"Oh, never mind," she answered indifferently, "I'm going to get tea ready so mother won't have to bother. She does it like an angel when I plead store business, but I guess, Ted, the old store--" "Isn't all it's cracked up to be," Ted helped her out rather willingly, for he had not, at any time, shared her enthusiasm in the little business venture. Nancy sighed dramatically. She was feeling rather sorry for herself and that is always a symptom of wounded pride. It was the same day, in early evening, of the picnic and cake experience, and her crying spell still stirred its little moisture of hurt emotions. Ted couldn't bear to see his sister cry, ever, and he was now all attention and sympathetic interest. "I wish, Nan, you'd just sell out. The store would make a swell gym, and we scouts need a place just like that--" "Ted Brandon! Do you think _I_ would quit just because a thing is hard! Why, I should think you would remember how hard mother works," she declared, in a sudden outburst of virtue. "And the harder it is the more reason to--to do it," she floundered. "Oh, yeah, sure," agreed Ted amicably. "Of course that's so. Want me to set table?" "Thanks, Ted, I wish you would. I'm going to try a cooked custard, I mean a top of the stove custard. If I can cool it by putting the dishes flat on the ice," Nancy reasoned aloud. "But they'll melt right through, if they're hot," Ted reminded her. "I know my taffy pan did--" "Well, perhaps I'd better not try it then, as it's so late," Nancy decided, relieved to find a genuine excuse. "Suppose we have toasted crackers with cheese on top? Mother always likes that and _that_ can't go wrong." Fortified with a new determination, Nancy went at her task, and in less time, much less time than she usually required, succeeded in preparing not only an appetizing but a really tempting meal. Ted arranged the crisp lettuce leaves while Nancy cut the tomatoes, which she "nested" in the lettuce, prettily. The toasted cheese-crackers were in the oven and as this was not only a favorite dish with the Brandons, but is also a favorite with many others, it might be well to know how Nancy prepared it. She buttered saltines, enough to cover the bottom of a flat pan, the pan usually used for "Johnnie Cake," then, on top of the cracker layer, she showered, plentifully thick, grated cheese; another layer of crackers and another shower of cheese. Next, she wet the layers with just enough milk to moisten the crackers. The pan was then allowed to stand long enough for the crackers to absorb the milk, after which the preparation was baked in a quick oven. A delicious brown cheese-cake was the result, and it "didn't go wrong." "I'm glad I can do that much, at any rate," Nancy half-complained, half-praised. "And Ted, you have made the table look lovely. I shall be so sorry when the roses are gone--" "Say Sis," broke in Ted abruptly, "you know I was telling you about how Mr. Sanders disappeared."