"You've got yourself in a nice fix," said the Chicago man, "and if I'd thought you'd done it all yourself I wouldn't have helped you, but my wife thinks it's a put-up job, and she wants me to pay the fine for you, though a hundred dollars is a lot of money, and if you travel with us, you mustn't expect much wages for some time to come."
"I won't ask a cent, sir," replied Tommy, "if you'll only get me out of this place."
"Who was it?" asked Mrs. Stocker.
"It was Wild Charley, ma'am, that got me to do it."
"That steward's assistant. Sakes! Why didn't you tell the judge so? Good land! I'd have turned the tables on him mighty quick."
"He made me promise not to."
"Well," said Mr. Stocker, taking a chew of short-cut, "I'll allow that you were soft not to squeal on him, but I guess I'll have to buy you out of this hole. It goes against the grain of my wood to see an American citizen shut up for smuggling a bit of tobacco."
Overwhelmed with delight, Tommy was marched upstairs by the jailer. The fine was paid, and instead of going to prison, he accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Stocker to their hotel.
He was engaged by them to look after the baggage and attend upon the lady, who hated foreigners, and said she would rather have one of her own countrymen around her than an Englishman or a Frenchman.
The next day was spent in viewing the sights of Liverpool, and at five o'clock they took the express train to go to London.