y, I've been thinking I must pay you fifty thousand dollars
over that business. You took a big risk holding up a gang like that."

"It wasn't me: Selina held them up," said Tinker quickly.

"Selina did her share, and I shan't forget it. But it was your show. I
think fifty thousand dollars would be fair."

Tinker's face went very grave. "Thank you very much," he said slowly,
"but I couldn't take any money for helping Dorothy out of a mess. When
I've taken money for helping people, they've been strangers--like the
Kernabies and Blumenruth. But Dorothy is different--quite different."

Septimus Rainer pulled at his beard, and said in a grumbling voice,
"That's all very well, sonny; but where do I come in? You get my little
girl out of a tight place--a very tight place--and you save me three
hundred thousand dollars. Business is business, and I ought to pay."

"It is rather awkward for you," said Tinker, looking at him with a
puzzled face and knitted brow. "But I think the thing is that it wasn't
business. I like Dorothy--I like her very much. She's a friend. And
there can't be any business between friends, don't you know?"

"Shake, sonny," said the millionaire, holding out his hand. "I'm glad
you and she are friends."

Tinker shook his hand gravely.

When they came back to the hotel, at the sight of her father, Dorothy
cried, "Oh, papa, what have you been doing? You look ten years younger.
And what a nice shape your head is!"

"Yes," said Septimus Rainer, "I pride myself on the shape of my head.
But it's all your young friend's doing."

"Wait till his clothes come," said Tinker with modest pride.

"I shall look fine in those clothes, I tell you--fine," said Septimus
Rainer, and his air was almost fatuous.

"I think he ought to have a valet," said Tinker. "You can't learn about
clothes all out of your own head. Either you must have always worn the
right clothes, or you want someone to teach you."

"Of course, you must have a valet, papa," said Dorothy.

"I can't--I can't have a man messing about me," said Septimus Rainer in a
tone of almost pathetic pleading.

"I'm afraid there's no way out of it," said Tinker firmly.

"I'm sure there isn't if Tinker says so. He knows all about these
things," said Dorothy. "You must be brave, papa: you really must."

"I'll find him one," said Tinker.

Septimus Rainer yielded with a gesture of hopeless resignation.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

TINKER ASSERT