“Half an hour’s enough,” Lem said. “I haven’t got time for any more.”
“I must go by the book,” Alice declared firmly. “A good nurse always does that.”
Alice walked into the drug store, leading Lem as though she had done that sort of thing all her life. The four chums followed.
“Some hot water please, in a deep basin,” requested Alice of the clerk, and, though the man behind the counter looked in wonder at the strange cavalcade, he brought out the basin full of the steaming liquid.
“Put your wrist in,” commanded Alice as she rolled up Lem’s sleeve.
He thrust his arm in, half way to the elbow.
“Ouch!” he yelled. “It’s hot!”
“Of course it is,” replied the girl coolly, “it has to be. Now while we are waiting the hour and a half let’s talk about the game. It will help you to forget the pain. Maybe Bart has money for some ice cream soda.”
“I’ll buy ’em,” said Lem, trying to get his uninjured hand into his pocket.
“You’ll do nothing of the sort,” decided Alice. “You’re a patient. Whoever heard of a patient standing treat?” and she motioned to her brother.