The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Part 6 (1/2)
”Ah, of course, I forgot that But the writing?”
”What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shi+ny for five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the elbohere you rest it upon the desk?”
”Well, but China?”
”The fish that you have tattooed iht 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 hed heavily ”Well, I never!” said he ”I thought at first that you had done so in it, after all”
”I begin to think, Watson,” said Holnotunifico,' you know, and my poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shi+pwreck if I am so candid Can you not find the advertiseot it now,” he answered with his thick red finger planted halfway down the coluan 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, Pennsylvania, U S A, there is now another vacancy open which entitles a ue to a salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services All red-headed e 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 announceled 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 ood Now, Mr Wilson?”
”Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr Sherlock Hol his forehead; ”I have a s Square, near the City It's not a very large affair, and of late years it has not doneI used to be able to keep two assistants, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay hies so as to learn the business”
”What is the na youth?” asked Sherlock Hol, 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 hiive him But, after all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?”
”Why, indeed? You see an employe who comes under the fullee 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 aith a ca down into the cellar like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures That is his ood worker There's no vice in him”
”He is still with you, I presuirl of fourteen, who does a bit of si and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the house, for I am a er 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 nothingthat put us out was that advertise, he caht weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says:
”'I wish to the Lord, Mr Wilson, that I was a red-headed 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 ets 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 e colour, 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-ho to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting my foot over the door- 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