CHAPTER VIII
THE STRANGE BOATMAN
Bart went over to the soda fountain and ordered “something for all hands” as he expressed it. Meanwhile Alice remained at Lem’s side, holding his wrist down well under the hot water. Lem’s face had lost some of its pained look. The heat was reducing the swelling and, consequently, the pressure.
“Will you kindly get me some cotton and bandages ready?” asked Alice of the clerk, and he produced them at once.
“When you going to graduate as a trained nurse?” asked Bart, as he came back, a glass of soda in each hand.
“Little boys shouldn’t ask the nurse questions,” spoke Alice, with a laugh.
“I say, how’s Lem going to eat his?” asked Frank. “He’s only got one hand, and it’s hard work dishing up the cream with a long handled spoon if you don’t hold the glass.”
“You boys will have to hold mine and Lem’s,” said Alice. “We can eat with one hand then,” and so it was done. Bart held Lem’s glass and Fenn took charge of Alice’s. When they finished the boys who had acted as soda-bearers regaled themselves on the beverage.