"Four more for Olga, and three for Louise."
John turned anxiously and encountered a look of placid satisfaction on Olaf's stolid face; that same Olaf who had offered to sell his symptom list for a fifth of the market price.
"Louise Martin, two more."
"Six for Olga!"
John leaned tensely forward. He had sent but an even twenty of the gaudy trinkets, and this sudden influx of rival valentines threatened dangerously to pass that number. More envelopes were passed out. From behind him, he caught the excited whisperings of two girls.
"Louise has twenty!"
"And Olga, twenty-one!"
Miss Brown stooped to turn a broad box right side up on her desk.
"The last valentine," she concluded. "Here you are, Louise."
Had Sid sent that? He'd smash his face in if he had. The unexpected addition had saved the day for his sweetheart, but that kid had no business butting in, anyway! Miss Brown watched the buzzing groups of pupils.