That's very unusual,' said Holmes. 'What's the name of your
assistant?'
'Vincent Spaulding,' replied Mr Wilson. 'He's an excellent
assistant, but he does do one unusual thing.
'Spaulding's very interested in photography and takes a lot
of photographs. He develops32
these photographs himself, in the
cellar of my shop. When he isn't working, he spends all his time
down there.'
'Go on,' said Holmes.
'We live very quietly,' continued Mr Wilson. 'I don't go out
very much. And I don't read the newspapers.
'One day, eight weeks ago, Spaulding came to me with a
newspaper in his hand. It was the same newspaper that I showed
you, Dr Watson.
' "Mr Wilson," said Spaulding, "I wish I were a red headed
man."
' "Why?" I asked in surprise.
' "Well, here's another vacancy in The Red-Headed League,"
replied Spaulding.
' "The Red-headed League?" I asked. "What's that?"
'Spaulding looked at me and laughed.
' "Haven't you ever heard of The Red-Headed League?" he
said. "You could become a member and make a lot of money."
'Well, when I heard that,' said Mr Wilson, 'at once I became
very interested. I needed more money. So I asked Spaulding to tell
me more about this Red-Headed League.
' "I think," said Spaulding, "the League was started by an
American called Ezekiah Hopkins. Ezekiah Hopkins was a very
rich man and enjoyed doing unusual things.
' "Hopkins was red-headed himself and liked all other red'
headed men. So when he died, he left his money in his will to help
red-headed men. The money was used to start The Red-Headed
League. When a man became a member, he would be paid an
excellent salary for very little work.