Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-12-01
THE PROFESSIONALISM
By PAUL oRLoFF.
Copyright. 1903. by American Press Asso-
ole I

a disguised pOllceman stepped Into |
provision shop in the Malaja Sado-
vaga street, st. Petersburg. The car
often passed that way. and the locality
was kept under constant surveillance.
paid spy.
What will you buy this morning?"
asked the shopkeeper.
Have you been here long?" asked
the policeman, without replying to the
question.
NO; have just opened"
"Iou seem to have quite number
Of customers. considering that you
have only been here since yesterday
morning."
''Oh. that is very >easily explained.
You see. in order to start trade l sell
very cheaply. These fowls could not
be bought anywhere else for less than
2 rubles the pair | sell them for half
that"
Il see. Where did you come from?"
II have been in America for three
years past 1t is there where learn
ed how to attract trade. A shopkeeper
in that country will lower his prices
when he first opens. get good Glen
tele. then gradually raise them
THAT is great country, America"
eyes. in everything but the govern
ment. They have no little father
there to keep them in order-only a
president"
The policeman went out thinking
there could certainly be no harm in a
provision dealer who had lived in
America and yet who revered the car.
The shopkeeper looked at his retreat
ing figure knowingly from the corner
of his eye and knit his brows. busying
himself at the same time in drawing a
jug Of train oil from q cask.
That day the trade Of the shopkeeper
(Kobozeff) thrived to a still greater ex-
tent. People were constantly running
to his shop and out with parcels under
their arms. The eyes of the spies were
on the place, but Kobozeff was so jolly
with his customers and gave such good
weight and large measure that it was
quite natural he should thus suddenly
step into a brisk trade. Only his fell
low tradesmen were jealous of him.
and one of them shook his head and
said the officials of the government
| had better look Out-there must be
something wrong about this provision
dealer who was selling goods so low.
! People who lived in the Malaja Sa-
| dovaga street, hearing Of the low
| prices for which Kobozef sold goods.
| began to go into his shop to purchase.
| For, though it had not been noticed
those who were continually running
out with bundles were strangers OF
the neighborhood. But those would-be
purchasers Of the neighborhood did
not seem to find what they wanted.
Either Kobozeff had not what they
were looking for in his stock or his
price on that particular article was
as high as that Of other dealers or of
inferior quality. But the provision
man went on selling people from other
localities and kept everybody in a good
humor by his jokes, his banter and his
smiles. But one woman, who sold
butter and eggs from her shop oppo-
site, wondered how he could keep SELL
ing goods without any apparent replen-
ishing Of his stock. Going over, she
asked him how he did it.
"Oh," he replied, II get in all my
stock in the early morning before my
competitors are out of bed. l learned
the business ip America, where trades.
men hustle"
| Ono mornino q 40 rr;o ra S4o,ood bo
fore Kobozeffs shop, and a young Cir
alighted. Kobozeff was waiting on q
customer and started as she entered.
II am told" she said to the shop
keeper, chat your pheasants are
prime. How much the pair?"
"Will your ladyship wait a moment
till do up these eggs for this woman
and will show them to YOU"
| When the customer had departed the
lady, leaning over pair of birds sht
was examining, whispered to Kobozeff
He has changed his plans He
lunches with the Grand Duchess Cath
crime Michaelovna and will return by
another route
'Ach," replied Kobozeff, paling
''Then we, too. must change our plans
but for our certain DEATH
Have you all ready here?' asked
the girl.
'"The work is just finished The tun
mel is complete from behind my wife's
bed to the center of the street,
"And where is the earth you have
taken outT'
Carried away in parcels by supposed
customers"
What will you do now?"
GIVE our lives to the cause"
At that moment boy with a baske
ON his arm entered the shop.
Il will take these pheasants." sale
the girl. handing Kobozeff a coin
ind she went to her carriage. thu
fradesman following with the birds
Then she was driven away. She wa:
the Countess Perouskaya, in league
with the conspirators bent on assassf
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