Perhaps she didn’t have a nickel, but was skilled at begging for sandwiches? 
As for beggars, well, it usually depends (and I’m frequently pretty short of money myself). I do tend to be suspicious of apparently healthy young men who seem to need a bus fare when I know even I could walk into the city centre, and it’s good weather and a light evening.so there is no need for bus fare, pal. No, it’s just because a supermarket with a few ATMs outside it looks like a good hunting ground, I suppose. Hmm, yeah, I suppose it sounds very picky but preferring not to be an easy hit.
Some other times, yes. Possibly a more “at risk” looking person would get money. Depends what I’ve got, depends how nervous of strangers I feel at at that minute … all of that.