rd Street. But
I can't leave my mother and sister."

"If you're going to buy some more papers, I'd like to go with you."

"All right. Come ahead."

Ben invested his money under the direction of his companion. By his
advice, he purchased nearly to the amount of his entire capital, knowing
that it would come back to him again, so that his plan for paying the
reporter could still be carried out.

"You can stand near me, if you want to, Ben," said Rough and Ready.

"I am afraid I shall interfere with your trade," answered Ben.

"Don't be afraid of that. I don't ask no favors. I can get my share of
business."

Ben, while engaged in selling papers himself, had an opportunity to
watch the ready tact with which Rough and Ready adapted himself to the
different persons whom he encountered. He succeeded in effecting a sale
in many cases where others would have failed. He had sold all his papers
before Ben had disposed of two-thirds of his, though both began with an
equal number.

"Here, Ben," he said, generously, "give me three of your papers, I'll
sell 'em for you."

By this friendly help, Ben found himself shortly empty-handed.

"Shall I buy any more?" he inquired of his companion.

"It's gettin' late for mornin' papers," said Rough and Ready. "You'd
better wait till the evenin' papers come out. How much money have you
made?"

Ben counted over his money, and answered, "I've made thirty-five cents."

"Well, that'll be more'n enough to buy your dinner."

"How much do you make in a day?" asked Ben.

"Sometimes over a dollar."

"You ought to lay up money, then."

Rough and Ready shook his head.

"I have to pay everything over to my mother," he said. "It's little
enough to support a family."

"Doesn't your father earn anything?"

"My _step_-father," repeated the other, emphasizing the first syllable.
"No, he doesn't earn much, and what he does earn, he spends for rum. We
could do a great deal better without him," he continued.

Ben began to see that he had a much easier task before him in supporting
himself, than his new friend in supplying the wants of a family of four;
for Mr. Martin, his step-father, did not scruple to live partially on
the earnings of his step-son, whose industry should have put him to
shame.

"I guess I'll go home a little while," said Rough and Ready. "I'll see
you again this afternoon."

Left to himself, Ben began to walk around with an entirely different
feeling from that which