the busy housekeeper was too
much occupied in the front chambers to discover their absence, and they
reached the red house all out of breath, but without a mishap.

"For the land sakes!" cried the plump, motherly woman, upsetting a pan
of apples in her surprise. "What are you young ones playing now?"

"This isn't exactly a play," Peace answered. "We've spoiled Faith's
State Fair cake and now she ain't going to send it. I thought maybe you
could tell us some way to fix it up." She set down the basket, lifted
the paper covering and disclosed the queer, geographical decorations to
the woman's astonished gaze.

"Well, now, if that ain't the cutest!" exclaimed the worthy lady in
genuine admiration. "Who'd ever have thought of putting the United
States on a cake top but you, Peace Greenfield!"

"I never _thought_ of it," answered the child honestly. "The map fell
there, it fitted and I scratched it in. Now it is spoiled for the Fair
and Faith is bawling her eyes out."

Mrs. Grinnell looked keenly at the two sober, tear-stained faces before
her, guessed the rest of the story, and rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
Then she laughed in childish delight. "Why, I've got the finest scheme,
you ducklings! We will just do a little juggling, and I think Faith will
stand a better chance for the blue ribbon than she would with this white
cake."

"What do you mean?" faltered puzzled Peace.

"Just this: I ordered a caramel layer of Faith for a little supper some
of my people in the city are intending to give a niece of mine and her
beau. They are to be married next week. She is a school teacher, and
this cake will tickle her immensely. I'll just trot this in for the
supper, and we'll take the caramel layer to the Fair. According to my
notion of thinking, Faith's caramel cakes beat her others all hollow."

"But--but--the caramel cakes haven't any red candy roses and green
leaves on them," stammered Peace.

"They don't nee