But the discussion was not a long one, owing to the fact that but two avenues of trade were open to him—that of blackening boots or selling papers; and when he was called upon to decide, he chose the latter, very much to Johnny’s secret delight.
“Now, Ben,” said Johnny, who appeared to think it his duty to look out for his guest’s business education and welfare, “you’d better kinder lay ’round an’ see that the boys don’t try to come it on him the first day, an’ I’ll keep my eye on him too.”
Ben nodded assent, and Johnny said to Paul,
“You watch, an’ see how I do it, after I git the papers, an’ then you do jest as I do. If there is a big lot of news, it won’t be a great deal of work; but if there ain’t anything very ’portant, then you’ve got to holler.”
After this lesson had been given, and while they were walking towards the newspaper offices, Ben divided what bologna had been left from the feast of the previous evening, and also put in Paul’s pocket his share of the pea-nuts which he had not eaten with the others.
On account of finding an early customer who wanted his boots blackened, Ben did not go with them to get the papers, but promised to meet Paul on City Hall Square, where it had been decided he should make his first venture as newsboy.
Now the boys who sell the papers do not buy their stock in the business offices, as Paul had supposed, but are obliged to go into some room nearer the presses, and where they will be out of the way of more important customers. Therefore, when Johnny led him into a room lighted by gas, even though it was in the day-time, and filled by a crowd of noisy, pushing, eager boys, all wanting to be served first, Paul felt quite as much alarmed as surprised.
“It’s all right,” said Johnny, as he saw his companion was about to draw back; “there won’t anybody try to hurt you here, an’ you’ll git used to it after you’ve come two or three times.”
Paul hardly believed that he should become accustomed to anything of the kind; but before they had finished their rounds—for Johnny carried four of the different morning papers—he could look upon the scene, which was almost the same in each case, with something very nearly approaching interest.
When at last the stock was procured, Johnny divided it, giving half to Paul, and saying, as he did so,