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collar lay upon a chair beside him。 Altogether； look as I would；
there was nothing remarkable about the man save his blazing red
head and the expression of extreme chagrin and discontent upon his
features。
Sherlock Holmes's quick eye took in my occupation； and he shook his
head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances。 〃Beyond
the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labor； that
he takes snuff； that he is a Freemason； that he has been in China；
and that he has done a considerable amount of writing lately； I can
deduce nothing else。〃
Mr。 Jabez Wilson started up in his chair； with his forefinger upon
the paper； but his eyes upon my companion。
How； in the name of good fortune； did you know all that； Mr。
Holmes？〃 he asked。 〃How did you know； for example； that I did
manual labor？ It's as true as gospel； for I began as a ship's
carpenter。〃
〃Your hands； my dear sir。 Your right hand is quite a size larger
than your left。 You have worked with it and the muscles are more
developed。〃
〃Well； the snuff； then； and the Freemasonry？〃
〃I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that；
especially as； rather against the strict rules of your order； you
use an arc and compass breastpin。〃
〃Ah； of course； I forgot that。 But the writing？〃
〃What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for
five inches； and the left one with the smooth patch near the elbow
where you rest it upon the desk。〃
〃Well； but China？〃
〃The fish which you have tattooed immediately above your wrist
could only have been done in China。 I have made a small study of
tattoo marks； and have even contributed to the literature of the
subject。 That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a delicate
pink is quite peculiar to China。 When； in addition； I see a
Chinese coin hanging from your watch chain； the matter becomes even
more simple。〃
Mr。 Jabez Wilson laughed heavily。 〃Well； I never！〃 said he。 〃I
thought at first that you had done something clever； but I see that
there was nothing in it after all。〃
〃I begin to think； Watson；〃 said Holmes； 〃that I make a mistake in
explaining。 'Omne ignotom pro magnifico；' you know； and my poor
little reputation； such as it is； will suffer shipwreck if I am so
candid。 Can you not find the advertisement； Mr。 Wilson？〃
〃Yes； I have got it now；〃 he answered； with his thick； red finger
planted halfway down the column。 〃Here it is。 This is what began
it all。 You just read it for yourself； sir。〃
I took the paper from him and read as follows：
〃TO THE RED…HEADED LEAGUE： On account of the bequest of the late
Ezekiah Hopkins； of Lebanon； Pa。； U。 S。 A。； there is now another
vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a salary of
four pounds a week for purely nominal services。 All red…headed men
who are sound in body and mind and above the age of twenty…one
years are eligible。 Apply in person on Monday； at eleven o'clock；
to Duncan Ross； at the offices of the League； 7 Pope's Court； Fleet
Street。〃
〃What on earth does this mean？〃 I ejaculated； after I had twice
read over the extraordinary announcement。
Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair； as was his habit when in
high spirits。 〃It is a little off the beaten track； isn't it？〃
said he。 〃And now； Mr。 Wilson； off you go at scratch； and tell us
all about yourself； your household； and the effect which this
advertisement had upon your fortunes。 You will first make a note；
doctor； of the paper and the date。〃
〃It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27； 1890。 Just two months
ago。〃
〃Very good。 Now； Mr。 Wilson。〃
〃Well； it is just as I have been telling you； Mr。 Sherlock Holmes；〃
said Jabez Wilson； mopping his forehead； 〃I have a small
pawnbroker's business at Saxe…Coburg Square； near the City。 It's
not a very large affair； and of late years it has not done more
than just give me a living。 I used to be able to keep two
assistants； but now I only keep one； and I would have a job to pay
him but that he is willing to come for half wages； so as to learn
the business。〃
〃What is the name of this obliging youth？〃 asked Sherlock Holmes。
〃His name is Vincent Spaulding； and he's not such a youth either。
It's hard to say his age。 I should not wish a smarter assistant；
Mr。 Holmes； and I know very well that he could better himself； and
earn twice what I am able to give him。 But； after all； if he is
satisfied； why should I put ideas in his head？〃
〃Why； indeed？ You seem most fortunate in having an employee who
comes under the full market price。 It is not a common experience
among employers in this age。 I don't know that your assistant is
not as remarkable as your advertisement。〃
〃Oh； he has his faults； too；〃 said Mr。 Wilson。 〃Never was such a
fellow for photography。 Snapping away with a camera when he ought
to be improving his mind； and then diving down into the cellar like
a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures。 That is his main
fault； but； on the whole； he's a good worker。 There's no vice in
him。〃
〃He is still with you； I presume？〃
〃Yes； sir。 He and a girl of fourteen； who does a bit of simple
cooking； and keeps the place cleanthat's all I have in the house；
for I am a widower； and never had any family。 We live very
quietly； sir； the three of us； and we keep a roof over our heads；
and pay our debts； if we do nothing more。
〃The first thing that put us out was that advertisement。
Spaulding； he came down into the office just this day eight weeks；
with this very paper in his hand； and he says：
〃'I wish to the Lord； Mr。 Wilson； that I was a redheaded man。'
〃'Why that？' I asks。
〃'Why；' says he； 'here's another vacancy on the League of the Red…
headed Men。 It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who gets
it； and I understand that there are more vacancies than there are
men； so that the trustees are at their wits' end what to do with
the money。 If my hair would only change color here's a nice little
crib all ready for me to step into。'
〃'Why； what is it； then？' I asked。 You see； Mr。 Holmes； I am a
very stay…at…home man； and； as my business came to me instead of my
having to go to it； I was often weeks on end without putting my
foot over the door mat。 In that way I didn't know much of what was
going on outside； and I was always glad of a bit of news。
〃'Have you never heard of the League of the Red…headed Men？' he
asked； with his eyes open。
〃'Never。'
〃'Why； I wonder at that； for you are eligible yourself for one of
the vacancies。'
〃'And what are they worth？' I asked。
〃'Oh； merely a couple of hundred a year； but the work is slight；
and it need not interfere very much with one's other occupations。'
〃Well； you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears； for
the business has not been over good for some years； and an extra
c