Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-03-01
QUEER DETECTIVE WORK.
How the Big Stores Find Out What
Rivals Are Doing.
Clerks sent out on bargain Purchasing
Tours Efforts That Are Made to
Baik Their De.Igns-Hu.tIe
Il the Word.

The proprietor OF one of the largest
dry-goods stores on Fourteenth street
sat In his Office last Monday morning
looking over some marked advertise.
ments in the Sunday newspapers. Pres
entity he rang for the superintendent and
that gentleman came in.
MIR. Johnson" said the merchant,
these advertisements that | have
marked here are worth inquiring into.
IL seems that some of our competitors
are Offering special Inducements at this
time In the matter OF holiday goods.
Attend 10 this at once, please. and let
me hear from you"
Mr.. johnson bowed, took the papers
and walked out. He devoted about half
of the next hour to carefully reading
over the advertisements referred TO by
his employer. Then Mr. johnson
turned around and, nodding TO one OF
his clerks in his office, said:
Il wish you would find Miss Williams
In the bric-a-brac department Tell
her would like To see her at once
The clerk went out, and in few mo
ments returned with young woman.
She was very pretty. demurc and in
telligent-appearing girl. She was well
dressed, and seemed to know why she
had been sent for. She looked up at the
superintendent with an inquiring glance
rs she said:
"You sent for me, sir?p
Miss Williams" said Mr.. johnson.
1--WE will have to send you out again
to-day
Miss Williams simply nodded, smil.
ingly, and then Mr.. johnson took the
marked papers and spread them ont be-
fore her. A long conversation followed
Miss Williams made notes from the ad :
vertisements as she read them and re-
peated them over to herself a number OF
times as though committing them to
memory. The superintendent said to
her:
Now, ! would like to be able to re-
port this matter to the firm by tomorrow,
and IL you are very spry you will be
able 10 get around TO all these parties
to-day before six o'clock"
Miss Williams now withdrew TO the
room in which the clerks hung their
wraps. In a few moments she came out
with bonnet, gloves and wrap. looking
not unlike many OF the stylish young
women who were coming In TO start their
days shopping. When she stepped out
into the street she looked up and down
for moment as though undecided
which way 70 20. Then she pursed up
her pretty lips into pout, nodded her
head in knowing way and tripped of
1T lively pace toward Fifth avenue.
She had not gone tar before she saw a
throng of shoppers going into one OF the
big stores. She followed in their wake,
and although the crowd in front of her
was very large she managed in some
way TO get near the front at each coun-
ter with very little difficulty AT one
of the counters she remained for some
time.
IL want to see some OF that surah silk
you have advertised, she said.
The clerk took down several bolts of
abe silk and she examined 1t critically.
Thank you" she said.
A moment later she was At another
oounter, where large wax dolls we're
bring disposed OF 10 a hungry crowd OF
shoppers. There were several clerks at
this counter and the fioor-walker also
happened 90 be standing there. lie let
his eye fall upon Miss Williams and he
seemed TO recognize her. lie stepped
up 70 her, standing so that he was be-
tween her and the counter. and said, in
. voice slightly tinged with sarcasm;
''Ah, how do you do, Miss Williams.
very glad to see you"
Miss Williams drew herself up very
rigidly, stared at the foor-walxer in
most naughty manner, and said, worry
Indignantly:
who are you. sir? don't know you
sir. What do you mean, sir. by ad
dressing me?"
''Well," said the floor walker. II
thought recognized you as the Miss
Williams who once was employed here
- { sh girl
Ne sir. |, cash Firl Am not the
person, sir, at all. | don't know you.
Am l to be insulted?"
.'Oh. no; | did not mean to insult |
you, said the hoor-walker. taken some
what abaok ay her grand airs. II must
have been mistaken"
Miss Williams bowed frigidly in rec
sgnition Of his apology and pushed her