"I can't. I aint got no money."
"I've sold sixty papers this morning, and made sixty cents," said Rough and Ready.
"I aint made nothing," said Johnny, despondently.
"Come, I'll tell you what I'll do," said the newsboy. "Here's two 'Tribunes,' two 'Worlds' and 'Times' and three 'Heralds.' Just go round the corner, and sell 'em, and I'll give you all the profits."
"All right!" said Johnny, brightening up at the prospect of making something. "What's the news?"
"Steamboat exploded on the Mississippi! Five hundred people thrown half a mile high in the air! One man miraculously saved by falling in a mud hole! Can you remember all that?"
"Yes," said Johnny. "Give me the papers."
Johnny went round to Nassau Street, and began to cry the remarkable news which had just been communicated to him.
"That ought to sell the papers," said Rough and Ready to himself. "Anyway, Johnny's got it exclusive. There aint any other newsboy that's got it."
In about half an hour Johnny came back empty handed.