All this time, Harvey had been holding one hand behind him. Beth now noticed that he was hiding something.
"What have you there?" she asked.
Harvey looked bashful. "Well, ever since I came so near burning you up, I've been saving my money to buy you a present, and here it is."
Beth drew in her breath at sight of a beautiful dog collar. "Oh, it's for Don, and what's this mark on it? 'Don. Owned by Beth Davenport.' Oh, it's too lovely for anything. Where is Don? I must try it on him."
The prize cake was all forgotten. Away she and Harvey scampered.
Don was out near the stable. The collar fitted him exactly, and the children talked and admired it for some time.
Suddenly Beth gasped, "Oh, my cake," and ran as fast as she could back to the kitchen.
Upon opening the oven, an avalanche of smoke came forth. The cake was burned to charcoal.
The heart-broken little cook sat down on the floor and cried bitterly. Maggie stuck her head through the pantry window.
"For de law's sake—dat beau'ful cake. I knew I jes' ought to have 'tended it."