"Good! That's the right talk!" cheered Prescott, seizing his chum's hand. "Yes, sir! We'll make the nine or bury ourselves under a shipload of self-disgust!" "Both of the girls must have a hand in each sweater," Dave went on, examining Dick's closely. "I can't see a shade of difference between yours and mine. But I'm afraid the other fellows in Dick & Co. will feel just a bit green with envy over our good luck." "It's a mighty fine gift," Dick went on, "yet I'm almost inclined to wish the girls hadn't done it. It must have made a big inroad in their Christmas money." "That's so," nodded Darrin, thoughtfully. "But say, Dick! I'm thundering glad I got wind of this before it happened. Thank goodness we didn't have to leave the girls out. Though we would have missed if it hadn't been for you." "I wonder how the girls like their gifts?" mused Dick. It was sheer good luck that had enabled these youngsters to make a good showing. A new-style device for women, consisting of heater and tongs for curling the hair, was on the market this year. Electric current was required for the heater, but both Laura and Belle had electric light service in their homes. This new-style device was one of the fads of this Christmas season. The retail price was eight dollars per outfit, and a good many had been sold before the holidays. The advertising agent for the manufacturing concern had been in town, and had presented "The Blade" with two of these devices. Despite the eight-dollar price, the devices cost only a small fraction of that amount to manufacture, so the advertising agent had not been extremely generous in leaving the pair. "What on earth shall we do with them?" grunted Pollock, in Dick's hearing. "We're all bachelors here." "Sell 'em to me, if you don't want 'em," spoke up Dick, quickly. "What'll you take for 'em? Make it low, to fit a schoolboy's shallow purse." "Hm! I'll speak to the proprietor about it," replied Pollock, who presently brought back the word: "As they're for you, Dick, the proprietor says you can take the pair for two-fifty. And if you're short of cash, I'll take fifty cents a week out of your space bill until the amount is paid." "Fine and dandy!" uttered Dick, his eyes glowing. "One's for your mother," hinted Mr. Pollock teasingly. "_But who's the girl_?" "Two girls," Dick corrected him, unabashed. "My mother never uses hair-curlers." "_Two girls_?" cried Mr. Pollock, looking aghast. "Dick! Dick! You study history at the High School, don't you?" "Yes, sir; of course." "Then don't you know, my boy, how often _two girls_ have altered the fates of whole nations? Tremble and be wise!"