Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1912-12-05
chin, ARE like that wonder your sales.
are so large"

chatting till some one came in who
would buy something. The next GUS
toner who entered asked for eggs, but
insisted ON breaking one that was
offered to him to make sure that it was
fresh, and, though he found every evil
dence that it was fresh, he held his
nose, saying that 1t must have been
laid the year before and went away.
Balichin was surprised to find that
every customer who came into the
shop while he was there complained
either of the goods or of the price, and
all went out empty handed. Toward
the last Noygorod did his best to sell
to those who came in, but they would
not listen to him. ~. .t
WELL" said Balichin, 1T is time to
close up. must go back to my shop.
Come over and see me some time when
trade is dull"
"That l WILL" said the other.
Balichin departed more puzzled than
he had been when he entered. All day
he had seen persons going into Novgo-
rods store, and every customer came
out with package. He had noticed
that no package seemed light to the
carrier, and most Of them were large
and always seemed to have consider
able weight. One young woman stag
gered under her load. But while he
had been in Novgorod's shop several
customers had entered and all had
gone out empty handed
Balichin after closing his shop went
upstairs Che lived over his place Of
business) to supper. He told his wife
about his visit to his neigbbor and the
puzzling questions concerning that
neighbours business, ending by saying
that he believed there was a mystery
connected with Novgorod's shop
\ Il will make some observations my
SELF" said the woman in caustic tone.
And she did. That night she slept
by window overlooking the shop op-
posite. She was light sleeper and
would be awakened at the slightest
noise. In the morning she informed
her husband that no goods had been
delivered at the shop opposite; but,
though it had been closed all night,
with never a light to be seen on the
premises, every now and again she had
seen person emerge from it, and every
person carried package. .....
''Great heavensw exclaimed Balichin.
Does the man sell goods all day and
all night too? 1t Is as much as can
do to keep up my trade during the day"
"Ach!" said the woman. "There Is
something wrong in this. Leave 1t to
me. You men are very stupid about
such matters" ,H .f- .aEa
The next evening when the butcher
went upstairs to his supper he said
to his wife, 'rWell, have you noticed
anything strange today In the shop op-
poster aa ~ u
ITO be sure have. How many diff
ferent customers do you suppose Nov
gorod has?" ..-
II don't know
Guess. - ...
"a hundredT
"A hundred! Not by any means.
Guess again." ...-u.
Balichin guessed all the way down to
twenty and then, being too curious to-
waste any more time guessing. begged
his wife to tell him.
There have been seventy-two Gus
onners In the shop today and only nine
,ersons," said the wife.
"How do you make that out?"
mine persons have averaged going
here eight times"
"Phewg'
There were four men, two women,
wo young girls and a boy"
"Well. what does 1t meanT'
at means that NovgorOd is playing
trick. He is making q show OF doing
'usiness. After awhile the custom
RS Of the other provision dealers, see.
ng so many persons going into bis.
hop to buy goods, win go there, too, to.
ee what induces the others to buy
here. The real buyers will gradually,
Increase, and Novgored will eventually
bsorb all the business"
But how do you explain those leav..
ng the shop at night with bundles?"
ut is to give. an impression that he.
Ices so much business that II cannot
II be done In the daytime" Fl
"You are. wonderful woman at OBJ
ervation." said her husband thought
ully, but l don't think much Of your
The next day Mime. Baliehin was
to see handsome carriage
With Inverted coachman and footman
rive up to the shop opposite. A lady
lighted, went into the shop and in
ew minutes returned to her carriage
ttended by Novgorod, who bore
aekage which he handed to the foot
nan. Then the equipage drove away.
dme Balichin ran downstairs and told
Ter husband that member of the no
ility had bought goods Of Novgorod.
You see that am right" she said.
He has induced the lady to buy of
I'm to attract others. He will soon
ave all the trade in this part of the
ity."
An hour after the lady had driven
way Balichin looked across the street
nd was surprised to see Novgorod's
mop deserted. While he was wonder
lg what 1t meant he heard report.
In less than a minute by
mother.
The Car Alexander had been assas.
mated.