“Will you have a morning paper, ma’am?” asked Ben.
“Yes, I will buy all you have,” was the unexpected answer.
“There are twenty-five cents’ worth,” said Ben, counting them over. It occurred to him that the lady was a philanthropist, who took this way of helping him.
“Here is a dollar. Never mind the change.”
“Thank you. You are very kind. Will you take the papers, or shall I carry them for you?”
“Never mind! Leave them in that doorway, or give them to some other newsboy. I want to employ you for a time.”
Tom Hooper happened to be passing, and Ben, considerably to Tom’s surprise, went up to him and handed him his papers.
“You can have these papers, Tom. They are a present from this lady.”
Tom accepted them with pleasure, for he felt sure of disposing of at least a part of them.
“Now,” said Ben. “I am at your service, madam.”